PSP-1000: 2.9 in (74 mm)(h) 6.7 in (170 mm)(w) 0.91 in (23 mm)(d) PSP-2000/3000: 2.8 in (71 mm)(h) 6.7 in (169 mm)(w) 0.75 in (19 mm)(d) PSP Go (PSP-N1000): 2.7 in (69 mm)(h) 5.0 in (128 mm)(w) 0.65 in (16.5 mm)(d) PSP Street (PSP-E1000): 2.9 in (73 mm)(h) 6.8 in (172 mm)(w) 0.85 in (21.5 mm)(d)
Development of the PSP was announced duringE3 2003, and the console was unveiled at a Sony press conference on May 11, 2004. The system was the most powerful portable console at the time of its introduction, and was the first viable competitor to Nintendo's handheld consoles after many challengers such asNokia'sN-Gage had failed. The PSP's advanced graphics capabilities made it a popular mobile entertainment device, which could connect to thePlayStation 2 andPlayStation 3, any computer with a USB interface, other PSP systems, and theInternet. The PSP also had a vast array of multimedia features such as video playback, audio playback, and has been considered aportable media player as well.[8][9] The PSP is the only handheld console to use an optical disc format—in this case,Universal Media Disc (UMD)—as its primary storage medium; both games and movies have been released on the format.
The PSP was received positively by critics, and sold over 80 million units during its ten-year lifetime. Several models of the console were released, before the PSP line was succeeded by thePlayStation Vita, released in Japan first in 2011 and worldwide a year later. The Vita hasbackward compatibility with PSP games that were released on thePlayStation Network through thePlayStation Store, which became the main method of purchasing PSP games after Sony shut down access to the store from the PSP on March 31, 2016. Hardware shipments of the PSP ended worldwide in 2014;[10] production of UMDs ended when the last Japanese factory producing them closed in late 2016.
Sony Computer Entertainment first announced development of the PlayStation Portable at a press conference precedingE3 2003.[11] Although samples were not presented,[11] Sony released extensive technical details.[12] CEO Ken Kutaragi called the device the "Walkman of the 21st century", a reference to the console's multimedia capabilities.[13] Several gaming websites were impressed with the handheld's computing capabilities, and looked forward to its potential as a gaming platform.[14][11][15]
In the 1990s, Nintendo had dominated the handheld market since launching itsGame Boy in 1989, experiencing close competition only from Sega'sGame Gear (1990–1997) andBandai'sWonderSwan (1999-2001) andWonderSwan Color (2000–2004) in Japan.[16] In January 1999, Sony had released the briefly successfulPocketStation in Japan as its first foray into the handheld gaming market.[17] The SNK Neo Geo Pocket and Nokia's N-Gage also failed to cut into Nintendo's share.[18] According to anIDC analyst in 2004, the PSP was the "first legitimate competitor to Nintendo's dominance in the handheld market".[19]
The first concept images of the PSP appeared at a Sony corporate strategy meeting in November 2003, and featured a model with flat buttons and no analog joystick.[20] Although some reviewers expressed concern about the lack of an analog stick,[21] these fears were allayed when the PSP was officially unveiled at the Sony press conference duringE3 2004.[22][23] Sony released a list of 99 developer companies that pledged support for the new handheld.[24] Several game demos such asKonami'sMetal Gear Acid andStudio Liverpool'sWipeout Pure were also shown at the conference.[25]
The PSP's development posed several challenges for Sony and third-party developers, with battery life being a primary concern. To address this, Sony implemented power management strategies, including restricting the CPU to two-thirds of its full speed for the first few years. TheUniversal Media Disc (UMD) drive was another significant hurdle, as it drained the battery and had slow read speeds. Developers had to optimize their game data layout to minimize disc access and reduce power consumption. These limitations sometimes led to performance constraints and long loading times, with some titles likeWWE SmackDown! vs. Raw 2006 experiencing load times of up to two minutes for certain scenes.[26]
On October 18, 2004, Sony announced that the PSP base model would be launched in Japan on December 11 that year for ¥19,800 (about US$181 in 2004) while the Value System would launch for ¥24,800 (about US$226).[27] The launch was a success, with over 200,000 units sold on the first day of sales.[28] Color variations were sold in bundle packs that cost around $200. On February 3, 2005, Sony announced that the PSP would be released in North America on March 24 in one configuration for anMSRP of US$249/CA$299.[29] Some commentators expressed concern over the high price,[30] which was almost US$20 higher than that of the Japanese model and over $100 higher than theNintendo DS.[31] Despite these concerns, the PSP's North American launch was a success;[32][33] Sony said 500,000 units were sold in the first two days of sales,[34] though it was also reported that this figure was below expectations.[35]
The PSP was originally intended to have a simultaneousPAL and North American launch,[23] but on March 15, 2005, Sony announced that the PAL launch would be delayed due to high demand for the console in Japan and North America.[36] The next month, Sony announced that the PSP would be launched in the PAL region on September 1, 2005, for €249/£179.[37] Sony defended the high price by saying North American consumers had to pay localsales taxes and that theValue Added Tax (sales tax) was higher in the UK than the US.[38] Despite the high price, the PSP's PAL launch was a success, with the console selling over 185,000 units in the UK.[39] All stock of the PSP in the UK sold out within three hours of its launch, more than doubling the previous first-day sales record of 87,000 units set by theNintendo DS. The system also enjoyed great success in other areas of the PAL region; over 25,000 units were pre-ordered in Australia[40] and nearly one million units were sold across Europe in the system's first week of sales.[41]
A PSP-1000: the shoulder buttons are on top, the directional pad on the left with the analog "nub" directly below it, the PlayStation face buttons on the right and a row of secondary buttons below the screen.
The PlayStation Portable uses the common "bar" form factor. The original model measures approximately 6.7 by 2.9 by 0.9 inches (170 by 74 by 23 mm) and weighs 9.9 ounces (280 g). The front of the console is dominated by the system's 4.3-inch (110 mm)LCD screen, which is capable of 480 × 272 pixel display resolution with24-bit color, outperforming the Nintendo DS. Also on the unit's front are the four iconic PlayStation face buttons (,,,); the directional pad, the analog "nub", and several other buttons. The system also has two shoulder buttons, aUSB 2.0 mini-B port on the top of the console, and awireless LAN switch and power cable input on the bottom. The back of the PSP features a read-only Universal Media Disc (UMD) drive for access to movies and games, and a reader compatible with Sony'sMemory Stick PRO Duoflash cards is located on the left of the system. Other features include anIrDA-compatible infrared port (this was discontinued in PSP-2000 and later) and a two-pin docking connector; built-in stereo speakers and headphone port; andIEEE 802.11bWi-Fi for access to the Internet, free online multiplayer gaming viaPlayStation Network, the ability to purchase games fromPlayStation Store (now discontinued), and data transfer.[42]
The PSP uses two 333 MHzMIPS32R4000 R4k-basedCPUs, as a main CPU and Media Engine, aGPU running at 166 MHz, and includes 32 MB mainRAM (64 MB on PSP-2000 and later models), and 4 MB embeddedDRAM split between the aforementioned GPU and Media Engine.[42] The hardware was originally forced to run more slowly than it was capable of; most games ran at 222 MHz.[43] With firmware update 3.50 on May 31, 2007, however, Sony removed this limit and allowed new games to run at 333 MHz.[44]
The PSP is powered by an 1800 mAh battery (1200 mAh on the 2000 and 3000 models) that provides between about three and six hours of gameplay, between four and five hours of video playback, or between eight and eleven hours of audio playback.[22][45]
Two different battery size standards
To make the unit slimmer, the capacity of the PSP's battery was reduced from 1800 mAh to 1200 mAh in the PSP-2000 and 3000 models. The original high-capacity batteries work on the newer models, giving increased playing time, though the battery cover does not fit. The batteries take about 1.5 hours to charge and last for between four-and-a-half and seven hours depending on factors such as screen brightness settings, the use ofWLAN, and volume levels.[46] In March 2008, Sony released the Extended Life Battery Kit in Japan, which included a bulkier 2200 mAh battery with a fitting cover. In Japan, the kit was sold with a specific-colored cover matching the many PSP variations available.[47] The North American kit released in December 2008 was supplied with two new covers; one black and one silver.[48]
The PSP-2000, marketed in PAL countries as the "PSP Slim & Lite",[49] is the first redesign of the PlayStation Portable. The PSP-2000 system is slimmer and lighter[50] than the original PSP, reduced from 0.91 to 0.73 inches (23 to 18.6 mm) and from 9.87 to 6.66 ounces (280 to 189 g).[51][52] AtE3 2007, Sony released information about a slimmer and lighter version for the device,[51] which was first released in Hong Kong on August 30, 2007, in Europe onSeptember 5, in North America onSeptember 6, in South Korea onSeptember 7, and in Australia onSeptember 12. The UK release for the PSP-2000 was September 14.[53]
The serial port was modified to accommodate a new video-out feature, making it incompatible with older PSP remote controls. On the PSP-2000, games only output to external monitors and televisions inprogressive scan mode. Non-game video outputs work in either progressive orinterlaced mode. USB charging was introduced and the D-Pad was raised in response to complaints of poor performance,[54][55] and the responsiveness of the buttons was improved.[56]
Other changes include improvedWLAN modules andmicro-controller, and a thinner,[57] brighterLCD screen. To improve the poor loading times of UMD games on the original PSP,[58] the internal memory (RAM andFlash ROM) was doubled from 32 MB to 64 MB, part of which now acting as a cache, also improving the web browser's performance.[59]
In comparison with the PSP-2000, the 3000, marketed in PAL areas as "PSP Slim & Lite" or "PSP Brite", has an improved LCD screen[60] with an increased color range,[61] five times the contrast ratio,[62] a halvedpixel response time, new sub-pixel structure, and anti-reflective technology to reduce outdoor glare. The disc tray, logos, and buttons were all redesigned, and a microphone was added. Games could now be output in eithercomponent orcomposite video using thevideo-out cable.[63] One outlet called this model "a minor upgrade".[64]
The PSP-3000 was released in North America on October 14, 2008, in Japan onOctober 16, in Europe onOctober 17,[65][66] and in Australia onOctober 23.[67] In its first four days on sale in Japan, the PSP-3000 sold over 141,270 units, according toFamitsu;[68] it sold 267,000 units during October.[69]
On its release, a problem with interlacing when objects were in motion on the PSP-3000 screen was noticed.[70] Sony announced this problem would not be fixed.[71]
The PSP Go (model PSP-N1000)[72][73][74] was released on October 1, 2009, in North American and European territories,[75] and on October 31 in Japan. It was revealed prior toE3 2009 through Sony'sQorevideo on demand service.[76] Its design is significantly different from other PSP models.[73]
The unit is 43% lighter and 56% smaller than the original PSP-1000,[73] and 16% lighter and 35% smaller than the PSP-3000.[77] Its rechargeable battery is not intended to be removed by the user.[78] It has a 3.8-inch (97 mm) 480 × 272 pixelLCD screen,[79][80] which slides up to reveal the main controls. The overall shape and sliding mechanism are similar to those of Sony'smylo COM-2 Internet device.[81]
Front view of a closed PSP Go
The PSP Go features802.11b[82] Wi-Fi like its predecessors, although the USB port was replaced with a proprietary connector. A compatible cable that connects to other devices' USB ports is included with the unit. The new multi-use connector allows video and sound output with the same connector using an optionalcomposite orcomponent AV cable. As with previous models, Sony also offers a cradle (PSP-N340)[72] for charging, video out, and USB data transfer on the PSP Go. This model adds support forBluetooth connectivity,[83] which enables the playing of games using aSixaxis orDualShock 3 controller. The use of the cradle with the controller allow players to use the PSP Go as a portable device and as a console, although the output is not upscaled. PlayStation 1 games can be played in full screen using the AV/component cable[72] or the cradle.
The PSP Go lacks a UMD drive, and instead has 16 GB of internal flash memory,[74] which can be extended by up to 32 GB with the use of aMemory Stick Micro (M2). Games must be downloaded from thePlayStation Store. The removal of the UMD drive effectively region-locks the unit because it must be linked to a single, region-locked PlayStation Network account. While the PSP Go can download games to itself, users can also download and transfer games to the device from a PlayStation 3 console,[84] or theWindows-based softwareMedia Go.
All downloadable PSP and PlayStation games available for older PSP models are compatible with the PSP Go. Sony confirmed that almost all UMD-based PSP games released after October 1, 2009, would be available to download[85][86] and that most older UMD-only games would also be downloadable.[87]
In February 2010, it was reported that Sony might re-launch the PSP Go due to the lack of consumer interest and poor sales.[88][89] In June 2010, Sony began bundling the console with 10 free downloadable games; the same offer was made available in Australia in July. Three free games for the PSP Go were offered in America.[90][91][92][93][94] In October that year, Sony announced it would reduce the price of the unit.[95][96][97] On April 20, 2011, the manufacturer announced that the PSP Go would be discontinued outside of North America so it could concentrate on thePlayStation Vita.[98][99][100][101]
The PSP-E1000, which was announced atGamescom 2011, is a budget-focused model that was released across thePAL region on October 26 of that year.[102] The E1000 model lacks Wi-Fi capability and has a matte finish similar to that of the slim PlayStation 3.[102] It has a mono speaker instead of the previous models' stereo speakers and lacks a microphone.[103] This model also lacked the physical brightness buttons from the front of the handheld, instead offering brightness controls in the System Software's 'Power Save Settings' menu.[104]
An ice-white version was released in PAL territories on July 20, 2012.[105]
The PSP was sold in four main configurations. The Base Pack, called the Core Pack in North America,[106] contained the console, a battery, and an AC adapter.[107] This version was available at launch in Japan[27] and was released later in North America and Europe.[108]
Many limited editions of the PSP were bundled with accessories, games, or movies.[109][110][111]
The first two initial releases of the Slims in North America were both on September 10, 2007, were the Daxter PSP. Included with the bundle was an Ice Silver PSP with a Daxter UMD, the Family Guy : Freaking Sweet Collection, and a 1 GB Memory Stick for usage.[112] The other was a Piano Black Only PSP
Limited-edition models were first released in Japan on September 12, 2007;[113] North America and Europe on September 5;[114] in Australia on September 12, and in the UK on October 26. The PSP-2000 was made available in piano black, ceramic white,[115] ice silver,[116] mint green, felicia blue, lavender purple, deep red, matte bronze,[117] metallic blue, and rose pink as standard colors. Several special-edition consoles were colored and finished to sell with certain games, includingCrisis Core: Final Fantasy VII (ice silver engraved),Star Ocean: First Departure (felicia blue engraved),Gundam (red gloss/matte black), andMonster Hunter Freedom (gold silkscreened) in Japan,[118]Star Wars (Darth Vader silkscreened),[119] andGod of War: Chains of Olympus (Kratos silkscreened) in North America,The Simpsons (bright yellow with white buttons, analog and disc tray) in Australia and New Zealand,[117] andSpider-Man (red gloss/matte black) in Europe.
The PSP-3000 was made available in piano black, pearl white, mystic silver, radiant red, vibrant blue, spirited green, blossom pink, turquoise green and lilac purple for standard colors. For limited edition colors were "Big Boss Pack" ofMetal Gear Solid: Peace Walker had a camouflage pattern while theGod of War: Ghost of Sparta bundle pack included a black-and-red two-toned PSP.[120] TheDissidia 012 Final Fantasy Cosmos & Chaos edition that was released on March 3, 2011, has an Amano artwork as the PSP's face plate.[121]
The PSP runs a customoperating system referred to as the System Software, which can be updated over the Internet, or by loading an update from a Memory Stick or UMD.[124] Sony offers no method for downgrading such software.
While System Software updates can be used with consoles from any region,[125] Sony recommends only downloading updates released for the model's region. System Software updates have added many features, including a web browser,Adobe Flash support, additional codecs for various media,PlayStation 3 (PS3) connectivity, and patches against security exploits and the execution ofhomebrew programs.[124] The most recent version, numbered 6.61, was released on January 15, 2015.
The PSP Internet Browser is a version of theNetFront browser and came with the system via the 2.00 update.[126] The browser supports most common web technologies, such asHTTP cookies,forms,CSS, and basicJavaScript.[127] It features basictabbed browsing and has a maximum of three tabs.[128]
Remote Play allows the PSP to access many of the features of the PlayStation 3 console from a remote location using the PS3'sWLAN capabilities, a home network, or the Internet.[129] Using Remote Play, users can view photographs, listen to music, and watch videos stored on the PS3 or connected USB devices.[130] Remote Play also allows the PS3 to be turned on and off remotely and lets the PSP control audio playback from the PS3 to a home theater system.[131][132] Although most of the PS3's capabilities are accessible with Remote Play, playback ofDVDs, Blu-ray Discs,PlayStation games,PlayStation 2 games, most PS3 games, andcopy-protected files stored on the hard drive are not supported.[130]
Starting with System Software version 3.90, the PSP-2000, 3000, and Go could use theSkypeVoIP service. Due to hardware constraints it was not possible to use the service on the PSP-1000. The service allowed Skype calls to be made over Wi-Fi and – on the Go – over the Bluetooth modem. Users had to purchase Skype credit to make telephone calls.[133] Skype for PlayStation®Portable was discontinued on June 22, 2016.[134]
AtTokyo Game Show 2009, Sony announced that a service similar toPlayStation Home, the PS3's online community-based service, was being developed for the PSP.[135] Named "Room" (stylizedR∞M), it was beingbeta-tested in Japan from October 2009 to April 2010. It could be launched directly from the PlayStation Network section of theXMB. As in Home, PSP owners would have been able to invite other PSP owners into their rooms to "enjoy real time communication".[136][137] Development of Room halted onApril 15, 2010, due to feedback from the community.[138]
TheSensMe software, which had already existed on someWalkman music players andSony Ericsson handsets, was added to the PSP through a software update in 2009. It is a music analyser that reads music files stored on the PSP and categorises them into "channels" representing moods and creates automatic playlists from it.[139][140] The PSP has support for the playback ofMP3 andATRAC audio files,[141] as well asWMA since firmware version 2.60.[142]
The PlayStation Store's "Comic" section premiered in Japan onDecember 10, 2009, with licensed publishersASCII Media Works,Enterbrain,Kadokawa,Kodansha,Shueisha,Shogakukan,Square-Enix,Softbank Creative (HQ Comics),Hakusensha,Bandai Visual, Fujimishobo,Futabasha, and Bunkasha.[146] It launched in the United States and in English-speaking PAL countries onDecember 16, 2009, though the first issues ofAleister Arcane,Astro Boy: Movie Adaptation,Star Trek: Enterprise Experiment andTransformers: All Hail Megatron were made available as early asNovember 20 through limited-time PlayStation Network redemption codes.[147] In early 2010 the application was expanded to the German, French, Spanish and Italian languages.[148] The choice of regional Comic Reader software is dictated by the PSP's firmware region; the Japanese Comic Reader will not display comics purchased from the European store, and vice versa. Sony shut down the Digital Comics service in September 2012.[149]
In Japanese market PSPs, an application called x-Radar Portable came preloaded starting with firmware version 6.35 (January 2010). This is a port of a map software for PCs and mobile phones called x-Radar, developed by PetaMap. x-Radar Portable gets the location of the PSP on a map and obtains information of places around the user. It determines the location through "PlaceEngine" technology, via wireless LAN spots.[150]
On June 15, 2005, hackers disassembled the code of the PSP and distributed it online.[151] Initially the modified PSP allowed users to run custom code and a limited amount of protected software, including custom-made PSP applications such as a calculator or file manager.[152] Sony responded to this by repeatedly upgrading the software. Some users were able to unlock thefirmware to allow them to run more custom content andDRM-restricted software. Hackers were able to run protected software on the PSP through the creation of ISO loaders that could load copies of UMD games from a memory stick.[153]Custom firmware including the M33 Custom Firmware, Minimum Edition (ME/LME) CFW and PRO CFW were commonly seen in PSP systems.[154]
The management of media content of the PSP through personal computers was fulfilled by Sony'sPSP Media Manager software for Windows, allowing transfer as well as music/video playback and backups.[155] In 2009 the PSP Media Manager was replaced byMedia Go.[156]
In late 2004, Sony released a series of PSP demo games, includingDuck In Water,world/ball,Harmonic City, andLuga City.[169] Demos for commercial PSP games could be downloaded and booted directly from aMemory Stick.[170] Demos were sometimes issued in UMD format and mailed out or given to customers at retail outlets.[171] In addition, several olderPlayStation games were re-released; these can be played on the PSP usingemulation. As of 2008[update], this feature could be officially accessed through thePlayStation Network service forPlayStation 3, PSP, PlayStation Vita (or PlayStation TV), or apersonal computer.[172]Emulation of the PSP is well-developed; the first emulator waspspplayer by Noxa, which ran on C#, then afterwards wasJPCSP which ran onJava.[173]PPSSPP is currently the fastest and most compatible PSP emulator; it supports all major games.[174]
In mid 2009,[175] as larger memory stick storage became available for the PSP, the ability to pre-install some or all data from a game became a feature in certain games. Although for a large majority of the games the feature merely improved load times, there were a small number of games that added features, such as speech inMetal Gear Solid: Peace Walker.[176]
Component cable, which allows PSP-2000 and 3000 models to output analog stereo audio and analog component (YPBPR) video
Official accessories for the console include an AC adapter, car adapter, headset, headphones with remote control, extended-life 2200 mAh battery, battery charger, console carrying case, game carrying case, accessories pouch and cleaning cloth, and system pouch and wrist strap.[177] A1seg television tuner peripheral (model PSP-S310), designed specifically for the PSP-2000, was released in Japan on September 20, 2007.[178]
Sony sold aGPS accessory for the PSP-2000; this was released first in Japan and announced for the United States in 2008. It features maps on a UMD and offers driving directions and city guides.[179] A digital camera add-on, theGo!Cam, was also released.[180]
After the discontinuation of PSP, the Chinese electronics companyLenkeng released a PSP-to-HDMI converter called the LKV-8000.[181][182] The device is compatible with the PSP-2000, PSP-3000 and PSP Go.[183] To overcome the problem of PSP games being displayed in a small window surrounded by a black border, the LKV-8000 has a zoom button on the connector. A few other Chinese companies have released clones of this upscaler under different names, like the Pyle PSPHD42.[184] The LKV-8000 and its variants have become popular among players and reviewers as the only means of playing and recording PSP gameplay on a large screen.[185][186]
PlayStation Portable (top) and Nintendo DS (bottom)
The PSP received generally positive reviews soon after launch; most reviewers noted similar strengths and weaknesses.CNET awarded the system 8.5 out of 10 and praised the console's powerful hardware and its multimedia capabilities but lamented the lack of a guard to cover the screen and the reading surface of UMD cartridges.[187]Engadget praised the console's design, stating that "it is definitely one well-designed, slick little handheld".[188]PC World commended the built-in Wi-Fi capability but criticized the lack of a web browser at launch, and the glare and smudges that resulted from the console's glossy exterior.[189] Most reviewers also praised the console's large, bright viewing screen and its audio and video playback capabilities. In 2008,Time listed the PSP as a "gotta have travel gadget", citing the console's movie selection, telecommunications capability, and upcoming GPS functionality.[190]
The PlayStation Portable was initially seen as superior to the Nintendo DS when both devices were revealed in early 2004 because of the designers' emphasis on the technical accomplishments of the system. Nintendo of America PresidentReggie Fils-Aime, however, focused on the experience aspect of the Nintendo DS.[191] The DS started to become more popular than the PSP early on because it attracted more third-party developers, and appealed more to the casual gaming market. The DS sold more units partly because of its touchscreen and second display.[192]
Reviews of the PSP Go were mixed. It was mainly criticized for its initial pricing;Ars Technica called it "way too expensive" andThe Guardian stated that cost was the "biggest issue" facing the machine.[195][196]Engadget said the Go cost only $50 less than the PS3, which has aBlu-ray player.[197]Wired said the older PSP-3000 model was cheaper and supports UMDs, andIGN stated that the price increase made the PSP Go a "hard sell".[198][199] The placement of the analog stick next to the D-pad was also criticized.[195][199][200] Reviewers also commented on the change from amini-USB port to a proprietary port, making hardware and cables bought for previous models incompatible.[197][201] The Go's screen was positively received byArs Technica, which called the screen's image "brilliant, sharp and clear" andT3 stated that "pictures and videos look great".[195][202] The controls received mixed reviews;The Times described them as "instantly familiar" whereasCNET andStuff called the position of the analog stick "awkward".[201][203][204] The device's capability to use a PS3 controller was praised byThe New Zealand Herald butArs Technica criticized the need to connect the controller and the Go to a PS3 for initial setup.[195][205]
By March 31, 2007, the PlayStation Portable had shipped 25.39 million units worldwide with 6.92 million in Asia, 9.58 million in North America, and 8.89 million Europe.[210] In Europe, the PSP sold 4 million unitsin 2006 and 3.1 millionin 2007, according to estimates byElectronic Arts.[211][212] In 2007, the PSP sold3.82 million units in the US, according to theNPD Group[213][214] and 3,022,659 in Japan according toEnterbrain.[215][216][217]In 2008, the PSP sold 3,543,171 units in Japan, according to Enterbrain.[218][219]
In the United States, the PSP had sold 10.47 million units by January 1, 2008, according to the NPD Group.[206][220][221] In Japan, during the weekMarch 24–30, 2008, the PSP nearly outsold all of the other game consoles combined, selling 129,986 units, some of which were bundled withMonster Hunter Portable 2nd G,[222] which was the bestselling game in that week, according toMedia Create.[223] As ofDecember 28, 2008, the PSP had sold 11,078,484 units in Japan, according to Enterbrain.[217][219] In Europe, the PSP had sold12 million units as ofMay 6, 2008, according to SCE Europe.[207] In the United Kingdom, the PSP had sold3.2 million units as ofJanuary 3, 2009, according toGfKChart-Track.[208]
From 2006 to the third quarter of 2010, the PSP sold 53 million units.[224] In a 2009 interview, Peter Dillon, Sony's senior vice-president of marketing, said piracy of video games was leading to lower sales than hoped.[225] Despite being aimed at a different audience,[226] the PSP competed directly with the Nintendo DS. During the last few years of its life cycle, sales of the PSP models started to decrease. Shipments to North America ended in January 2014, later in Europe, and on June 3, 2014, Sony announced sales of the device in Japan would end. Production of the device and sales to the rest of Asia would continue.[227] During its lifetime, the PSP sold 80 million fewer units than the Nintendo DS.[228]
In late 2005, Sony said it had hired graffiti artists to spray-paint advertisements for the PSP in seven major U.S. cities, including New York City, Atlanta, Philadelphia, and San Francisco. According to Sony, it was paying businesses and building owners for the right to spray-paint their walls.[229] A year later, Sony ran a poster campaign in England; a poster bearing the slogan "Take a running jump here" was removed from aManchester Piccadilly station tram platform due to concerns it might encourage suicide.[230]
Later in 2006, news of a billboard advertisement released in the Netherlands depicting a white woman holding a black woman by the jaw, saying "PlayStation Portable White is coming", spread. Two similar advertisements existed; one showed the two women facing each other on equal footing in fighting stances, the other showed the black woman in a dominant position on top of the white woman. Sony's stated purpose was to contrast the white and black versions of the PSP, but the advertisements were interpreted as being racially charged. These advertisements were never released in the rest of the world and were withdrawn from the Netherlands after the controversy.[231] The advertisement attracted international press coverage; Engadget said Sony may have hoped to "capitalize on a PR firestorm".[232]
Sony came under scrutiny online in December 2006 for aguerrilla marketing campaign in which advertisers posed as young bloggers who desperately wanted a PSP. The site was created by advertising firmZipatoni.[233]
AtE3 2010, Sony created a fictional 12-year-old character that was used bySony Computer Entertainment America as part of theirStep Your Game Up advertising campaign for the PlayStation Portable andPSPgo consoles in North America, as part of thePlayStation 3's "It Only Does Everything" advertising campaign.[234] The character, Marcus Rivers, was played by child-actorBobb'e J. Thompson, and started as the publicist of the PlayStation Portable division of Sony, responding to "Dear PSP" queries.[235] Marcus was additionally used to advertise games for the system.[236] The character was eventually discontinued, with the "Dear PSP" campaign continuing without them.[237]
^"Several GameSpot editors have noticed that the d-pad and buttons on the new PSP provide a little more tactile feedback for a better overall feel.""E3 07: Redesigned Sony PSP Hands-On".GameSpot. Archived fromthe original on August 28, 2007. RetrievedJuly 22, 2007.
^Severino, Anthony (July 31, 2019)."PSP Go's SensMe: First Look".playstationlifestyle.net.Archived from the original on October 17, 2022. RetrievedApril 21, 2022.
