How The PSP Shaped Handheld Gaming Consoles
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It’s been two decades since Sony introduced the world to the PlayStation Portable (PSP). The groundbreaking handheld console revolutionized the on-the-go gaming experience and sold over 80 million units worldwide in just ten years. Production stopped in 2014 and marked the end of Sony’s active efforts in the portable gaming console market until the release of the PlayStation Portal last year. But the pivotal role that the PSP played in the evolution of handheld consoles cannot be forgotten, and we want to know when Sony is going to get back in the game.
Back in 2004, the launch of the PSP opened up a new world of possibilities for gamers. Its impressive graphics, large, vibrant screen, and sleek design offered a gaming experience more akin to home consoles than the Gameboy and Nintendo devices that had dominated the market so far. The PSP’s multimedia capabilities led to it being described as “more like a portable entertainment system, not just a gaming one.” Its processing power far exceeded its contemporary rival, the Nintendo DS, which was released the same year. That’s not to say that it out-matched the Nintendo DS on every count, but it certainly carved out a space for itself in the market where none had existed before.
PSP pushed the boundaries of pushed what handheld consoles could deliver. This is where its graphics really brought it to the market’s forefront. The Nintendo DS couldn’t compete with the immersive and spectacular gameplay. Soon, renowned studios such as Capcom and Konami produced PSP games that could compete with home consoles for look and playability.
One of PSP’s greatest strengths was its extensive library of games, from open-world RPGs tactical shooting and racing games. These included installments from the Final Fantasy, Grand Theft Auto, Kingdom Hearts, and God of War franchises, in addition to Capcom’s Monster Hunter series and Konami’s Metal Gear Solid: Peacewalker.
In 2011, Sony released the a second-gen handheld console called the PlayStation Vita. It had an OLED touchscreen, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and data capabilities, and dual analog controls (compared to the PSP “nub”). Despite these advancements, however, it didn’t take off the way Sony hoped. The rise of smartphones and tablets and the release of Nintendo 3DS earlier the same year likely had an impact. Additionally, the Vita had no internal storage and gamers had to purchase a separate (and often expensive) memory card. It sold only 16 million units, compared to PSP’s 80 million. Despite this, the PS Vita gained a cult following over the past decade and remains popular among gaming enthusiasts.
With the PS Vita’s failure to compete with rival Nintendo products, Sony withdrew from the portable console market for over a decade. Its home consoles, however, have gone from strength to strength, with the PlayStation 5 leading as the best home gaming console in 2024. Fans have been crying out for a new Sony handheld product and, last year, it appeared that Sony had been listening. In November 2023, the PlayStation Portal was released.
Unfortunately, it left many fans underwhelmed. The Portal doesn’t allow you to install games, only to stream from your PS5. It can only be used when your home system is turned on and connected to the internet, limiting fans when it should be liberating them.
Recently, however, a leak reported by Insider Gaming led to renewed hope that a new handheld console may be in the pipeline at Sony. According to the source of the leak, it’s in very early development and at least two years out, but it’s enough to pique the interest of many gamers.
So twenty years after their first handheld console, Sony may finally be preparing to stake its claim in the market again. If the rumors of a new console are true, perhaps we can look forward to a portable version of what Sony does best: beautiful graphics, formidable processing power, and an incredible library of games we can’t wait to play.
Do you own a PSP, or did you have one in the past? What do you think about a possible new handheld console from Sony? Leave a comment with your thoughts, theories, and opinions! And don’t forget to sign up to our email list to get Finds of the Week and our free newsletter, PopPulse Digest, delivered straight to your inbox.
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