Sony seems to have problems quelling the constant speculation that they are going to replace the fledgling PSP3000 and Slim/lite with a brand new model which will be a drastic rethinking of their existing hardware, namely the PSP2. But why in the world would Sony do this, in times when the economy is as unstable as in a post war society and when they have also commited to a plethora of new titles heading to their hardcore handheld why on earth would anyone think they are going to announce a new system? Well apparently all it takes is for 1up.com to post a sleek mock up of the new games handheld and the rather odd name of ‘PSP Go’ for the media to explode into a pre-announcement frenzy.

Any test of a rumours true strength is whether it keeps coming back and this one keeps resurfacing, constantly. The biggest issue with this is how risky this bet on new hardware would be. With gamers having less disposable income then perhaps they ever have done in the modern era, is it really wise to put all your eggs in the new hardware basket. People won’t be able to afford your hot new consumer item, and for ever unit you sell you will make a considerable loss, especially if the quality of the mock ups are anything to go by.

But all of us must remember that the mock up is actually by 1UP and they only resemble the details 1uP has heard from various sources close to the design and production on this new model. It would be exciting to see what Sony has up its sleeve but the stability of the Sony’s gaming arm, I really hope that all this speculation is just a rumour. If its not it would be gamings biggest gamble since the emergence of the Dreamcast, and we know how that turned out.

N.B: My review of Valkyria Chronicles has just been put up on Citizengame.co.uk. Definitely worth a read, if you appreciate a some what biased opinion.