The PSP Go! Is All But Confirmed by Sony

Handheld gaming has begun to play a very important role in the video game industry during the last few years. That is why every company involved is keen on gaining the advantage on its rivals and always tries to improve the devices it has on the market.

As such, we've seen Nintendo's DS, for example, evolve into the DS Lite and the new DSi, but the Japanese company's major rival, Sony, hasn't been sitting idly, revamping the PlayStation Portable into new and improved iterations, like the PSP-2000 and the recent PSP-3000. 

But, even though new versions of Sony's device have appeared, there has been a huge amount of speculation over the next project, entitled on several occasions the PSP 2 or the PSP-4000. Its features have ranged from an iPhone-like touch screen, to a slide configuration, to even some mobile-phone features.

Now, though, gaming website 1Up has checked all of these details with its sources and has revealed some of the things that will, in fact, appear in the next version of the device, which, according to a few voices, will be dubbed the PSP Go!. The device will drop the UMD drive, thus eliminating an old option that wasn't very favored by users, replacing it with a digital download service, through the PlayStation Network.

But don't think that this will leave users without games, as Sony reportedly has over 100 classic and new titles ready to be downloaded at its launch, with the much-awaited Gran Turismo Mobile being one of the premier ones. Hardware-wise, the configuration will be unchanged, as the D-pad, analog nub and face buttons will still be present, but part of a sliding unit that will appear from behind the screen. This also means that the much-demanded second analog stick won't be available.

The new version will sport two editions, with an 8- and 16-gigabyte storage on a flash memory, eliminating the need of a memory stick. Set to be unveiled in June at the E3 conference, the new device will be released in September in Sony's native Japan, and will reach North American and European shores at the end of October or at the beginning of November.

The people at 1Up have also speculated on the fact that Sony will borrow some features from its Mylo 2 handheld Internet device, which hasn't experienced a lot of success, including the touch screen and the camera, making the new PSP Go! a true Jack of all trades.

All in all, let's not forget that this is still in rumor stage, and, until we hear Sony speaking about this new device, nothing can be certain. The photo attached is just an artist's impression of the new PSP, and nothing is sure about the official design of the new device.