Rumor: North American GPS still en route for this year

by Majed Athab { Jan 13th 2009 at 9:00AM }

[Update: We're now classifying this story as a rumor, as there is no verifiable press release sent during CES 2009.]

Sony hasn't forgotten about North American GPS for the PSP; though, we suppose you have. We've heard since mid-2008 that the much-sought after service could be coming to North America in 2009, but since then, talk about peripheral had died down. However, according to PSP World, Sony reiterated interest in bringing the guidance system over at the Consumer Electronics Show this past weekend, suggesting that it could very well be on its way to release this year. The peripheral has already been implemented in Europe for several months now and in Japan since 2006.

Tags: ces-09, gps, psp

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

debaser @ Jan 13th 2009 9:32AM

wow talk about a day late and a dollar short...

anyone still excited about this?

I was about 2 years ago when I bought my psp.

SoCoolCurt (PSN: KillaKornbread - XBL: SoCoolCurt) @ Jan 13th 2009 2:18PM

i was at first but i've since pretty much stopped using my PSP. i was using it for my MP3 player (even had a car mount) so i was excited about being able to get another use out of it. but i've bought a Zune 80 now and i rarely use my PSP. it just sits there in it's neoprene case. it's pretty beat up now anyway (launch model) and if i want to play it again, i'll need a new one, which just isn't worth it at this point in the game to me. i'll wait til the fabled PSP2 more than likely.

debaser @ Jan 13th 2009 3:53PM

yeah i was too about 2 years ago.

Now my cell phone has GPS and wifi, is about half the size of the psp and already is integrated with google maps.

I wish Sony would realize they are 2-3 years too late on this.

Sony should seriously concentrate on what the PSP is best for, playing games or soon those 'other' devices will catch up on that too.

Otherwise I feel my PSP is doomed to be a ridiculously oversized MP3 player like the other guy stated.

Bryan @ Jan 13th 2009 11:26PM

kinda sad to say but I rarely use my PSP also. I beat Silent Hill today but as for buying accessories, im over it. I now have gps on my phone, to bad Sony.

Kattleox @ Jan 13th 2009 9:32AM

Rats. I already gave up on it and bought a Garmin.

theMediaman @ Jan 13th 2009 9:46AM

Considering a good one can be bought for under $200 and features a touch-screen, if they bother releasing a GPS for the PSP in North America they better have something to make it worth our while.

Nate @ Jan 13th 2009 9:49AM

Yeah, basically, it better be dirt cheap.

Hashbrown Hunter @ Jan 13th 2009 10:36AM

I won't be paying more than $75. It's an add-on, so it should NOT cost as much as full GPS systems.

pixelator @ Jan 13th 2009 10:08AM

The disturbing thing here is that Sony is so arrogant that they figure their talking about it in general terms without a specific release date is sufficient to keep interest alive.

You'd better wake up, Sony. Your PS3 has basically been dead on arrival and you utterly abandoned your potential overachiever (PSP) in EU and US markets. You have hosed this gen of console/handheld wars bigtime and are the laughing stock of the media and gamer communities alike. People are talking more about your stock being devalued and how your future looks iffy than they are the 'oh, maybe we'll finally bring this thing over from Japan' carrots you keep dangling to your dwindling customer base.

HAAS599 @ Jan 13th 2009 10:20AM

There was an announcement that the GPS would be out in 9 months or less but I cant remember when that story came out.

Sasuke Uchiha @ Jan 13th 2009 10:46AM

I work for a Target store in the electronics department. Our PS3 has been showing ads for this for a long time now. Didn't suspect it'd take this long for it to even possibly get here.

Brice @ Jan 13th 2009 11:21AM

The North America Map Pack for GO!EXPLORE is sold for 399 Swedish Krona (less than 49 USD) on the European PSN store!!!

Squirtbot @ Jan 13th 2009 11:37AM

If this thing can work like the GPS on the iPhone and work without wi-fi, then I'll buy this thing for sure!

atastysammich @ Jan 13th 2009 11:54AM

I'm mildly interested in this, now that I remember it. I'm gonna wait until I hear some specs--most importantly, a price.

Scuffles @ Jan 13th 2009 11:59AM

Yeah already have a GPS .. actually two, that I don't use already. Having one on the psp might be interesting and Heck I do use my psp a lot when I'm walking from here to there as an MP3 player anyhow.

But yeah it better be dirt cheap if they think I'm going to buy it else wise I'll just wait to pick up the usb receiver when its dirt cheep and for the superior home brew apps that will undoubtedly pop up for it ... hey who knows perhaps this is what will finally push me over the edge to downgrade my psp. That is of course unless Sony decides to be reasinable with its pricing and not try to squeeze the lifeblood out of people with by overpricing it and shoveling tons of Pay DLC into the mix.

Ghaleon @ Jan 13th 2009 3:30PM

Would have been nice, like, at launch. If this finally comes out, who knows for how long it'd even be supported by Sony?

Scuffles @ Jan 13th 2009 10:26PM

Lol at launch ... I remember launch =P we were lucky the psp played games, if they support it for more than a year I'd be surprised. I just hope they don't piecemeal it out in the form of a ton of pay as you go DLC. I wish them the best but I'm not going to hold my breath for its release or success.

Glenn @ Jan 13th 2009 7:05PM

I gave up on this peripheral for the US about 7 months ago and bought myself a Garmin Nuvi 660.

Sony should have made this thing available a long time ago, but then again, a lot of things they've done for the PSP don't make sense.

Virtuous @ Jan 13th 2009 11:14PM

Sony is 2 years too late. Now the market is saturated with GPS devices. Sony might as well forget about releasing this in the US.

B @ Jan 14th 2009 1:11AM

Niiiiice try. Got myself an iPhone which takes care of my music/video/mobile internet/gps needs...if you guys release a good game for the psp I might start using mine again.

ALSO, I can see people using the PSP as a media device if you would GET IT TOGETHER and let us organize our music by album, artist, song, and genre....that's something I thought would be obvious from day one, and would have been patched up within a couple months of release..

debaser @ Jan 16th 2009 10:37AM

i couldn't agree more.

i haven't touched my psp in about 6 months....waiting for Resistance Retribution to come out before i put it up on ebay.

I wonder if any home brewers have tried installing android on a PSP.

aj @ Jan 14th 2009 12:31PM

I'm kind of into the idea of a GPS, though I am curious if it would work out in the bush. In cities I can just use a map, you can usually get one for free, but out in the wilderness it's a bit harder to find your way.

....but the PSP has crap battery life. And I imagine with GPS that would get the battery life down to about 10 minutes.

Meh. I've never used GPS before and managed to find my way.