Highlights
- One gamer has highlighted that the PSP’s GPS app still functions in 2024.
- Despite not being as successful as the Nintendo DS, the PSP proved there was a market for powerful, portable gaming devices.
- Persona 3 is getting a full remake and the Patapon franchise is rumored to be making a comeback, generating excitement among some PSP fans.
It’s been nearly two decades since the release of the PSP, but its GPS app surprisingly still functions. Nostalgic PSP fans might not even recall that the handheld had any navigation capabilities, as it never quite caught on and became mainstream. Between smartphones and in-car navigation apps, standalone GPS devices are already beginning to feel like a thing of the past, much less when attached to a game console from several generations ago.
Despite Sony no longer partaking in the handheld gaming market, aside from the recently released PlayStation Portal device, the PSP is a fondly-remembered console that also proved to be a commercial success. While the PSP didn’t sell nearly as well as the Nintendo DS family of consoles, the PlayStation handheld did prove that there was a market for more powerful, portable gaming devices. Its successor, the PS Vita, never quite found its audience, however, leading to Sony more or less abandoning the handheld gaming market altogether.
Best PS1, PS2, & PSP Games On PlayStation Plus Premium (January 2024)
Although PS Plus Premium does not have the most expansive lineup of PS1, PS2, and PSP games, Sony’s service has some great titles.
PSP’s GPS Still Works In 2024
Outside of retro gaming enthusiasts, it looks like the PSP still has a practical function in 2024 as a GPS device. Instagram account real_rodeo shared an image of a PSP serving as a GPS on a car dash, stating that the app is still functional.
When Sony launched the PSP, the tech company touted the portable as an all-in-one media device. In addition to serving as a GPS, the PSP also played music, movies, and TV episodes. Because the technology was a bit delayed in the US, and the fact that it required an expensive add-on, the navigation functionality of the PSP never quite caught on. That said, the PSP’s excellent library of first-party games made the portable console a must-own for PlayStation fans back in the day.
Aside from forgotten apps, one PSP title is having a bit of a resurgence soon. Persona 3, which was technically a PS2 game first, is getting the full remake treatment from developer Atlus. This time, however, Persona 3: Reload is expanding past just PlayStation hardware. In fact, Persona 3: Reload is one of four games already confirmed for Game Pass in February.
Additionally, there have been some rumors that one classic PSP franchise could be making a comeback in Patapon. While footage of Patapon surfaced in a Sony trailer from CES 2024, it’s still unclear what a return for the fan-favorite franchise might look like.
PSP
The PSP, or PlayStation Portable, marks Sony’s first leap into the handheld gaming space, usually dominated by Nintendo. Their compact system featured small discs and featured quite a few PSP-exclusive titles during its run. Its direct competitor was the Nintendo DS during the seventh-generation of console wars.
- Brand
- Sony
- Original Release Date
- March 24, 2005
- Original MSRP (USD)
- $249
