14 DAY TRIAL // Sony has finally officially talked about the PlayStation Portable 2, which is currently billed as the Next Generation Portable, and one of the leaders of the company has stated that while a simultaneous worldwide launch is not on the cards, his company plans to put the new handheld out before the end of 2011.
Speaking to Engadget on the occasion of the official reveal of the PlayStation Portable 2, Jack Tretton, who is the chief executive officer of Sony Computer Entertainment America, has said, “I think our goal is, we would get at least one territory out by the end of holiday 2011. It’s very difficult to have the quantities to be able to launch on a worldwide basis on the same date.”
He added, “When you’re dealing with new technology, there’s always challenges you didn’t anticipate. There’s a ton of new technology, but I think we’ve been about reaching beyond the status quo and delivering technology that people couldn’t even envision, and with that comes risk.”
The CEO also looked back on the release of the company's last major gaming product, the PlayStation 3, saying that the issues that were clear to the public were a learning experience for the company and that, despite the unpredictability of the technology sector, Sony is ready to deliver smooth launches in the future.
The PlayStation Portable 2 is an important device for Sony as it will represent its best chance to taking back the handheld market from Nintendo and its DS line up.
The new device is said to have the same computing power and the launch version of the PlayStation 3.
The new platform, which will not have 3D capabilities but offers more control options to those who are used to the PSP, will have to compete with the 3DS, which will be out before the end of March this year all over the world, giving it a head start in terms of sales and adoption among gamers.