Sony had a few major PSP announcements to make for Japan at a Tokyo press conference announcing Sony’s end of the year plans for their PlayStation Portable system, which has been selling like gangbusters in Japan thanks to Monster Hunter.
The first major new feature for the PSP is the new ability to access the PlayStation Store directly from the PSP. This is significant as before you could only access PSP-content via your PS3 or PC. At which point you’d then have to connect your PSP to said device and download it onto your system. Now Japanese gamers will be able to download PSP content directly to their system from the PSP itself via the PSP PlayStation Store.
The service will start this fall 2008 and allow them to download PSP game demos or PlayStation Archive games directly from the system. The first title that will use the service is the Japan-only online game Mainichi Issho, which translates roughly as “Everyday Together.” Sony did not reveal when the functionality would be available out side Japan.
The second major announcement is a new feature that will allow Japanese PSP owners to engage in ad-hoc online multiplayer play (that is, groups of gamers playing multiplayer by linking their systems via the PSP’s built-in wi-fi) via the PS3. This service will also support Matchmaking, friends, text chat and voice chat, although those are planned features. This update will also be available for download this fall. The first game to support it will be, of course, Capcom’s Monster Hunter Portable 2nd G. The service will also be available for all three PSP models (PSP-1000, PSP-2000 and PSP-3000).
Other news from the conference included:
* The PSP-3000 will be released in Japan on October 16th, two days following the North American launch.
* The PSP-3000 will cost ¥19,800 ($182), the same price as the current PSP-2000 model.
* The PSP-3000 will also be available as part of a ¥24,800 ($228) value pack, which includes a 4GB Memory Stick Pro Duo, carrying pouch, strap, and a wiping cloth.
* The PSP-3000 colors available at launch include Piano Black, Pearl White and Mystic Silver, the same as in other territories.
* Sales of PSP in Japan from January to August 2008 were 2.47 million units, a 189% increase over the same period last year. April-August sales were also good, thanks to Capcom’s Monster Hunter Portable 2G.
* In the four-month period between April and August 2008 the PSP sold 1.43 million units, a 227% boost from last year.
* The PSP’s sell-in and sell-through figures have both surpassed the 10 million unit mark in Japan.
* Software sales from January to August topped 6.66 million, a 171% increase over last year. Of those 4.19 million were sold after April, a 242 percent increase over 2007.
* The biggest software sales contributor was Monster Hunter Portable 2G. Released in March it quickly became the first PSP title to sell over 2 million copies in Japan. As of August it’s sales numbers have topped 2.4 million copies.
* According to research, only 16% of PSP owners in Japan use their system just to play games.
* 69% of PSP users in Japan use the system to listen to music. 58% watch videos. 46% view photos. 39% surf the net.
* 25% use their PSP to watch TV via a digital TV tuner peripheral that’s available in Japan.
A number of upcoming PSP games were also given prices and release dates, including:
* Patapon 2 will release on November 27th for ¥4,980 ($46). It will also be getting a hardware bundle that will include the game and retail for ¥23,800 ($219).
* Bandai Namco’s Kidou Senshi Gundam: Gundam vs. Gundam will ship on November 20 for ¥5,040 ($46) solo or as part of ¥24,840 ($228) PSP bundle.
* Square Enix’s Final Fantasy: Dissidia will arrive on December 18 for ¥6,090 ($56) a la carte or inside a ¥25,890 ($238) PSP-3000 package.