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PSP 2 ditching UMD drive?

  • By thorsen-ink, GameSpot
  • Posted Feb 26, 2009 8:00 pm PT

Source: The Twitter feed of Acclaim president and game-industry cognoscenti David Perry. What we heard: Ever since the Sony/Nintendo/Microsoft console war began in earnest in 2001, the Big Three have been fanatical about information control. Even the series of "leaks" leading up to the Xbox...

Source: The Twitter feed of Acclaim president and game-industry cognoscenti David Perry.

What we heard: Ever since the Sony/Nintendo/Microsoft console war began in earnest in 2001, the Big Three have been fanatical about information control. Even the series of "leaks" leading up to the Xbox 360's unveiling in 2005 turned out to be a too-clever-by-half alternate reality game.

Little wonder then, with the official PR process so rigidly micromanaged, that gamers pounce on the smallest iota of information that emerges outside of the publicity food chain. Lately, many tidbits have prematurely bubbled up via Twitter, the suddenly omnipresent microblogging service that has been seized upon by the mainstream media and midlevel celebs. Besides your actual friends, you can now follow CNN, the BBC, and the New York Times, in addition to Levar Burton, rapper Q-Tip, and Firefly alum Summer Glau, and the artist formerly known as MC Hammer (among many others).

However, gamers have known about Twitter for a while now, and tech-savvy developers and journalists have used it to communicate since 2006. Indeed, the past several months have seen several stories break on Twitter. Last December, Newsweek's game correspondent used it to report from an Activision meeting where Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 was first revealed. Earlier this month, the game's existence was further confirmed by a tweet from Infinity Ward director of communications and community manager Robert Bowling before it was officially announced during a February 11 Activision Blizzard earnings conference call.

This week, it was Sony's turn to be twisted in twain twixt Twitter tweets. In the post in question, Perry declared, "I hear Sony FINALLY has the PSP 2. And thank goodness, they've removed the stupid battery-sucking UMD disc drive. I'm excited!"

The official story: "We don't comment on rumor or speculation. Equally, we have no relation with David or his company, so [we're] not sure why there'd be any weight put to his comments to the press," said a Sony rep, before adding, "Did you see our PSP announcements [on Tuesday]? UMD isn't going away..."

Bogus or not bogus?: On one hand, Sony has a point that--with Rock Band, Assassin's Creed, MotorStorm, and Little Big Planet all just announced for the handheld--UMD isn't on the precipice of abandonment. On the other, Perry is an old hand with numerous contacts in the industry. Why would he spread speculation that he suspected of being false?

One possiblity: They could both be telling the truth, and Sony is planning a UMD-less PSP model to market alongside the UMD-drive-packing PSP. And keep in mind, the company already releases games as UMDs and digital downloads simuntaneously. So having the two hardware models overlap might be a way of segueing between game formats. Nintendo is doing something similar later this year, when it will sell the DS Lite, which has a Game Boy Advance slot, and the DSi, which loses the GBA slot in favor of DSiWare digital distribution capabilities, at the same time.

171 Comments

  • chesterwu

    Posted May 14, 2009 6:54 pm GMT

    I am against that Sony will stop use of UMD. First I need a fast wireless Internet Connection in order to play games which will is not comfortable since you can not play outside. Second I hate downloading games, it takes a long time since my Internet connection is low speed. I suggest that Sony use another drive like SSD card instead of using UMD drive.

  • 1995_1996_1997

    Posted Apr 23, 2009 6:55 am GMT

    if sony ditches the umd then they should invent a storage that is bigger to be able to run big games.

  • Roggirek

    Posted Apr 20, 2009 12:19 pm GMT

    Ladies and gentlemen, If sony DOES ditch the UMD, they will invent another new format that they have the rights and patents for. As far as psp2 goes, they need 2 analog sticks (not nubs) and 4 shoulder keys, as well as a better name. PSP2? doesnt really roll off the tongue. This PsP also needs to fit in a pocket and look less turd-like.
    That is all

  • brendanhunt1

    Posted Mar 10, 2009 9:56 am GMT

    the umd to me is pointless, just make a new one with a big hard drive

  • dethtrain

    Posted Mar 9, 2009 6:47 pm GMT

    maybe a mini blu ray drive instead of umd?

  • CaptainMuse

    Posted Mar 9, 2009 6:20 pm GMT

    so how are they going to store games then if it a download then there is more piracy going on then

  • freeezzzy

    Posted Mar 9, 2009 4:33 pm GMT

    it sucks the battery? i just hated it because of the noise!

  • Sarcian

    Posted Mar 9, 2009 11:42 am GMT

    Okay so... Being a portable gaming nerd, I have a DS lite as well as a PSP 2000. I am with pretty much everyone else that the PSP would skyrocket if two thumbsticks were used instead of just one. Ditching the UMD is a fantastic idea, but I think you should be able to copy "old" psp 1 games onto your memory card via an external UMD drive, or a usb cable between the PSP (1) and the PSP 2. I think that would make the system much more enjoyable. That would, however, cause Sony the same difficulty that PC game makers have had for a LONG time. How do you make sure people aren't copying games onto the disk, and trading them in/selling them, WITHOUT making the user have difficulties.

    ~Sarcian

  • Saint_Ducky

    Posted Mar 9, 2009 10:37 am GMT

    That would really stink if they stopped making UMD's for the PSP. I'm fine with them making a UMD-less PSP as long as they still sell UMD's, though. I love UMD's, and I think that they were a great idea. Sorry for saying UMD so much

  • xXZak-ataKXx

    Posted Mar 8, 2009 6:11 pm GMT

    yea mayb they should put a harddrive in it if they are gonna make another 1.

  • zakkess

    Posted Mar 8, 2009 12:39 pm GMT

    i dont think they would turn it into a phone. Just take a look at the nokia n-gage. Good idea but it wasnt ready, it was before its time. as long as they add another R stick, and make it so when you have your PSP fully charged and dont play it for a week then turn it on its not dead. that happens to me alot

  • XeonForce

    Posted Mar 8, 2009 11:49 am GMT

    PSP2, with a 20gb and 60gb model; that would sound cool to me.

  • xXZak-ataKXx

    Posted Mar 6, 2009 3:08 pm GMT

    well i dont think that the psp is bad at all. in fact the psp 3000 is way better than the DSi. So I dont think that the psp needs 2 change that much. Maybe just a longer lasting batterie is all that it needs. It has great games.

  • allotheabove123

    Posted Mar 2, 2009 5:27 pm GMT

    i sold my first generation psp for a ds and if the new psp 2 comes out i will ditch the ds and get it. Please have 2 analog sticks so you can play first person shooters

  • aurora_born_93

    Posted Mar 2, 2009 4:45 pm GMT

    I think it would be a great idea to lose the UMD drive... but not completely because it would most definitely suck if the PSP2 couldn't play old PSP games, it would SUCK. But do you know what would also be a great idea? Rumble function, since Sony usually likes to have Industry-first ideas (for example the joystick on a portable console) rumble function would be a great idea. I wouldn't complain either if sony decided to add another joystick to their new project. A High-definition screen would also be a wonderful idea as well. But lets not forget about Bluetooth either since Sony decided to go Blue with the PS3. There's so much room for Sony to progress, lets just hope that Sony uses it wisely (and that it doesn't cost 300 bucks).

  • jasonbarbour

    Posted Mar 2, 2009 12:25 pm GMT

    I like the Idea of a PSP, however, If it's not a phone as well I'm not interested... or lets say I'm not able... I have a finite amount of pocket space, enough for a wallet in one, and a phone in the other... no room for a PSP and its UMD's (and im certainly not wearing a fanny pack or backpack around)... so if they get rid of the UMD's and stick with memory sticks and downloads to an internal hard drive, add an R stick, and make it a phone then I'm starting to get interested. (if they added R2, R3, and L2, L3 then I'd be even more interested (and a tough screen)... and make it a more capable media player (music and movies)... add a music store along with the game and movie store (And a book store for my e-reader while their at it (they have another one but it would be convenient to have it all in one place))...

  • jasonbarbour

    Posted Mar 2, 2009 12:20 pm GMT

    Just put the games on memory sticks... (or downloadable from the PSN)... or both (when you buy a blu-ray movie these days you also get a downloadable version (not in high-def though)...

  • Nawras

    Posted Mar 2, 2009 12:45 am GMT

    interestig

    i wonder if they will release a PSP with a watered down PS3 power

  • hleflore

    Posted Mar 1, 2009 7:33 pm GMT

    A portable device with no external game cart or disc. Could this be the begining of Sony truly competing with Apple. Smells like epic fail to me. Sony has become more concerned with how powerful and how many options instead of how a device functions and how it looks.

  • msudude211

    Posted Mar 1, 2009 7:02 pm GMT

    Digital downloads are certainly more feasible.

  • RakinR

    Posted Mar 1, 2009 2:55 pm GMT

    the psp should dump umd, umds are garbage, only 1.6 gigs of storage. They should definteley upgrade and should allow ps2 classics and with a more improved game selection.

  • shadowkiller11

    Posted Mar 1, 2009 2:43 pm GMT

    as long as the psp has two analog sticks its already a big improvement.

  • V-Nine

    Posted Mar 1, 2009 10:20 am GMT

    ..I hate Sony. If they get rid of UMDs I'll hate them even more. I still use MD's (walkman model MZ-E40) and only Sony brand. PSPs are unique and ditching the drive will instantly make it a me-too device that some other company does better. Let it be a hoax of the highest order.....

  • GOAT_DUDE

    Posted Mar 1, 2009 7:56 am GMT

    I HOPE IT HAS R2+L2 AND SECOND ANALOG STICK AND MAYBE EVEN R3+L3.(=

  • GOAT_DUDE

    Posted Mar 1, 2009 7:54 am GMT

    I THINK IT SHOULD GET BLU-RAY UMD SO IT CAN HOLD MORE MEMORY.(=

  • jtthegame316

    Posted Mar 1, 2009 5:36 am GMT

    umd is just another stupid unessary format anyway just like memory stick duo enough with the stupid unessary formats sony.

  • supersonikk

    Posted Mar 1, 2009 2:43 am GMT

    It better have R2 and L2 buttons!

  • elswyan

    Posted Mar 1, 2009 12:49 am GMT

    Sony ditching UMD for their portable console's? Its a really bad idea as the UMD are quite unique on its own way..
    Look what made their Portable Console looks Unique? Its the UMD of course....
    I like The UMD's as it looks unique and with the shape it got as well as I don't had to worry of Games/Movies that I have being deleted as I could always had my hands on them compare than to the downloads which was quite troublesome no matter how many times I had to download them again should I accidentally deleted them or anything bad happen to the back up that I might had.....
    With the UMDs I can collect Games/Movies I like and treasured as a collection without worrying about getting deleted/lost from the memory stick beside of just losing the Game play Save Data on the memory stick.
    UMDs Shall Stay as every disc it got, it got a different design/illustrations/graphics on the Disc itself....
    Another thing that made me like the UMD was that it had a beautiful nice case with a nice good graphic/design/illustrations of covers in front of the case on it beside on the disc and also there's the manual/guide booklet for the games......
    With download or whatever digital downloading there is, you won't get to get what you guys always get to get from the UMDs for the portable consoles..
    Therefore I Enjoyed, Cherished and Treasured The UMDs I got and am going to get in the future as a collection as its what made the Portable Console a unique Console and am different from others..
    I'm happy and contented by What my Portable console is as the moment as its perfect with UMDs and Memory Stick.....
    I don't used Memory Stick to Play Games as I used it just to Store musics,MP4 videos,Themes, Pics and Game Saving Data from the Games I played on the UMD I played and owned so that I can continued playing again from where I left off previously...... I don't see that there's a point of Sony Ditching the UMDs from the Portable Console as it might made the Console losing its unique ability of playing the UMD disc and that there's no difference from Nintendo if it really ditching the UMDs...
    I'm not bothered to collect and storing UMDs on my Shelves and playing on my Portable gaming Consoles but and am bothered if UMDs going for Extinction in the future......
    UMDs for the Portable Consoles are just like those Blu-rays for the PS3 which is what made it Different, unique and stands out from other consoles of whatever brand there is in the market and Sony's Gaming Consoles shouldn't be compared with other brands console's as they are all different and had classes/styles of their own uniquely which is what made them all different.
    Please Stop comparing whatever Sony's Gaming console is with other brands Console as its all different.....
    I guess UMDs are to stay...........


    Els

  • julianwelton

    Posted Feb 28, 2009 6:46 pm GMT

    All I want for the PSP2 is two analog sticks, and for them to make it as hard to hack as possible.

  • airsoftmanic

    Posted Feb 28, 2009 2:50 pm GMT

    i never used my PSP for gaming and my Ipod plays music and video, has a better battery life and is alot smaller.
    sold my PSP ages ago due to its size and the fact it was yet another console i had to pay games for. i think the PC/360/PS3 combo takes its toll on my bank balence without more being added to the list. so, PSP2.......not interested.

  • bigsolid88

    Posted Feb 28, 2009 2:34 pm GMT

    hope PSP 2 have hard drive!!!!!

  • Mikethechimp

    Posted Feb 28, 2009 1:43 pm GMT

    @kavadias1981

    Calm down, between the announcement and actual release date there's at least a year space. And it hasn't even been announced yet.

  • brendanhunt1

    Posted Feb 28, 2009 1:17 pm GMT

    a way to play online anywhere in the world without relying on having to find a wifi hotspot

  • brendanhunt1

    Posted Feb 28, 2009 1:01 pm GMT

    it better have a big hard drive, im sick of carrying games with the psp

  • kavadias1981

    Posted Feb 28, 2009 12:08 pm GMT

    But I only just bought the PSP 3000. This is really annoying.

  • anik786

    Posted Feb 28, 2009 11:54 am GMT

    I hope this dosen't mean that the original PSP stop having new games

  • ddsloan96

    Posted Feb 28, 2009 11:37 am GMT

    If there is a PSP2, there should be a massive improvment of that crap nub, there should be a second one too.

  • Megavideogamer

    Posted Feb 28, 2009 9:50 am GMT

    It would be nice if the PSP 2 did have a hard drive, and 2 Analog nubs this time?

  • sheldonlt

    Posted Feb 28, 2009 9:47 am GMT

    for god sakes put a second analog stick on this one.

  • feliscele

    Posted Feb 28, 2009 9:07 am GMT

    What would they replace the UMD drive with? Or will they just do digital distribution? If they do, the PSP2 better have a hard drive.

  • mcjakeqcool

    Posted Feb 28, 2009 6:11 am GMT

    The PSP 2 won't be releaced until at least 2011, as the PSP 2 will be a next generation console, the PSP slim and lite and the PSP 3000 on the other hand are current gen consoles as they are the same spec as the psp, just with a diffrent disighn, Microsoft, Nintendo and Sony have all said that they will releace there next generation consoles in 2011-2012.

  • xxxarlow

    Posted Feb 28, 2009 3:25 am GMT

    @killzone_gamer (=gullible)

    Re-read the article and try and realize its a blatant attempt to advertise Twitter, with some poorly constructed Rumour Control.

  • killzone_gamer

    Posted Feb 28, 2009 1:46 am GMT

    xxxarlow = paranoid....
    But thats an intresting thought, maybe a PSP with like a 10gb HDD or something. But they would have to find a way to MASSIVELY compress game if you were ever to have a collection
    I'll stick with UMD, I like boxes, instruction manuals and physical discs!

  • xxxarlow

    Posted Feb 27, 2009 11:45 pm GMT

    Great Advertising for Twitter there Gamespot!!.......you really do think your users are stupid.

    *Wonders on how much commission the board room meeting agreed between Gamespot execs and Twitter execs*

  • PumpkinBoogie

    Posted Feb 27, 2009 9:13 pm GMT

    Hmm, somehow I have to say I don't hold much grain to an idea like that right now. I mean, sure the DSlite and DSi will be simultaneously marketed together, which shows that two formats could exist--but at the same time, the only grand difference between the two, again, is the fact the GBA slot is removed from the DSi--both overall still support DS titles/cartridges (if that's what you wanna call them). This is why that concept works. Personally, at the present time, I don't think a UMD-less PSP would work because frankly--as the article mentioned--for one, Sony's releasing too many new titles this year (or in the near future) that WILL be on UMD. Secondly, there aren't even enough PSP Legacy titles, or in the regular Downloadable games section, in the PSN Store RIGHT NOW to justify suddenly eliminating the UMD.

    Not trying to say dude is lying or anything, but c'mon....sourcing from a Twitter blog feed from this guy? At best for right now, I'm handling this as bogus as it's really not much strong evidence to suggest anything otherwise....

  • Spider-Jim

    Posted Feb 27, 2009 8:53 pm GMT

    If in 5 years sony release a new psp with no UMDs and digital download with an entire back catalogue of sony games (PSX,PS2 & PSP) and maybe sign up a deal with Sega for all their games(Master system, mega drive/genesis ,dreamcast and Gamegear) and any other companies and charge decent affordable prices. Then and only THEN will I be interested.

    I hate having to carry around a psp and its games in my bag , the whole "pocket" idea is thrown out the window when you have to carry games too.

    Digital download is the future, I love my iPod and would love a gaming machine that does the same.

  • baystatethrashr

    Posted Feb 27, 2009 8:52 pm GMT

    i saw a sick picture of a PSP the other day. it looked fake but the screen slid up and underneath was the d-pad, face buttons and 2 analog sticks i hope that it could prove to be somewhat real

  • Spider-Jim

    Posted Feb 27, 2009 8:37 pm GMT

    I aint buying another psp and that's final ! i only just bought my slim last year!!

  • lewser5

    Posted Feb 27, 2009 8:31 pm GMT

    Awhile back i remember they tested movies on memory sticks in the UK and they didn't do so well. But games on memory stick will be good or even better if you can rip the umd games on to the sticks so you wouldn't have to use the drive. How bout it sony?! Xbox already does it with their consoles and Nintendo is doing somethin similar with there DSi.

  • majere613

    Posted Feb 27, 2009 6:09 pm GMT

    It's worth remembering that since the PSP was first designed, flash cards have gone way up in capacity and way down in price. Even so, I was a bit amazed when I installed a couple of games from PSN (Def Jam FFNY and Guilty Gear) and saw just how small they are. If you have a PS3 to store games on, then a UMD-less PSP looks very attractive, but I'm not sure how a stand-alone PSP would work, unless they start putting the games on seperare flash cards.

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