Sony’s PS3 wasn’t the only console to get itself a bag of digital goodies in the latest round of updates. The PSP was upgraded to Firmware version 5.00, bringing the long-awaited PSP Store to life and allowing you browse, download content and even buy whole games directly from the handheld itself.
Until now, PSP owners wanting to shop for new stuff either had to drop into a real shop or use the PS3 or PC PlayStation Stores to make digital purchases. Obviously that’s no good if you don’t want to shell out £300 for a PS3, and using a PC as a middleman probably wasn’t netting Sony many impulse purchases either.
Now by simply tapping into any nearby unsecured WiFi network, you’ve got a whole virtual shopping parade at your fingertips.
A new PlayStation Network tab has been added to the PSP’s XMB and in the Store right now you can find titles like Burnout: Legends, Sid Meier’s Pirates and Medal of Honour: Heroes for sale along with various trailers and demos.
There’s still a big flaw in the whole system though: almost all of the games on offer are actually cheaper to buy in real shops. They are all quite old and their prices have been heavily reduced by online and high street retailers, so coughing up £14.99 for less product (you don’t get a game disc, case or manual after all) seems like a bit of a rip off.
There’s no background downloading either, so if you’re lumbered with a slow connection, you’ll spend a long time staring at a download screen.
These niggles aside, it’s a good start and hopefully Sony Europe will stop being coy and start providing full downloadable titles on same day release pretty soon.
Out now | Free | PlayStation
