14 DAY TRIAL // The E3 trade show is fast approaching and watchers of the videogame industry are eager to see what new videogames publishers will be presenting and what hardware devices the likes of Sony, Microsoft and Nintendo will bring forth. We already know that motion tracking, with Project Natal and the PlayStation Move, will have a big presence but recent rumors are talking about Sony also being ready to show off a true success to the PlayStation Portable.
Lending a big of weight to the rumors Bill Glaser, the chief financial officer of Sony, told investors after presenting the financial results of its company that the “PS2 is entering its 11th year this year, and it's amazing it is still contributing,” adding that the “PSP was a little bit of a disappointment to us last year.” The Sony executive also confirmed the fact that Sony, despite committing to a ten year life cycle for the PlayStation 3, was “always looking into future platforms as well. Very premature to talk about future platforms, but R&D is continuing”.
Sony launched the PSP Go last year. The device lacks a UMD drive and gets all its content via digital distribution through the PlayStation Network. The Go also has a battery which cannot be removed in an effort to deter piracy. Unfortunately, the handheld has not been a hit with customers, with the high price point being often blamed. The rumors linked with the PSP 2 are saying that the Go was just a test run for the new technologies and concepts that Sony is planning to use in the new platform.
Sony has posted a smaller than expected loss during this year and the recovery has been lead by the gaming division, which includes both videogames sales and sales of the PS3 and PSP. The company is saying that the business should achieve profitability before March 2011, a result that can only be achieved if the PSP goes up on sale in a manner similar to how the PS3 shot up after the launch of the Slim.