PSP 4000 in 2009; PSP2 arriving later

With 2008 on its merry way out, "publishing sources" have leaked news of a PlayStation Portable update next year to Eurogamer.

PSP 4000 in 2009; PSP2 arriving later

What's to come to the PSP 4000 model?

The PSP 4000, a final refresh model, will appear in late 2009, say these sources, followed by an official successor to the PSP at a later point. Make that 2011 or 2012, then, to speculate logically (and perhaps to coincide with the rumored release timeframe of Sony's PS4?).

If Sony follows precedent, bet on "PSP2" as the eventual successor's moniker.

I reviewed the last refresh, the PSP 3000, when it snuck without much ado onto shelves in mid-October. The changes were nominal, and the only two of any functional distinction were a new inbuilt mic and a brighter, more color-expansive LCD.

Unfortunately, that new LCD exchanged earlier models' "ghosting" problems for an irritating new one: interlacing. Move the viewpoint around in a 3D game on the PSP 3000, and faint black lines appear, horizontally stacked up and down the screen. It's like someone pulled a hundred-tine rake across the video feed, and once you've noticed it, it's nearly impossible not to.

A PSP 4000 would ostensibly remedy the PSP 3000's interlacing gaffe, though anything else is conjecture. A minor weight drop? Further ergonomic tinkering? I wouldn't expect much. Companies like to save their superstar features for full-family shifts, which is why some of the most head-slappingly obvious and programmatically superficial improvements in current iterations of Windows or OS X will never see light of day by way of prior version service releases.

Developers are reportedly already at work on games for the PSP's successor, says Eurogamer, which at best means they're testing computer simulations, and at worst, that someone's yanking the usual chains.

Long overdue feature request for the PSP-whatever-it's-eventually-called: Dual analog thumbsticks, please.

Via PC World

Comments [31]

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war02orc

why have one version when you could sell multiple versions to the same person? Personally, I feel jilted by adopting the PSP at launch, since some of the newer features on the new models would be nice to have (video output? I mean come on, could it be that hard to have a USB video output adapter for the original models???). If this model fixes the interlacing, I might pick it up for the video output so I can play on my HDTV when I am at home, but I feel like I'm almost being forced into purchasing a new model so I can have all the same features as everyone else....

VivaLeResistance

Train_of_Thought wrote:

Good Lord, it never is safe to have one version of anything anymore.

Lol...and I'm considering in buying the new nano 4g ...

anyway will the psp2 have ps3 graphics capabilities? that would be awesome.

THE POWAA OF TEH CELL IN THE GRASP OF YOUR HANDS WUAHAHAHAHAHAHA.!!!!!!!!!!!

maranda

the ps4 is coming out on 2011 or 2012????????? I haven't even bought the ps3 yet!!!!!!! I was going to buy it on 2009 but now......... didn't they say the ps3 was going to have a 10-year life cycle??????????????????????????????? PS FOR SONY: make it backwards compatible with the ps1, ps2 and ps3!!!!!!!!!! AND PLEASE DO NOT MAKE 50 different versions of the same console!!!! It's even stressful to decide what to buy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

ChitownShogun73

I'm still using and enjoying my original PSP. The upgrades have not been attractive enough for me to pick up an upgraded PSP.

True, it's not safe to pick up a portable system anymore because you never know when they are going to release the new verison of one portable (thanks Nintendo).

Monizzle

This pisses me off because my first psp had analouge problems and the screen cracked and then i got the 3000 and now they have yet another model. Also I dont think people understand there is no way a handheld would work with 2 of the psp's analouge sticks. Its almost impossible to hold 2 nubs and face buttions without it being akward that is why the psp only has one nub. They need to redesign the analouge sticks to make it easier to grip and keep the slim appel and pocket size fit which is going to be tough. The reason 2 analouge sticks work on consoles is because the controller cups your hand locking it while you move the 2 sticks at ease. the Flat psp doesnt have the luxury of being ableo to do this.

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