http://www.next-gen.biz/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=9738&Itemid=59

By Tom Ivan

Speaking to IGN, Koller said that the system would evolve over time, initially via firmware updates, and then most likely via hardware updates further down the line.

“We've talked about the PSP being a 10 year product, but a 10 year product in the continued... how can I put this... in the continued lifecycle, so we obviously had the 1000, we have the 2000, so the PSP as it was first launched in March 2005 isn't going to the be the PSP that it ends up as in 10 years, but it will still be a very strong portable gaming device that is centered in gaming and has a lot of multi-functional features.

“We look at it just like our console business being a 10 year cycle, but we do see iterations as we go along to really adjust to the market. What we've done is, the 2000 series adjusted to the market in terms of making it more portable. What we're seeing now, at least in the near- to mid-term, is going to be firmware updates that add features and other functions that the consumer's asked for.”

Koller goes on to note that the introduction of the PSP 2000 led to an “an incredible jump in demand - so much so that we really had a worldwide demand bump that was very, very significant and allowed us to increase our total shipments worldwide… In North America, we saw an 85% jump since the price drop in April of last year and we've really seen a wide variety of casual gamers get into the PSP market.”

The interview also covers Sony’s ongoing UMD strategy, its plans for a PSP-only store, and how the handheld could potentially tie into Sony’s upcoming virtual world Home.

i giggled

Interesting story, but I think PSP will last longer on it's multimedia feautures than on it's software, cause it's only a matter of time until the developers drop it, because there is no money to earn with it. Unless there comes an ultimate firmware update which can't be hacked.

PSP next revision might have build-in harddrive, to take advantage of PSN purchases.

I see it lasting 10 years. 7th year (2012) you will see a new PSP2, 8th year it will be released. and old PSP will have the last 2 years of surviving on old games.

Who knows, maybe PSP will sell 100 million units. ;)

I'm not going to agree/refute with the 10 year thing, but I do think that multi-media features as well as games will lengthen it's life, now all they have to do is keep supporting it and adding content.

A problem with the PSP that I've had (in my short times playing it) is that it hurts my fingers to hold and play games on it. However, I'd really like to have one for some of it's games as well as connectivity for streaming and such with my PS3/PC for when I'm on campus (or anywhere else) with nothing to do.

You really think that something better and cheaper won't come out before 2015 for multimedia on the go?

If the games are there, people will still play. Once the devs move on then a system has no more life. In the past, the hardware manufacturers have put pressure on devs to stop developing games for their old system so that they have a decent launch/first year line up. This tends to kill the older console in favor of the new.

Sony needs to do something to get higher software sales. They have a great install base now with the PSP, they just need a constant release of good quality games to keep their momentum going.

Well as long as they don't copy Nintendo with the original gameboy and try for what... 20 somethin years? Besides, if they do follow their own 10 year strategy, do you think they'll try to put out a PSP2 after the 5 year mark? :P

People need to understand that it's not companies that make their consoles last 10 years or so. That's decided by the volume of sales. If PS2 ended up with 30 millions instead of 120m do you think it would be where it is now? All this is just PR talk.

Looks like the spirit of Krazy Kutaragi still remains at Sony's game division.

With PSP software sales as terrible as they have been in recent times, Sony may find itself alone in supporting the system just a couple of years down the line. I highly doubt that it'll last the full ten.

I don't see the PSP having a ten-year life cycle.