Mortal Kombat developer has a PSP 2, 'looks like it’s a pretty powerful machine'

In the months leading up to the arrival of the PSPgo, Sony couldn't keep developers from casually dropping it into conversation. The PSP 2 has so far been a much better guarded secret,

Back in May, “multiple British sources” claimed that they had had access to PSP 2 dev kits for several months, with VG247 predicting an early 2011 release. The device was rumoured to have a touchscreen and two cameras.

During GamesCom in August, unnamed developers told Eurogamer that that the PSP 2 would resemble the PSP-3000 and have a touchscreen at the back.

Since then we've stayed poised for news, but Sony hasn't announced anything and interest in the mythical device has ebbed and flowed.

Expect it to flow again with news that Mortal Kombat developer Shaun Himmerick has spilled the beans on the PSP 2 in an interview with Industry Gamers. Responding to a question about whether a version of Mortal Kombat might be seen on PSP or 3DS, he says:

“[W]e have a PSP2 in the house and we’re looking at the engine, like what can it support. Always a big thing for us is the performance. We’re running at 60 fps, what can we do and do we have to build all the art assets over. We’re definitely looking at them. PSP2 looks like it’s a pretty powerful machine.”

Interestingly, the PSP 2 appears to have arrived at Netherrealm Studios before the Nintendo 3DS, which Nintendo announced back in June at E3. “We don’t have a 3DS system in house yet, but we’re looking to get one, and we’ll certainly look at what its power is.”

The fact that Netherrealm already has a PSP 2 corroborates earlier rumours about developers having had PSP 2 dev kits for some time, which lends some support to the idea of a 2011 release date.

Himmerick says nothing about touchscreen functionality or cameras.