So what does the future hold for the PSP?

Possible (official and unofficial) additions (in no particular order) to the PSP’s multimedia and hardware arsenal?

• PSP Organiser – The PSP is crying out for a simple organiser/diary/calculator to be added to its functions. A fairly simple addition to the system, it would add to the PSP’s abilities without impacting on any other Sony products. Downside is it would really need a keyboard to function properly, rather than the current text entry system on the PSP.
  Likelyhood : 7/10.
• PSP Movie Downloads – Ok, not really a prediction as Sony are already in talks with Amazon to distribute PSP movies via an online store. There is still room for Sony to pull the plug however, and this is only going to work if Sony get the pricing right.
  Likelyhood : 9/10.
• PSone Downloads direct to PSP – Currently you need to own a PS3 to download PSone games for your PSP, I can see this being abandoned in favour of a more open download model. Downloads of PSone games needs to be available via PC/Mac, not just the PS3.
  Likelyhood : 8/10.
• Firmware Updates – Again, hardly a blind stab in the dark, Sony will continue to to refine the PSP firmware and continue to add new functionality to the PSP (whilst improving system security in the background).
  Likelyhood : 10/10.
• PSP Keyboard – For the PSP to move forward it really needs a keyboard. Rumoured in 2006, I still cannot see one coming to market officially in 2007, although a third party manufacturer may manage to get one out before Sony closes them down. Of course, a keyboard is no good without software to make use of it, so Sony not endorsing the product may make it a pointless exercise.
  Likelyhood : 2/10.
• Homebrew – Still going strong after 18 months of hardwork, the PSP homebrew scene continues to bring out innovative new games, along with fully functional emulators of older systems, and ports of classic games. Over the next 12 months I expect to see the homebrew scene get even stonger as developers get to grips with the PSP and what its capable of. Games such as Dungeons really show what the PSP can do.
  Likelyhood : 10/10.
• PSP 2 – The PSP 2 rumour comes around every couple of months, and it then dies down again. I still hold with my original view that a PSP 2 may come to light late on in 2007, although I don’t think it will be released in the US and Japan until early 2008, and the UK until mid 2008. When it does get released, I expect the PSP 2 will have a second analogue stick, touch screen, and a built in storage device to replace the UMD format. Games will be available either by download only, or on read-only Memory cards.
  Likelyhood : 8/10.
• PSP goes Rainbow – We’ve already seen the Pink PSP, and now the Blue and Silver PSP’s are starting to come out. There are also limited edition versions of the PSP coming out in association with particular games, such as Metal Gear Solid : Portable Ops, with a camouflage colour scheme. Easy prediction for 2007 – this is going to continue. Expect to see Green, Orange, and Purple PSP’s at a store near you. While there are numerous companies making aftermarket faceplates in a variety of colours, here we are talking official Sony releases.
  Likelyhood : 9/10.
• PSP to become cheaper – Sony have already started to drop the price of the PSP, I expect it to go even lower in the new year, as Sony really tries to compete with the likes of the Nintendo DS, which is still outselling the PSP globally.
  Likelyhood : 10/10.
• Sony Advertising that works – After 2006 and a disasterous run of advertising gaffs, Sony will start advertising the PSP with a series of modern, contemporary adverts showing off the PSP as a high tech device. These adverts, while telling people what the PSP actually is and what it can do, will not offend anyone, or suggest they jump under a train.
  Likelyhood : 1/10.

So, there are my predictions, accurate or otherwise, for 2007. One thing I know for sure is that I’m going to enjoy my PSP in 2007 as much as I have in 2006. I look forward to another year of great PSP games, bigger battles between Sony and the homebrew community over firmware revisions, and more innovative software from the underground developers.