How The PSP Shaped Handheld Gaming Consoles And What’s Next For Sony

It’s been two decades since Sony introduced the world to the PlayStation Portable (PSP), the groundbreaking handheld console that revolutionized the on-the-go gaming experience, with over 80 million units sold 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.

In many ways, the PSP was a driving force in pushing the boundaries of what handheld consoles could deliver. This is where its graphics really brought it to the forefront of the market. Players experienced immersive, spectacular gameplay that Nintendo DS couldn’t compete with. This significant step forward in graphics encouraged studios such as Capcom and Konami to produce PSP games that could compete with home consoles for look and playability.

One of PSP’s greatest strengths was its extensive library of games, including 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. These examples alone show the incredible diversity of the PSP library, hosting games ranging from open-world RPGs (role-playing games) to tactical shooting games to racing games. WipEout Pure, part of the futuristic anti-gravity racing series by Studio Liverpool, was launched on PSP in 2005 and blew fans away with its gorgeous graphics and incredible effects. It continues to impress even after all this time thanks to its great visuals and fast, dynamic gameplay.

Killzone: Liberation by Guerilla Games is an isometric run-and-gun game that diverged from the usual first-person shooter style of the Killzone franchise and consistently makes it onto lists of best PSP games. SOCOM: US Navy SEALs Fireteam Bravo, a third-person shooter game by Zipper Interactive, was described by critics as a “must-have” for PSP gamers, while SOCOM: Tactical Strike (2007) took the series in a new and interesting direction with a strategy game where the player controls a four-person team.

Between 2004 and 2011, the PSP underwent a number of revisions, including the PSP-2000 (also known as PSP Slim), PSP-3000 (PSP Brite), PSP Go, and PSP Street. The PSP-3000 featured a greatly improved screen compared to previous models and is regarded as the best PSP console. In 2011, Sony released the PlayStation Vita, a second-generation handheld console that was received with mixed results. In many ways, it marked a significant advancement in portable gaming technology, with an incredible OLED touchscreen, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and data capabilities, and dual analog controls (compared to the PSP “nub”). However, it didn’t take off the way Sony hoped it would. There were a few reasons for this, including the rise of smartphones and tablets and the release of Nintendo 3DS earlier the same year. The Vita’s lack of internal storage was a huge factor against it, meaning gamers had to purchase a separate (and often expensive) memory card. Only 16 million units were sold, compared to PSP’s 80 million, but the PS Vita has gained a cult following over the past decade and remains popular among gaming enthusiasts.

With the failure of the PS Vita 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 most fans underwhelmed. The Portal doesn’t allow you to install games, only to stream from your PS5, and 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. While many people were baffled by this choice, a recent leak reported by Insider Gaming has 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 foray into the world of handheld gaming, Sony may finally be preparing to stake its claim in the market again… in a few years’ time. Many fans would be happy to see Sony’s return to handheld gaming. 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 subscribe to our newsletter to get the latest in gaming, pop culture, online deals, and more.

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