We are now mere days away from the rumoured “PlayStation Meeting” that will supposedly announce the PlayStation Portable 2. Over the weekend, Japanese newspaper Nikkei published a report (kindly translated by Andriasang) claiming that the upcoming handheld will come equipped with a 3G chip for more portable network access than the current wifi-enabled version allows.
Whilst the PSP2’s 3G connection would apparently not allow for phone calls (I mean, how much more confusing could the PlayStation lineup get?), it would allow for a decent PSN service on the portable, something long asked for by owners of the original. As well as allowing for over-the-air game, video, and DLC downloads, such a connection would also make the system’s internet browser and Remote Play application a whole lot more useful. Add in the rumoured front-facing camera and you’ve even got potential PSP2-PS3 video chat. The Nikkei report claims the mobile service would be provided by DoCoMo, Japan’s biggest provider, but there’s no mention of any networks elsewhere in the world, or whether there would be a monthly fee (like a phone or laptop) or an inclusive free data allowance (like the Kindle).
The report also mentions a larger, OLED, touch screen on the front of the console, which runs contrary to what we’ve heard so far. The most recent rumours have talked about a non-touch screen, and a touch-pad of some kind on the rear. Of course, it’s entirely possible we’ll get both, but we could end up looking at a pretty pricey console if that’s the case – not that Sony haven’t done that before, of course. A touch screen could allow for easier conversions of big mobile titles to the PSP2, and maybe even pave the way for some kind of application (read: not just games) store on the device.
Of course, although Nikkei have their sources, this is all pure rumour and conjecture until Sony get around to finally announcing the thing, which should be this coming Thursday. If they do, you can be sure we’ll have all the details we can get our hands on here at TheSixthAxis.
Now all we need is trophies.
Source: Nikkei, via Andriasang.
teflon
I’d imagine that the 3G would only be usable for online gaming and minor web browsing were it to be free.
Even if it’s paid, I doubt they’d go for much content delivery. Perhaps games under 100MB could be downloaded, but definitely no more than that.
Then again, this does feel like wishful thinking. The 3G would kill battery life if you foolishly left it on… That is if the mythical machine would have a decent battery life to start off with!
tonyyeb
“The 3G would kill battery life” – it sure would. And it will be totally useless for anything like a racing game as the latency of 3G is appalling. In the best conditions I get around 300ms. My home broadband is around 100ms.
bunimomike
3G can get down to around 170ms or so but it’s still not going to allow for twitch-based gaming like the FPS world, for example. However, it would be fine for more methodical genres. However, the fact that 3G rinses batteries is a problem in itself.
JoshHood
The iPhone and the like do surprisingly well with 3G connections for online gaming.
tonyyeb
Can’t say that everyone is on 3G when gaming though. There could be a mix on wifi too?
beeje13
My home broadband is 67 ms and I thought that was bad??
jonny_bolton
Nice, sounds good. Thought I can’t bear to imagine what the price will be.
ElGuason
599….
PoorPaddy89
I don’t want a touchscreen – leave that to the 3DS, thank you. Touchpad on the back might be ok, but I can’t see this going any way different than the SixAxis tech – poorly used at the beginning, then just abandoned. Would like to be proved wrong though, of course.
I’m happy I don’t have any lectures on Thursday though. Should mean the news is out when I get up about midday, assuming the announcement is daytime Tokyo-time.
Hoping for decent backwards-compatibility though so I can sell my Go. I love it, but don’t really want to have two consoles for the sake of it.
Anyone want to take a stab at the price? I’m gonna take a punt at £299.99; got to be more expensive than the 3DS, but less than the launch PS3.
Screw it, I’m off to play Peace Walker!
JoshHood
I reckon no cheaper than £249.99.
Dange
£249 sounds about the right price, £299 tops (hopefully).
I’m liking the sounds of it having 3G, wonder how it’ll work for paying to use it.
would like to see trophy support, BC with PSP1 games, playable PSN games bought for PS3 would be nice, 2 analogue stick is a must too.
Don’t understand how a touchpad on the back will work though?
teflon
Why do you not want a touch screen?
I find it highly doubtful that a PSP2 would come along with a resistive screen, as in the DS, which would generally want stylus input, but rather capacitive multitouch, as you would see on an iPhone or Android.
I find the concept of a rear touch panel to be rather left field. It does have a kind of advantage in allowing you a sort of L2/R2 buttons to tap, and the convenience of your fingers resting there, but aside from general swiping and tapping, it’s not particularly useful, and seems to me to be overkill.
A touch screen, though, would enable an onscreen keyboard, and that instantly puts the PSP2 right up there and able to compete with the iPod Touch as a web browser, email client etc. etc. Then you’ve instantly got several BIG advantages over the 3DS.
PoorPaddy89
I dunno, a mixture of reasons. One being that if it tries to compete with other touchscreen devices I can’t see it doing well. I also think the gaming will suffer with developers trying to do stuff that suits so much better on iDevice or DS. I just want updated visuals and better controls, etc. Leave the innovative stuff to Nintendo and give the hardcore gamers a home console experience on a handheld; that should be Sonys USP with the PSP2.
Whilst a decent web browser etc would be nice, fact is we have smartphones for that. I can’t see features like this as a deciding factor in this next-gen handheld war
bunimomike
I’m afraid if Sony take the line of thinking you’re wishing for, it won’t ever be a success. They need to appeal to the mass market.
PoorPaddy89
Perhaps, but competing directly with apple and Nintendo has never been a particularly great move.
Watchful
Yeah, look how badly the original PlayStation did against the SNES and N64. /sarcasm
PoorPaddy89
Okay, recently then! Look, I’d love to be completely wrong and the PSP2 turns out to be a handheld that unites nations and cures cancer. I just don’t see it right now with what we (think we) know. If I am wrong though, I’ll eat my hat cooked medium-rare.
tonyyeb
I agree that a touch screen is pretty much a must have these days. It will benefit various areas as has already been stated.
PoorPaddy89
But why MUST we have it? I love my iPod touch and all but it just seems like it’s getting added for the sake of it. It’s like so many films having 3D. One distinctly average film makes a billion from it and everyone else joins in, though it’s not made anything I’ve seen particularly better.
beneddy
Hope it has 3G for browsing the interwebs and a touch for easy navigation on the xmb with the device slid down (if the rumours are true) but they shouldn’t add touchscreen to the games it’ll ruin them
cc_star
I like the idea of a handheld built around bleeding edge tech but I think Sony are missing a trick by not turning the PSP2 into the Sony equivalent of the iPod Touch alongside the of a PS Phone (not the PS Phone-lite or Xperia Play as it’s called)
This means the games & PSN will be impossibly fragmented, which will mean one or the other will be neglected by third parties. Poor show business-wise.
jayjay119
we already know which one will be neglected, the phone. Developers are naturally gonna go for the more powerful product. There is no point in making the PSphone and PSP2 like the I-phone and touch because they offer completely different levels of gaming. The phone will be to squeeze the last bit of life out of the PSP for the casual market, and the PSP2 will be for the hardcore gamer who wants a chunkier game on the go. I-devices are over-rated, they may be popular but only amongst people who do like diverse media in one place and are not solely looking at a gameing device. I cannot abide playing games on my itouch the touch screen analogue thing just isn’t efficient or tactile enough!
stueeeee
With the convenience of downloading things whenever and wherever on mobliles now, if PSP2 is to be a proper download device with minis version of iPhone games and smaller applications, it can’t really afford to not have a 3G option in it. And I barely use Remote Play anymore, most wi-fi spots are password protected now. Back in 2005 when psp launched if u were lucky enough to actually find a hotspot other than Mcdonalds it didn’t seem to have a password on it. Hope it’s not pricier than 3DS….
tonycawley
Surely the PSP2 IS the PSPphone? I just can’t see them producing 2 seperate handheld gaming devices in such a short space of time. Plus, if this is really including 3G, why not just go the whole hog and make the thing able to make phone calls? I’m just confused, I really am. I wouldn’t be surprised if there’s only 1 product coming out and that’s the phone and the PSP2 both integrated into the same device.
tonycawley
Oh, and if there’s no trophies, I wont be buying it :) (commence comments calling me stupid for my opinions!)
Samiro05
No I agree. It would be a big mistake to not include and continue the trophy system from PS3. I hope they continue it with PS4 or else some alternative which takes into consideration the current trophies.
JoshHood
It’s two devices man, the Sony Computer Entertainment PlayStation Portable 2 and the Sony Ericsson Xperia Play.
StevenHibs
I dont like the fact that there will be a PSPhone and PSP2, just merge them into one if the PSP2 has 3G ? Strange one ?
AJ
Oh man… It’s going to end up costing as much as a PS3! Maybe more.
tonyyeb
To be fair the PS3 is nearly 5 years old. If Sony released PS4 today it would be £399+.
Jas-n
Do you not mean £424.99?
AJ
But the two will be sold at the same time. I know that I would much rather pay less for a home console than a handheld.
mcphatty
The rumor mill is turning at full speed now! I’m looking forward to some proper rubbish in the next fewdays, 3G sounds good if it’s a one off fee like the Kindle. But why can’t they just make a mini ps2/3 running the same games?
Dange
guys genuine question- whats the deal with a possible touch screen on the back of the PSP2? front screen I can understand but don’t see what good it would be on the back of the PSP2, hows that gonna be of use? thanks in advance :)