Before the PSP, portable gaming was largely seen as a 138 supplement to “real” gaming on home consoles. But Sony’s entry into the handheld market disrupted that perception completely. The PSP wasn’t just another device—it was a statement. It told gamers they didn’t have to compromise quality for mobility. And from its first year, the best PSP games proved that serious, story-rich, visually stunning PlayStation games could be taken anywhere.
Sony didn’t just port its existing titles; it reimagined them. Ratchet & Clank: Size Matters adapted the beloved series for smaller screens while retaining all its charm, humor, and action. Kingdom Hearts: Birth by Sleep expanded the lore of the franchise in a meaningful, emotionally complex way—arguably becoming a centerpiece of the entire series. These games made it clear that the PSP wasn’t playing backup to the PlayStation—it was expanding its universe.
What made this possible was not just Sony’s vision but the confidence of developers to push the boundaries. They saw the PSP not as a limitation, but as an opportunity to deliver new experiences to an audience that wanted freedom without losing depth. Even ambitious open-world games like GTA: Vice City Stories managed to provide massive content with fluid performance, proving that scope didn’t need to be sacrificed.
In doing so, the PSP helped reshape expectations for the PlayStation brand. Portability was no longer a compromise—it was an extension. The PSP laid the groundwork for later efforts like Remote Play, PS Vita, and even the integration of mobile-friendly experiences with the PS5. Its message remains relevant: great games should follow you, not the other way around.