Rumor: PSPs with non-downgradable firmware on its way to the stores?

Would you buy a PSP armed with a security feature that makes it hack proof?

According to Nadclovek from PSP-Spot (sourcing an EB Games Regional Manager in Calgary, Canada), new shipments of PlayStation Portables may sport higher firmware (4.xx) and retail at 169.99 CAD or around US$ 153.67. This might not be good for PSP sales to say the least.

Nadclovek says:

Sony was sending out Emails to its Commercial Retailers that all new PSPs to be sent out will have 'Downgradable Prevention' built right into them. All new PSPs to be shipped out as of next week Friday, May 18th, will be a higher firmware, 4.xx (specifics were not released), but they were promised to include new security features to prevent hacks and downgrades. Apparently this is one of their first steps to start focusing on the PSP again, instead of diverting all attention to the PS3.

[TriggerHappy]

get Dark_Alex on the phone and tell them of this little development.

sony 8 = Dark_Alex 8

[Karebear]

I'd sell my old school PSP at a premium on Ebay and buy one of the new ones pretty quickly :) I don't mind sticking with official games, especially since I can get all the PSone games from the PS Store now. Cha-Ching $.

[Frulond]

Of course. Hacking PSP leads to plenty of possible bugs and turning it into junk.
People goes looking all around the web for downloadable games and hacks only to get a PSP virus or some crap ending up with his/her PSP life.
Its like software on the web one day or another you'll end up hooking some virus and losing valuable information in your PC. Happens more than you think.

[omansteveo]

The Hacking of the PSP is the reason alot of people buy them...i mean seriously what games would you play on it, if it were'nt for hacking

[neogeo]

I wont buy it if I can't hack it.

[gta_cb]

nothing is un-hackable
seriously even if it takes a long time, it WILL become hacked!
just leave it to people like Dark_Alex

[PS360WII]

Yes PSP sales have been in competition mainly because of homebrew. No one really is buying them for the real games. Maybe now more so with actual good content coming out for it. Yet for the last 3 years (I think) most of the 20 million PSP's out there were bought for the hackability it has. Just look at qj.net that's a crazy pro psp site that finds any possible hack, download, or whatever for your psp. Then when they post an article about sony releasing a firmware for the psp you'll get 80+ posts saying fu sony just let me get my games for free. They love the psp but hate anything else you have to buy for it... including games. Sad truth but sony kind of did it to themselves by not making any worthwhile games for it in the beginning.

[warfed]

im sure MS thought Vista was unhackable... everything can be hacked

[Covenant]

Homebrew has helped keep the PSP alive...this would hurt, rather than help, Sony's sales...at least until Dark_Alex & the like get a hold of it...then it would be moot. Nothing is unhackable.

[Havince]

iv got 8 games on my mem card :-)