Sony: We Have 'No Plans' for 3D in Next PSP
The general consensus is that Nintendo "won" E3 last week, largely because of the company's newly unveiled 3DS portable, which was quite impressive. While Nintendo is innovating on the handheld side with 3D visuals (no glasses necessary), Sony is making a hard push to get gamers to buy a 3D television, 3D glasses and play 3D games on the PS3. Meanwhile, the PSP business has struggled somewhat and could benefit from a refresh of the hardware. Might Sony take their 3D obsession to the portable space and follow in Nintendo's footsteps?
It's not looking that way. Sony Worldwide Studios VP Scott Rohde told IndustryGamers as part of an in-depth interview straight-up that Sony is not planning on it. "No, no plans for that," he said when we asked about 3D in a future PSP. When we pushed him on why we haven't heard anything about a rumored PSP2, he responded, "It’s just not something we’re announcing right now. It’s just as simple as that. It’s all I can tell you."
SCE boss Kaz Hirai also recently downplayed the importance of 3D visuals in a portable without specifically mentioning the 3DS. Hirai said that the 3D capabilities are too imprecise on portables. “Based off internally conducted research, naked-eye 3D for portables does not have high precision, and at present there are limitations," he noted.
Frankly, we'd be surprised if Sony didn't announce a new PSP soon, either at Gamescom or Tokyo Game Show. David Reeves, ex-President and CEO of SCEE and current Capcom Europe COO, said that Sony better launch a new PSP soon if they want to remain at all in the race with Nintendo on the handheld side. We agree.
source industrygamer.com
