Ubisoft: PSP has no direction

We can do almost anything with Sony’s PSP. Play games, download new content, listen to music, watch TV and even turn our PS3 on, should we be too lazy to reach for the on button. But unless Sony acts fast ,it could go down the pan, says Ubisoft.

In an interview with GamesIndustry.biz, UK managing director Rob Cooper said that unless Sony starts to let publishers know their plans for the PSP as a gaming platform, developers will abandon it.

“Sony needs to show us a bit more about what its plans are to convince the publisher to invest lots more money into it,” he said, “especially when you’ve got the DS selling at such a tremendous pace.”

He also noted Nintendo’s casual approach as being gamer-friendly, rather than the feature laden ‘everything but the kitchen sink’ approach of the PSP.

“I suppose it’s almost too technical for the casual person,” Cooper said of Sony’s handheld. “Those that are buying the DS at the moment, who want a few buttons and not a lot more. It’s so simple what Nintendo has done.”

His last statement will be most worrisome to Sony, however, indicating that Ubisoft could be shying away from Sony’s machine.

“Certainly, we still see it as a viable format. But we’re not developing too many games on it until we get some direction. At the moment [Sony is] in no man’s land, they’re not sure quite how to tackle the DS competition and who is the PSP consumer. They’ve got to sort that out first,” he said.

Despite all this it’s got to be said that PSP sales are currently though the roof. Japanese gamers are snapping up the consoles, with sales helped by a new range of colours.

But is the man from Ubisoft right? Do you still use your PSP? Is the simplicity of the DS the way forward? Share your thoughts in the comments section below.

Out now | £129.99
Sony (via GamesIndustry.biz)

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