Comments from Sony Computer Entertainment Australia head Michael Ephraim suggest that new PSP hardware may follow in PSPgo’s footsteps and take the digital-only approach to content.
Speaking last week as rumours of a UMD-free PSP2 intensified, Ephraim told
GameSpot in a video interview:
"PSPgo was the first device of its kind where you did not have packaged goods or pre-recorded media, and I think PSPgo will blaze the trail for future iterations of the handheld.
“The handheld space is very crowded, not just in the games category but also with smartphones and so on,” he added. “So we’re happy we launched it so we can understand the market and we will re-energise sales very shortly with new promotions.”
Last week Ephraim
acknowledged that Australian PSPgo sales had been underwhelming, with the system moving under 25,000 units since its October 2009 release.
According to a recent
rumour, Sony’s unannounced PSP successor will launch in 2011 without support for physical media. Reportedly based on a powerful four-core Cell CPU and already in the hands of developers, the device is said to feature a touch-screen in addition to the traditional PlayStation buttons.