Sony has handed PSP2 development kits to a number of key studios for a “significant launch window line-up”, Develop has heard.

It was claimed earlier in the year that developers were shown the device, and Sony has since sent out dev kits to numerous development studios – both third-party and in-house.

Multiple industry sources – who have over the last two months spoken to Develop on the matter – give the impression that Sony is spreading its PSP2 tech widely across the industry for a big impact at launch.

Develop’s sources were understandably unwilling to speak on the record about the new handheld, mentioning the device in passing, and declining to provide details on prototypes.
 
It was previously suggested that the handheld would be download-only, in line with the PSPgo ethos. However, PlayStation CEO Kazuo Hirai recently told MCV his company’s future consoles would not abandon physical media.

So far one developer has spoken publicly of the PSP2.

Netherrealm Studios’ executive producer Shaun Himmerick told IndustryGamers his studio “has a PSP2 in the house and we’re looking at the engine, like what can it support. Always a big thing for us is the performance. We’re running at 60 fps, what can we do and do we have to build all the art assets over.”

The release date for Sony’s PSP2 has been put to 2011 – which is almost certain to be the same year that Nintendo releases its next handheld, the 3DS.

3DS dev kits are widely in circulation.
 

Image used for illustrative purposes.