We've been hearing whispers about a PlayStation-branded phone forever, but on May 26, Sony Ericsson will finally launch the Xperia Play. And no, I'm not really sure why it's called that, either.

Pre-orders for the Xperia Play start Thursday, priced at $199.99 with the obligatory two-year contract.

There are a number of games pre-loaded onto the hardware, too: Madden NFL 11, Bruce Lee Dragon Warrior, Asphalt 6: Adrenaline, The Sims 3, Star Battalion, Crash Bandicoot, Tetris. Sony's promised at least 50 games will be available at launch, likely a mixture of PlayStation classics and newer titles.

There are other phones that will support PlayStation games; Sony's calling those "PlayStation Certified" machines. The central difference between Xperia Play and anything that's been certified, however, is touch controls vs. buttons. Xperia Play isn't unlike a PSP, whereas the controls for many certified devices are completely touch-based, intangible buttons. It's not the most appealing concept.

Sony's upcoming successor to PSP, tentatively titled NGP (next-generation portable), will not include native cellular support, but PSP featured a Skype application and some NGP models will sport 3G.

We've been hearing whispers about a PlayStation-branded phone forever, but on May 26, Sony Ericsson will finally launch the Xperia Play. And no, I'm not really sure why it's called that, either.

Pre-orders for the Xperia Play start Thursday, priced at $199.99 with the obligatory two-year contract.

There are a number of games pre-loaded onto the hardware, too: Madden NFL 11, Bruce Lee Dragon Warrior, Asphalt 6: Adrenaline, The Sims 3, Star Battalion, Crash Bandicoot, Tetris. Sony's promised at least 50 games will be available at launch, likely a mixture of PlayStation classics and newer titles.

There are other phones that will support PlayStation games; Sony's calling those "PlayStation Certified" machines. The central difference between Xperia Play and anything that's been certified, however, is touch controls vs. buttons. Xperia Play isn't unlike a PSP, whereas the controls for many certified devices are completely touch-based, intangible buttons. It's not the most appealing concept.

Sony's upcoming successor to PSP, tentatively titled NGP (next-generation portable), will not include native cellular support, but PSP featured a Skype application and some NGP models will sport 3G.

If only I cared about this. ):

So are the chances of Final Fantasy VII/VIII/IX coming to this just about impossible?

It's already out here in Canada. Here's a spoiler: it's garbage.

I do not care for this, yet somehow the picture with a gameloft logo on it makes me care even less

I don't know why you'd bother mentioning Skype.
It was removed from the PSP's functions a while ago, and Microsoft now owns Skype, part and parcel.

The Xperia Play is just not compelling at all. At what market is it being pitched?

I don't see a market for this. The controls are awesome for emulators, but most other application developers probably won't support this thing.

Well I'm mostly curious about it as a multimedia phone rather than a portable gaming device. I am certainly interested in replacing my damn iphone with something else and a phone/psp hybrid could be the thing.

It's already out here in Canada. Here's a spoiler: it's garbage.

Who'd of guessed, right? Seems unlikely that a Sony Ericsson phone would be trash. Especially an Xperia phone.

We we we so excited...

Wasn't this already out?

Oh wait, that seems to be everywhere except the US. Weird.

Protip: Don't waste your money.

It's been in Canada since March.

Ol' crashy bandicooters? what the hell?

I've had this for a month now and I'm happy with it. It's just a regular android phone with PS controls so if you're expecting more  you'll be disappointed.

At the moment there are 5 PS1 games and 55 android games that are optimized for the controls.

Snesoid and Gensoid works great too, since you can program the buttons yourself.

If you hate playing  games on the touchscreen and don't wanna bring a DS or PSP with you it's great.

If only I cared about this. ):

the real value here is in the emulators.

I would love me some megaman legends 1 and 2 on this thing. it would be magical =)

I'll be buying one. I'll be spending a lot of time at my college between classes this semester, and the emulation possibilities of this phone are awesome. There are a lot of historic NES, GB, GBA, SNES, Genesis, PS1 etc. games that I've never played- but want to.

It's already out here in Canada. Here's a spoiler: it's garbage.

Who'd of guessed, right? Seems unlikely that a Sony Ericsson phone would be trash. Especially an Xperia phone.

Weird. It's not out yet? I have been seeing dumb Rogers commercials for it on TV for ages.

There is a demo at futureshop, and I think they sell it already. Played it and thought it was very uncomfortable.

@aurahack said:

It's already out here in Canada. Here's a spoiler: it's garbage.

Who'd of guessed, right? Seems unlikely that a Sony Ericsson phone would be trash. Especially an Xperia phone.

Just out of curiosity before I buy one, what makes this phone 'garbage' compared to other Android phones? I ask because I've been messing around with my buddies old original Droid, and even though it's old and slow, it still seems totally rad.

@onimonkii: Get an Atrix, or something of equivalent power. There are plenty of PSX emulators for Android that work fine. The only benefit of the Xperia Play are the controls, but you'll suffer every time you use the actual smartphone part.

seems eh.

@TooWalrus said:

@aurahack said:

It's already out here in Canada. Here's a spoiler: it's garbage.

Who'd of guessed, right? Seems unlikely that a Sony Ericsson phone would be trash. Especially an Xperia phone.

Just out of curiosity before I buy one, what makes this phone 'garbage' compared to other Android phones? I ask because I've been messing around with my buddies old original Droid, and even though it's old and slow, it still seems totally rad.

If you really want a good Xperia phone... get the ARC. Its an upgraded version of there X10 (which i have and love!) I toyed around with the idea of getting the Xperia Play, but i have so many portable gaming platforms already that I barely use...why get this? The added controller is an awesome functionality but also adds a lot of thickness to the phone when its in your pocket!just my thoughts...

By the way, I've seen ton of ads on TV for this here on Europe. They're pushing it hard.

Yea I don't wanna play games on phones.

Its been out in the UK for a while and i just got one the other day as an upgrade.

What no Little Big Planet and inFamous?

i just dont understand this device. the psp was kind of a failure in the US, and the NGP is coming out here next year. this device just makes my head hurt. 

i just dont understand this device. the psp was kind of a failure in the US, and the NGP is coming out here next year. this device just makes my head hurt. 

@Warchief said:

i just dont understand this device. the psp was kind of a failure in the US, and the NGP is coming out here next year. this device just makes my head hurt. 

The PSP is one of the best selling consoles of all time. Shut the fuck up about that 'failure' shit, it simply isn't true.

All the people dismissing this obviously aren't familar with the beauty of emulation.

  

  

CPS2. Full speed. On a mobile.

I don't know why you'd bother mentioning Skype.It was removed from the PSP's functions a while ago, and Microsoft now owns Skype, part and parcel.The Xperia Play is just not compelling at all. At what market is it being pitched?

this phone has a potential . Wait and see ....