PSP2 Announced (As NGP)

Out of nowhere, Sony pulled out the second PSP today at a press conference in Japan, revealing a handheld capable of producing graphics near the scale of the current generation of home consoles and that will ship with several killer franchises on launch day. So what's changed since last time? The 'Next Generation Portable', as the PSP2 is currently codenamed (NGP) will boast dual touch-screens on either side, two analogue sticks and a full PlayStation Store similar to that currently on the PS3. Those major franchises I mentioned are going to be a real selling point too, as when it releases later in 2011 the PSP2 will get new instalments in the Uncharted, Little Big Planet, Dynasty Warriors and Metal Gear Solid series (so Xbox gamers who've felt left out of these Sony exclusives on the 360 get a chance to try them), not to mention a little something called Call of Duty shipping around the time of Modern Warfare 3 (November-ish, but a brand new entry or side story)! In my opinion, the PSP2 is admittedly going to need a lot of support from the media to hit back against the Nintendo 3DS as the latter has had half a year to grab headlines before rumours of a PSP sequel even came to light, and that's without the fact that the original PlayStation Portable virtually died just a year after its initial release, losing developers and thus software to the point that only a few franchises remained on the handheld. Having said that, Sony are clearly pushing this as a portable PS3 (wow!) and if the software can be more constant and consistent and the price point isn't as hefty as the 3DS (£230 for something we can see at the cinema for a fiver, really?) then it might well take back the handheld market this Christmas.