May 1 3:32 P.M.
The much-rumored redesign for the PSP now has a name, according to widespread reports this week.
Soon to be yesterday's model
Quoting sources "directly involved with the new system," gaming site 1up says the new machine will feature a larger screen, slide-out controls, and perhaps even an integrated camera and touchscreen. It'll also, as widely expected, ditch the unpopular UMD optical drive in favor of 8 or 16 GB of integrated flash memory. And it's likely to be called the PSP Go!, to dovetail with Sony's existing range of Go!-branded PSP add-ons.
Sound familiar? It should. If the rumored camera and touchscreen are included, it'll bring the PSP into very close competition with the feature sets of its competitiors, the Nintendo DSi and Apple's iPhone.
1up's sources indicate the new portable will see a US release in time for the year-end shopping season, probably in late October or early November. If true -- and Sony's repeatedly refused to comment on any PSP redesign rumors in the past -- we'd expect to see an official announcement at next month's E3 video games trade show. Watch this space.
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Posted: 1 May 2009
