What lessons from the PSP era do you think modern handhelds can learn?

[killamch89]

The PSP era was a golden age for handhelds, offering multimedia playback, impressive graphics, and a robust third‑party library. Modern handhelds like the Steam Deck and Nintendo Switch focus heavily on performance and indie support, but what PSP‑era features should they resurrect? I’m talking about UMD‑based movie playback, multimedia integration, and hardware customization like faceplates. Were there design choices or community‑driven modding scenes that added to the handheld’s appeal?

[Scorpion]

Modern handhelds can learn from the PSP era’s focus on multimedia versatility and strong game libraries. Prioritizing user experience, battery life, and exclusive titles can help current devices appeal broadly, balancing gaming with entertainment and ensuring long-term user engagement.

[killamch89]

2 hours ago, Scorpion said:

Modern handhelds can learn from the PSP era’s focus on multimedia versatility and strong game libraries. Prioritizing user experience, battery life, and exclusive titles can help current devices appeal broadly, balancing gaming with entertainment and ensuring long-term user engagement.

I agree. The PSP's ability to seamlessly switch between gaming, music, video, and internet browsing was ahead of its time and something modern handhelds should embrace more fully. Having everything in one device with intuitive navigation made it feel like a complete entertainment system rather than just a gaming device.