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PSP-3000 shipping worldwide in October

Sony confirms new microphone-enabled, sharper-display model will hit all territories in two months--and in three colors; will replace older PSP-2000 in existing bundles.

This morning at the Leipzig Games Convention, Sony Computer Entertainment Europe officially revealed the PSP-3000. Shortly thereafter, Sony Computer Entertainment America formally announced that the latest hardware revision of the PlayStation Portable would ship worldwide in October, or in roughly two months' time. In North America, the device will begin shipping to stores on October 14.

The Mystic Silver PSP-3000, demystified.

The Mystic Silver PSP-3000, demystified.

SCEA's announcement gave more concrete details about the PSP-3000 and Sony's plans for it outside Europe. The handheld is the same width as the PSP-2000, the slimmer model Sony unveiled at E3 2007, and will sport the same video output functionality. However, the new model will now output gameplay in interlaced video format compatible with non-progressive video displays.

More significant new additions to the new PSP include a redesigned LCD screen that boasts "more natural and vibrant colors" and "anti-reflection technology" to foil glare. The handheld will also sport a built-in microphone for use with the PSP's Skype functionality and voice-enabled games, eliminating the need for an external headset.

Another change visible on the PSP-3000 is the replacement of the "home" button on its front with a button bearing the PlayStation logo. The switch prompted rumors that the new PSP would sport a XrossMediaBar (XMB) which could be accessed in-game as on the PlayStation 3. However, SCEA reps said that the logo button would have the same functionality as the home button, and had no new information on when--or if--an in-game XMB would come to the PSP, as trophies are suspected of.

Piano Black, up close.

Piano Black, up close.

Sony also announced today that the new PSP would come in three colors--Piano Black, Pearl White, and Mystic Silver. The new model will replace the PSP-2000 in the $169 PSP Core Pack and in two other packs. These include the forthcoming Ratchet and Clank: Size Matters Entertainment Pack, which contains a 1GB Memory Stick Duo, an UMD copy of the film National Treasure 2: Book of Secrets, and a voucher for the downloadable title Echochrome. The PSP 4GB entertainment pack, which includes a 4GB Memory Stick Pro and a voucher for Everyday Shooter for the PS3, will also sport the PSP-3000 at its center.

272 Comments

  • Zeus242

    Posted Dec 11, 2008 5:35 am GMT

    omg!!!! its now december 11th and everyone says its coming to canada october 14th or somthing like a few weeks later for canada but the stores dont even have it yet? rigth now do they have it in us? can i order it from site? gamestop have it? plz help!!!

  • Solid_Acid

    Posted Oct 13, 2008 12:24 am GMT

    I'm certainly upgrading my PSP-2000 to this new model because MGA 2 and MGS Portable Ops will look phenomnal on it.

  • jjmc3

    Posted Oct 2, 2008 8:19 pm GMT

    why does everyone say this sucks? DS to DS Lite had no upgrades except newer shape and a few new colours i think. PSP has reduced glare, 100% full colour screen, a few new appearnces (home button, thinner ring, newer colours) also the built in mic. What I hate the most is the fact that Sony has acctually reallesead it to stop hacking, (since it has a anti-hacking program installed on it).

  • jjmc3

    Posted Oct 2, 2008 8:16 pm GMT

    SONY ISNT GOING TO PUT 2 ANOLOG STIKCS!!! other wise the people with older psp models couldnt play those games. Sony hopefully upgrades forr psp2/touch.

  • rbenns2

    Posted Aug 28, 2008 10:28 am GMT

    How about an update we really want, like, oh, a second analog stick?

  • kweeni

    Posted Aug 28, 2008 4:27 am GMT

    either release a brand new psp, psp2 or sumtin(u kno like ps1, ps2, now ps3) or just keep the current one, but stop giving it these small upgrades, seriously sony WTF?? i bought my slim about 5 months ago and im keeping it until i see a brandnew psp model or till mine breaks or sumtin, but im deffenetly not buying a "new" psp just for scharper screen and better sound

  • herkdawgiii

    Posted Aug 27, 2008 5:48 pm GMT

    If and ONLY IF it had TWO analog nubs, would I upgrade. How about PS1 backward compatibility for those still with launch PS3's.

  • TX360

    Posted Aug 27, 2008 3:56 pm GMT

    i think sony need to stick to a model and then just be happy i mean people call MS for everything for launching the elite but sony keep releasing skus all the time.

  • TX360

    Posted Aug 27, 2008 3:54 pm GMT

    WTF i just bought a slim and all of a sudden mine is considered the old model this is pointless i mean if your going to make changes make ones that would encourage people to jump on board for god sake sony just stop it.

  • neerajkumar_4

    Posted Aug 27, 2008 6:42 am GMT

    hmmm wondering if i should pick one

  • Thatsmypunk

    Posted Aug 26, 2008 7:53 pm GMT

    Here we have the PSP flavor of the month. Guaranteed to suck every hard working dollar you own out of your pocket!

  • BigBoss7460

    Posted Aug 26, 2008 5:56 pm GMT

    No thanks, I'll stick with my hacked phat PSP. I'd reconsider if it had a second analog stick

  • shamarke

    Posted Aug 26, 2008 5:41 pm GMT

    i already have the slim version and they look the same FFS! WTF happened to Sony!?

  • lilhg

    Posted Aug 26, 2008 5:17 pm GMT

    @ OGKNav

    ur rite they should put more time into the new psp

  • aarun27

    Posted Aug 26, 2008 4:26 pm GMT

    I'm sticking with my Phat for now.

  • OGKNav

    Posted Aug 26, 2008 10:47 am GMT

    Stupid. Stop GOOFING around Sony, and put more than a days effort into something new.

  • Timstuff

    Posted Aug 26, 2008 12:03 am GMT

    Sweet. I can't wait to see what teh haxx0rz can do with this one! But I think I might still wait for PSPhone... if it exists...

  • EnaVRi

    Posted Aug 25, 2008 8:28 pm GMT

    PSP is now worth getting... Better Screen and Mic, for new buyers is definitely attractive IMO... And in 2009 we'll expecting many great games from Square-Enix such as Dissidia, Final Fantasy Agito XIII, Kingdom Hearts: Birth By Sleep, and Parasite Eve: Third Birthday... Waiting patiently for October... Thanks Sony...

  • zpeed69

    Posted Aug 25, 2008 6:05 pm GMT

    The PSP-3000 isnt much of a significant change from 2000 except for a mic and sharper screen. They should give it twice the internal memory, use the new Sony OLED technology for 720p screen, and offer blu-ray UMD's alongside it. That would be a significant change, not minor add-ons every year. Another thing is it's not thinner, nor does it support SD cards, GPS and TV recievers which are available in Europe and Japan. Add those, and Sony would kick Nintendo's DS easy. I have a PSP and with these things I wouldn't need other stuff. And a touchscreen. That would be the ultimate multimedia device.

  • AgileNate

    Posted Aug 25, 2008 11:32 am GMT

    I wish Sony used Mini Disc(like the Gamecube) instead of UMD(they pushed into the market) as I bet it would have lowered the cost of the PSP. A second Anolog Stick is important. In order not to screw over early PSP buyers they could have different control options in games.

  • coold_steam

    Posted Aug 25, 2008 10:09 am GMT

    i think the big different between this new psp and the 2000 is the screen ,the new screen had more color and anti-reflection technology , however the XMB and the trophies are not big deal for me

  • necronaux

    Posted Aug 25, 2008 9:03 am GMT

    So, when they say the new model will "replace", are they going to recall all 2000 models (physically, immediately), or just wait til they sell out?

  • Gaming-Fanatic

    Posted Aug 25, 2008 8:13 am GMT

    It's nothing rather significant to me, but implementing a trophy sytem would be interesting.

  • DiscGuru101

    Posted Aug 25, 2008 12:55 am GMT

    PSP 1.5 looks pretty hot. -What is the price?

  • finalfantasy23

    Posted Aug 24, 2008 9:46 pm GMT

    OK NICE.
    BUT PSP 2 WHAT HAPPEN

  • Big_Evil666

    Posted Aug 24, 2008 8:59 pm GMT

    well, i will be set to become a proud owner of a PSP-3000 when it's launched, in Piano Black of course

  • iesexywarden

    Posted Aug 24, 2008 7:39 pm GMT

    This is a good system, i actually looked into the sepcs and everything and man that SCREEN IS AMAZING..its such a improvement worth buying.
    anyways this was sonys plan to stop CFW..the psp has a new motherboard so the psp wont work this pandora battery..

  • DecadesOfGaming

    Posted Aug 24, 2008 3:08 pm GMT

    I wonder when Microsoft will release their handheld.. I'm not buying anything without two analog sticks. It's just not right ..lol

  • bane1190

    Posted Aug 24, 2008 2:20 pm GMT

    I'm tired of these new PSPs. I bought one of the release models. Not only were they more expensive, but they suck! These new ones are cheaper and are constantly getting better!

    *Stalks off fuming*

  • sykomyko

    Posted Aug 24, 2008 5:35 am GMT

    How many psp's will sony put out before adding another tumb stick?

  • Mush_Mouth

    Posted Aug 23, 2008 8:36 pm GMT

    Might as well just buy one when Sony announces they're not making them anymore in anticipation of the actual successor to the PSP. At least then the newest (and hopefully last) system and the games will be dirt cheap.

  • speculative

    Posted Aug 23, 2008 8:34 pm GMT

    This is just the PR department at work pumping up a little freshning that the engineering department was going to do anyway. Brighter screen? Ha! They probably ran out of/stopped producing the old screen (even if it was better - how would we know?) and are therefore forced to make the switch. Kind of like how everyone had to buy LCD monitors when they stopped making CRT monitors.

    It's not that this is a bad move, it's just that the PR is disproportionate to the engineering.

  • StJimmy15

    Posted Aug 23, 2008 7:40 pm GMT

    how bout u stop giving us updates and give us the PSP2. crank this b**** out sony! i want 360 graphics on my handheld! lmao

  • halosniper52

    Posted Aug 23, 2008 6:59 pm GMT

    pop another stick on the right side there already damn.

  • jedikevin2

    Posted Aug 23, 2008 5:06 pm GMT

    Waste of sony's resources. Another hardware attempt to stop piracy since software stops failed badly.

  • Great_Ragnarok

    Posted Aug 23, 2008 3:57 pm GMT

    lmao I thought this was going to be the next PSP. I guess gonna have to wait longer for the PSP2.

  • BloodAndGore666

    Posted Aug 23, 2008 2:11 pm GMT

    I already own 2 PSP-1000's one with 1.5 firmware I use for emulators and the other I keep constantly updated for new PSP games. I don't see getting a new one until either the PSP2 comes out or they add another analog stick to the current PSP so I can play FPS's easier...

  • ps3thabest

    Posted Aug 23, 2008 12:12 pm GMT

    im trying to stay away from handhelds this year.

  • fynne

    Posted Aug 23, 2008 9:58 am GMT

    Ack!!! I just got a PSP slim (GoW bundle) so I can't justify picking this one up. I'd like to though. The screen ghosting was my biggest issue with the PSP, but I've gotten used to it now. I see that Sony is following the Nintendo model. They've always been able to get more GBA/DS sales with nothing but color changes. At least Sony actually has "improvements".

  • michelle_moraes

    Posted Aug 23, 2008 8:38 am GMT

    Wow, are those the only changes in the system? There is no way I'm getting another PSP!

  • berhaneric

    Posted Aug 23, 2008 7:48 am GMT

    i dont think sony will change the PSP to PSP2 or anything - i dont see this handheld getting any better other then maybe a second analog or better hardware or just little add ons here and there... but they should probably hold off on putting out newer versions of the psp until they get a couple more functions/improvements. (the same goes for nintendo and microsoft)

  • ben044

    Posted Aug 23, 2008 12:42 am GMT

    u know, these fetures could've been added on the psp-1000 rather than making us buy a completly new one...... again

  • mathdude415

    Posted Aug 22, 2008 7:59 pm GMT

    Great, another PSP, more improvements... but sony: c'mon, you should probably worry about getting more games instead of coming out with another PSP system

  • Paladin_King

    Posted Aug 22, 2008 6:30 pm GMT

    nice, a new PSP. now can we have some more game announcements to follow up the great year thus far?

  • killzone_gamer

    Posted Aug 22, 2008 4:23 pm GMT

    The screen looks mildly larger...
    A nice system. I wonder when the actual PSP2 will come out?

  • magusat999

    Posted Aug 22, 2008 11:58 am GMT

    The price is much better this time - how about the security?

  • magusat999

    Posted Aug 22, 2008 11:58 am GMT

    The price is much better this time - how about the security?

  • shmoey12

    Posted Aug 22, 2008 11:51 am GMT

    AWESOME! but i want 2 joysticks! i have a 1000 and am fine with it. but until they make 2 JOYSTIKS I ain't upgradin!

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