PSP games look set for Xperia Play

By Wesley Yin-Poole Published 2 September, 2011

PlayStation Store on Android imminent.

PlayStation Portable games look set for the Sony Ericsson Xperia Play smartphone.

Sony is preparing to make a number of announcements regarding PlayStation Suite, designed to bring PlayStation games to Android based portable devices.

Announced early this year, PlayStation Suite is yet to launch. Currently, PS one classics are brought to the Sony Ericsson Xperia Play through PlayStation Pocket. There are currently around 10 of these games, including Crash Bandicoot.

Announcements regarding the PlayStation Suite and PlayStation Store becoming directly available to Android devices are imminent.

"Shortly we'll hear a lot more from PlayStation about the evolution of that strategy and how that's going to play out for Xperia Play," Dominic Neil-Dwyer, head of market development at Sony Ericsson, told Eurogamer.

"That's very much for PlayStation to take forward, the announcement, but they made clear back in March they were going to launch PlayStation Store. We're coming towards the end of the year. PlayStation always delivers on its promises. So, you can be sure that's what's going to come.

"What that means, people are going to have to wait and see. But it's going to be about really good quality content."

Sony will hold a press conference at the Tokyo Game Show in a couple of weeks.

Spectral Souls, by HyperDevbox, is an Android port of the 2006 PSP RPG. But many gamers are hopeful that Sony will launch a concerted effort to bring classic PSP games to Xperia Play.

"Put it this way, all formats," Neil-Dwyer teased when asked if this was planned. "We're talking to people from all formats. It's an Android device, which means it's an open eco-system. Minecraft, a PC game, you can bring that in. HyperDevbox was a PSP port brought in. That's maybe what might be confusing for people. It's platform agnostic. We're just collecting great games and great experiences.

"I would definitely say, rest assured, there will be some really great games coming."

Before Xperia Play was released, videos emerged showing PSP games LittleBigPlanet and God of War running on the device. Will these games appear on Xperia Play?

"All I can say around the PlayStation stuff is, PlayStation want to bring great experiences to Xperia Play," Neil-Dwyer said.

"They've got a great catalogue they're working on. They will let people know when."

Picture of Wesley.

About Wesley Yin-Poole

Wesley is Eurogamer's news editor. He likes news, interviews, and more news. He also likes Street Fighter more than anyone can get him to shut up about it.

Read more articles from Wesley by visiting the Wesley Yin-Poole archive page.

You may also like...

Comments (30) Latest comment 9 months ago

Comments for this article are now closed, but please feel free to continue chatting on the forum!

  • wizlon #1 9 months ago

    I'm quite tempted to upgrade me Nexus 1 to one of these bad boys, not sure about the size of the device though, might be a bit thick.

  • arcam #2 9 months ago

    @wizlon

    Identical here: same current phone, same temptation.

    But I agree it's a bit chunky for a phone - my main hope is that someone like HTC or Samsung copy the Xperia Play's controls, especially now it looks like the PlayStation suite will be coming to all Android phones.

  • GamesProgrammer Verified Games Team Programmer, Eutechnyx Ltd. #3 9 months ago

    if they get proper PS store on there, and there not charging again to download games weve already bought for PSP, that's mightily tempting.

    Now all they need to do is release a tablet with rear touch panel and dual analogue sticks adapter and they can release vita games on there too! :p

  • superbeast2010 #4 9 months ago

    Post deleted at 10:57:39 01-02-2012

  • Darksjeik #5 9 months ago

    I played extensively on an Xperia Play at Gamescom and to be honest I was underwhelmed with it's performance. The device itself and the digital controls were good but the games looked a bit unpolished. I played Asphalt, Crash and some snowboard game and the never felt like anything above a flashgame. Oh and people hoping the "analog" touchpads were going to give you a proper FPS experience should feel dissappointed as well. You must swipe across the pads rather than move your thumb in stick control fashion.

    Overall the time I spent with the device was enough to convince me to pass this up.

  • Toothball #6 9 months ago

    Being able to play PSP games does make the device a bit more appealing. It's not quite there yet though. I'm due an upgrade in November and am currently inclined to go for an HTC or a Samsung. If the Xperia Play looks better then, maybe I'll think about it.

  • Poontash #7 9 months ago

    I've just bought a new phone and skipped the Xperia because of lack of games. Would love to have psp games on my phone.

    Is Spectral Souls any good? And if not are there any other rpgs on Android worth getting? Preferably turn based/strategy. Only good ones I've found so far are Robotek and Battleheart.

  • Whitster #8 9 months ago

    If this does happen I could be proper tempted by one of these. My upgrades just rolled round and I was holding out for the iP5 but ny inner gamer was looking at this the other night and was tempted, but access to all the PS1 classics and PSP games would seal the deal for me.

  • Goffee #9 9 months ago

    This is largely to boost the value of the upcoming Sony S and P model Android Tablets (http://psp2roundup.blogspot.com/2011/09/... ... Xperia Play owners should feel rightly crapped on if all they got was a dozen PSOne games after six months.... but the tablets,over-priced as they are, need all the help they can get if they are not to go the way of the TouchPad

  • vizzini #10 9 months ago

    I got my Xperia Play last week and the hardware itself is fantastic. I haven't even removed the (2nd) pre-fitted screen protector that takes away about 20% brightness of the screen(compared to an Arc) but helps visibility in bright light and keeps the smudges away.

    Gaming on it is good (even in its current form), PES 2011(from market place for under £5) is the proof of concept for adding a Playstation pad to a phone, and loads of Android features have made it a steal so far.

    The issues with the phone's software are being resolved quickly from what I can tell, I've already had two updates and Build 4.0.x takes it up to 2.3.3 (a level 10 android device) and DLNA media streaming from it to the PS3 or DLNA tv works really well.

    My main gripe with the phone, while waiting for Playstation suite, is that I can't use the Playstation controls for every single phone feature, which I expected, as that was how I previously used by P900 10years ago and my P1i for the last 5years.

    Texting and email being the major absentee of d-pad control.

    As someone with a PSP and PS3 with PlayTV, and use the browsers on both, I expected the XMB keyboard and control scheme when email/texting(eg square is delete, select + R1 = R2 = change to symbols, etc).

    But at present I'm still forced to use a touchscreen to input all text, with the android virtual kepboard that puts important symbols in the wrong places.

    Touchscreens are mainly for slow days, non-IT professionals or Kids imo. Anyone seriously using computers/devices with any type of input would always choose the most reliable and fastest input method(eg keys, keyboard, kepad) available, especially Eurogamer hand sizes, who might want to text while walking and press the correct button once in a while.

  • arcam #11 9 months ago

    @superbeast2010

    Cool, nice to get an opinion from someone who actually uses one.

    Honestly, if I were you, I would be spending all my time with the SNES and Megadrive emulators. That's a library of games that would keep me going a long time...

    @vizzini

    But the Xperia Play doesn't have a keyboard... I don't understand how you would use anything other than the touchscreen to input text.
    Edited by arcam at 02/09/11 @ 11:35

  • Zozzilla #12 9 months ago

    The Play is lovely and comfortable to hold whether in standard phone format or with the control pad slid out. It's actually only slightly thicker than the old 3G iPhone was and the stuff people say about the screen being dull is bull - mine looks perfectly fine.

  • Dave52 #13 9 months ago

    I've got a Galaxy S2 - I hope these games are availableto me.

  • Retroid #14 9 months ago

    I *heart* my Xperia Play (mostly for emulators, natch) but this is great news.

    Frankly, though, it's what most of the general public think the Play offers anyway; it's PlayStation-branded, it looks like a phonified PSP Go, so it follows in their minds that it should play PSP games.

  • vizzini #15 9 months ago

    arcam: @vizzini
    But the Xperia Play doesn't have a keyboard... I don't understand how you would use anything other than the touchscreen to input text.

    It has a d-pad, r1, r2, cross, square, triangle, circle, select & start. Turn on your PS3 or PSP, login in to PSN by entering your password again, using a dualshock 3. You'll see what I mean, or alternatively send someone in your friend's list a message via PSN. It is consistent across all Playstation branded products, except the Xperia Play so far.

    @Zozzila

    Compared to the other half's Arc it isn't as bright, unless I remove (the very hard to see) permanent prefitted screen protector (which they provide a spare of). Here is a link where you can see the difference.
    Edited by vizzini at 02/09/11 @ 15:22

  • superbeast2010 #16 9 months ago

    Post deleted at 10:57:39 01-02-2012

  • Retroid #17 9 months ago

    In closing, this should have been there to start with. A bit like the (far more farcical) situation of being able to buy PS1 games on PSN on your PS3 but not actually being able to play them on that system, even though it had software BC if you happened to have the CD handy.

  • arcam #18 9 months ago

    @superbeast2010

    Yes, I think most of them reviewed it as a Playstation handheld that makes phone calls. Honestly I can't believe how so many people missed (and still continue to miss) the point of this device.

    @vizzini

    I honestly don't understand how you can enter text with a d-pad and square/circle buttons. But then I don't have any Sony consoles so maybe it is easier than it first appears. I can't imagine it's easier than just using the touchscreen however.

  • byakuya83 #19 9 months ago

    Post deleted at 10:03:41 30-03-2012

  • Ryze #20 9 months ago

    If this is going to happen, then it SHOULD HAVE ALREADY HAPPENED AT LAUNCH.

    Idiotas.

  • Jacksie66 #21 9 months ago

    To be honest I wish I got the xperia play. I have the arc but ive had nothing but problrms with this heap o' shite.

  • rprince #22 9 months ago

    "PlayStation always delivers on its promises."

    I can't help but hear a hint of sarcasm in this statement.

  • fknetwork #23 9 months ago

    I've had an Xperia Play since launch and it is honestly a fantastic android gaming device (and phone), Sony Ericsson has constantly bought updates out to improve the os to a point that it is a joy to use now, it's running the very latest android os along with all the latest SE os software.

    There is already a large selection of "Xperia Optmized" games (with many more planned) along with the normal android games, psone games and the emulation, playing all the old snes, n64, psone and mega drive games is superb with the gamepad, the emulation on its own will provide you with years of retro gaming!

    There is also now a very healthy hacking/development scene for the Xperia (and Arc), take a look over on XDA forums, we now have custom roms, kernals, PSXperia, etc

    My Play is overclocked to 1.7ghz (instead of the normal stock 1ghz), that speed along with the Xperias super fast DDR2 Ram means it now tops even the galaxy 2 dual core in the many benchmark tests, it's a seriously quick device once you overclock it! it runs anything you can throw at it.


    Most of the reviews on the Play's release were bad but to be frank it was deserved upto a point, the poor selection of xperia optimized games on release along with the MANY bugs (now fixed) and lack of features (also pretty much fixed) resulted in the bad reviews, if these places reviewed the device now I would put money on it that it got glowing reviews.

    The early days were rather rocky for the Play but things recently are looking great, if you like gaming do yourself a favor and grab one, you won't regret it! you can get them unlocked sim free for around £200 now if you look!
    Edited by fknetwork at 03/09/11 @ 13:20

  • Widge #24 9 months ago

    @GamesProgrammer - the thing being offered isn't PSN for Xperia Play, it is a software games shop for Android devices. It just so happened that the first thing it appeared on was a PS branded android phone. As such you probably won't see PSN appear on the Play as it isn't actually a Playstation. Apply this across all Android devices. So you will be buying your PSP games again when they appear.

    The only way you'd see anything contrary to this would be is if the gaming arm of Sony decide to release a gaming handset, which is unlikely with them doing Vita.

  • vizzini #25 9 months ago

    @Jacksie66

    The Android OS isn't aggressive enough at shutting apps down after use, which makes battery life seem rubbish for some users.

    First off, use the PC companion software by connecting to a PC; and make sure you have updated to the latest update Build 4.0.x (which might not arrive over the air just yet from your network).

    The remember to use (settings->applications->All) to find any market place app after you've used, and use the force stop button.

    With the other half's Arc, I had to pull the battery for a minute, do a reboot, so that I could drain the battery completely flat, and give it a full charge while switch off.(all because it wasn't charge completely on the day of purchase before use).

    After that see has been getting great battery life and smooth use, it is a great handset, particularly with the bravia screen dsp and the Xmor cmos camera.
    Edited by vizzini at 02/09/11 @ 15:37

  • drumbaby #26 9 months ago

    They're being too slow/ vague with this platform. I've just tied myself up with an iPhone for 2 years but would have gone for one of these had Sony been more positive with news regarding PSP games catalogue etc. At the moment this just seems like so much unrealised potential with bugger all game-plan behind it.

  • kingpin3000 #27 9 months ago

    I've always been tempted by one of these. I'm waiting for PSP games to come out on it first though. Do you use your same PSN account to buy these games? I have already bought LBP, I'm not going to buy it again.

  • CamberGreber #28 9 months ago

    Xperia Play is an Android phone with Game CONTROLS.

    Which makes it a Perfect Portable Emulator....
    ... which works with Android Emulators which are already well along.

  • callum9999 #29 9 months ago

    arcam - Use the D-pad to hover over the relevent letter on the keyboard then X to select it.

    Though using the touchscreen sounds much easier.

  • orangpelupa #30 9 months ago

    we need exact date of these PSP games for SE Xperia Play. Please not more 6 month again....

    @vizzini
    i looked at the website but they didnt have the comparison for Before peeled, and after peeled screen protector. Where you got the 20% figure?

    also about the battery, they use Lithium Polymer or Ion right?
    those battery should be have no memory effect etc, just keep charge and discharge a few cycles (no need to fully empty it) and those lithium batt should come at max capacity.