Original URL: https://www.theregister.com/2009/02/26/umd_psp_2/

UMD-free PSP coming this autumn?

Exec claims Sony's already working on prototype

By James Sherwood

Posted in Personal Tech, 26th February 2009 11:08 GMT

A redesigned PlayStation Portable (PSP) that doesn’t use UMD game discs could be launched this autumn, according to a senior gaming industry excutive.

David Perry, Chief Creative Officer of games developer Acclaim, told website Kotaku that he recently “spoke to a developer who is working on [the PSP 2] right now”.

It’s unclear if Perry’s developer chum actually told him that the PSP 2 won’t feature a UMD bay, or if Perry’s just making a prediction.

However it’s no surprise that the format’s on shaky ground. Jack Tretton, head of Sony Computer Entertainment America, has previously admitted that “UMD has struggled”.

Perry reportedly added that the ultimate goal is for the PSP to go 100 per cent digital, which would presumably see gamers download all their games, videos, music and the like through a wireless or cabled connection.

He stressed that, initially, Sony may sell some PSP 2 games on memory sticks and offer in-store pre-paid cards that provide online access to a predetermined value of downloadable content. ®