UMD-less PSP2 due by early November?

Pulled podcast may have revealed that Sony will soon announce a new portable with a sliding front--and no optical disc drive.

Source: See below.

What we heard: Though rumors of a new PSP have ebbed and flowed throughout the year, this morning a hurricane of speculation descended on Sony's portable format. At its center was a podcast from 1up, the severely downsized former online arm of Ziff-Davis Media's game group, publishers of the late EGM magazine. The site is now a subsidiary of the Hearst Corporation, owner of the imperiled San Francisco Chronicle.

Though quickly taken down, the podcast's initial version was caught by the popular game blog Kotaku. Senior editor Michael McWhertor reported that the podcast's hosts bragged to have seen the new PSP firsthand. Called the PSP Go!--a title the hosts reportedly derided--the new handheld will apparently have a bigger screen and slide-out controls similar to Sony's mylo Internet device (pictured center). If true, the device's name could augur a US video download service for the portable, as it already supports such a service--called Go!View--in the UK.

Shortly after an edited version of the podcast subsequently went live, 1up posted an article that confirmed some PSP Go! details while shrouding others in uncertainty. On one hand, author David Ellis claims flatly, "According to sources directly involved with the new system, we have learned that Sony will quell those rumors by unveiling their revamped PSP at this year's E3 conference in June."

The new PSP will apparently, as rumored, be losing its UMD optical drive. Like Apple's wildly popular iPhone, it will reportedly come in two models with 8GB and 16GB of flash memory. It reportedly will not, however, boast the second thumbstick many PSP owners have asked for.

According to 1up's sources, the new PSP will launch in September in Japan with more than 100 "classic and new" digitally distributed titles. Ellis claims that the long-delayed Gran Turismo Mobile "is said to be one of the premier launch titles." Similar launches in Europe and North America will happen in "either late October or early November," according to the report.

Curiously, though, the 1up article went on to say the PSP Go! name was not confirmed, only "likely." It also said the design "could provide an 800x480 pixel touch screen for the system, as well as a camera on the system's backside" like the mylo. (Emphasis added.)

The official story: "We don't comment on rumors and have made no such announcements. It's a shame that a little speculation on their part gets so much attention."-- Patrick Seybold, senior director of corporate communications and social media for Sony Computer Entertainment America.

Bogus or not bogus?: With PSP rumors reaching a fever pitch and Sony itself promising big PSP announcements at E3 next month, something is definitely in the works. Given McWhertor's reputation, it's unlikely he'd make something up out of whole cloth. Throw in 1up's story, and this is looking not bogus.

447 Comments

  • SyedMoeed

    Posted Aug 14, 2009 5:22 am PT

    im happy but sad......i just bought my new 3000 and i also have a 2000 what'll happen to them,but hearing about psp GO! that it has 16gb internal memory and other stuff is great!!!!!

  • wertypop

    Posted Jun 23, 2009 2:05 am PT

    With the PSP go will new release titles such as LBP, assassin's creed bloodlines etc be on UMD for the people who own a psp 1000/2000/ or a 3000?
    also im thinking of getting a GO but i dont have wireless internet can you access the playstation store by plugging a GO into your MAC or PC?

  • samuelster

    Posted Jun 17, 2009 4:55 pm PT

    this is really cool im gunna sel my psp so i can at least shave some money of the price

  • Wings_008

    Posted Jun 2, 2009 1:44 pm PT

    @j0nxj0n
    your right, or make a UMD player peripheral

  • j0nXj0n

    Posted May 30, 2009 7:52 pm PT

    They obviously will have something to download regular PSP games for free. Probably some code that's on game cases already. Stop being stupid why would they make UMD PSP games obsolete and worthless unless you kept your old PSP.

  • spike120

    Posted May 30, 2009 5:05 pm PT

    I wont buy it if:
    1) It doesn't have a second analog stick
    and 2) It isn't backwards compatible

  • getinmahbelleh

    Posted May 28, 2009 2:30 pm PT

    i think the the "no more umd idea" is kinda cool so you dont have to worry about getting to a store and sony will probably get more profit since all the money is flowing right to them. so probably cheaper games will come out of this, but 16gb isnt a lot of memory for a system that will hold all the games...

  • Kyotain

    Posted May 26, 2009 3:25 am PT

    Is there really a point to getting rid of the UMD drive? You're just screwing over everyone who buys the new PSP so they can never save money and buy a used game or get money back by selling them. Yeah, the iPhone/iTouch did it, but it just took off. It's not mainly a gaming system, the PSP is.

  • Crabs4sale

    Posted May 25, 2009 12:37 pm PT

    It looks okay, but they release a new one every year so why bother if my first gen PSP works fine? I never liked mine that much; much less to spend the price associated with this slide-o-rama game.

  • OttoNL

    Posted May 23, 2009 4:35 pm PT

    why are ppl even discussing bout which is better, dsi or psp? everything that nintendo makes is fun, but crappy, crappy graphics, crappy controls if u ask me, and I dont need that touch-pad, i just want decent graphics, physics and games.

  • sickpain01

    Posted May 19, 2009 5:57 pm PT

    i cant wait to see the new psp(not psp2, that will have to wait cause sony rules and loves their fans and wants to give them the BEST... thanks SONY) its amazing how much jealousy goes around when it comes to SONY, especially on this website... anywho, that first "PSP2" concept up top, is VERY F@#%ING GAY nice try though and get over the second analog stick guys, come on now.... i love the analog(one) its unique and makes the games fun, save your tears for when the PSP2 comes cause its going to blow your minds away! And one more thing, I wish MICROSOFT and NINTENDO good luck its going to be a fun next gen battle this year and counting!...... HAIL SONY!!!!

  • alien-killa

    Posted May 19, 2009 2:30 pm PT

    I hope it doesn't have that slide design, it would make the shoulder buttons hard to use.
    And come mon no 2nd analog stick, isn't that what everyone wants from the next generation of psp?

  • backatcha

    Posted May 19, 2009 7:31 am PT

    Hurry up E3...I need some PSP info...can't wait for its November release.

  • taouin

    Posted May 19, 2009 7:01 am PT

    Hardware is getting tired, once again it's a new packaging but the same old ps2 limitation. PSP2 is needed so we can have 2nd analog stick and game taht can actually make use of it

  • killeridis

    Posted May 19, 2009 12:53 am PT

    This looks really cool but i got a psp if this comes i will sell mine and get that one if worth it. We will see if comes.

  • schawnneo

    Posted May 18, 2009 10:05 am PT

    No right analog stick again???

  • IceDefenseGod

    Posted May 18, 2009 4:45 am PT

    What PSP needs: the third and fourth shoulder buttons (R2 and L2) and a second analog stick.

  • theWanderer80

    Posted May 17, 2009 12:23 am PT

    I vote 2 analog sticks with L3 and R3 buttons! Sooo many games can make use of these small but fundamental additions!

  • noheartsniper

    Posted May 16, 2009 8:07 am PT

    this would only be mine if the following was made:
    2 analog sticks cmon im getting sick of using the 2 shoulder buttons to turn my camera

    higher cache for internet speed it takes forever to get on facebook or gamespot and the psp has so much potential to be a portable internet internal memory we actually need this so then were not always switching between our 4 gb and 1 gb memory stick ever hour

    dont do the crappy slide feature it will be so much harder to reach the shoulder buttons better music graphics

    also its too bad that i sold my psp to get a dsi but if the psp2 does make these adjustments then the psp2 would be added to my collection but at the moment probably not

  • gormo4

    Posted May 16, 2009 7:03 am PT

    @izdan - someones a bit of a pen 15.. -.-

  • itachi100

    Posted May 16, 2009 6:15 am PT

    i think it needs an analog stick thats not a b*tch!

  • allotheabove123

    Posted May 15, 2009 7:37 pm PT

    second analog stick, huge memory and downloadable psp umd games

  • msudude211

    Posted May 14, 2009 5:53 pm PT

    I want two analog sticks.

  • DonatelloToAll

    Posted May 12, 2009 5:52 pm PT

    The touch screen,and back camera would be cool,but I really hate that their is probably no way for backwards compatability for the PSPs UMD drives.Which would probably suck for many PSP owners who have created a huge collection of PSP games and would have to do the same for the rumored PSP2.But thats just my opinion on the situation,but I am still getting the PSP2 no matter what!

  • XXI_World

    Posted May 11, 2009 6:06 am PT

    The new camera, better screen and slide controls will probably be very comfortable when browsing web or listening to music or watching videos, but I don't think it'll be nice when playing game.
    And Sony should've put another analog on the new PSP.

  • aurora_born_93

    Posted May 10, 2009 8:18 am PT

    If the controls slide out and the shoulder buttons stay above the screen, good luck trying to reach the L and R buttons with the buttons out..
    .

  • rozac155

    Posted May 10, 2009 8:12 am PT

    i like it!
    i should sell my PSP so the price won't fall for me

  • Apex3835

    Posted May 10, 2009 1:19 am PT

    the new modeling will make watching movies great!

  • Linkman0714

    Posted May 9, 2009 3:17 pm PT

    my psp is covered in like 25 inches of dust...maybe if someone would make good games for it i would play it and maybe consider buying a new one

  • Mr_Fujiv1

    Posted May 7, 2009 3:23 am PT

    yea that would be wicked if it had two sticks and had a rumble packs plus try and make the screen HD

  • Lazule

    Posted May 6, 2009 11:43 pm PT

    Up the resolution, put a right thumbstick in and take out the UMD. We'll miss you buddy, you were a good friend. Unfortunately for you, the SD card is an even BETTER friend. But don't worry, you'll always have a special place in our hearts just for you... Along with the SNES, the N64, the PS1... *rambles on*

  • blancobo

    Posted May 6, 2009 3:46 pm PT

    UMD less PSP is a good approach. The Memory Stick can hold more memory than the UMD and the movies can all be watched via downloadable protected data. RIP UMD... (sobbing) I will miss you... we will never forget.

  • surppo

    Posted May 6, 2009 6:00 am PT

    i think this will probably be some kind of psp cell phone hybrid for mass consumers and the psp2 wont be anounced for another year

  • BeckMall

    Posted May 6, 2009 12:52 am PT

    yeah if a psp would cost as much as a regular console..there's no way in hell im buying it

  • biagio55

    Posted May 5, 2009 1:27 pm PT

    wou;dnt this cost like as much as a nor mal console anyway so it would be a waste of money to buy when you could buy a ps3 kinda pointless imo

  • biagio55

    Posted May 5, 2009 1:17 pm PT

    at muse tafa tht would be a leap towards perfection but aony seem to take little steps to milk all the money they can off 1 upgrade. maybe in 100 yrs time i think

  • nate_c-12

    Posted May 5, 2009 12:49 pm PT

    All I want is 2 analog sticks! Please!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  • muse_tafa

    Posted May 5, 2009 12:32 pm PT

    I want a psp 2 with better graphics n sounds,bluetooth,5 meg camera,built in flash memory 32 GB(at minimum) and a second joystick is a MUST!!!! otherwise I stick with my old psp-2000.

  • StuDevo

    Posted May 5, 2009 10:25 am PT

    I doubt if this is will released. If this is released the graphics will be psp graphics and just an upgrade like DSi or DS lite

  • Huracan24

    Posted May 4, 2009 7:44 pm PT

    Honestly if they just listened to what the gamers want they'd be making money. It's quiet simple sell what people ask for, not what sony thinks the consumers want. I passed on the first, the second, and the third psp in hope that they'd maybe just maybe include a second joystick.

  • Ameotoko

    Posted May 4, 2009 7:32 pm PT

    It's just a rumor. Seriously. I really doubt that they're going to release a PSP2 during the PSP's strongest upcoming year, and if they did I doubt it wouldn't have a second analog stick. If it's just another upgrade model, I don't expect another analog stick at all.

    The mock up they've got floating around looks horrid though. Do not want.

  • Dragonspear2462

    Posted May 4, 2009 4:39 pm PT

    Dang!...Wished they put a second anolog stick for better gaming...(Especially FPS)

    Well..it's still a rumor soooo we just have to hope we have some good news on E3...
    Anyone agrees with me????

  • riku19

    Posted May 4, 2009 3:24 pm PT

    lameage! i just got the psp 3000 this february and ur telling me theres gona be a newer version!!!

    why dont they make psp2 for that matter, remodelling isnt going to boost profits man!

    if sony is just going to remodel all the time i might as well just buy the DS, dum dum dum

  • WILL_423

    Posted May 4, 2009 1:33 pm PT

    Come on! Sony has had FOUR FREAKING YEARS to put a second thumb stick on the PSP!
    WHY HAVEN'T THEY DONE THIS YET! WHAT'S THEY'RE HOLD UP!? WHY!?!?!?!

  • Naedeslus

    Posted May 4, 2009 12:41 pm PT

    Honestly, they need a second analog stick.

    Seriously.

  • JNunnster

    Posted May 4, 2009 10:28 am PT

    Sony would have to be seriously dull to not realize how awesome a second thumbstick would be. Isn't that one of the BIGGEST complaints people have about the PSP? My Katamari made me want to cry T_T

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