Perry: UMD-free PSP is real

Believes it could hit stores as soon as this autumn.

Speaking to Kotaku, Dave Perry, chief creative officer at Acclaim, revealed that a developer source has told him that a revamped PSP is very real.

"I spoke to a developer who is working on it right now," said Perry who had earlier posted news of a UMD-free PSP on his Twitter. "I know this developer is already working on it, so that means they have a prototype. That would sound like a fall release to me."

Perry added: "I've been pounding on Sony for a long time to make the PlayStation Portable relevant and not to let Apple stroll away with the portable game market. Look at what Apple is doing now. Why are so many investors investing in Apple game development? Trying to pitch a PSP game to investors right now is brutal."

With no UMD drive, Perry believes all PSP titles will be made available from the PlayStation Store either via a PC or directly accessed on the handheld. Games on Memory Sticks may also be released for gamers not yet sold on the idea of digital distribution, said Perry.