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

According to the fine folks over at pspgen, Sony has issued firmware version 5.0 beta to legitimate PSP developers. This will of course allow commercial developers to adapt and ready their games for the next major firmware revision. Per the moment, the details are somewhat scarce…

For starters, pspgen reports firmware 5.0 will include these three updates:

1. Direct access to the PlayStation Store
2. A new RSS reader
3. An integrated “snapshot” tool; similar to FuSa screenShoot (?)

And that’s all we know for now… With respect to a release date, that also remains unknown. It’s speculated to hit around October with the release of the PSP-3000. Whatever the case, I certainly hope 5.0 sports a little more bang than those 3 specifics.

- source: pspgen (translated)

A new PlayStation Portable could be in the works… That’s according to PSP China where the following images have surfaced:

The rumoured PSP-3000 model is said to sport a built-in microphone, updated buttons, a few cosmetic changes, and possibly cell phone support.

Realer than real-deal Holyfield? Well, no official word from Sony, and we at PSP-Hacks are a little skeptic concerning the authenticity of these photos. For the moment, this should be treated as pure speculation.

- source: kotaku