WSJ: Sony developing ambitious handheld

One of Sony's future portable systems will play games and a whole lot more, according to a report in the Wall Street Journal.

"Sony is developing a portable device that shares characteristics of handheld game machines, e-book readers and netbook computers, according to people familiar with the matter," the newspaper claimed, although it did not describe said device as a PlayStation Portable successor.

According to the report, Sony and Nintendo may also be among firms speaking to Japanese mobile phone carrier NTT DoCoMo about including 3G in gaming handhelds.

"Videogame makers know that in order for portable game machines to take the next step forward, they need wireless communication," NTT DoCoMo president Ryuji Yamada told the paper. "We are discussing this with various players."

Sony has said nothing about a successor to the PSP yet, and unveiled various new games for the existing handheld at E3 this year, including a new God of War title, Ghost of Sparta.

However, rumours have been rife that the company is working on a follow-up. Earlier this year Eurogamer was told that the PSP2 would be like "iPhone on steroids", while another report said it had a touch-screen and two cameras and is on for release in 2011.

More recently Capcom's European boss David Reeves said that Sony needed to release PSP2 quickly to combat the inevitable rise of Nintendo 3DS.