Video Gamer is reader-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Prices subject to change. Learn more
Speaking to Newsweek, Probst spoke about the PSP and what he believes are necessary steps for the handheld to compete in the marketplace with the Nintendo DS – according to Nintendo, its handheld is outselling the PSP by a ratio of 2.5:1.
“I think what moves the needle is a new form factor that’s smaller than the existing unit, at a lower price, and hopefully that price is US$ 100 or lower,” said Probst. “I think the price point needs to be lower, and I think you’re going to see that next year, along with a different form factor.“
Probst was clear that this was just his opinion and not insider knowledge, but said it “would not be hugely surprising” for the PSP to take a price cut down to $149, with “a more fully-featured upscale unit that retails at US$ 249 or US$ 299.“
So what of EA’s future support for the PSP? Probst conceded that the publisher’s “strategy on PSP has typically been to take the franchises that we build on other platforms and exploit them on the PSP.” According to Probst this is something that is unlikely to change, with the Xbox 360, PS3 and Wii seen as the more suitable launch platforms for new franchises. However, Probst did reveal that EA is “interested in interoperability between PSP and Sony’s other platforms.“
