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Sony Unveils "Next Generation Portable" In Japan

It doesn't have a real name, but it's heading to store shelves this holiday season.

Two analog sticks, a touch screen, a touch-sensitive back, two cameras, tilt controls... just about everything we've heard lately about Sony's next portable gaming platform has turned out to be true according to reports from the PlayStation Meeting 2011, which took place in Japan on Thursday afternoon, according to their crazy, futuristic clocks.

No Caption Provided
As expected, Sony is touting the platform's power, claiming that it's as powerful as the PlayStation 3. Also, Sony isn't referring to it as the PSP2. Rather, they're simply calling it by the non-final name of "Next Generation Portable." Well, anything that reminds me of the Neo Geo Pocket can't be all bad, I guess.

Games from big Sony franchises like Uncharted, Killzone, LittleBigPlanet, and Resistance have been confirmed to appear on the platform, and Hideo Kojima was on hand to show off a brief, Metal Gear-related trailer. Epic's Tim Sweeney took the stage to show a live demo of the Unreal Engine running on the platform, and Activision's Phillip Earl announced an unnamed Call of Duty game for the device. 
 
Here are the specs: 
 
CPUARM® Cortex™-A9 core (4 core)
GPUSGX543MP4+
External
Dimensions
Approx. 182.0 x 18.6 x 83.5mm (width x height x depth) (tentative, excludes largest projection)
Rear touch padMulti touch pad (capacitive type)
CamerasFront camera, Rear camera
SoundBuilt-in stereo speakers
Built-in microphone
SensorsSix-axis motion sensing system (three-axis gyroscope, three-axis accelerometer), Three-axis electronic compass
LocationBuilt-in GPS
Wi-Fi location service support
Keys / SwitchesPS button
Power button
Directional buttons (Up/Down/Right/Left)
Action buttons (Triangle, Circle, Cross, Square)
Shoulder buttons (Right/Left)
Right stick, Left stick
START button, SELECT button
Volume buttons (+/-)
Wireless
communications
Mobile network connectivity (3G)
IEEE 802.11b/g/n (n = 1x1)(Wi-Fi) (Infrastructure mode/Ad-hoc mode)
Bluetooth® 2.1+EDR (A2DP/AVRCP/HSP)
    
The system will hit Japanese shelves, at least, this holiday season.

Jeff Gerstmann on Google+

510 Comments

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FCKSNAP

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Edited By FCKSNAP
@paulunga said:
" So, what about storage? Any internal storage? Does it still use UMDs or something derived from UMDs? "
They showed some sort of SD card in a slide on Engadget.
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CrazyManDan

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Edited By CrazyManDan

Oh God I want that thing, but the price announcement is going to suck.

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Box3ru13

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Edited By Box3ru13

Ok Sony, you added a second stick. I might be in if this thing doesn't cost a fortune. 

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m1k3

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Edited By m1k3
@afrofools said:
" How is this going to be as powerful as a PS3? Rock-on I say, if that's for realzyz. "
i think its gonna be the case that was said on the bombcast, since its gonne be on a small screen it will look great. im not doubting that it is as powerful as a ps3 though. 
 
on a side note, where's my Catherine demo sony? :)
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yami4ct

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Edited By yami4ct

Sad to see Sony miss the point again. They're just squeezing as much tech as possible without concern for price or battery life. This thing will be at least $299 if not $349. They're also promoting console ports as if that was a good thing. These games weren't designed for handheld so most won't work. I love the idea of having that much power in a handheld, but I'll wait until battery life and price are announced before I make a call on buy or wait.

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irishjohn

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Edited By irishjohn

I will own one at some point, as will many of us commenting here I am sure, but if Sony are trying to "win" in the portable space I think they're in for a rough time. 

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PhilESkyline

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Edited By PhilESkyline

 iPad = $499 - $829.99 (plus monthly data plan)
iPod Touch = $229.99 - $399.99
iPhone = $49.99 - $299.99 (plus monthly phone and data plan)
3DS = $249.99
NGP = Should be about $299.99 - $399.99 that's more than fair when you look at the hardware, software, and games coming out. People will pay.

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microshock

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Edited By microshock
@paulunga said:
" So, what about storage? Any internal storage? Does it still use UMDs or something derived from UMDs? "
Uses a flash memory kind of thing. Like a DS cartridge.
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MisterMouse

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Edited By MisterMouse

looks thick... I wonder how heavy it is.

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KingOfIceland

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Edited By KingOfIceland

Now, as a video game and tech dork who openly celebrates every platform, I should be peeing my pants over excitement right now. But seeing how royally fucked up the OG PSP was I'd rather wait and see.

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Chubbaluphigous

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Edited By Chubbaluphigous

This is going to come out at no less than $400.  I really want it, but I'll wait until after a couple price drops to get it.

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EgoCheck616

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Edited By EgoCheck616

The GiantBomb community is easily one of the most cynical on the internet.  
I haven't seen so much hate towards a device in a long time.  
 
*runs to Kotaku*

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PhilESkyline

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Edited By PhilESkyline
@pyromaster222 said:
" looks thick... I wonder how heavy it is. "
Must resist...must resist...
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yami4ct

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Edited By yami4ct
@Chubbaluphigous said:
" This is going to come out at no less than $400.  I really want it, but I'll wait until after a couple price drops to get it. "
Plus, there's the matter of how 3G is going to work. What are the data plans and, in a crazy insane world, will this thing be subsidized with a stupid contract. I doubt they'd be that dumb, but the fact that 3G is there is worrying. 
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TehJedicake

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Edited By TehJedicake

I'd tap that.

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MisterMouse

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Edited By MisterMouse
@PhilESkyline said:
" @pyromaster222 said:
" looks thick... I wonder how heavy it is. "
Must resist...must resist... "
haha to be honest I didnt even realize it when I was writing it.
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Sil3n7

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Edited By Sil3n7

Interesting. This is going to be a closer race than Nintendo will like with 3 competitors....

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Druminator

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Edited By Druminator

Sold. Really. Looks amazing.

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m1k3

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Edited By m1k3

what i find interesting is that the design didn't leak, and this is sony we're talking about.

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EgoCheck616

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Edited By EgoCheck616
@LordXavierBritish said:
" Fuck 3D.  Seriously. Just fuck it.   This is exactly what I want, a portable fucking console. "
This x1000.
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WickedCestus

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Edited By WickedCestus

Looks way better than those mock-ups, that's for sure.

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babylonian

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Edited By babylonian
@EgoCheck616
The GiantBomb community is easily one of the most cynical on the internet.  
I haven't seen so much hate towards a device in a long time.  
 
*runs to Kotaku*
This is some brilliantly-executed satire, right? 'Sarcasm,' the kids call it, eh?
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EgoCheck616

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Edited By EgoCheck616
@Babylonian said:
" @EgoCheck616
The GiantBomb community is easily one of the most cynical on the internet.  
I haven't seen so much hate towards a device in a long time.  
 
*runs to Kotaku*
This is some brilliantly-executed satire, right? 'Sarcasm,' the kids call it, eh? "
Maybe. 
:D
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microshock

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Edited By microshock

Stop being so damn cynical guys. Sony usually doesn't just think about what their hardware needs at this exact moment but what it might need in the future. That's why everything and the kitchen sink is in this device. 
 
I still hope they're not going to make dumb pricing decisions or poorly market it as some multimedia device like the original PSP. Just market it as a great game system with games for all. 

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ShadowKnight508

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Edited By ShadowKnight508

I might have to look into the PSP2 after seeing the full specs on it. Would love to see a new Metal Gear Solid game on it or see how a Uncharted game would fully perform on it. So glad that they are using dual analog sticks for it as well xD

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AgentofChaos

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Edited By AgentofChaos

Indeed, it would appear that Sony has learned NOTHING.

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ch3burashka

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Edited By ch3burashka

What the FUCK is that? Did they hire the N-gage design team? And they don't have an official name for something they officially announced? The premise is exciting, but everything I'm seeing isn't exactly blowing me away. The promised software sounds cool though. 

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Marz

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Edited By Marz

sounds like a great piece of hardware, but sounds like it's going to price itself out of the average gaming market and people will wonder why it didn't succeed.

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defaulttag

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Edited By defaulttag

I really really want the NGP to succeed. but I have a feeling the Iphone will just continue to dominate while the 3DS sells more due to lower price (an assumption) and it's wide appeal to original DS owners (which are a lot) along with newcomers due to it's 3D. Personally, I probably won't buy any of them. I owned several game boy iterations as well as the original psp, but i've sold them all. I always found myself spending more time on my home consoles and PC. I might as well buy more games for those systems than buy an entirely new handheld with it's own set of games.

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Example1013

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Edited By Example1013

I will get this at some point. 
 
No doubt it can run an actual Star Wars: Battlefront II port, and that's all I really need it to do.

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Arjuna

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Edited By Arjuna

I already have a portable game; it's called masturbation.

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m1k3

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Edited By m1k3

a lot of the social features that were announced will probably work in japan, but wont work in america.

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234r2we232

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Edited By 234r2we232

Can I toast it with cheese? 
 
No thanks. I already own a console, Sony.

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MordeaniisChaos

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Edited By MordeaniisChaos
@CH3BURASHKA said:
" What the FUCK is that? Did they hire the N-gage design team? And they don't have an official name for something they officially announced? The premise is exciting, but everything I'm seeing isn't exactly blowing me away. The promised software sounds cool though.  "
You should check out what the games looked like. They were able to play the PS3 version of MGS4 with no changes at 20fps. Not great, but playable. Apparently with some tweaks to polygon count, they can make PS3 games run on this hardware. Combine that with the controls... and you might have a serious console that is also totally portable.
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SleepyDoughnut

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Edited By SleepyDoughnut

I wish I was richer.

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JJOR64

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Edited By JJOR64

Handheld comparison from Kotaku.
 

No Caption Provided
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Keeng

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Edited By Keeng
@EgoCheck616 said:
" @LordXavierBritish said:
" Fuck 3D.  Seriously. Just fuck it.   This is exactly what I want, a portable fucking console. "
This x1000. "
The two of you make me glad I have the internet. I'm SO ready for this thing.
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MrKlorox

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Edited By MrKlorox

Wowee! Actual analog stick nubs instead of sliders is amazing, let alone there being two of them. But since I went PSP at the beginning of the lest generation and got left out, I'm putting all my eggs in Nintendo's basket this time. The software has to be what sells me instead of the potential software. Sony is no Nintendo.

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m1k3

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Edited By m1k3
@JJOR64 said:
" Handheld comparison from Kotaku.
 

No Caption Provided
"
i dont think its even going to be touted as a gaming machine you can fit in your pocket (even though Kaz did pull it out of his pocket). i think the key thing here is "portable" not "pocket".
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Cazamalos

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Edited By Cazamalos

No Caption Provided
i'm in love 
anyone wants to buy a kidney?
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Strongbadman47

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Edited By Strongbadman47

I can't think of a type of game I want to play on a handheld that needs all this tech.

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GeneralBison

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Edited By GeneralBison
@PandaShake:  I've never heard them be called touchpads, always trackpads.
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AuthenticM

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Edited By AuthenticM

If we can hook it up to the TV and play its games with the Dualshock 3 like the Go, I am buying this on day one.

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zaglis

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Edited By zaglis

Raised analog sticks? lolwhat?

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Jayross

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Edited By Jayross

All of this is yours for the low price of $599 US dollars.

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offsprnvid24

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Edited By offsprnvid24

Woot!! Another device people cant afford.

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GeneralBison

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Edited By GeneralBison
@Snapstacle:  I get that, just a bit confused about them using the term 'touch pad'.
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sketch

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Edited By sketch

Looks like an amazing little piece of technology

Sort of want, but I'll wait and see what comes out of E3 and TGS before getting too excited

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MisterChief

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Edited By MisterChief

This thing is going to be fucking expensive.

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yami4ct

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Edited By yami4ct
@Jayross said:
" All of this is yours for the low price of $599 US dollars. "
Also, make sure you have a car charger or like 10 extra batteries handy, because this thing will have the long, long battery life of 30 minutes. 10 if on 3g.