CES '08: PSP GPS, Camera US-bound in '08; keyboard revealed

Sony confirms two accessories for its portable will go on sale in North America by year's end; data-entry add-on due in 18 months.

LAS VEGAS--Over a year ago, the PlayStation Portable's camera and GPS receiver went on sale in Japan. The photo-snapping add-on also hit the market in Europe in 2006, and its global-positioning cousin has been confirmed to arrive in the territory later this year.

However, to the frustration of North American gamers, neither the GPS nor the camera have been dated for the region--until now, anyway. Today at the 2008 Consumer Electronics Show, Sony Computer Entertainment America reps confirmed to GameSpot that both peripherals will be available on this continent by the end of the year. Unfortunately, they could not give a more specific time frame.

SCEA reps also revealed today a welcome surprise for PSP owners weary of its cell-phone-like text entry system. They confirmed that Sony is working on a first-party keyboard for the handheld gaming system for release in mid-2009. When asked if said keyboard will resemble the mock-up that was shown off at the 2005 Electronic Entertainment Expo, the reps demurred. "We're looking at several designs, but can't tell you anything more specific," a rep said.

122 Comments

  • Omann69

    Posted Nov 12, 2008 10:56 pm PT

    Well?.. Where is it?..

    Its Nov. 13 and still no word yet on a US release for the Cam or the GPS unit!.. Come on Sony!..

  • white_jaguar

    Posted Apr 18, 2008 2:04 pm PT

    I wil get another PSP slim if this comes out and use it for my car, I have terrible memory. BTW psp games are really coming along god of war, crisis core, even devil may cry

  • SonicTH

    Posted Mar 10, 2008 2:59 pm PT

    Maybe we do get stuff before Europe but the point this is trying to make is that we didn't get it at ALL as opposed to you guys getting the camera (luckily; being an anime convention-goer I managed to snag the camera at a con last year and I just picked up the GPS system a few days ago at another convention).

  • x70xchallengerx

    Posted Jan 12, 2008 12:17 pm PT

    I swear, if this stuff is only out for slim, im gunna be so pissed! ill buy a slim when somebody gets the 1.5 kernel on it!!!!!

  • Franzkill

    Posted Jan 11, 2008 8:52 am PT

    Heh frustration for North American owners? Stop whining you guys get practically everything before we do.

  • Osirex2

    Posted Jan 10, 2008 7:30 pm PT

    sony has the annoying ability to keep us waiting for everything. i mean why do they tell us these kind of thing so early in the year so when they finally come out we already know everything about the damn thing.

  • Bigboss232

    Posted Jan 10, 2008 3:04 pm PT

    just wait is finally paying off.

  • RockaWuzHur

    Posted Jan 10, 2008 1:21 pm PT

    Thank God!!! Im sick of the stupid cell phone thing! To bad its coming an entire year from now.

  • nemes1s3000

    Posted Jan 10, 2008 1:49 am PT

    "Keyboard revealed" and yet.. no screenie..

  • YeoCS

    Posted Jan 9, 2008 7:30 pm PT

    As I said, now PSP can Skype (with some new add-on). Check it out at the CES. To bad is only for Slim. Bad move from SONY. SONY will make its money from add-on not from games

  • ctg867

    Posted Jan 9, 2008 4:39 pm PT

    Would I'd like to see is the Camera getting a size down, it's too large for me to carry around or keep in my soft case. Not to mention it'll probably be too expensive and too limited anyway.

    I got a good idea, how about you get me a Megapixel camera and a video recorder that can take videos at 320x240 in MP4 format with a decent framerate for as much time as my memory card can hold. Don't give me some stupid 177x144 limit on the resolution, a choppy ass framerate, and only give me 30 second clips like a camera phone. For the unit itself, shrink it a bit and make it a bit sleeker, price it at $40, and it's bought, otherwise I won't bother.

    As far as the GPS, I really don't need it, but the TV Tuner would definitely be cool. Even if it's just radio antenna broadcast or something I plug into my TV at a local distance, that would definitely be cool. I hope they bring the TV Tuner to the US, that'd be awesome. As far as the keyboard is concerned, I saw the prototype, I wasn't impressed, and I don't need it. Just give me a virtual keyboard on screen rather then the text message entry crap.

  • Patch5129

    Posted Jan 9, 2008 4:20 pm PT

    h4xx0rz , that keyboard sounds a lot like Batman's cape from "Batman Begins"
    The Camera sounds cool, dont really have much use for the other stuff

  • LexLas

    Posted Jan 9, 2008 11:58 am PT

    The more stuff for PSP the better.

  • The1stFishBone

    Posted Jan 9, 2008 10:24 am PT

    I'm thinking if PSP 2 has a touch screen and downloads games to a solid state flash drive it will be the single coolest thing ever. Hmmm maybe I'll just buy an Eee PC.

  • Deftones81

    Posted Jan 9, 2008 10:00 am PT

    I have waited for the keyboard forever....

  • Krazy-K

    Posted Jan 9, 2008 8:12 am PT

    one word: Finally!!!

  • arouil1

    Posted Jan 9, 2008 5:49 am PT

    No wonder I have not been able to find that blasted camera!

  • YeoCS

    Posted Jan 9, 2008 2:30 am PT

    I believe the add-on is the right way for PSP to survival. Some will hate it, some will love it. In actual fact, which hard core gamer really play with a PSP. What I mean is that you can play games with a 32" LCD, good (and much more) titles to choose from and it have not dead battery issue. People who "use" a PSP just want a temporary entertainment (anyway the battery last 3 hr). It is built and design that way. Imaging if it wireless can Skype, it will become a free phone. If busnessman can see this potential, we will be seeing more add-on.

  • sal_stinger

    Posted Jan 8, 2008 10:39 pm PT

    Cool! Lets see how many things they'll cancel out.

  • h4xx0rz

    Posted Jan 8, 2008 10:28 pm PT

    That's what I was thinking, theKSMM... how much longer will the PSP be "portable"? Especially the keyboard. Although, if memory serves, Sony applied for a patent for a fully compact-able, bendable keyboard that can become rigid after sending an electrical current through it with the push of a button... and can turn flexible again. That might make it portable.

  • jogunther

    Posted Jan 8, 2008 9:44 pm PT

    Its nice we get all these add ons. I haven't actually used it for games in so long, which is really dissapointing. They need to get the games coming faster.

  • theKSMM

    Posted Jan 8, 2008 9:24 pm PT

    A camera, a keyboard, a GPS, and TV output...this thing is gonna be my new home console. The real question is: What will I use for portable gaming once my PSP has too many attachments to fit in my pocket?

  • Pablo620

    Posted Jan 8, 2008 9:06 pm PT

    wOOt! gps !

  • jpfondeur

    Posted Jan 8, 2008 7:43 pm PT

    w00t! keyboard !

  • dewmandew7

    Posted Jan 8, 2008 6:29 pm PT

    I hope I can get a PSP soon... I still want to wait until the Playstation Phone, though. Gah... what should I do!?!?

  • stinkeyb

    Posted Jan 8, 2008 5:34 pm PT

    im getting it all. I love my PSP but i hardly ever play games on it

  • reactionsok

    Posted Jan 8, 2008 5:02 pm PT

    OBJECTION!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    MGS: Portable Ops Love metal gear series but poor controls MGS: Portable Ops + again controls
    Loco Roco(maybe LR2 coming hopefully?) this game gets boring fast
    Grand Theft Auto Liberty/Vice City Stories great game but lags -
    Fifa meh who likes soccer
    Final Fantasy VII: Crisis Core and FF: Dissidia coming soon
    FF Tactics Final fantasy? excuse me im not a nerd who played 24/7 games
    Plus PSone games via remote play - tell me games worth playing on the ps1?

    good games you missed

    Puzzle Quest - best game ever for the psp
    Siphon Filter : Gabe something - awesome game

    thats about it.

  • Chief_Kuuni

    Posted Jan 8, 2008 5:00 pm PT

    not bad at all

  • smbius

    Posted Jan 8, 2008 4:18 pm PT

    I think these add-ons are bad moves by Sony. Most PSP owners (myself included) just want more games. Some PSP owners are just running emulators or playing downloaded videos just to keep up value.

  • lamprey263

    Posted Jan 8, 2008 4:17 pm PT

    a first party keyboard sounds exciting, I don't know what to make of a camera, I really don't see that being of any use until Home is up and running, as I imagine it'll be the next wave of MySpace'ish narcaccism

  • WSGRandomPerson

    Posted Jan 8, 2008 3:17 pm PT

    The text ability PSP-to-PSP is a nice feature, but the keyboard will probably be an outrageous price though.

  • dolfan928

    Posted Jan 8, 2008 3:06 pm PT

    "All this stuff is real nice...now they just need some GAMES!!!"

    MGS: Portable Ops
    MGS: Portable Ops +
    Loco Roco(maybe LR2 coming hopefully?)
    Grand Theft Auto Liberty/Vice City Stories
    Fifa
    Final Fantasy VII: Crisis Core and FF: Dissidia coming soon
    FF Tactics
    Plus PSone games via remote play

    What else do you want?

  • Triton

    Posted Jan 8, 2008 2:56 pm PT

    All this stuff is real nice...now they just need some GAMES!!!

  • xcryonicx

    Posted Jan 8, 2008 2:02 pm PT

    I'm excited about the keyboard, but mid-2009? Damn, that's a while from now.

  • Timstuff

    Posted Jan 8, 2008 1:40 pm PT

    I was actually looking into buying a camera from playasia.com like some of my classmates had done, but now it looks like I won't have to, yay!

    I still need to get me a PSP Slim (preferably the white Darth Vader one). That Keyboard sounds really cool too. Dang, I need more moolalah!

  • flip13lolb

    Posted Jan 8, 2008 12:58 pm PT

    STILL WATING for:

    GT4 mobile

    Playstation network cards

    THEN I MIGHT CARE

    but until then I have wipeout pulse and patapon

  • reactionsok posted Jan 8, 2008 12:31 pm PT (does not meet display criteria. sign in to show)

    reactionsok

    Posted Jan 8, 2008 12:31 pm PT (hide)

    OBJECTION!!!!!!!

    HALF OF YOU CAN"T EVEN DRIVE!! YET YOU WANT A GPS UNIT?

    FOR WHAT? TO FIND YOUR WAY TO YOUR MOMMY'S WOMB?!
    LET ME GUESS YOU NEED GPS SO YOU CAN GO TO THE CANDY STORE?!

  • jyoung312

    Posted Jan 8, 2008 12:16 pm PT

    Maybe I'd pick up the gps if it was cheap, I have a car charger so battery life doesn't matter that much. I agree with the tv tuner suggestions, or at least add more media sharing capabilities. sure tivo2go sounds cool but i don't have tivo just a regular dvr in my parents house. What they need to do is up the media sharing capabilities with ps3? I want to stream dvds over remote play, and I want play tv to come to the US damnit. I can't use scype bc i have a fattie.

  • fallofmanps3

    Posted Jan 8, 2008 12:00 pm PT

    gonna be cool

  • HamsterOfFury

    Posted Jan 8, 2008 11:57 am PT

    The UK camera is compatible with the standard (ie not slim) PSP as I've owned one and enjoyed it for a while...It also has a built in mic which is cool for shooting short videos and clips.

  • M-ManLA

    Posted Jan 8, 2008 11:08 am PT

    I'm buying all of these!

  • afrothunda312

    Posted Jan 8, 2008 10:40 am PT

    I have the camera (it's out in the UK) and I was surprised by the quality, even though it is only 1.3 MP with the widescreen format it does not come off as blurry as a camera phone and

  • Arcanum

    Posted Jan 8, 2008 10:24 am PT

    Good News from Sony for US. Nice. We need this stuff.

  • codepunk

    Posted Jan 8, 2008 10:20 am PT

    How much for the GPS? How about special price for meee!

  • kevin1622

    Posted Jan 8, 2008 10:17 am PT

    cool!!!!!!!!!!!

  • GreenGoblin2099

    Posted Jan 8, 2008 9:55 am PT

    All that is good, but please don't come with the same BS as the PSP Skype phone "only for the slim PSP", cuz I'll get mad... again.

  • sandy4v

    Posted Jan 8, 2008 9:54 am PT

    Well if these peripherals are already released
    it means Sony doesn't have to develop them from scratch
    so why in the hell they need a year for GPS and camera to launch in NA
    I don't understand
    It's like waiting for these things forever

  • markd751

    Posted Jan 8, 2008 9:13 am PT

    this is lame, I want games that are good. I DON'T want to carry around a dam keyboard and camera, GPS antenna, etc. what's the point? It's a game machine and Sony has forgotten that fact. I seriously doubt anyone is going to lug around a keyboard and all that equipment with them, it's ridiculous.

  • xgalacticax

    Posted Jan 8, 2008 8:50 am PT

    ive got a camera and a gps in my cell already. my psp will be dusted when god of war:COO is released.

  • NinjaMunkey01

    Posted Jan 8, 2008 8:33 am PT

    The camera is not great, I know someone who has it and the picture quality is not as good as what you would get in a mobile these days. Plus does the psp have the battery life to be a GPS? A TV tuner would be good, the psp is about media capability, it has everything but the ability for the ability to watch tv live. And it would be such a good idea, the screen is perfect and with the dighital switchover coming (in the UK) we would all be able to get freevew on our psp's!

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