PSP2: Everything We Know Sony hasn't announced anything yet, but we've put together a pretty clear picture of what to expect from the next-generation PSP.
It wouldn't be a Sony hardware launch without leaks foreshadowing an announcement. That was even one of their key jokes at E3 2009 -- acknowledging that everyone knew what to expect from PSP Go before it was properly unveiled. And now history is repeating itself, because though Sony hasn't said anything on the record, word is out that a second generation PSP is on the way.
But as with any news of this sort, it can be hard to tell which rumors to believe -- it's a safe bet that some of what you've heard is accurate, some is exaggerated, and some is wrong. So in an attempt to cut through the noise, we rounded up what we've heard about the new system, talked to a couple developers familiar with it, and put together a breakdown of what we expect to see from Sony once they officially show it off.
What Makes This One Different?
When the original PSP shipped, Sony had the most powerful handheld on the market and drove home that point as much as possible -- marketing their games as ambitious, graphically impressive, and in many ways on par with home console titles. Depending on your perspective, this was either counterintuitive to the concept of a portable system (where many players only play games for a few minutes at a time), or a breath or fresh air that allowed for more substantial games.
![[IMG]](http://www.1up.com/media?id=3873702&type=lg)
The December 11, 2005 launch of the original PSP in Japan.
From what we've heard, Sony is maintaining a focus on these kinds of games for the new system, with the system described as roughly half as powerful as PlayStation 3, and as such far more powerful from a computing perspective than Nintendo's 3DS.
Combine that with a screen described by one developer as "like the iPhone 4's retina display, but better," and it seems pretty clear that the platform is being built for high-end games. We can confirm the rumored Uncharted spin-off game is real and in development as a showpiece game along these lines.
![[IMG]](http://www.1up.com/media?id=3873703&type=lg)
This leaked photo of an alleged PSP2 development unit, courtesy VG247, shows what appears to be one solid touch pad on the back of the unit.
But unlike the first PSP, Sony is also including various control/interface options to allow for less traditional game concepts. According to developers we talked to, the feature list includes a touch pad on the back of the system to allow touch controls without fingers obstructing the screen, front- and back-facing cameras which will likely lead to augmented reality games, left/right and front/back tilt controls similar to those in the PS3's Sixaxis, and dual analog sticks to fix one of the main complaints of the original PSP's setup.
Essentially, the system seems as if it's been designed to allow developers to be as traditional or as outside-the-box as they choose.
And Sony Loves 3D, Right?
Given how much marketing Sony has put behind PS3 3D games in the past couple years, it's unusual to think that Nintendo's portable focus is 3D, and Sony's is not, but that's what we're hearing.
A cynical view here could suggest that Sony is pushing PS3 3D to help sell 3D-enabled TVs, and thus they don't have as much of an interest in doing that with their portable system, while an optimistic one could point out that not having 3D features in the handheld will allow developers to focus more on the graphically-ambitious traditional games that the original PSP was known for, since they won't have to spend development or hardware resources making things work in 3D.
![[IMG]](http://i.imgur.com/ZZXvm.jpg)
Our artist's rendering of what the PSP2 might look like, based on the information we've been given by industry contacts.
What Will It Look Like?
Back in November, website VG247 posted photos of a development kit version of the system showing a design with a sliding base similar to the PSP Go, which led many to assume that the system's final design would be similar. VG247 later updated their story, saying that the final design will be more along the lines of the original PSP.
We've heard similar things, and that there have been at least five different looks for the development kits in developers' hands. Seemingly, Sony is returning to the non-sliding design in part because they want to distance themselves from the bad taste PSP Go left in players' mouths.
![[IMG]](http://www.1up.com/media?id=3873706&type=lg)
This leaked photograph from VG247 is probably real, though the design of the PSP2 has apparently changed since it was taken.
Further distancing itself from the original PSP, the new system will also not use UMDs, but instead use Flash-rom carts, which will help publishers manufacture games more quickly should they need to ramp up production when a game sells out.
But When I Turn It On...
One of the main interface changes is that now each game will have its own space that you visit before you jump in and start playing. Think of it like what you currently find on PSN, with the ability to look at friends lists, download bonus content, and find other options relevant to whatever game you load up.
Is It Really Called PSP2?
Poke around online, and it's clear that a lot of people assume that's the name -- us included, if you look at the title of this article. But according to developers, Sony refers to the hardware under the codename "VITA." Realistically, we can't imagine seeing the name VITA in stores; it likely just exists so insiders can talk about the thing in secret.
From that perspective, "PSP2" seems like a safe bet. There's always the possibility that Sony could go with a different name, though, perhaps in part to position themselves favorably against Nintendo's 3DS. Remember that when Microsoft named their second Xbox, they didn't want to be viewed as Xbox "2" compared to PlayStation "3," so they came up with Xbox "360" instead. Since Nintendo's system has a "3" in the title, Sony might not want a "2" in theirs.
When Will We Hear More?
According to trade website MCV, Sony will formally announce PSP2 -- or whatever it ends up being called -- on January 27th at a press conference in Japan. 1UP is attending that event, though Sony won't say what it's for at this point, but these things don't get much more obvious, especially considering it makes sense Sony would want to get the word out before Nintendo puts 3DS on sale.
Current rumors peg the system to then launch in late 2011, but we don't know for certain on that front. If true, that will put it right in the middle of one of Sony's busiest holidays for PS3, with games like Uncharted 3 and The Last Guardian hitting stores at around the same time.
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