INSIDE SOURCE: PSP2, PS3 $100 Price Drop Confirmed
OLC EXCLUSIVE NEWS:
PSP2 EXISTS AND PS3 IS GETTING $100 PRICE CUT
You’ve heard the rumors, you’ve seen the mock-up pictures, and now you get to know that yes, the next PSP does actually exist. Although we can’t get any pictures, hardware specs, or official announcements from Sony themselves, we can confirm that it’s been shown to some people, one of whom is VERY reliable regarding such matters. Our inside source recently met with Sony representatives, where he was shown the next iteration of the PSP, but not allowed to play with it.
According to our source the ‘Next PlayStation Portable’ includes these features:
- Rounded Edges
- Dual analog sticks
- Small sliding screen
- Similar size and thickness to current PSP model
- No UMD drive
This means it’s not shaped like the mockup pictured above, rather “it’s ugly and still bulky, and is (an) ugly gray color.” It does however include several of the features we would expect it to have which correlate to previous reports coming from Dave Perry. The same source also tells us that “Patapon 2 is kinda the test drive [for digital distribution], heard it said that if it fails massively, then Sony may reinstate the UMD drive. Said they are working out bugs for release.” Interesting.
Not only that, but our source has also confirmed that a $100 price cut is coming to the PS3 at E3, which we assume covers all existing models. Apparently vendors across the United States are stockpiling PlayStation 3 consoles in preparation for the drop at E3. We have contacted SCEA for confirmation on this story so, hopefully, more developments will be posted as we receive them.
UPDATE: We contacted Julie Han at Corporate Communications who thanked us for informing her that we will be running the story before responding “I don’t know who your source is, but Sony is not in the business of answering rumors.” I guess we shall see at E3 because that surely is NOT a denial on their part. More news if it comes in!
Fuck yeah. Now I’ll just wait for the 2, instead of buying that PSP3k off Amazon.
I won’t buy the PS3(PSP2) til it’s under $150!
Hmm. I still think I’ll be buying a 60 gig PS3 with my tax refund…
I look forward to the PSP2 though. I’m hoping it will either be as powerful as a PS2 or perhaps even have PS2 compatibility like the PSP1 has PS1 compatibility. It would be the best handheld ever.
@Valnen –
Honestly…I think it’s a bit premature to call it the “PSP 2″ as it is…from all the word I’ve heard, it’s more or less an update to the current hardware, not an entirely new handheld. Does the PSP really need a successor? I don’t think so.
@Phil Caron – But if you take into consideration a PSP without a UMD drive cannot play PSP games, then it is a successor. Oddly, because the original PSP can play games on the new PSP, there’s a strange forward compatibility without backward compatibility thing going on here that, as far as I know, hasn’t been done by console/portable makers before.
Also, when you consider that the PSP2 does have features not usable in the original which can affect gameplay (sliding screen, dual sticks) then you realize that what the PSP2 is is Sony’s version of the Nintendo DSi. A device that can serve games unplayable on previous devices (dual-stick/camera) but fails to play media that the previous device had (UMD disc/GBA cart). In my opinion, both devices should fail because both are simply mediocre upgrades from the previous generation without holding compatibility.
Not that I care who sells more but rather I care that this could lead to a bad trend that stifles actual innovation in the portable market.
PS3 IS TEH SUXORS!!!! ATARI 2600 4-LIFE!!!!!!! $ONY SHOULD BURN!!!!!
Lets hope you guys nail this…
nice story break! June 1 2009 is so far away
SWEET!
@Bleentastic – lol. keep on waiting there. dont forget to keep a sleeping bag and cantine handy.
price cut? Would be nice, I’ve already had a PS3 for over a year now and happy with what I paid and when I paid it. But with sales going up I’ll be thrilled to see added support to the system.
Yay my psp 2000 is getting so worn out it will be nice to play FPS on the psp but why a small screen and why not a touch screen??? thats all i want to know sony.