According to a couple of reports this morning via anonymous sources, the successor to the PlayStation Portable will be announced in just a few weeks. Jan. 27, supposedly, is the date Sony has chosen to unveil the PSP2, and it’ll do so at a press event in Tokyo. That's just inside a month prior to the Japanese launch of Nintendo's 3DS. Strategic timing!

MCV, one of the publications reporting on this rumor, is also promising surprising “exclusive industry insight” into the PSP2 in the pages of its magazine that is slated to hit news stands this Friday. 
 

According to a couple of reports this morning via anonymous sources, the successor to the PlayStation Portable will be announced in just a few weeks. Jan. 27, supposedly, is the date Sony has chosen to unveil the PSP2, and it’ll do so at a press event in Tokyo. That's just inside a month prior to the Japanese launch of Nintendo's 3DS. Strategic timing!

MCV, one of the publications reporting on this rumor, is also promising surprising “exclusive industry insight” into the PSP2 in the pages of its magazine that is slated to hit news stands this Friday. 
 

I don't give a shit about dual sticks, just make it so ALL PSP2 games have to be digital.

I wish it would look like that

I still don't see having crazy graphics as a way to boost sales.

They've got to make the PSP2 very good or they'll be no point to it at all. Twice the ram of an xbox 360 sounds ridicules, though.

Dual analog sticks and I'm sold. If not, no thanks. 
 
Also; are these rumors ever wrong? Seems like every time a rumor comes about with a specific date it always rings true.

I would prefer  cartridge over an all digital system... lets face it, not everybody has a internet connection.  
 
PS: Dual sticks are a MUST if you want this thing to go anywhere... hope you got that Sony.  

That is the best mock-up of the PSP2 I've ever seen! 
 
Kudos, Brad.

It's a terrible idea. First of all, it's going to be confusing, what with the PSP Phone looking realer and realer (it just got announced, right?). Then there's the Playstation App that just came out, minor, but can lead to further confusion. Not only that, but there's no event coming up, CES just finished up. When and how does Sony plan on announcing it, with all of these things stacked against it. Nah, dawg. They'll wait until E3.

The locations of the sticks on that mock-up is crazy Brad.

No UMD support?
 
So I can't play the DJ Max games I already own? Well fuck. Guess I'm not getting a PSP2, then.

Too bad it's just a mock-up. I totally feel the 2011 "design was made in paint" look!

Depending on what is shown, this will definetly have a chance at making me pass on the 3DS and to get a PSP 2 first.

Reporting on rumors now? Wow.

This just in from my secret sources: PSP2 will ship with everything that every current console has, plus Sony has bought the rights to Mario and intends to release remakes of all the NES Marios plus Mario World with new levels.
 
But don't tell anyone because my dad would totally get fired.

" The locations of the sticks on that mock-up is crazy Brad. "

Oh man it's great that you guys report on rumours now.
Even better that you've got your best writer on it.

" i don't care about the touch screen, but i hope it can use umds "

No UMD support?  Do they want this to turn into the PSPGo II?

" @gla55jAw said:

" The locations of the sticks on that mock-up is crazy Brad. "

That's exactly where they'll supposedly be. 
 
  http://www.engadget.com/2011/01/12/sony-to-announce-psp2-at-january-27th-tokyo-meeting/ "

Not doing themselves any favors being close to the 3DS launch. They need to have hardware out first (not going to happen) or get some distance to make an impact.

" I don't give a shit about dual sticks, just make it so ALL PSP2 games have to be digital. "

It needs a unique selling point. I hope it's not 'looks like early PS3 games!!!' because that's not a unique selling point. The PSP nearly got to PS2 quality of graphics, and despite the DS's near to N64 level of power, it thoroughly beat the PSP. I'm not suggesting early PS3 graphics on a hand held isn't cool, I'm just suggesting it needs something more. Still...I'll be getting one probably, alongside a 3DS.

my favorite games for the PSP are GTA:CW, GTA:VCS, and GTA:LCS.  UMDs are worthless except for final fantasy: crisis core and theres not even any movies being released on UMD anymore, so PSP2 should go digital distribution only.  it should also be backward compatible with digitally distributed PSP games.  i don't give a flying fuck about touch screen.  just want dual analog sticks.

iPhone with good games, that´s where this baby has to go to survive.

I prefer my idea of sticking a lil' tv into a PS3 controller :)  
 

This is great.

Yo that PSP 2 LOOKS SICK.

It shouldn't support UMDs and it doesn't have to. PSP 2 implies new hardware generation, so it definitely doesn't have to support the same format as the previous generation. Going all digital sounds like a great idea.

You can still play the UMD games you already own, because guess what, you already have a PSP.

I did a 3d mock up of the PSP 2 earlier this month when there wasn't much to do at work. GB, you are more then welcome to use them, and their already on your site :D

Gallery

Rumors are always interesting. The more crazier the better.

PSP2, Two Analog nubs, More Ram, More processing power, and digital only? SOLD!!

A gig of ram seems reasonable for a multimedia device. The iPhone 4 has 512 right now. 

wow, your mock-up looks very ergonomically designed

While the 3DS clearly has a huge amount of appeal offering 3D games, the PSP2 has its own edge by simply not neglecting to add that second analog stick.  The PSP2 might blow the lid off of portable multiplayer shooters.  The thought of sitting in an airport terminal and being able to play something like Team Fortress 2 or Call of Duty on a PSP is hugely appealing.

awesome pic.

the psp2 would definately appeal more to a mainstream audience cause of the 2nd stick, making more fps games possible.  thats gonna help it compete against the 3ds and i would love to see the games that are gonna go head to head on both portable gaming systems.  successfulness-wise (fuck it im not gonna think of the proper word), im leaning towards the 3ds

Here's hoping the D-PAD isn't awful like it is on the PSP-1000.  It needs to be entirely raised out of the device, like it is on sixaxis/dualshock3... otherwise diagonal directions are a pain -- makes playing fighting games really annoying.  Not a huge fan of the analog stick either.

" @Scooper: Not that ridiculous when you take into consideration that the 360 only has 512mb of RAM. ;) "

Shame I haven't played a handheld other than my iPhone since I graduated college.

I love handhelds and want to keep buying them, yet I never play any of them.

Personally, I'm more excited for the release of PSP2 than the 3DS.