According to Develop, Sony has begun distributing PlayStation Portable 2 development kits to a number of key studios throughout the video game industry. The handheld appears to have received a much-needed hardware upgrade, with sources indicating a smooth 60 frames per second during gameplay.
The report claims that that Sony is preparing a "significant launch window line-up" for the new handheld, which has been rumored to be in the works for quite some time. The hardware manufacturer evidently wants to make a big impact when the device is eventually released.
Earlier this month, Mortal Kombat developer Netherrealm Studios announced that it was in possession of a PlayStation Portable 2 development kit. Despite any confirmation from Sony, Executive Producer Shaun Himmerick gave the following statement to IndustryGamers.
"We"re not launching day one on all consoles like that. We are looking at them; we have a PSP2 in the house and we"re looking at the engine, like what can it support. Always a big thing for us is the performance. We"re running at 60 fps, what can we do and do we have to build all the art assets over. We"re definitely looking at them. PSP2 looks like it"s a pretty powerful machine. We don"t have a 3DS system in house yet, but we"re looking to get one, and we"ll certainly look at what its power is."
Sony has yet to formally unveil a successor to the original PlayStation Portable, though the device is speculated to be announced at the company"s 2011 Electronic Entertainment Expo press conference.