Sony continues to play hide and seek, and serenely confirms something they have been vehemently denying until last week. Just yesterday, we were talking about some new rumours that appeared on Kotaku, regarding a redesigned PlayStation Portable, and now, for the first time ever, we finally have a confirmation from a Sony official. More precisely, from SCE UK managing director Ray Maguire, speaking at the British launch of Sony's "PSP in Education" initiative yesterday afternoon.

According to today's report on GI.biz, Maguire told an invited audience of press, teachers and education specialists that the current PSP is just the "first iteration" of the console.

Much like the first PlayStation was followed by a smaller PSOne, and the PS2 received a highly successful redesign as well, it seems that the PSP handheld will also go through a similar treatment in the future, becoming smaller and lighter. However, Maguire warns that, no matter the changes, one thing that will certainly remain the same is the screen's generous size - the PSP's pride and glory.

In theory, a smaller PSP should translate into a smaller price, which is currently placed at GBP 179 in the UK. But don't rush with those savings just yet, because we may be up for a long, long wait for the new PSP model. At least considering that the redesigned PSOne and "slim" PS2 came out some 4-5 years after the original models, and that the PSP is still rather young - having been launched in the West during 2005.

At least they made the first step: getting out of the denial phase.

UPDATE: Oh noes, not another denial! Actually they don't deny that a redesigned PSP may be coming in a couple of years or so, just that "There are no immediate changes planned for PSP". [14.03.2007, 14:06]

(N.B. Archive text, links removed)