Why Didn’t Sony Make a New PSP? The Handheld That Never Was (Again)

The PlayStation Portable (PSP) holds a special place in many gamers’ hearts. A powerful handheld console boasting impressive graphics, the PSP offered a unique gaming experience on the go. Given its initial success and the subsequent rise in mobile gaming, one might reasonably ask: Why didn’t Sony capitalize on the PSP’s legacy and release a new iteration? The simple answer is: Sony shifted its strategic focus away from dedicated handheld consoles, primarily due to a combination of market forces, internal challenges, and evolving technology.

Sony’s reasoning for not producing another dedicated handheld lies in several key factors. First, the rise of smartphones as all-in-one entertainment devices fundamentally changed the gaming landscape. Mobile gaming, easily accessible and often free or very low cost, became increasingly popular, drawing a significant portion of the casual gaming audience away from dedicated handhelds. Additionally, the piracy and ease of hacking the original PSP severely hampered software sales in its later years. This made it difficult for game developers to recoup their investments, leading to a decline in support for the platform and ultimately, hastening its demise.

The subsequent console, the PlayStation Vita, while technically superior, faced its own set of obstacles. The Vita’s high-quality specs resulted in costly and time-consuming game development, making it less attractive to third-party studios. This, coupled with disappointing sales figures, ultimately led Sony to abandon the Vita. The combination of these factors demonstrated to Sony the difficulties and diminished returns in trying to compete with both smartphones and Nintendo within the dedicated handheld gaming market.

In more recent years, Sony has explicitly stated that they no longer consider themselves to be in the business of making handheld gaming consoles. This decision stems from a strategic reevaluation of their resources and market opportunities. They are focusing on strengthening their core console business with the PlayStation 5, expanding into other areas like virtual reality, and exploring new approaches to delivering games. This does not mean that they have completely abandoned portable gaming. Sony has recently launched the PlayStation Portal, a streaming device that transmits PS5 games to its screen. This shows a clear shift in their approach from a dedicated handheld to a streaming device which uses current console infrastructure.

The Challenges of the PSP Era

The PSP’s journey was not without its issues. The system’s UMD format, while innovative for its time, presented its own set of challenges, which were highlighted by dubious messaging from Sony, and ultimately contributed to its downfall. Moreover, its launch also coincided with the rise of smartphones as a competitor in the gaming space.

Piracy and Its Impact

The easy hacking and piracy of the PSP dealt a severe blow to its software ecosystem. The rise of readily available illegal downloads meant that developers were losing significant revenue from sales, which in turn led them to produce less games for the platform. This created a self-perpetuating cycle which eventually led to the decline in the PSP’s software library.

The Vita’s Struggles

The PlayStation Vita, despite being a powerful piece of hardware, could not sustain the handheld market dominance it was intended for. Its expensive memory cards, along with the difficulty and cost of developing games for it, turned off both consumers and game developers. This created a difficult cycle, with sales falling and fewer quality games being released. The market had also already been changed by the dominance of phones in the gaming sector. Sony’s experience with the Vita highlighted the difficulties in creating a successful dedicated handheld in the modern gaming landscape.

Sony’s Current Approach to Portable Gaming

While Sony is not producing a new dedicated handheld console, their approach to portable gaming has evolved, as evidenced by the PlayStation Portal. This streaming device, designed to complement the PlayStation 5, is a testament to their current strategy. Instead of competing with the Nintendo Switch or smartphones head-on, Sony is focusing on leveraging its existing ecosystem.

The PlayStation Portal: A Streaming Device

The PlayStation Portal is a streaming device that is designed to transmit PS5 games directly from the console to the devices screen. It doesn’t play games natively and requires a good internet connection, but it does give players the ability to play PS5 games remotely. The approach shows a more sustainable business model than a dedicated handheld and allows them to keep development costs down, as they don’t have to worry about creating new titles specifically for the hardware.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Here are 15 frequently asked questions to provide further insight into the PSP, its legacy, and Sony’s current handheld strategy:

1. Was the PSP a flop? No, despite not reaching the heights of the Nintendo DS, the PSP was incredibly successful, selling over 80 million units worldwide. It is still considered to be one of the best and most innovative gaming devices in history.

2. What were the main issues with the PSP? The main issues included the UMD format, piracy, and the increasing competition from smartphones.

3. Why was the PS Vita considered a failure? While the Vita had excellent hardware, it suffered from high development costs, expensive proprietary memory cards, and poor sales overall.

4. Will the PS Vita ever come back? It’s unlikely that the PS Vita will get a direct sequel. Sony is more focused on the PlayStation Portal as their approach to portable gaming.

5. Is Sony planning a new dedicated PSP console? No. Sony has confirmed that they are not in the business of making dedicated handheld consoles anymore.

6. What is the PlayStation Portal? The PlayStation Portal is a streaming device that allows you to play PS5 games remotely, by streaming from your console.

7. How much will the PlayStation Portal cost? The PlayStation Portal is priced at $199.99.

8. What was the last official game released for the PSP? The last official game for the PSP was Retro City Rampage DX, released in July 2016.

9. Why are PSP consoles becoming more expensive? As production of the PSP stopped long ago, they are becoming more rare and therefore more valuable.

10. How many PSP units did Sony sell? Sony sold over 80.79 million PSP units worldwide, making it a successful device.

11. Why did Sony stop supporting the PSP? Sony stopped supporting the PSP due to declining sales, lack of software support, and the rise of mobile gaming.

12. Did Sony lose money on the PSP? At one point Sony did state losses due to lower sales, although it was not directly a loss on the hardware.

13. What were the disadvantages of the PSP Go? The PSP Go suffered from a small memory, limited availability of digital games, a dark screen, slow downloads, poor button placement, and questionable battery life.

14. Is the PS Vita still worth buying in 2023? Despite being old, the PS Vita is still a popular and versatile handheld console, especially for enthusiasts, but is a difficult purchase in the modern day.

15. Was there any controversy with the PSP advertising? Yes, there was a controversial PSP advertisement, which caused consternation due to racist undertones.

Conclusion

While the hope for a new PSP remains in the hearts of many gamers, the reality is that Sony’s strategic direction has shifted away from dedicated handheld consoles. The rise of mobile gaming, issues with piracy, and the challenges encountered with the PlayStation Vita have all played a role in this decision. Instead, Sony is focusing on leveraging its existing console ecosystem with devices like the PlayStation Portal. This approach signifies a move away from dedicated handheld gaming, showing Sony’s intent to stay relevant in the portable gaming space, while remaining within their core console business. While it may be disappointing for fans, this strategic pivot seems to be the most sensible direction for Sony in the current market.