Handheld PCs might be the fad right now and the Nintendo Switch may be credited for starting it, but the first console-quality handheld actually goes back farther. First launched in 2004, the PlayStation Portable or PSP offered a miniaturized PlayStation experience, from the graphics quality to the processing power to the use of small CD-like media. The PS Vita would later continue and then end that streak, but it also swapped out the optical disc for a more Nintendo-like cartridge system.
There have definitely been loud voices calling on Sony to revive the PSP in all its glory, but those have fallen on deaf ears. Owners, on the other hand, are still holding onto their beloved handheld, even if they’re no longer usable because of some broken parts. Fortunately, there are a few mods that try to breathe life back into these handhelds, like this “PS Placeable” that turns the portable device into an at-home console only.
Designer: Dan ()
For gamers, the idea of being able to play anywhere they have some free time is a dream come true. Bonus points if they can actually enjoy the same graphics-intensive triple-A titles they play at home in a handheld factor. Almost two decades ago, the PSP made that a reality, at least for the level of technology and graphics quality available back then. Those won’t hold a candle to today’s titles, but just like even older retro games, they still have a special place in fans’ hearts.
More than just aged hardware, the PSP is also no longer supported, so replacement parts are harder to come by. A broken screen or buttons, for example, could already spell the end of the fun, unless you decide to have it modded to not need those parts at all. PS Placeable, an obvious play on the PS Portable name, is one such undertaking, and it makes no qualms about mimicking the aesthetics of its larger cousin, the second-gen PlayStation home console.
In a nutshell, this mod puts a functional PSP with some broken parts inside a 3D-printed chassis that looks a lot like a shrunken-down PlayStation 2. Unlike most projects that require gutting the device, PS Placeable actually reuses almost the whole system, just with the front parts removed. This isn’t just for the sake of making the process easier but also for one of the mini console’s main features. It retains a functional UMD reader, which means you can use those old discs you’ve been keeping or maybe even homebrew games.
Since it’s trapped inside a box, the PS Placeable is controlled using a Bluetooth controller, its second major feature. Of course, this means you’ll need to hook it up to an external monitor and lose the portable appeal, but if it’s the only way you’ll be able to play your PSP games natively, it’s not that big of a sacrifice to make.
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