PSP World

Sony's PSP Branching Out To New Devices?

When it comes time to buy your next PSP, it actually might not be a PSP at all. Inside sources have told the Wall Street Journal that Sony envisions a new generation of handheld devices that don't necessarily carry the PSP name -- but are still capable of downloading and playing games designed for the system. This rumor seems logical considering slow sales of Sony's PSP Go and disruptions to the handheld gaming space promised by Apple's App store and related devices. Instead of looking toward a possible successor to the PSP hardware -- a PSP 2 -- it makes more sense to imagine how Sony might scale the platform both up and down to capitalize on the existing library of games and draw in new customers.

In a move similar to Apple's recent iPad announcement, Sony plans to create an all-in-one e-reader, media player and games machine, sources say. This device is expected to be much larger than a PSP, perhaps about the same size as Sony's current generation of e-readers. With built-in wifi, a web browser, and access to Sony's new online digital distribution service, the device would offer stiff competition to other manufacturers in the tablet space. Implementing PSP compatibility would simply be the icing on the cake and could help differentiate the device from competitors.

Another direction that Sony could take is down. There has long been talk of a partnership between Sony and Ericsson to develop a PSP capable phone that would play downloaded games. According to the Wall Street Journal, these plans are still on the table and now involve more direct Sony involvement in the design of a mobile device that can access the company's online entertainment service. No details are yet available on what such a PSP phone would look like, but we expect to see it before any potential PSP successor.

The man to watch at Sony is Senior Vice President Kunimasa Suzuki, who is responsible for delivering Sony's gadgets of the future. Suzuki is in charge of Sony's Vaio computer business and the new team developing mobile products. He also serves as PlayStation chief Kazuo Hirai's deputy at both the videogame unit and the Network Products and Services division. We definitely expect to hear some exciting news from him regarding the future of the PSP product line soon.

Poor sales of the PSP Go may have Sony questioning the future of handheld devices limited to gaming.