In an unanticipated move, Sony have announced details on their next portable gaming console in its PlayStation® Portable range, dubbed PSP-4000.

In a statement at a recent press conference, SCEE president David Reeves announced the decision for the hardware update.

What's unusual about this move is that it follows the release of Sony's new console, the PSP-3000, which hit the shelves less than a month ago.  Speculators believe that this sooner than expected update was made by Sony in an attempt to give it a competitive advantage over Nintendo's upcoming DSi.

Details on this new model were sketchy however.  Reeves announced that the new model is expected to be available before Christmas this year, but the price had yet to be finalized.  The new model builds on the PSP-2000's "slim and lite" design, and the PSP-3000's improved screen and built-in microphone, and adds an improved processing unit.

Sony announced details on making PlayStation® 2 games available for download via its PlayStation® Store, which could then be transferred to and played on the PSP-4000.

Critics of the PSP™ say that the system's main weakness is it's lack of quality games, and some believe that Sony is relying on the strength and popularity of its aging console to improve the sales of its current generation systems, the PlayStation® Portable and PlayStation® 3.

Touche zinga.. touche