A PSP 2 in development? According to a reputable source, the idea of a new PlayStation Portable is making progress at Sony Interactive Entertainment.
On November 15, 2023, Sony Interactive Entertainment released new hardware, PlayStation Portal. If it looks like a portable console, it is not. In fact, it is a remote playback device capable of streaming PS4 and PS5 games from a PlayStation 5. You will therefore need the manufacturer’s latest device, the PS Portal, and absolutely a very good connection at home, at least VDSL2, but fiber optic preferably. The peripheral, criticized before its release, is ultimately a success and thanks to it, a real PlayStation could soon arrive on the market.
A new PlayStation Portable in the pipeline?
The PS Portal has been criticized for its limitations and price. Unlike a PlayStation Portable, PS Vita, or newer true portable consoles like the Nintendo Switch or Steam Deck, it doesn’t allow you to launch titles from your library. It’s only used to stream games from a PS5, and Sony doesn’t even allow PS Plus Premium subscribers to stream games via cloud gaming. Such a feature could well be available in the future, although the manufacturer has made no commitments in this regard. But even without that, to everyone’s surprise, it’s a hit.
A success that could lead Sony Interactive Entertainment to produce a new PlayStation Portable? On X, leaker Tom Henderson revealed that many people showed great interest in this market at Gamescom 2024. « Almost everyone at Gamescom had interesting discussions about portable consoles. I think you should save your money a little longer if you plan on getting one. It looks like there will be more options and improvements to come (I’m not sure about the exact timeline). »
One user asked if this could include a PlayStation Portable 2, and Tom Henderson’s answer is hopeful. « The PlayStation portal has been very successful and is closely monitoring the current portable console market ».
A possible return of the PSP?
A few months ago, a Russian journalist, Anton Logvinov, said he had heard that a PSP 2 was in development. The problem, however, is that the launch lineup would only consist of PS4 games, especially titles ported to PC, such as Horizon, God of War or Ghost of Tsushima. It’s good… but not great either. There’s little point in paying a tidy sum to play old games of this kind. Sony could then add cloud gaming to this PlayStation Portable, but that too would represent a limit that would be difficult to accept.
To be competitive, it must necessarily be at the level of the Steam Deck, ROG Ally or even the future Nintendo Switch 2. Is such a scenario possible? Absolutely, yes. Sony Interactive Entertainment’s finances are extremely good and the company would therefore be strong enough to support a PlayStation Portable. But the problem is that we have to give ourselves the means to do so, and when we see the support for PSVR2, we tell ourselves that a PSP 2 that is not a real entry-level hit has little chance of being abandoned very soon. For your part, are you ready for a new PlayStation Portable?
Source: Tom Henderson.
