PSP-4000 in 2009, PSP2 Later

Sony plans to refresh the PlayStation Portable product line with a PSP-4000 model in late 2009 and launch a true successor - a PSP2, if you like - later.

Publishing sources, speaking to Eurogamer, were unable to provide any further detail on next year's update, which will presumably follow this year's PSP-3000 in taking an iterative approach. The PSP-3000 launched this October and followed a 2000-series model, the first Slim & Lite, in September 2007.

Even fewer details were available on the PSP successor, but we're told that developers are already working on games.

Sony has not ruled out either scenario, despite SCEE president David Reeves' assertion in MCV last week that "there are currently no plans for a PSP2". "I go to Tokyo quite a lot and no one has referred to it - I think they have their hands full at the moment," he said, non-committally.

Sony UK told Eurogamer today that it would not comment on rumour and speculation.

PSP-3000 bundles currently retail for GBP 129.99 the UK following its October launch, and despite sporadic software support and fewer platform-exclusives than Nintendo's DS, strong sales in Japan have propelled it to sales of over 30 million according to Sony's corporate sales website.

Why do they keep bringing out new versions of one console its stupid. This is the forth one for the original psp. The graphics are all the same its just thinner and brighter screens and harder to hack. Why would you want a new one lol.

Bringing out the 4000 this year is a bit soon the 3000 has only been out about 3 months.

I think they shouldnt bring out the 4000 just wait a little longer for the so called "psp 2"

I thinkl its stupid as well seano, the PSP has no decent games apart from Final Fantasy and God of War so why are people going to keep on buying these new PSP's if thay can play the same games on them as on there original which costs tham a hell of a lot less. I have just purchased a PSP 3000 and will be really annoyed if Sony was to bring out this 4000 just months after it. Sony are out to make money and its not working for them, they need to take a step back and focus on what there customers want, not what they think will make them the biggest profit!!!

Well said Brookster - you now have the 3000 which is good having the latest gadgets out. I would be pissed if they brought another out.

If they could perfect one of the others before they bring them out so fast then maybe they wouldnt have to make new ones and people would buy more of the others as it would be a better console.