Just as I tossed all my UMDs in a pile and lit ‘em on fire I stumble across site after site reporting the PSP-4000 is in development, and not only that, it will feature the UMD drive again. This all stems from one anonymous fellow who calls him/herself Super_Secret. But — the real kicker — Super_Secret was bang-fuckin-on when it came to those PS3 Slim rumours and other PS3-related business. So yeah, this could very well be true; I don’t doubt it.

Let me quote:

Who said the 3000 wasn’t being phased out? It will be and sooner than you realise. However, the PSP Go isn’t what’s replacing it. The 4000 is. And yes, it will have a UMD drive. And similar to the PS3 “slim”, it’s nothing to actually get excited about.

Your thoughts?

- source: n4g

Worded oh-so elegantly in an article over at Pocket Gamer is more speculation concerning the PSP-4000 or the PSP2.

Allow me to quote Chris James –

…Unsurprisingly the console manufacturer has been comparatively mute in both cases, denying the existence of a PSP sequel and any threat from Apple. However, having spoken to an insider source – who’s not Dave Perry, but is a developer working on the new hardware – we can reveal that the new handheld will arrive before Christmas and will be far more similar to the iPhone than the current device.

Like Apple’s newcomer, the PSP 2 will be a compact device with a large touchscreen. However, where Sony’s machine has the edge is when the touchscreen is slid open as it reveals familiar buttons, D-pads and – praise the Lord of Handhelds – dual analogue controls.

This new format should allow for both existing hardcore console titles as well as simpler touchscreen games along the lines of those currently available in the App Store. And like the App Store, (and in the absence of UMD), the games will all be available for digital download via the PlayStation Store.

Although this hasn’t been confirmed, our speculation is that Sony’s initial plans for a small upgrade to a PSP 4000 model have since been accelerated by the success of the iPhone and arrival of Nintendo DSi…

And like I’ve said before — it’s all about E3. Till then, discuss here.

- source: pocketgamer

More PSP-4000 speculation stemming from Eurogamer –

The next iteration of Sony’s PSP handheld will feature a sliding screen, will no longer carry a UMD drive and will allow shoulder button-only games to be played when the screen is in its ‘closed’ position.

That’s according to a development source close to Sony, speaking to Eurogamer on condition of anonymity. We first broke the news of a new update to the system late last year, revealing that PSP-4000, the third incremental hardware revision of the console, is planned for release later this year.

Yup, you read it… Now read the rest via the source link. And again, stay tuned for GDC and/or E3 this year; they’re bound to straighten things out.

- source: eurogamer

More PSP2 rumours continue circulating the scene… This time ’round we have David Perry, founder of Shiny Entertainment and respected industry veteran, who has chirped the following via Twitter:

“I hear Sony FINALLY has the PSP 2. And thank goodness, they’ve removed the stupid battery-sucking UMD disc drive. I’m excited!”

And just because, another PSP2 concept design to go with it…

Whatever the case — the PSP2 and/or PSP-4000 — we’ll likely have something solid at GDC (in March) or E3 (in June) this year. Stay tuned.

- source: vgtribune

First and foremost — don’t get too excited, I’d take this bit of news with some skepticism spread on top, but that’s just me…

Anyway, according to VG247 and their “highly-trusted sources”, Sony plans to revamp and redesign their PlayStation hand held once again… No, it’s not the PSP2 — it’s the PSP-4000 series. And to back things up, Eurogamer also made mention of the PSP-4000 in mid December.

Could this be it?

No, probably not… Longtime readers may recall this user created concept design actually surfaced around the same date last year. Now, I’m not saying this invalidates their claim or anything like that; however, it’s a safe bet the PSP-4000, if there is one, won’t resemble what you see above.

Allow me to quote VG247 –

PSP-4000 is not PSP2, but rather a “complete aesthetic overhaul” based on existing PSP tech.

Much is now known by some parties of the console, which will be announced at either GDC or E3 this year, but cards are currently being clutched very tightly to chests.

The revamp does have a sliding front-screen, and we’re assured the design being currently touted isn’t a million miles away from this now-infamous image.

Eurogamer rumoured PSP-4000 for a 2009 release in December last year, and our source confirmed this to be the case today.

Guess we’ll find out sooner or later… Discuss amongst yourselves.

- source: vg247

Verbatim from Eurogamer; take it with a grain of salt –

Sony plans to refresh the PlayStation Portable product line with a PSP-4000 model in late 2009 and launch a true successor – a PSP2, if you like – later.

Publishing sources, speaking to Eurogamer, were unable to provide any further detail on next year’s update, which will presumably follow this year’s PSP-3000 in taking an iterative approach. The PSP-3000 launched this October and followed a 2000-series model, the first Slim & Lite, in September 2007.

Even fewer details were available on the PSP successor, but we’re told that developers are already working on games.

Sony has not ruled out either scenario, despite SCEE president David Reeves’ assertion in MCV last week that “there are currently no plans for a PSP2″. “I go to Tokyo quite a lot and no one has referred to it – I think they have their hands full at the moment,” he said, non-committally.

Sony UK told Eurogamer today that it would not comment on rumour and speculation.

Hrm… Publishing sources eh…

- source: eurogamer