PSP 2000 Mint Green

The PlayStation Portable, better known as the PSP, is a handheld game console developed by Sony Computer Entertainment. Announced at E3 2003 and officially unveiled in May 2004, the PSP launched in Japan on December 12, 2004, followed by North America on March 24, 2005, and Europe on September 1, 2005.

At the time of its release, the PSP was one of the most powerful handheld systems ever produced and became Sony’s first major competitor to Nintendo in the portable gaming market. Its advanced graphics, multimedia features, internet connectivity, and ability to connect with the PlayStation 2 and PlayStation 3 helped make it more than just a game system.

The PSP is also the only handheld console to use an optical disc format as its primary physical media. Games and movies were released on Sony’s proprietary Universal Media Disc, commonly known as UMD.

Several versions of the PSP were released during its lifespan, including redesigned and upgraded models. The system was eventually succeeded by the PlayStation Vita in 2011. PSP hardware production ended worldwide in 2014 after approximately 80 million units had been sold.