Los Angeles — Sony set a suggested $249 price tag on the new version of its PlayStation Portable (PSP), called the PSP Go.
Due for release on Oct. 1, in a smaller more pocket-sized version, the PSP Go is better suited to digital
downloads. It loses the UMD hard drive in favor of 16GB of flash memory, allowing users to download games, movies and TV shows directly to the unit.
Announced at the E3 Show Tuesday, the PSP Go is also more than 50 percent smaller and 40 percent lighter than the original PSP-1000. It has a 3.8-inch screen, compared to the 4.3-inch screen on the current PSP-3000 that will remain in the Sony lineup. It also adds Bluetooth support and now has a slide-up screen to reveal the unit’s controls. It retains Wi-Fi capability and has an M2 memory stick port.
Sony said ease of downloading is also a priority in the new PSP Go, as more people are downloading games and movies as well as music.
The device will have a resident application for digital downloads and a new SenseMe feature that analyzes your music library to deliver playlists based on your tastes.
Sony also reduced the price of its developer tool kit by 80 percent to encourage developers.
Going forward, all PSP titles will be available both on the PlayStation Store and at retailers, said Kaz Hirai, president and CEO of Sony Computer Entertainment.
Sony also announced several new titles for the PSP, including Resident Evil.
