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We’re not a gaming blog, obviously, but we’re excited by the PSP2, and more than that, we’re excited by what was announced alongside of it at a press briefing in Japan earlier this morning. Sony introduced PlayStation Suite, a store of games and content for individuals who want more than just finger-flicking gaming on their Android handset.
Said to launch by the end of this year alongside the PSP2 – which Sony says is as powerful as the PlayStation 3 – Suite will house many PSX classics from Coolboarders to Wild Arms to Syphon Filter: these titles are no slouches. But more than the classics, Sony will be offering new content for the platform.
Guess what certain unannounced phone this sounds perfect for? Suddenly, I’m becoming as big of a Sony Ericsson fan as I am a PlayStation fan. Sony didn’t announce anything regarding which “Android based portable devices” would be able to take advantage of this, but beside the obvious Xperia Play, they left room open for more than one.
Is anyone impressed by the announcements laid out there today? Read on for full press details. [Image courtesy of MobileCrunch]
SONY COMPUTER ENTERTAINMENT TO UNVEIL
“PLAYSTATION®SUITE,” DELIVERING THE WORLD
OF PLAYSTATION® TO ANDROID™ BASED PORTABLE DEVICESSimultaneously Launching “PlayStation®Certified” License Program to Provide
PlayStation® Content and Development Support for Android™ Based Portable DevicesTokyo, January 27, 2011– Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. (SCE) today unveiled “PlayStation®Suite” (PS Suite), delivering the PlayStation® experience to Android™ based portable devices*1. Through this entirely new initiative, users will be able to enjoy PlayStation content on an open operating system for the first time in PlayStation history.
In the dramatically evolving and diversifying mobile market, the number of users who enjoy games casually on a variety of devices including mobile phones, smart-phones and tablet PCs, has been increasing significantly. By offering “PlayStation quality” content to this rapidly growing market, SCE will not only deliver the PlayStation experience to a wider base of users around the globe, but will also be able to offer game developers and publishers the potential to further expand their business opportunities to these devices.
In providing the PlayStation experience on Android based portable devices, SCE will commence a “PlayStation®Certified” license program for hardware manufacturers. Through this program, SCE will offer necessary support, including development support as well as logo licensing, to ensure the delivery of PlayStation quality experience across various devices.
On the software front, SCE plans to provide PS Suite content within this calendar year, starting with original PlayStation games*2 (PS one® classics) that will allow users to enjoy “PlayStation quality” gameplay on their Android based portable devices. SCE also plans to open PlayStation®Store where users will be able to download content in an easy to use environment, directly via the Android based portable devices. Moreover, SCE will provide a new game development environment in an effort to ensure new and compelling content is delivered on PS Suite, which will also offer opportunities for a wider base of developers and publishers to further expand their business on various portable devices.
Newly developed content for PS Suite can also be enjoyed on the next generation portable entertainment system (codename: NGP), which SCE announced today. Users who have never experienced PlayStation content can get a taste of the PlayStation experience through PS Suite and from there, they can enjoy the ultimate portable entertainment experience that is only possible on NGP.
SCE will vigorously enhance the entertainment world delivering the PlayStation experience to a wider base of users.
*1 Android™ 2.3 or beyond is required.
*2 PS one game console software title. We will announce the tiles when ready.
Yayyyy. I would like to see how they match up to the dual core tegra phones. I bought the epic purely based on the fact i would be doing heavy gaming on the go with emulators and such so the keyboard was an important factor. Ill wait an see if anything comes to sprint with these phones :)
O My Gosh!!!
If only Sony’s Android Offering was Dual-Core I could truly get excited about these announcements. Wonder if they’ll ever support Android OS on my PS3? Imagine all the PS3 owners instantly becoming Google Tv owners?! THAT would be exciting!
called it! https://twitter.com/#!/stalkbrandon/status/16243713350
All phones will Android 2.3 will be able to play Playstation Suite games. If you’re wondering why 2.3, it’s because 2.3 has brought many improvements that game developers can use to make games run better on Android.
Hell Yeah. I wonder if any of the new skinned dual core phones will even get 2.3, if they don’t (which I doubt) that would a big fail. I am sure the Atrix will though because it seems like a very important phone for Motorola. Good to know that my phone is guaranteed to get the Playstation store. :P
“Suddenly, I’m becoming as big of a Sony Ericsson fan as I am a PlayStation fan.”
They haven’t released a decent android phone yet, so don’t rush into being a fan!
BE GETTING THIS BABY. CAN’T WAIT TO GET IT JUST GLAD I NEVER BOUGHT THE EXPENSIVE PSP GO.
FUCK YEAH CAN’T WAIT!! Just glad I didn’t buy the expensive PSP GO. any idea on it’s chipset?
What carrier will it be on?
Gooo Android, this makes me love the fact i picked Android over ios or wp7. And to top that a new psp.
Please Sony, have dual core!
Wait a minute! The PSP2 has a 3g radio! Does that mean it’ll be possible to use as a cell?
please please please, a gta game for android that rivals gta4 in storyline, graphics, physics, content and amazingness :)
@nexy ownr its a quad core. Cortex A9 CPU. quad core PowerVR sgx543mp4+ GPU
Man. The screen had to be 3d! If not fail!
@all They are talking about the Playstation app which will be available on different phones (2.3 and up only) and on different carriers around the world. This is not about the Playstation phone. I think the 2.3 requirement is going to make a lot of people with skinned Android phones very mad.
@jdog25
Completely agree. My first post was due to my “bursting at the seams” excitement about sony dipping into the android phone koolaid. Still, im excited for this app and whatever sony supports unless they become a samsung like company that comes out with amazing phones but doesnt support the development of them…../endrant sorry
Engadget has the specs on the Chipset for the PSP2, and its pretty impressive:
Specs include a quad-core ARM Cortex-A9 processor, 5-inch touchscreen OLED display with 960 x 544 resolution, dual analog sticks (not nubs as on the current generation), 3G, WiFi, GPS, a rear-mounted touchpad, the same accelerometer / gyroscope motion sensing as in the PlayStation Move, an electronic compass, and cameras on both the front and back. Available this holiday season.
The PSP wasn’t a great success. Adding the phone helps who? I don’t want people to think I play games first and work second. My BS detector tells me Sony didn’t invest much, they could have done this 3 years ago, they are milking the few people who buy PSP’s with another revision. http://unitwan.co.nr/8511.htm
PLAYSTATION SUITE SWEET!