Sony announces its next gen handheld!

From the press release, today in Tokyo, January 27, 2011 - Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. (SCE) today announced its next generation portable entertainment system (codename: NGP), which delivers the ultimate portable entertainment experience.  NGP will make its debut at the end of the year 2011! 


The NGP's features include; 



Deep and immersive gaming is at the core of PlayStation's DNA, and NGP is the latest embodiment of this vision.  By having both Wi-Fi and 3G network connectivity, together with various applications, NGP will enable infinite possibilities for users to "encounter," "connect," "discover," "share" and "play" with friends wherever they are.  Within the device are a range of features that provide a genuinely cutting-edge, next generation ultimate portable entertainment experience.

• l Stunning OLED and Revolutionary User Interface

NGP incorporates a beautiful multi-touch 5-inch organic light emitting display (OLED) as the front display.  A high-performance CPU / GPU combined with OLED enables rich, visually striking graphics never seen before on a portable entertainment system, for both games and other digital entertainment content.  The new system also incorporates a unique multi-touch pad on the rear, and together with the front touch display, NGP offers new game play allowing users to interact directly with games in three dimension-like motion, through "touch, grab, trace, push and pull" moves of the fingers.

• l Super Oval Design and Dual Analog Sticks

While succeeding the basic design philosophy of PSP, NGP adopts the Super Oval Design form factor, created to fit comfortably in users' hands.  For the first time, a portable entertainment system will feature two analog sticks, which enable a wider range of game genres to be brought into the portable experience.

• l LiveArea^TM

Every game title for NGP will be provided with a space called "LiveArea^TM" where users can share the fun and excitement with other players.  Users will have access to the latest information of games provided from SCE and 3^rd party developers and publishers through PlayStation®Network.  Additionally, NGP users will be able to view an "Activity" log that is constantly updated with accomplishments from users who are playing the same game, which in turn can trigger active real-time communication among users.

• l Near

SCE will also provide location-based services on NGP as part of the basic features utilizing PlayStation Network.  The new application called "Near," developed specifically for this service and the network, will be pre-installed in the system to let users find out what their friends in the vicinity are playing now or what they were playing recently.  Users can meet their friends and new players virtually, regardless of what games they are playing, simply by sharing their game information across different dimensions of time and distance.

• l New Game Medium 

We'll have more on the NGP as it gets closer to its release!