Sony announces new PSP model

By Fred Dutton Published 16 August, 2011

UPDATE: First images, more details.

UPDATE: The new model will be called the PSP E-1000, according to the PlayStation Blog, and has a matte charcoal finish.

While it has no wi-fi, you'll still be able to buy downloadable games from the PlayStation Store via Media Go.

See below for images of the revamped portable.

ORIGINAL STORY: Sony has announced it's bringing out a budget €99 PSP model.

The detail-light Gamescom announcement didn't mention a name or exact release date, only stating that the system "plays all possible PSP games", suggesting it's UMD-friendly. It'll have no wi-fi and be on sale some time this Autumn.

We'll update when additional information comes in.

Sony also announced that the PSP line has now shipped over 71 million units worldwide during its lifetime

Picture of Fred.

About Fred Dutton

Fred Dutton is Eurogamer's US news editor, based in Washington DC.

Read more articles from Fred by visiting the Fred Dutton archive page.

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Comments (77) Latest comment 9 months ago

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  • GuiltySpark #1 9 months ago

    Pointless much?

  • TheBlackBandit #2 9 months ago

    What the hell?

  • handsonhips101 #3 9 months ago

    @guiltyspark:

    Very much so.

    How much money went into the r&d of this model do you reckon?

  • randompanda #4 9 months ago

    Surely the only people still buying PSPs are the Japanese, and they use it to play Monster Hunter with each other. Why ditch the only feature they actually use?

  • Iain815 #5 9 months ago

    No wi-fi? How utterly useless.

    Why would anyone bother buying if Vita is out early next year?

  • youhavenomail #6 9 months ago

    I'm glad they're wasting their resources on this dead-in-the-West format rather than getting Vita out over here before Xmas. Wait a minute, I don't think I am.

  • monsieur_qwerty #7 9 months ago

    @random panda

    If you think that game companies actually use sense when they make decisions then you are in for a shock. Just wait and see what the WiiU does/doesnt have and you'll see what I mean.

  • wogsy81 #8 9 months ago

    Well if you dont own an original psp,a psp 2K, a psp go, a nintendo ds, a nintendo 3DS and your not planning on getting the ps vita then this will be an option for you.

    A fucking shit option but an option never the less.

  • TFM_Excalibur #9 9 months ago

    I don't know about everyone, but when i had my psp systems i used wi-fi maybe twice? and that was because i couldn't be arsed finding my laptop at the time.

    Is it really that big of a loss?

  • lolercopter #10 9 months ago

    I may be the only person in the world actually interested in this, as I never owned a PSP before. I don't really see how I'm going to miss the wireless connectivity. PSP owners, would you miss it? I really want Crush...

  • Ryze #11 9 months ago

    No WiFiLOL.

    Well, the PSP's WiFi support was often useless without a 2nd PSP and a 2nd copy of the game anyway.

    I could never find anyone who was even bothered. They should make a miniUSB wifi module and sell it separately if this thing sells.

    I guess they have a big library of PSP games (+ minis) in stores ALREADY, and think that they can sell these budget handhelds to kids and parents.

    This Christmas for example, many people's budget wont stretch to a PSV (edit: in fact, it wont even f*cking release this Chrimbo), so Sony could lose handheld sales to the iPod touch or DS.

    As they've been selling the PSP since 2004, they should have reduced its manufacturing costs SIGNIFICANTLY by now. Dropping WiFi and web browsing probably makes it cheaper still, while avoiding scare stories I've seen on US news regarding the PlayStationPORNABLE.

    I reckon they'll market it towards kids. The PSP's library would appeal to young boys vastly above and beyond the iPod and (3)DS.
    Edited by Ryze at 16/08/11 @ 19:36

  • abigsmurf #12 9 months ago

    There's still some great quality stuff for the PSP, especially for JRPG fans.

    Birth by Sleep, Tactics Ogre, FF type-0, Persona 3, Falcom games, that Fate/stay night Persona clone, Valkyria chronicles 2+, Phantasy star Portable 2, Parasite Eve 3.

  • RawNinjaKid #13 9 months ago

    Yep Square Enix (and of course a few others) are rampant wild with PSP support!

  • -cerberus- #14 9 months ago

    Now this blew my funny fuse.

  • kingcrowbar #15 9 months ago

    A PSP with no access to the PlayStation Store other than through a PS3 or PC?

  • Razz #16 9 months ago

    So, no PSN, no Pandora, no Remote Play, no Location Free TV, no web browser, and all for just €30 less than a PSP-3000? Who could pass up such a deal?...anyone.
    Edited by Razz at 16/08/11 @ 20:20

  • rockin_rob_1 #17 9 months ago

    No wifi?! come on sony, I was just regaining my trust/faith in you!

  • HyperTails #18 9 months ago

    Right, the Vita's out next year, and the 3DS has just had a price drop. Why would people buy a PSP with no Wi-Fi?

    The PSP is dead everywhere except Japan.

  • HoriZon #19 9 months ago

    $$'er $$'er
    Edited by HoriZon at 16/08/11 @ 20:20

  • abigsmurf #20 9 months ago

    Second image confirms UMD drive.

  • bemaniac #21 9 months ago

    so pointless........

  • Ace-Reject #22 9 months ago

    I can't rember the last time i used my PSP

  • Malek86 #23 9 months ago

    I must admit I almost never used the Wi-Fi in my PSP, since I have a PS3 to transfer everything via USB. Still, when the regular PSP-3000 comes at 129€, it's not really much of an attractive offer.

    That said, matte finish? Finally a good idea.

  • RESIDENT_nEVILe #24 9 months ago

    Where the hell can I get some of what Sony is smoking? :(

  • Colin8703 #25 9 months ago

    I'm really happy about his but only from the perspective that the wife busted my PSP 2000 a few months ago (it was a genuine accident) and due to there being no actual price drop, I can get another one at a good price as the reason I held off was that the Vita had been announced and was expecting one.

    I never used the Wi-fi as it was to cumbersome so will not miss it but can finally play Ogre Battle and FFIV which has been sitting on the shelf since forever.

    As a commercial move in Europe though, I really don't see the point.

  • GuiltySpark #26 9 months ago

    Wonder if it still has the dodgy square button.

  • DarthMartious #27 9 months ago

    /Sony uses up stockpiled parts in new model PSP shocker.

    If it's easily hacked, it *might* make for a reasonable portable emulator.

  • ShadowMountain #28 9 months ago

    I'm looking forward to this actually - I'm not a big fan of the scanlines on the psp-3000 screen which is the only model on the market that can play UMDs at the moment. So hopefully if this has got a better screen I think it would be worth a purchase if you play a lot of psp games.

  • Markusdragon #29 9 months ago

    This is essentially the PSP's PSone. Except that the PSone was a step up from the PlayStation (as it was much smaller, and had a first-party screen attatchment, whereas this PSP model is a step down.

  • GamesProgrammer Verified Games Team Programmer, Eutechnyx Ltd. #30 9 months ago

    Now i know you can still download games from media go, and the ps3, its a pretty sweet deal, there really arent many wireless games with any kind of community.

    Is the UK price gonna be less than 99 tho?

    Also with the crappy wireless B of the PSP, downloading 2gig games was a stupid idea anyway, 3 out of 5 times i tried it, it timed out, much quicker to download on PS3 and copy across through a wire.
    Edited by GamesProgrammer at 16/08/11 @ 20:36

  • Malek86 #31 9 months ago

    @GamesProgrammer: yeah, lack of wi-fi doesn't concern me that much. On the other hand, that single speaker does. What's this, the Gameboy Micro?

    I probably won't think about an "upgrade" because my 2000 still works fine (except the battery is a little worn out, but I could just change it), but admittedly the matte finish looks really cool. However, if it's really mono, I'm not even thinking about it.

  • kadooosh #32 9 months ago

    Ppppppointless!!!

  • Acrid #33 9 months ago

    Sometimes when I'm in Game and I see all the PSP games cost £5 I'm tempted to get one, but then I think about what a silly idea that is and continue to be aghast at the cost of the games in the "big Game sale"

  • wizlon #34 9 months ago

    It looks cheap, like a knock off, I had to look twice to make sure it had PSP wrote on it and not PSG or some other shit.

  • YKA #35 9 months ago

    Look at the picture. There's only one speaker, so it has mono sound! :D

  • GamesProgrammer Verified Games Team Programmer, Eutechnyx Ltd. #36 9 months ago

    Good grief the PSP speakers were only ever 3 inches apart, it was mono in all but name anyway. Not to mention PSP speakers are god awful anyway compared to DS. To enjoy sound on PSP its always been headphones.

  • Mr_Brown #37 9 months ago

    I hope this combines the Go and 3000 models. If it has a large memory unit, a good quality screen and improved D-pad/nub I'm buying this. I still have my Ceramic white phat and I think it is time to upgrade. So long as they keep the price around or below £100 I'm happy.

    I know its a cheap way of making money, buy genuinely have grown to like the PSP over the past year. It seems to have had a silent revival in regards to RPG's and special editions.

  • SaintDaveUK #38 9 months ago

    Lol at the anger in these comments. They aren't getting rid of Wifi, they are just making a cheaper option for people like me who have always had their eye on the PSP but always thought it was a little too expensive for what it was.

  • steoconnell #39 9 months ago

    "only stating that the system "plays all possible PSP games", suggesting it's UMD-friendly."

    Er, it say UMD on the back of the system. So, I think it is confirmed.

  • Timbercottage #40 9 months ago

    Looks really sexy

  • Goffee #41 9 months ago

    Come on, this isn't for EuroGamer readers, but for kids at Christmas who parents don't want to let lose on their iPads or smartphones...

  • apoc_reg #42 9 months ago

    One question... why?

  • mr2ange #43 9 months ago

    Actually, even though people seem to be slating this...

    It looks like it will retail for around £85-£90
    Most of the psp games dont require/use wireless a whole lot, other than Monster Hunter for co-op and LBP psp for level uploads/downloads.

    It means that the PSP will finally fall into nintendo levels of handheld pricing. I wouldn't be suprised if a hell of a lot of the younger generation now come on board.

    Like it or lump it, the PSP does have some stonkingly good games - if you do a little research, or look at say... metacritics top 30 games for the platform... plus the games are mostly very very good prices these days.

    Edit- Additional, looking at the pictures... i wonder if either:
    A - the whole back pops out like a wide umd drive,
    B - this thing uses a slot loader - which would be really nice!!!

    edit2 - @Random panda

    Actully dude, the PSP has the most even split in sales across all 3 markets of any handheld to date. EU 29m | US 22m | JP 17.8m
    Edited by mr2ange at 16/08/11 @ 21:49

  • mr2ange #44 9 months ago

    @youhavenomail

    Fail - PSP has sold 29million in europe alone forgetting the other 22.3million in the US. the west is actually its strongest market - you are badly wrong.

    Edit - drunken spelling fux - eek i mean fix
    Edited by mr2ange at 16/08/11 @ 21:52

  • CrunchinJelly #45 9 months ago

    Who will sell this?

    Retail space for the PSP evaporated 2 years ago.

  • prettyboytim #46 9 months ago

    It's a bit cheaper than the DS Lite - and by launching things like Invizimals and Eyepet at €9.99 at the same time, they're probably trying to compete with it. Does seem a bit late, though.

    Speaking of EyePet & Invizimals - both those are camera games - I wonder if they're releasing a cheap camera for it as well?

    Edit: The UMD drive on my PSP phat has been broken for ages now - with all the cheap games available for PSP now, perhaps it'd actually make a good buy...
    Edited by prettyboytim at 16/08/11 @ 21:58

  • Mchief22 #47 9 months ago

    Great idea!! Think about parents with children at the age of 5-10 this looks like a great device. A huge library of games and a cheap well made device.

  • Sid-Nice #48 9 months ago

    This could cause a lot of confusion for parents and grandparents; it's going to be similar to the DS range where potential buyers had no idea of the difference between each model and assumed the 3DS was just an upgraded version. What does Vita mean and why is it so expensive?

  • andrewsqual #49 9 months ago

    Yeah no WI-FI. What is this an Xbox?
    BullCrap

  • Elukka #50 9 months ago

    Wifi-chips are dime-a-dozen even for consumers and you can buy a flippin' toaster with one included. So they just try to make other, more expensive models look better in comparison. Which is to say, gimping a new device for feature dot charts.

  • jonsaan #51 9 months ago

    Well this could be an option for my youngest who wants a psp of his own. BUT WHAT WOULD BE THE FECKING POINT AS HE WON'T BE ABLE TO PLAY MP GAMES WITH THE REST OF THE FAMILY!!>?

  • Nephirion #52 9 months ago

    over 71 million people own the brick ....

  • jumpdeveraux #53 9 months ago

    Sony either has an uncancellable contract for some PSP components or they found a mystery warehouse full of PSP bits and pieces and opted to create this.

    What puzzles me is where can you still buy games for this retail ? Haven't most shops stopped stocking PSP titles as it's a waste of space which could be used for Wii shovelware or similar?

  • Ror1984 #54 9 months ago

    Had this come out before the Vita announcement for around £80, I probably would've sprung for one. My PSP is a very old 1000 model, with a few cosmetic scratches and the odd dead pixel on the screen. I've only ever used wifi once or twice, and eventually got into the habit of just downloading stuff on the PS3 and transferring it to the handheld via USB.

    As it is, I'm now waiting for the Vita, so it'd be pointless for me to buy one. It does look nice though, and I can see the potential benefit of having both a cheap, attractive 'low end' system on the market as well as a more expensive, higher-spec machine for those willing to pay - similar to the strategy when the PS3 first launched I guess.

  • Sevens #55 9 months ago

    I don't like the new look. If I were to buy a 2nd PSP, it'd be the 3000 model. That being said, I haven't once used the PSP's WiFi and almost certainly won't. As usual: the PSP has a considerable number of excellent games (e.g. Crisis Core: FF VII, MGS: Portable Ops and Peace Walker, Daxter, Valkyrie Profile: Lenneth, Star Ocean 1 and 2, The 3rd Birthday). - I hope Square-Enix will release a localized FF Type-0 on (two) UMDs. This model may help a bit.

  • addugg #56 9 months ago

    This is great!

    My psps Wi-Fi broke about about 6 months ago and I've been putting off getting it repaired. This option will be much cheaper than getting it fixed.

    Now I'm just going to re-read this article, I'm sure there won't be any soul destroying news I might have missed.....

  • OnlyMe #57 9 months ago

    PlayStation Pointless E-1000

  • SeesThroughAll #58 9 months ago

    My psps Wi-Fi broke about about 6 months ago and I've been putting off getting it repaired. This option will be much cheaper than getting it fixed.

    If your concern is the WiFi, forget about it, this model doesn't have that.

  • alcides #59 9 months ago

    I was excited as I need a replacement.

    *h*** t*at u* ***r ar*e and go die off somewhere sony.

  • kingcrowbar #60 9 months ago

    Make it cheap, push it to the kids.
    Little Big Planet, Modnation Racers.

    Play, Create, Sha... Oh wait!

  • twh104 #61 9 months ago

    First a PSP that can only download games via wi-fi, and now a PSP that can't even get online to get said games.

  • BonzoBanana #62 9 months ago

    Seems a pretty good move to me, no point abandoning the format plenty of life left in it. Still more powerful in cpu terms than 3DS (note CPU! not GPU for those morons like mogamer who can't seem to understand the difference). 2x333mhz mips R4000 of about 750 dmips max performance does beat the 3DS's close to 300 dmips arm11 for its gaming cpu. PSP doesn't support a background operating system so both cores are available for games. Yes visually weaker and less memory but a fair bit more cpu power to say the least making many types of games possible. Plenty of ps2, dreamcast and wii type games available on psp that would be difficult to achieve on 3DS. There isn't really anything the 3DS can do that the psp can't its just it does it with less visual flair especially the lack of 3D of course.

    Shame about the wifi module being removed. I suppose in the case of the psp this is a reasonable saving. I think it had a dedicated arm chip for wifi. In the 3DS wireless networking and its background operating system use one of the arm11 cores. In the psp a dedicated arm chip and wireless chip provided networking. Hopefully it has a little bay for a tiny wifi card as an upgrade.

    It may not have as pretty graphics as the 3DS but its got a more powerful engine under the bonnet and its still competitve graphically with 3DS just slightly inferior. Sony really ought to push this for christmas as the most powerful portable currently available as many seem to think the 3DS is more powerful.

    [link url=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lU4WGD8kClY
    ]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lU4WGD8kClY
    [/link]

    [link url=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kONeqFbTHyw
    ]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kONeqFbTHyw
    [/link]

    [link url=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wsGVYFBxY88
    ]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wsGVYFBxY88
    [/link]

    [link url=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wVi7RGjEf8o
    ]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wVi7RGjEf8o
    [/link]

    [link url=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qn8azPVwRVs
    ]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qn8azPVwRVs
    [/link]

    Hope they keep the tv out feature of the PSP3000 where you can use a s-video cable as well as component.



  • napalm68 #63 9 months ago

    Why????

    With no wifi, they ought to have called it the PSPstay...
    Edited by napalm68 at 17/08/11 @ 00:09

  • Lord_Gremlin #64 9 months ago

    No WiFi? You know, they doing it on purpose. Some group inside SCEE actually WANTS PSP to fail. Some dirty inside corporate tricks I guess.
    I mean, no way they're releasing a device without wi-fi and expect it not to fail.

  • Snake_2011 #65 9 months ago

    clever really the vita will not be ready so enjoy the huge catalog of games on a cheap PSP over xmas it is a dig towards the 3DS.
    Edited by Snake_2011 at 17/08/11 @ 03:37

  • metroid455 #66 9 months ago

    ummm WTH!! completely pointless especially without wi-fi, FAILURE

  • dunbain #67 9 months ago

    What are they thinking if they plan to sell it in Japan!? Wifi is a HUGE system seller -- Monster Hunter etc. basically are a throwback to the LAN parties of yesteryear. With the current amount of info, this makes absolutely no sense.

  • sfp_noodle #68 9 months ago

    This should have have come out at least 6 months ago, around the same time the Vita was announced. It looks ok and a matte finish is welcome considering your hands will be all over it when your playing it, but the lack of wi-fi is puzzling to say the least. They shouldn't have stripped any of the features. They should have dropped the price to around £80 whilst giving the console this new matte look.

    When I first read the story I actually thought that they had managed to fit a UMD slot inside the PSP Go machines whilst retaining their portability. That would have been an excellent idea and I'm sure 2 years after release they could have easilly managed that. I personally feel this is too little too late. It's still not cheap enough considering a brand new high end PS3 model costs just £100 more and the Vita is less than 6 months away.

  • Rogueywon #69 9 months ago

    Actually, I think I do see the point of this. Remember that the Vita won't have any way of running UMD games - and that not every PSP game is going to get ported to the online store. I suspect this is intended as a low-cost (from both Sony's and the purchaser's point of view) option for people who have a hardware failure on current PSPs (which does happen, I had my original US-launch 1000-series die on me last year after a lifetime of fairly heavy use) to continue playing those old titles. Remember that the final PS2 slim model continued to sell in bucketloads after the PS3 launched, with a good number of those sales being replacements for failed units by people who hadn't been lucky enough to get one of the very early back-compatible PS3s.

    Meanwhile, Sony will be hoping that those legions of Japanese Monster Hunter players who make big use of the wifi feature will be moving along to the Vita - in fact, it probably doesn't want to give them much choice in the matter given that this is the market they absolutely need to win.

  • jamesi #70 9 months ago

    dont get the criticism here.its a good entry level psp maybe for people who have never owned psp or who cant afford or dont want vita.some games still look good on psp especially the pspgo and 3000 models.will probably look even better on this.

  • Toothball #71 9 months ago

    This looks like the alternative the UMD compatibility in the Vita. Presumably the other PSP models will be discontinued, so this will mean people can still buy UMDs cheap and have something to play them on.

  • orangpelupa #72 9 months ago

    WiFi accessories will be sold @ 50USD... will it?

  • ajaxpliskin #73 9 months ago

    Wow, after so many years you wait until the console is pretty much dead to FINALLY release a matte version. Maybe Sony finally ran out of that crappy glossy plastic that leaves smears and marks all over it.

  • OnlyMe #74 9 months ago

    Lots of negs on negative comments on this incredible innovative new device.

  • sharpkiddie Verified Lead Developer, Eurogamer Network #75 9 months ago

    That matt finish makes it look a bit like an Atari Lynx!

  • Makeem95 #76 9 months ago

    I'm sure most readers here won't be buying this and be disappointed that it doesn't have wifi, but I fear for the parents/grandparents that may buy this for their kids who later find out they can't play multiplayer or download in-game extras (so can't be downloaded from PSN store like a DLC) because wifi isn't there.

    I don't know how much wifi chips cost, but I would've thought they cost pennies. Seems like a bad trade-off to keep the costs down.

    On another note, if they released the psp-3000 in matt black with a larger battery, I would buy.

  • mcreddie #77 9 months ago

    I swear this is a current trend of sony;

    "Renew and streamline... with less features"