PSP Launch Update: New games, software and consoles

We're now just one short month from the launch of this year's hottest gadget. No, not mini cockroach robots, but the PSP, which arrives in the UK on 1 September. Crave will be going into PSP overdrive in August, so if you want to know everything about the console, the games and what the general public thinks about the console, watch this space.

In the meantime, we're going to keep you up to date with what the Japanese have been treated to, as they've had the console since November 2004. The big news is that Sony's v2 firmware has finally been released today, meaning that Japanese users can now access the Internet using their consoles for the first time. Using the in-built wireless access, you can now wander into your unbearably trendy local coffee shop and check your email while sipping a mocha. The firmware update also fixes a number of 'security' issues, which were exploited to run pirated games from a Memory Stick (which reportedly adds over an hour to the console's battery life).

The PSP is using the light side of the force from September, in the form of a new all-white model. Causing iPod owners to go weak at the knees, the 'Ceramic White' PSP launches on 15 September in Japan. While no announcement has been made on a UK version, expect some limited edition variations to appear once the PSP has become more established. We've got eBay open right now, ready to ditch our black model as soon as we've finished this blog piece.

Our favourite game on the PSP, Wipeout Pure, is also the one with the most longevity. There have already been three updates to the game for US and Japanese owners, adding two new ships, four new tracks and new menu skins for free. Japanese owners can expect a further two new tracks tomorrow, downloadable to a Memory Stick either from the Internet or using a wireless connection through the game itself. The only trouble is that you'll need a bigger Memory Stick than the 32MB one included in the retail package to hold all these extra downloads. We recommend that you budget around £50 for one of these in addition to the £180 for the console itself, if you want to get the most out of your new toy.

Stay tuned for a week of special coverage on the PSP, including our verdict on the must-buy games and accessories. In the meantime, we're off to get some Wipeout Pure practise in so we can beat you lot in wireless battles come September. -GC

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• Tags:
• Sony Computer Entertainment Europe,
• Sony PSP,
• gadgets,
• coverage,
• battery life