The PSP was released in 2005. It was Sony’s first attempt at the handheld gaming market after dominant the home console segment for a decade. Compared to the Playstation and Playstation 2, the PSP is anything but consistent. Depending on your perspective, Sony’s first handheld gaming system is either a success or a failure. So is the PSP a triumphant venture from Sony or a colossal mistake? Let’s explore the PSP’s successes and failures.
Why the PSP is a Success: Gained Market Share against Nintendo
Although many predicted the PSP to steamroll the Nintendo DS, the exact opposite came true. Still, the PSP managed to do something that many Nintendo competitors failed to do in the past: capture a market share against Nintendo handhelds. So while the PSP failed to meet sales expectations, it sold well enough to help Sony expand into the handheld market and stop Nintendo’s monopoly over that particular segment.
Why the PSP is a Failure: Low Software Sales
The respectable hardware sales are hampered by lackluster software sales. You hardly see any PSP games on the top of charts. One of the reasons is because many people are buying a PSP for multimedia purposes. Another is that the PSP is one of the most pirated systems in history. It is hard to sell a game on the PSP if games are so easily pirated on the Internet.
Why the PSP is a Success: Great Support from Japanese Developers
Thanks to the immense success of the Monster Hunter series, the PSP got a sales surge in Japan. As a result, almost all of the upcoming exciting PSP games will be coming from Japanese developers, from Dissidia: Final Fantasy to Kingdom Hearts: Birth by Sleep. Thanks to third-party developers like Square Enix, the PSP is getting a healthy dose of quality titles.
Why the PSP is a Failure: Weak Support from Western Developers
The situation is reversed in the west. You hardly see any exclusive PSP games from western developers. Even Sony’s western studios are scaling back on PSP development. Aside from Resistance: Retribution, you will have a hard time naming any upcoming PSP exclusives from the west. It just seem like the western developers are afraid of the low software sales and high piracy rates of the PSP.
Why the PSP is a Success: Many Innovations
Ultimately, the PSP is a success due to the number of new ideas it bought to the table. Not only did the graphics rival those seen on home console, the PSP is also a great multimedia machine. It can play music and video in addition to offering an internet browser. So although it is debatable if the PSP is a sales success, there is no denying the impact Sony’s first handheld gaming system had on the industry with its technological innovations.
