PSP World

Sony PSP E3 Predictions

E3 2009 is just around the corner, and the industry press is already chomping at the bit to get its hands on information about what secrets the conference will reveal. By far the most important part of the E3 event are the individual console manufacturer press conferences, where spokespeople from these companies take the stage to demo their latest games and hardware. The Sony press conference will take place on June 2nd at 11 AM, and we expect the Japanese hardware manufacturer to drop some major megaton news regarding their upcoming business plans. Below, we offer some predictions about what the conference may have in store for PSP and PS3 owners. As usual, sources cannot be named and deniability is de rigeur.

PSP E3 Predicitons:

Shadow of the Colossus PSP Announced - To accompany its even bigger announcement that a Shadow of the Colossus sequel is in development for the PS3, Sony will reveal a smaller handheld port of the popular franchise. The handheld version will be built largely from the same engine that powered the PS2 game and will bridge the gap between itself and the upcoming PS3 title, much the same way as Resistance: Retribution did.

PSP Go! Revealed, Priced at $169.99 - This new iteration of the PSP hardware will drop the UMD for downloadable content and slide-out controls, but will remain largely unchanged from its predecessors. Besides the aesthetic touches, the most significant change will be the addition of on-board storage for downloadable content - 8 or 16 GB in size. The old PSP 3000 model will also get a price drop leading up to the release of the next hardware revision.

Gran Turismo Portable Announced, Dated for 2010 - The automobile simulator is under development, with input from Polyphony Digital. But the game is not far enough along to launch along side the PSP Go! and will probably slip to early 2010. But it is coming, guys. Seriously, we mean it this time.

A New Twisted Metal PSP - speaking of driving games we haven't heard from in a while, here's one that is sure to please Sony fans. Incognito and Sony will unveil a new Twisted Metal PSP game to coincide with the upcoming release of Twisted Metal on the PS3 (oh yeah, that's coming as well).

PSOne classics coming to North American PSN - Japanese gamers already have Final Fantasy 7 on PSN, but we will be getting it as well. Along with a host of other classic titles, expect to see Metal Gear Solid and Resident Evil: Director's Cut arrive on the service in 2009.

The Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3) is the premier opportunity for video game makers to show off their new products.