Rumors have been flying for months, fans have clamored for more information, and now, our prayers have finally been answered: the new PSP-4000, dubbed the “PSP Go!”, is set to be shown at the next E3. Slide-out controls? Check. Larger screen? Check. No more clunky UMD? Check. Second analog stick? Nope…

Expectations must be curbed, however, as the lack of a second analog stick proves what we’ve been afraid of all along - this isn’t a PSP2 or any sort of new platform, but rather just an update of the form factor and some features within. The dropping of the UMD drive, while significant, will have no impact on gameplay or control scheme, but should help contribute to some much-needed extra battery life with a larger screen.

What it does show, however, is that Sony is serious about their portable console, and we are already seeing reports of the lineup of game titles that will be releasing on or near launch date for the PSP Go! - LittleBigPlanet, Motorstorm, Tekken 6, Soul Calibur: Broken Destiny, Gran Turismo Mobile, and the impending Kingdom Hearts title, among others.

According to reports, the PSP Go! will be set to release some time before the holidays hit this year.

Finally time to upgrade my fat PSP-1000? Perhaps, but I’ll be waiting to see what Dark_AleX can do with it, if you catch my drift…

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Edit: keep in mind the above picture is fan-made concept art - the PSP Go! will not have a second analog stick!