PSP 2 on the horizon?

An 8-gig version of Sony's stunning thumb bandit is rumoured to be in development. Could it be a true successor to PSP?

According to various reliable gaming sources, including our sister games site CVG, Sony could be set to release a new PSP console with a massive 8GB of flash memory on board.

This would mark a staggering leap from the previous paltry 32MB of system memory, and means you could store a proper library of movies (legally purchased, of course) and games on the handheld without lugging around a bag of UMDs. The move is indicative of Sony's recent awareness of the need for high capacity media tools; hence it's memory upgrade.

Should this new 8-gig PSP hit shelves this year, it'd be a serious blow for Nintendo's imminent ds lite release - sources indicate the Lite will need the same external memory expansion as its big brother. This might not matter for pure gaming, but those who want to carry around the latest movies in their pocket are likely to opt for the device with more storage out of the box.

Currently there's no word on any extra features or redesigned body work a la DS Lite, so chances are it'll be an upgrade rather than a full-blown new machine. Exciting nonetheless. Stay tuned for more details as they break.