Skip to main content

PlayStation Phone: Our closest look yet

xperia playIt isn’t supposed to be announced until next month at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, but Engadget has released nearly enough details and images to keep us satisfied until then. The site would only say it “managed to get hold of the real deal,” but seeing as the official introduction is still in the near future, nothing is entirely set in stone just yet.

xperiaplay2011-01-21-4The phone is called the Xperia Play, so no more of this PlayStation Phone nonsense. It’s an HSDPA device with Gingerbread OS as well as a 4-inch multitouch 854×480 LCD (same as the X10). Engadget claimed some awkward handling with the device, but noted that button location could easily be modified before February 14. By all accounts, it’s an overall upgrade from the PSP Go.

It is more than capable of handling video playback, and all the games tested “ran pretty well” according to the site. Check out the video below to see it in action. No amount of tearing apart the Xperia Play could reveal what sort of chipset the phone is working off of though, so that remains a mystery.

What we’re seeing looks nearly identical to the video the surfaced earlier this month, which there was some concern over being a Chinese knock-off. Everything coming to light seems accurate, but keep in mind that Sony has yet to announce the exist of Xperia Play. That said, MWC is getting closer and closer.

Editors' Recommendations

Molly McHugh
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Before coming to Digital Trends, Molly worked as a freelance writer, occasional photographer, and general technical lackey…
Humanity is the best PS5 (and PSVR2) game I’ve played so far
Humans jump over a gap in Humanity.

Over the past few years, I’ve found myself mourning the PlayStation brand I grew up with. When I was a kid, PlayStation was an eccentric platform home to the kind of oddball creative swings you now only ever see indie publishers take a chance on. In the PS5 era, though, Sony has doubled down on a cinematic action-adventure formula that feels less safe (though likely way more profitable) by comparison. It’s an understandable pivot, but it leaves me hungry for more diverse experiences on my PS5.

Thankfully, that desire has been satiated with Humanity, a game that’s already nabbing several impressive accolades from me. It’s the best reason to subscribe to PS Plus, the best game currently available on PlayStation VR2, and perhaps the best PS5 console-exclusive period (it’s also available on PC via Steam). The unique puzzler has all the markings of those left-field PlayStation classics I love … except for the fact it wasn’t developed or published by Sony at all.

Read more
PlayStation reveals new features and UI for its PS5 Access Controller
Sony's Project Leonardo controller sits on a table.

Sony revealed new details about its PlayStation 5 accessibility controller, which has been renamed from Project Leonardo to the Access Controller. A new blog post details what comes with the controller and offers a glimpse at the UI interface that players will use to customize it on the PS5.

Sony surprise revealed its "Project Leonardo" at CES earlier this year (Digital Trends named it the best gaming tech of the show). The circular pad features a unique design meant to make it easier for people with disabilities to customize controls to their needs. While it still doesn't have a price or release date, Sony has opened a new website for its newly renamed Access Controller and shared new details on it.

Read more
I miss the golden age of oddball, first-party PlayStation exclusives
gamescom 2012 ps vita announcements playstation tearaway media molecule

While PlayStation continues to thrive thanks to big-budget games like God of War Ragnarok, two recent events show how much Sony's video game brand is changing. The first came when the Sony-owned studio Media Molecule would end support for Dreams, a PS4-exclusive experience creation tool allowing players to build and share games with one another, later this year.

Shortly after that news, PixelOpus -- another Sony-owned studio -- announced it would be shutting down on June 2 after publishing just two titles: Entrwined in 2014 and Concrete Genie in 2019. In its tweet, PixelOpus stated "Dear friends, our PixelOpus adventure has come to an end. As we look to new futures, we wanted to say a heartfelt thank you to the millions of passionate players who have supported us, and our mission to make beautiful, imaginative games with heart. We are so grateful!"

Read more