It's that time again folks, yet another segement from the Fergal Gara interview and this time it's to do with life cycles. When asked if the PSP will be laid to rest, Fergal Gara SonyUK's VP had this to say:

Fergal Gara Er, the PSP, we plan to retain it in the UK market. We don’t have anything like the same sales aspirations for it, certainly now in this, its eighth/ninth year. But we’ll keep it in the market – it’s got a tremendous value position, clearly, so there’s still a market for that. But it will be a small play.

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Typical Sony it seems, when the world writes off something of theirs, they fail to get the memo and continue going regardless.

Anyhoo- here's the full interview. 

... I don't get the logic. :(

They are not gonna go all out to sell it but if people are still willing to buy it, there's no reason to kill it. This is only a tiny segment I cut out, but just before, he mentions the PS2 and how that's still alive and even more popular than the ps3 in some region,there for there's no reason to kill that, same thing could apply to the PSP.

Well, the Vita is not backwards compatible so if someone need a new system for their UMD's then a new PSP is the only way to go. And as far as it sells I don't see why it should be discontinued.

i guess if the Vita flops they can stick to plan B and continue with the PSP

I was thinking that as I was doing the poll and thought 9yrs can't be right but hey, that's the quote so I had to go with it.

10 Years of PSVita? Good luck going up against ipad 13.

Can't the same thing be said about the Wii, which is selling almost 3 times as many units in the UK, though is set to be discontinued possibly next year? I understand Sony has different values and strategies than Nintendo, but let's not kid ourselves to think the PSP even has the slightest selling power the PS2 had.

UMD is a good point, but are those still popular?

PSP costs 80 pounds and have tons of great games below <10 pounds. If you want cheap handeld it's best choice.

Well, the Wii U will be able to run Wii games and use Wii accessories so there really is no reason to keep the Wii. Forcing a consumer to buy Wii U once their Wii breaks is a better investment for the future.

I don't think PSP has the selling power of PS2. But, the PSP is not competing against Vita like Wii/Wii U and 3DS/DS, so there really is no point in discontinuing it.

Unless I'm missing something, of course.