Rumor: QORE Confirms PSP Go, New Metal Gear Solid
It was the rumor that just wouldn’t die; despite repeated statements by Sony denying it, it seems that it’s finally time for the PSP Go to emerge from hiding. The source? Why, it’s Sony’s own QORE this time, making this all but official. Having appeared randomly on the Playstation Store this morning, the June issue of QORE comes packed with coverage of Fight Night Round 4, inFAMOUS, and the PSP Go. Thanks to an interview with Sony marketing director John Koller, QORE host Veronica Belmont has broken the information gates open regarding the new design of the PSP system. Here’s what we know so far.
The system, which will (of course) be formally announced at E3 2009, is, as rumored by Dave Perry previously, totally without an UMD drive. It features a sliding screen that, when closed, covers the system’s buttons and allows for greater portability due to its considerably smaller size. It features a 3.8″ screen, bluetooth compatibility, 16 GB of built-in flash memory, as well as an expandable memory card slot.
Koller also went on to mention a number of titles that will be featured on the system, including the previously announced LittleBigPlanet and Jak and Daxter, as well as the perpetually delayed Gran Turismo Portable, which he states will debut at E3. However, Koller may have just spoiled Hideo Kojima’s countdown timer, as he states that a “new Metal Gear Solid” is also coming to the upgraded PSP. Nothing is confirmed about this new Metal Gear except that it exists, but given the avenue of this announcement, we can expect to hear more at Sony or Konami’s press conferences later this week.
The confirmation of the PSP Go raises a few questions though; due to its smaller size and the lack of the UMD drive, will it be cheaper? If the Go is positioned and priced effectively, Sony could come out of the gates this holiday season with a blockbuster “gotta have it” gadget. Certainly, it can’t be more expensive than the current model PSP…at least we hope so. More news should be forthcoming at Sony’s E3 press conference on Tuesday, so stay tuned.
So customers are stuck having to choose between having guaranteed access to all PSP games, or possible but not guaranteed access. I’m assuming they will have the popular titles immediately available, like God of War, Crisis Core, or Dissidia…If not, then what’s the point?
This will be nice for playing downloaded PS1 games from the PSN though, with all that flash memory. Come to think of it, now would be the perfect time for Sony to announce that they’re bringing a bunch of PSN downloadable PS1 games out of Japan. They could show off their new PSP GO at E3 with FF7 on it or something. That would grab attention.
@Valnen – its a great strategy. keep both models on the market and see which one phases out the other first. if they both stay at 50/50 in sales, then sony will have accomplished thier mission which is to make the psp go a viable option.
i wil admit im on the efnce with psp go. i really need to think about which psp i want to buy this fall.
Choose between my CFW Sony PSP 2000 with my complete catalog of old PSX games… already owned UMD Games, no cheap sliding system (which makes the already fragile PSP even more dainty), Or a PSP Go! which won’t support any of my old games, can’t be cracked yet, and won’t allow me to have all of the games I already OWN playable out of the box.
Unless the PSP GO! can cure cancer and act as a small hand grenade in emergencies, then I’m sticking with my 2000. Sorry Sony.