PSP 2 rumours firm

Mike Bantick
Monday, 16 March 2009 08:17

Your IT - Entertainment

In news sure to kill off an already flagging UMD market, more is emerging on the design of the next generation of PlayStation Portable.  The PSP 2 or PSP-4000 is getting trimmed in some areas and expanding in others.

Both the rumour and the official buzz for the PlayStation Portable brand are ramping up.

Form most of its short life the PSP has played second fiddle to the all conquering Nintendo DS, and has even struggled to get backing from its creator Sony.  Both marketing and support wise.

Well both those aspects changed recently when rumours of an UMD (the Universal Media Disc used as a media for games and movies) free PSP in the pipeline started traversing the interweb.

This week according to Eurogamer sources close to Sony, the PSP-4000 is deep into development.

The next iteration will feature a slimmer design due to the loss of UMD drive, a sliding control covering screen,  with the screen ‘closed’ most of the controls will be covered, but the entire face of the console will not be covered.  This will mean that the new PSP will have a significantly skinnier form factor.

"The screen is basically the same as the one in the 3000 - except it slides." Said the Sony development source.

There will be a new emphasis for titles that utilise the shoulder buttons, as these will still be available whilst the screen is in its closed state, according to the Eurogamer report, developers have been approached to plan games designed for shoulder button input only.

Still no official word, dates or prices at the point of publication.