16GB PSP Go revealed early, new PSP MGS confirmed?

[UPDATE] Pre-E3 2009: Leaked video from next month's Qore reveals SCEA's John Koller touting Mylo-style sliding screen handheld with no second thumbstick, built-in flash memory; Gran Turismo Mobile to be reannounced at E3?

Though Sony's E3 Press Conference isn't until 11:00 a.m. on June 2, one of its centerpieces appears to have been prematurely exposed. A YouTube video of what appears to be the next issue of the PlayStation-focused video magazine Qore has revealed that Sony will use its event to unveil a new PSP model, the PSP Go.

As had been widely rumored, the PSP Go will have a sliding form factor like the Mylo, Sony's ill-fated Internet communicator device. The new handheld--which does not sport a second thumbstick--is shown several times in the video, which features Qore host Veronica Belmont and John Koller, director of hardware marketing at Sony Computer Entertainment America.

According to Koller, the main differences between the PSP Go and the PSP-3000 are "on-board memory, the flash memory, and 16 gigs of space. There's Bluetooth on board as well, so you can use a Bluetooth headset, and you can tether it to your cell phone as well. But ultimately, it's the portability. Since you can bring all that content with you in a smaller form factor, you've got the most immersive games to play, and now you've got a smaller unit to do it with."

Koller also said the emphasis will be on downloadable games. "Little Big Planet, Jak & Daxter, and even a new Metal Gear Solid coming--all of those games will be available. So will all the first-run movies you can rent or buy on the PlayStation Network. So you can bring so much content over with you and fill up that 16 gig of flash memory." (Emphasis added.) The new MGS PSP game was previously hinted at in a Web post by the Japanese arm of the 7-Eleven convenience store chain.

Koller also appears to reveal that the long-lost PSP Gran Turismo Mobile game--first shown off in 2004--will resurface at next week's expo. "There are games like Gran Turismo being announced at E3," said the executive.

Host Belmont then asks, "So since it's called the PSP Go, I would image it will work with Remote Play as well." Koller responds with the following blanket statement: "Integration with the PS3 is very important, and it works just like the PSP-3000. A lot of people like to be able to take their PS3 content with them on the go."

As for the PSP Go supplanting its predecessor, Koller said flatly: "It won't replace the PSP-3000. We're going to keep them both on the market." Koller did not mention a price, release date, or whether or not it would have a touch screen when closed. Sony Computer Entertainment America reps had not responded to requests for comment as of press time.

[UPDATE] A second video from Qore shows the PSP Go in even greater detail and also reveals its logo. The handheld will have a 3.8-inch screen--versus the PSP-3000's 4.3-inch screen--and will be 43 percent lighter than the original, and it will have "all digital content," according to Koller. "The UMD drive goes away...and it has a Memory Stick Micro, so you can add memory to it if you like. ... It will be something the digitally savvy consumer can really enjoy," he explains, before revealing that some new PSP games will be download-only.

The full YouTube video is below, although the sound and images are out of sync. It appears to also show a version of the original Warhawk for the PSP:

1325 Comments

  • BigBoss2014

    Posted Jul 4, 2009 10:43 am PT

    psp2 really

  • AZH333

    Posted Jun 10, 2009 2:24 am PT

    @LittleYoshi

    Ah, yes its the "same thing", i guess i should rephrase.. i am planning to purchase GO when グランツーリスモ comes out on the platform. Forgoing the 3000. And as for the gaming being identical, you will find the control layout, 3.8-inch widescreen quite different from the current 4.3-inch ones.

  • LittleYoshi

    Posted Jun 9, 2009 5:31 pm PT

    When is this episode of Qore (June 09) coming out? This Thursday?

  • LittleYoshi

    Posted Jun 9, 2009 5:29 pm PT

    @AZH333

    All games on the psp will be on the go.....is the same thing.

  • SQUALL20XX

    Posted Jun 9, 2009 11:51 am PT

    Too bad it was revealed before, any way Sony rocks

  • AZH333

    Posted Jun 7, 2009 12:42 am PT

    If Gran Turismo for PSP is realeased on the GO, then for me it would be a must buy.

  • SSBFan12

    Posted Jun 6, 2009 8:04 pm PT

    I hope the PSP go will be good.

  • msudude211

    Posted Jun 5, 2009 2:27 pm PT

    Leaks... tisk tisk. Hopefully next year Sony will do better at keeping these things under wraps.

  • mido321

    Posted Jun 4, 2009 7:13 pm PT

    i want a PSP PHONE

  • mido321

    Posted Jun 4, 2009 7:12 pm PT

    new psp no umd what the hell

  • cdjjoselito

    Posted Jun 4, 2009 6:47 am PT

    The 2nd thumbstick, the vibrating function, the L and R Buttoms in the back perhaps bothering my fingers with the side scratch...
    But what about my UMD Games collection? Will Sony send me an equal amount of Memory card for me to save them on it?
    And what about the people that uses the movies on the psp?
    The economic factor is relevant on this times. Now the money is more hard to get.

  • Visa004

    Posted Jun 3, 2009 9:18 pm PT

    what, now it turns into a half ds? the point for "PSP" is that they have an analog stick and it let's you play smoother. now, no matter how good the tech is PSP's value has drop. it doesn't even look like a PSP anymore. it looks like those cell phone with the keyboard on it. that's not PSP.

  • 25JoShUa25

    Posted Jun 3, 2009 8:21 am PT

    hmm...they really did a good job on the style.....

  • pac-man35

    Posted Jun 3, 2009 8:06 am PT

    did they fix the awful internet

  • PSFreak1

    Posted Jun 3, 2009 6:41 am PT

    looks pretty good to me

  • Warnerator

    Posted Jun 2, 2009 9:41 pm PT

    I can imagine things pretty well in my mind, I can usually tell a lot about a product from pictures, shoot I dream about places I've never been or seen yet they are real, lol. And I can tell you from this picture that it will probably feel wonderful in your hands....or I could be wrong and this device will end up giving you carpal tunnel syndrome.

  • pakhair

    Posted Jun 2, 2009 6:52 pm PT

    Yeah.............

    It was real...............

  • jerkface7

    Posted Jun 2, 2009 3:19 pm PT

    i may have missed this but can the orginal psp play the new psp

  • galduke

    Posted Jun 2, 2009 1:03 pm PT

    lol gameboy micro.

  • sakuranoame

    Posted Jun 2, 2009 12:05 pm PT

    I actually think my PSP-2000 is prettier than this... oh well...

  • assassinX01

    Posted Jun 2, 2009 9:41 am PT

    Seriously? How ******* hard is it to add a second analog stick to the damn thing? We're getting a smaller screen with essentially identical functionality, with a higher price tag? Pass. Looks like I won't be getting any handheld any time soon.

  • Artithan

    Posted Jun 2, 2009 9:41 am PT

    Why make new ones? I still have the first PSP and it still works... Who cares about sleek new looks... I would stick with the one that I can drop and wont break.

  • gmax Site moderator

    Posted Jun 2, 2009 8:52 am PT

    Something for the PSP fans.

  • somethin112

    Posted Jun 2, 2009 8:48 am PT

    It looks like it'll be a good buy

  • deathjester1990

    Posted Jun 2, 2009 7:50 am PT

    i think they shot there self in the foot for making the screen smaller i do not like the new stile at all

  • blink-jfg

    Posted Jun 2, 2009 6:47 am PT

    Looks cool, though I probably won't get it since I've got the original full sized PSP.

  • Benjie234

    Posted Jun 2, 2009 5:09 am PT

    @aekforever
    Hope you're right!

  • aekforever

    Posted Jun 2, 2009 4:23 am PT

    I think it will be a failure. hope i'm wrong.

  • Joe6391

    Posted Jun 2, 2009 12:41 am PT

    I can't judge now, but this doesn't look comfortable to play on...

    But as I said, that can't be judged from small pictures and hand models...

  • soupa_mario

    Posted Jun 1, 2009 11:11 pm PT

    I don't like the idea of download only. Not everybody has a wireless network you know.

  • KreepLX

    Posted Jun 1, 2009 10:49 pm PT

    Reply to sora-roxas-ven... The PSP is the size of a standard controller so unless you are missing three fingers and cannot use the regular DualShock, you would hold it the same way. The problem lies with a company that does not listen to their customers and continues to try to dodge requests to implement something that has been desired since 2004.

  • KreepLX

    Posted Jun 1, 2009 10:42 pm PT

    This just blows my mind... that they did not include the second analog stick!!!! What a great example of not listening to anything the customers asked for for your great new product. I can just imagine the thinking behind the engineers throughout the development process... Well, since the device is not compatible with our previous product and we are focused more on compatibility with the PS3, let's make the functionality difficult when we port the content by removing an imperative controlling module of the controller. Words just cannot describe the mistake they made. I mean, why would you buy this instead of a 16GB memory stick duo (selling on amazon for $56 used by the way)? The blue tooth support? They will have to try to spin this by adding support for the PS3 controller -the only chance this new product will have to make sales.

  • sora-roxas-ven

    Posted Jun 1, 2009 10:32 pm PT

    Think about it guys, two analog sticks might sound good, but how would you hold onto the PSP? It would fall out of your hands every time you tried to use both sticks at once, unless they did some major remodelling

  • Cybrggame

    Posted Jun 1, 2009 10:08 pm PT

    @xXDante666Xx

    SOUNDS GOOD TO ME!

  • Cybrggame

    Posted Jun 1, 2009 10:05 pm PT

    I hope Microsoft doesn't make a handheld system. The next thing we know they'll take over the world.

  • Cybrggame

    Posted Jun 1, 2009 10:03 pm PT

    I was worried about having enough space for games on this system initially too. However I looked up the size of Patapon 2. ONLY 362 MB. Here is the link to the site i found this info on (http://news.cnet.com/8301-17938_105-10233559-1.html) The hard drive comes equipped with 16 GB, and in addition the gamer has the option of one memory stick. Now, this doesn't make up for the missing second stick, but it should quell any doubts relating to storage space.

  • Ace9590

    Posted Jun 1, 2009 9:39 pm PT

    2 ANALOG STICKS! AAHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  • Mr-47-47

    Posted Jun 1, 2009 9:38 pm PT

    at least they make it run PS1 & PS2 games , this will make it more better then any psp

  • johnrare

    Posted Jun 1, 2009 9:00 pm PT

    Whats so good about the new psp go, seem nothing interesting in it.
    the only thing new is that hold extra 16gb and has wider screen and its only a slider,
    its lighter but its wider which not good for anything, might not even fit in jeans pocket,
    seem to be a lot more then the normal price of the psp 3k

  • tawagivercetti

    Posted Jun 1, 2009 8:57 pm PT

    Sony love to dissapoint people, whats their problem. I wish microsoft would enter the portable market, zune with xbl arcade maybe?? xbox live anywhere.

  • TheRandom6

    Posted Jun 1, 2009 8:53 pm PT

    Not too mention a smaller screen and possibly less battery life. Really...who cares? Make something worthwhile geez!

  • TheRandom6

    Posted Jun 1, 2009 8:48 pm PT

    So what about all of my 45 UMD original games with cases? They basically mean nothing if i get a PSP Go? This is a small step for Sony, they should take their time and make something thats a whole level above. Whats the rush to keep releasing new handheld consoles that are olnly SLIGHTLY better than the previous!?

  • architect_shake

    Posted Jun 1, 2009 8:32 pm PT

    Two analog stick with additional two shoulder buttons and 160 gb of HD spacewould be nice.

  • xXDante666Xx

    Posted Jun 1, 2009 6:54 pm PT

    @Facuff: This isn't the PSP 2 it is a redesign of the PSP. They would have to overhaul the drivers of the PSP games to add that new analog stick. I just want them to give us any form of a hard copy of our expensive games. AND to give me an extended battery life, the current PSP's battery life is a joke compared to the DS lite (which I live by as well as judge any handheld quality on). I own a PSP 1000 and was happy with it until it broke, I've just always been meh cause of the battery life.

  • facuff

    Posted Jun 1, 2009 6:23 pm PT

    cant we just have a psp with two analog sticks for crying out loud!!!

  • inquen

    Posted Jun 1, 2009 6:07 pm PT

    Well, Let the games begin, Apple will eat their lunch in the U.S. once again. Apple is the king of digital distribution now!

  • bugsysaf

    Posted Jun 1, 2009 5:50 pm PT

    Boooooo! Why is Sony not listening to us? All we want is a freakin' second analog stick so we can aim our guns at pixely bad guys! Instead they give us a smaller screen and a pathetic flash drive. 16g is not sufficient unless purchased content will be forever available for re-download once purchased. Finally, it looks stupid. I would be embarassed to carry it around with me. I'm a big guy and need something substantial to hold in my man hands. 3.8 screen?? My poor eyes!

  • xXDante666Xx

    Posted Jun 1, 2009 4:59 pm PT

    As a second problem I just realized and searched the validity of my statements. First battery life. I know that the PSP is plagued by the UMD spinning stealin battery life but will it be enhanced? I hate that I practically am wired to a wall all the time. Also my second idea that I have is this. Why not sell the codes on a card just like with the PSN cards? With a special serial code that allows people to buy the games and then you go home and have a physical card in case the games ever get deleted? Also you can go into the store and for a minimal fee (say a dollar). You can have your old games transfered to the card format to put into the PSN to get your game again. I think that is a flawless idea.

  • jimmyjazz_518

    Posted Jun 1, 2009 4:39 pm PT

    it doesn't even need a 2nd analogue stick ... just put that first one where your right hand can get it; who needs 2 different left handed controller pads? i mean seriously, is it designed for some freak mutant 3 armed, 2 of them left, type of person?

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