Hirai Talks PSP 2 and PlayStation Phone

Kaz Hirai of Sony spoke with The New York Times about future PlayStation devices.

In an interview with The New York Times, Sony head Kaz Hirai dropped a number of hints concerning the PSP 2 and the rumored PlayStation Phone.

Hirai recognizes the popularity of casual games like those found on smart phones like the iPhone and Android. However, he promised that Sony wound continue to focus on developing more intense and "sophisticated" gameplay normally found on consoles.

"The games being played on Android and Apple platforms are fundamentally different from the world of immersive games that Sony Computer Entertainment, and PlayStation, aims for."

In an effort to stand out from other handheld devices by developing games that use buttons rather than touch screens, or even creating a device that combines both features.

"Depending on the game, there are ones where you can play perfectly well with a touch panel," said Hirai. "But you can definitely play immersive games better with physical buttons and pads. I think there could be games where you're able to use both in combination."

Hirai also hinted at the creation of the PlayStation Phone, but didn't go into specifics. He mentioned that Sony would need to be cautious when marketing such a device, so that people understand the differences between the Phone and the PSP.