PSP price cut to $199, future features unveiled

  • By Tor Thorsen, Henry Niizumi, GameSpot
  • Posted Mar 14, 2006 11:45 pm PT

[UPDATE2] GPS, mini-EyeToy video VoIP, digitally distributed PS, Flash games announced in Japan; new price point unveiled in US.

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TOKYO--Today at the 2006 PlayStation Business Briefing in Tokyo, Sony Computer president Ken Kutaragi took the stage to lay out his vision for, among other things, the future of the PSP. He said that, beginning in October, the portable would support video voice-over IP via the new PSP-300 silver digital camera add-on, which will attach to the top of the PSP unit. Kutaragi showed a slide that the camera would support a video chat via a format he called "motion jpeg" and an EyeToy game to be released in September. No price was mentioned.

[UPDATE2] The SCE president also announced another new peripheral, the PSP-290 GPS receiver. According to a slide shown at the event, the PSP-290 will also attach to the top of the device and be silver in color. It will also be available in October, though no price was mentioned.

In addition, Kutaragi announced that Sony is developing an emulator that will allow PSPs to play original PlayStation games. He said the PS games would be digitally distributed to PSPs, adding ammo to rumors that Sony is planning to distribute classic games much like Microsoft already does with the Xbox 360 and Nintendo will with the Revolution.

Since the PSP's built-in memory is limited, the digital-distribution announcement also seems to lend credence to the rumor that a second PSP with built-in flash memory is in the works, though Kutaragi did not confirm so explicitly.

Kutaragi concretely confirmed another rumor--that the PSP would play games made with version 6 of Macromedia Flash. He also said the handheld would support RSS feeds later this year.

The executive then went on to officially confirm the delay of the PS3 and announce new features for the platform.

[UPDATE] At the same time across the Pacific, Sony Computer Entertainment America announced that it is dropping the US price of the PSP. Starting March 22, gamers will be able to pick up the portable for just $199, versus the $249 Value Pack currently available. But while the Value Pack contains a 32MB Memory Stick Duo, a soft case, a remote control, and headphones, the only peripherals mentioned as being in the $199 PSP package are an "AC adaptor and battery," which are also included in the Value Pack.

Europe and Canada will also see the PSP's price drop to 199 euros ($239) and CA$229 ($198), respectively.

Sony used the new price point announcement to proclaim that since the PSP's launch last March, it has shipped 15 million units worldwide. It boasted that, so far, the handheld has brought in "more than $1.6 billion as of calendar year 2005, more than both Xbox 360 and Nintendo DS combined."

The company also said that by month's end there will be "more than 107 games and more than 347 feature films, TV programs, and videos from major studios" available for the PSP in North America.

314 Comments

  • RaiKageRyu

    Posted Apr 3, 2007 6:52 pm PT

    That's not really a price drop.......

  • Spire88

    Posted Apr 3, 2007 3:24 pm PT

    so do you have to buy the psp to get the eye toy? and when will it come to canada and how much?

  • premixedgandhi

    Posted Mar 27, 2007 3:37 pm PT

    I will consider buying this thing if it gets a price drop to about 149.99,but until then, this Xbox fanboy will not be going near this Sony handheld

  • risi37

    Posted Aug 19, 2006 2:10 am PT

    "more than $1.6 billion as of calendar year 2005, more than both Xbox 360 and Nintendo DS combined wow WOOOW

  • -o-o-o-o-o-o-ox

    Posted Aug 18, 2006 5:36 pm PT

    The camera-thing sounds really sweet!

  • omi1

    Posted Jun 8, 2006 2:04 pm PT

    I just wanna be able to download my old Playstation 1 games to my PSP, the PSP is gonna rock by years end

  • darthvader40020

    Posted Jun 7, 2006 12:26 pm PT

    Holy crap, a GPS system for your PSP, now that is sofa-king-sweet!!!!

    Okay, and I'm lost is the PSP now going to have it's own Internet capablility???

    Plus you can put your Ps1 Games on it???

    This is going to be the $hit!

  • omi1

    Posted Jun 6, 2006 8:26 am PT

    And gamers who are on Microsoft's But tcrack say Sony bites

  • omegamustard

    Posted Jun 3, 2006 11:06 am PT

    this is very nice.

  • GrimBee

    Posted May 24, 2006 2:56 am PT

    Oh, yeah, the ps1 thing will be awesome though..

    But my gripes with the psp and sony right now are this -

    They get us to pay hard earned cash on a psp, then they say "oh, yes, psp is comparable to the walkman..." did anyone notice a difference between the walkman?
    Try holding a cassette walkman next to a 30bg mp3 walkman.. there is quite a difference. So, if sony are saying it is comparable to the walkman, then that means we are to expect some MAJOR changes. And sony are keeping tight lipped because they want people to buy their stock now!

    Can you imagine sales of the psp if ken said "oh, in 2007 we will re-invent the psp to run a ps1 emulator, and because of this, it will require more cpu power, and more battery power, so the new unit has improved stability (incase the cpu gets too hot) and better battery consumption".

    I mean, would YOU buy a psp if you heard that?

    If the psp IS comparable to the walkman, then essencially, with every new walkman (even if its only a little change) the battery life increases, the model gets trimmed down, and all those kinds of things.
    You wont get to be doing the ps1 stuff on the psps out now because, if you see it this way, the cpu has a cap on it. and not only that, to clock the cpu at 300mhz will seriously drain the power and get really hot.

    Now add this to why sony hasnt said or mentioned anything about this, is because it wont look good for their figures. Sony like to brag, and if that means not telling their customers about their plans so we end up buying the inferior psps JUST to make them look good for the fiscal year...

    Ah its all one big crap shoot anywho.
    Im selling my psp, because at least i can get some cash for it. Believe me, when sony release the new psp, everyone is going to be surprised why they didnt just release it the first time round because it is going to be so much better.
    I mean, to beat the competition, sony are going to HAVE to overhaul the psp. Because how can they beat the nintendo ds' 16 hour battery life??!

    Its insane

  • GrimBee

    Posted May 24, 2006 2:48 am PT

    They made a lot of money on the psp, 1.6 billion was it? More than ds and xbox 360? Hmmm.. you know whats funny, thats like saying "we won world war 2" without mentioning the casualties and losses.
    PSP may of made 1.6 billion, but DS made moer PROFIT because Nintendo didn't actually lose money from manufacturing the unit, OR have to price drop it.
    PLUS, the DS' homegrown software sells more titles than most other games on other consoles do, which gives nintendo profit profit profit, even if its not the amount of 1.6billion, nintendo made more profit in percentage than the psp.

    Man, i just get so annoyed, sony is about facts and figures, which are very pointless. Its so commercial! "buy the psp because... lots of people do! And err.. because we say so and ... because we makes lots and lots of money!!"

    And nintendo are like "buy the ds because, it has touch screen and is fun!"
    I feel less threatened by nintendo and microsoft, sony is satan LOL hahaha

  • JojoTheSlayer

    Posted Apr 26, 2006 3:19 am PT

    PS1 games on the PSP will be cool, if the price is right.

    Am not gonna pay loads for a game I already own on a PS1 to be abel to play it on a PSP from a !emulator!( aka, there is no change or port done to the game, aka2 no cost to the makers ). My only fear is that Sony is, once again, gonna be to greedy for its own good and if they put the downloadable PS1 games to costly it will probaly just make more peeps put in the extra effort it takes to run them as warez instead.

  • MoodyFlame

    Posted Apr 18, 2006 7:54 am PT

    :
    Sounds great! I hope they don't make another version of the psp with more memory. I'd just feel ripped off unless there's a free upgrade or something. But eyetoy and video chat sounds sweet.

    i seriously agree

  • nitros_11

    Posted Mar 31, 2006 3:06 pm PT

    WOW, thats pretty dam good. I cant wait to have ff7,8 n 9 on my psp!! =)

  • afrothunda312

    Posted Mar 31, 2006 11:06 am PT

    Yay! playing FFVII on PSP at last!! I'll start saving now...

  • dcl1993

    Posted Mar 31, 2006 5:15 am PT

    yep rule ass ^_^

  • marioman50

    Posted Mar 23, 2006 7:59 pm PT


    Pablo620-
    "PSP is really starting to shape up. I knew it would eventually rule ass" .........
    rule ass indeed

  • MordorFIN

    Posted Mar 23, 2006 5:16 am PT

    Nice

  • RockMan-NEO

    Posted Mar 22, 2006 6:11 pm PT

    PS1 games.... thats so kick azz...PSP is updating nicely =3

  • --MasterLink--

    Posted Mar 22, 2006 12:47 pm PT

    Nice.

  • fuzzykool

    Posted Mar 22, 2006 2:58 am PT

    That what im talking about!!!!!!!!!!!!

  • fuzzykool

    Posted Mar 22, 2006 2:58 am PT

    That what im talking about!!!!!!!!!!!!

  • mr_andreas

    Posted Mar 21, 2006 5:44 pm PT

    still too much $

  • mariokart64fan

    Posted Mar 21, 2006 5:14 pm PT

    somesthgetic ds also gets a tv tuner internet browser , more great games so i dont think psp price drop was A GOOD THING UNTIL THEY REally drop it for the va;uepack psp is good ds is great micro is greAT GBA IS TRUELY THE BEST

  • grnidbandit

    Posted Mar 21, 2006 12:51 pm PT

    enizma i dont think they said that they out sold any one they are just saying the made more money from the psp than the ds and 360 combined. the 360 had a shortage and the DS,well i think alot of people looking for portable gaming look towards the psp instead of the DS. my personal experience I ride the train to work and so far in chicago i have seen maybe 2 people with a DS, as opposed to serveral more poeple owning a psp.

  • StarlinkX

    Posted Mar 21, 2006 11:35 am PT

    Sweet, i can't wait.

  • mariokart64fan

    Posted Mar 21, 2006 9:03 am PT

    ok sony why dont they just continue to do ports of ps1 and 2 games it will save us memory ugh at 199.99 it looks better but still nintendo ds is going to get more features as well , i saw this coming

  • voltaition

    Posted Mar 21, 2006 2:40 am PT

    All this updating is great except for the fact that we'll have to buy a second psp with the built in flash player. Cant they just make an update or save the installer and program on the psp mem card. Emulators are gonna be cool except if we had to pay for them.

  • eurobeatbear

    Posted Mar 20, 2006 8:05 pm PT

    the eyetoy looks ugly on the psp ... psp is suppose to have the cool and slick look ... i hope its just a beta model

  • damned_beast

    Posted Mar 20, 2006 5:02 pm PT

    cool

  • Senor_Paule

    Posted Mar 20, 2006 4:51 pm PT

    PSP would rule this year as long as SONY does this right. Pleas SONY do not release a NEW PSP . That would be a RIP-OFF for us who have PSPs already. Sony should find a better way to incorporate the fash drive.Maybe an external add-on?
    I also hope the PSONE download online service is FREE. If so.....DS watch out!!

  • Senor_Paule

    Posted Mar 20, 2006 4:33 pm PT

    That's great news for us PSP fans.This year PSP will truly kick *** with all these updates. Though, I am worried about two things. Will Sony actually release a NEW PSP. That would really be a rip off for people that have PSP's already. I would personally recommend to SONY to release an add-on flash card that is compatible with the memorystick slot. That would be BETTER for us who have PSP's already, and not be forced to buy a new one.That would be ridiculous!!

    And TWO, will the online PSONE download service actually be FREE? If so, PSP will RULE THIS YEAR! Please...someone...respond to this. PEPLE WANT TO KNOW!!!

  • artboy411

    Posted Mar 20, 2006 3:09 pm PT

    WOW!!!!! thats so sweet i can't wait until they come out.

  • jabiel

    Posted Mar 20, 2006 12:56 pm PT

    man i such buyed a psp yesterday and i could of save $50 bucks.

  • jabiel

    Posted Mar 20, 2006 12:52 pm PT

    man that suck i such a psp yesterday and i could of save 50 bucks if i such waited to next week.

  • obodotG

    Posted Mar 20, 2006 12:25 pm PT

    thanks brian1973, that mijo comment pissed me off too, the only ps1 emu out there runs at less .5fps, and doesnt even run any roms besides the demo one made for it. And as for DS fanboys, the psp's one screen, has higher resolution than both of the DS's screen combined. once you play syphon filter on PSP , you realize how much it's capable of. I'd like to see ragdoll, dynamic light, bloom, and reflection on a DS. Nothin against DS, but fanboys have no right to play down new PSP periphs. Not to mention SC's comin out soon

    although the new metroid looks pretty cool.....

  • brianh1973

    Posted Mar 20, 2006 7:14 am PT

    I just couldn't let this one go by. Reading these posts in the forum is nerve grating. I mean come on people, there is a flippin' "check spelling" button for all you illiterates to push and there are still typos. Just goes to show you how damn lazy people really are.

  • brianh1973

    Posted Mar 20, 2006 7:12 am PT

    So I saw mijo8chris talking about Sony adding an emulator that people with lower firmwares already have. This may be so, but at least the one released from Sony will work at more than 0.5fps.

  • TheToxicAvenger

    Posted Mar 20, 2006 12:24 am PT

    Screw FF7, I finally get to play Suikoden again!

  • DarkDrift

    Posted Mar 19, 2006 7:41 pm PT

    PsP is getting better by the minute
    Im ganna go buy two more psp for my lil brother and older sister

  • tutukun

    Posted Mar 19, 2006 6:40 pm PT

    FF7 one PSP anyone?

  • cochad

    Posted Mar 19, 2006 1:40 pm PT

    the video IP and video chat sounds cool. especially if it was online. This thing has got my imagination going wild

  • corderor

    Posted Mar 19, 2006 12:36 pm PT

    YEAH... that's really coll... ps one

  • b_sherman17

    Posted Mar 19, 2006 7:29 am PT

    Haven't had the time to read through all 27 pages of comments...

    But a PS1 emulator still sounds a bit lame to me. The PS1 had 4 triggers and 2 D-pads (or analog sticks). In addition, there are no new games coming to PS1. I'd rather see some hot new PSP games (with better graphics, gameplay, and relevance to today) than play some old PS1 games with sacrificed controls.

    I also think that a GPS is both pointless and battery consuming. It would be more worthwhile to get a different GPS system that would be smarter, more reliable, and would work for more than an hour and a half.

    Flash Player would be a nice addition to the PSP but you also must realize that the games will probably have to be designed for the PSP. Flash games expect you to hit keyboard keys, not the Flash assignments set for PSP controls. Also, many Flash ads and pointless widgets on sites would significantly slow down web performance.

    I think the VOIP and camera functions are a decent idea. Once again, however, I am afraid that the battery will not last long at all.

    The 32MB of RAM must also be an inhibiting factor for all of these features...

    I have a feeling that a new PSP will not be released. Creating a whole new version of a still ripe system solely for the purpose of playing PS1 games is ludicrous.

  • nekrotaunter

    Posted Mar 19, 2006 12:38 am PT

    looks like people can stop complaining about a portable symphony of the night and resident evil going on a nintendo portable. i wonder how they'll figure how to make up for the other two trigger buttons. this is really going to make all of us , who haven't already, to buy a larger memory stick. and to think i was going to sell off my psp.

  • jumboplease06

    Posted Mar 18, 2006 9:51 pm PT

    A price drop, new gadgets... sounds like Sony is getting scared.

  • ao_bomber

    Posted Mar 18, 2006 4:48 pm PT

    A cheaper PSP. Perhaps it's time I invested in one.

  • ll_jun10r_ll

    Posted Mar 18, 2006 4:07 pm PT

    finally, we were gonna get some good stuff for it, no fun having a 250 dollar paper weight

  • Hershey07

    Posted Mar 18, 2006 8:34 am PT

    FINALLY a price drop!

  • Socomnewbie

    Posted Mar 18, 2006 6:24 am PT

    Sony finds more ways to make you spend your hard earned money. wow a camera, wow gps. wow i still dont want to buy a PSP even with a $50 price drop
    i dont need to watch videos while im on the go. So far all the PSP has been is a fancy looking Media Player. And yes that comment about the outdated gameboy
    having better games i agree with you. I wonder when will they release good stuff? I dont know about some of you, but i get tired of G.T.A. it seems to be like Sony's Mario. They keep feeding you GTA on the PS2, and they make it for the PSP and people still waste $ on it.

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