Here’s what I think on the current rumors regarding Sony’s next iteration for the PSP.

One, though Sony might not admit it, they are losing in the current generation console race. Though how much they proclaim that PS3 is the superior console, people still won’t buy them. It’s a bit pricey for to buy at such a hard time in the economy. And there are only a few PS3 exclusive titles that can lure in gamers unlike the Wii and XBox360. Yeah, PS3 was built for wickedly cool graphics, but programming them are really hard and that really ups the cost of development for a game. Certainly, why only a handful of developers were able to harness the potential of the PS3. They need a stable income until they can ease more developers into making quality games.

Two. On the portable console, they are still losing to Nintendo. Though PSP won over the DS in Japan, the rest of the world, its another story. When DSi was released Japan, it quickly changed in favor to Nintendo, and for the rest of world, a very large gap will be emerge. Yeah Monster Hunter was a hit in Japan, but I doubt the rest of world will be so welcoming with it(I for one, belong to the not so optimistic with MH thingy group).

I also see two possible solutions.

One, improve the titles for the PSP, exclusives will be better. Just last year(2nd half of 2008), there was a drought of quality titles for the PSP and this continued until early this year. Thankfully, some great titles came out, that was able to support the PSP this 1st quarter. And with the promising list of titles that will be out later this year, this may somehow boost the sale of PSP games. And I really wish that they translate some of the great Japan only PSP titles.

Two, release a new console. People needs something new, not minor enhancements of a 5 year old console. Not just brighter screen, not mere memory upgrade, not only physical facelifts, not only just removing the UMD. The consumers want an overhaul. It’s been already 5 years and I assume that Sony has listened to its consumers regarding what they want with their machine. Hopefully they’ll implement it when they design the new PSP (or have already implemented, if the rumors are true that PSP2 is in production). We are all hoping for a second analog stick, and if not too much indulgent, a touch screen. And for the creative minds, a public SDK for developing your own PSP apps, legally.

But I’m a still skeptical whether the PSP2 will be out this year. Why skeptical? If it is really true, then they’ll be announcing it. The need to hype-up their product. They need to control the possible effects or damages that the new DSi will make to their would be released consoles. Another reason for being skeptical is that Sony are still in the talks with developers to develop more titles for PSP. And they’ve been successful, with the announcement of major titles for the PSP, and not for the still illusionary new PSP.

Maybe I’m wrong, maybe I’m right. Still got more than 6 months to see whether I’ll be proven wrong. Though one things for sure, I also want a new overhauled PSP. I just don’t wanna make my hopes high and just be broken in the end.