Sony has been quiet about its plans for the next PlayStation Portable (PSP) handheld game console, but lots of rumors have floated around gaming websites. Most recently, gaming site 1Up.com published an article indicating a new PSP version that is Universal Media Disc-less, and will be released sometime this fall in Japan and North America.
Along with losing its UMD support, the new PSP will have a sliding panel to reveal buttons and controls. 1UP's article indicates 8GB and 16GB models of the new PSP will be announced, with a memory card expansion slot included for both models.
I'm not surprised Sony is interested in dropping UMD support, as sales for UMD-based movies never really took off. Sony likely wants to put a stronger emphasis on downloadable video games. More than 100 games should be available for download when the new PSP finally launches in Japan, numerous media reports indicate.
The new device is expected to be announced during the Electronic Entertainment Expo in June. The Japanese market should be getting the new PSP in September, with a North American launch in October or November.
The PSP has routinely been outsold in Japan and the rest of the world by the Nintendo DS handheld console, which has seen solid sales numbers and been preferred by consumers, possibly due to the larger game catalog. Sony hopes to counter Nintendo's strong software offerings by announcing Soul Caliber, LittleBigPlanet, Rock Band, MotoStorm, and Tekken 6 for the PSP in the near future.
