14 DAY TRIAL // The new NGP, as Sony calls it, or PlayStation Portable 2, as the gaming world names it, has just been announced by the executives at Sony are saying that they are aiming for a very successful initial launch, with the ultimate goal being to have an installed base bigger than that of the current PSP.
Kaz Hirai, who is the chief executive officer of Sony Computer Entertainment, has told the official PlayStation Blog that, “I think one of the things that we certainly want to try to accomplish with NGP match ... the installed base that we have on PSP worldwide, but over and above that, try to go beyond that.”
He added, “That means that we're providing a very compelling value to the consumer in that once they invest in our products, it doesn't go by the wayside in two years or three years, but they're able to really enjoy that particular console for a very long time.”
The PlayStation Portable has been first launched exclusively on the Japanese market in late 2004 and has managed to deliver more than 65 million units to gamers until now, with the current versions including the PSP-3000, which gets content via UMD, and the failed PSP Go, the one that gets content via download.
At the moment, Sony says that Japan will see a PSP 2 launch in 2011, with other territories probably following early during next year.
The NGP is set to include a multi touch enabled OLED based display, dial analog sticks for precise control, built-in GPS and support for connectivity via both Wi-Fi and 3G.
Sony says that the device will be powered by a four-core CPU unit, delivering performance in gaming that is close to that seen with the PlayStation 3 home console at launch.
Sony has also said that all its big gaming franchises will get PSP 2 releases.