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Why Sony made the PSP Go battery non-replaceable

According to John Koller, Sony's Director of Hardware Marketing, the company has made the PSP Go battery non-replaceable in an effort to prevent piracy that has plagued earlier models, most notably the 1000 and 2000 models.

Using the infamous Pandora's Battery, users of past PSP models could easily modify official PSP firmware and therefore play pirated games at their leisure. Sony wanted to avoid the same with the Go.



"We've had a lot of success with the 3000," Koller added via PSInsider. "You won't be able to rip your games and play them on the system, the firmware precludes that. There's no external battery, so there's a number of protections put into place on the system."

The downside for consumers is the fact that if the battery ever begins to die out, you cannot simply replace it, you will have to send it into Sony to have it replaced.

Written by: Andre Yoskowitz @ 31 Aug 2009 1:43

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• 32 comments

• bakedpsp

  Well then thats sony alright, taking stupid actions. I really don't care if its hackable or not! But taking away the use of an external battery is a pritty dumb move, now that really makes me not want to get one, plus whats wrong with the PSP 1k , 2k and 3k........I think they are great gaming units. Also I don't see the point of it sliding in half just to hide the buttons!! making it with a second joystick would of been alot better

  31.8.2009 02:08 #1

• hendrix12

  all this really means is that you cant easily modify the hardware
  
  if a hardware exploit is found it wont stop people from opening it up and just doing it that way

  31.8.2009 03:45 #2

• pereirab

  Originally posted by hendrix12: all this really means is that you cant easily modify the hardware
  
  if a hardware exploit is found it wont stop people from opening it up and just doing it that wayAgreed. It won't be long before it's released that people will find a way to mess with the firmware again.
  
  Plus, with the way the way pirates love a challenge they'll actually buy it just for the bragging rights of being the first person in the world to exploit the new Go. And if all they fail at it, the PSP sales will be boosted a little by the pirates! Win win!

  31.8.2009 03:53 #3

• beanos66

  and again Sony screw the honest majority of their customers

  31.8.2009 04:03 #4

• elk1007

  "You won't be able to rip your games and play them on the system, the firmware precludes that."
  
  And that is why I will never buy an overpriced Go :D

  31.8.2009 04:49 #5

• ZippyDSM

  Because they can save a buck building it and charge you 40$ to replace it of coarse!

  31.8.2009 04:56 #6

• pphoenix

  Originally posted by ZippyDSM: Because they can save a buck building it and charge you 40$ to replace it of coarse!correctamundo, when the internal propertarian battery dies, you've gotta send it back to sony to be replaced, but i think $40 is a little low zippy.
  
  why can't companies let us use AA rechargeable or agree on a standard that we can replace ourselves.

  31.8.2009 05:03 #7

• ZippyDSM

  Quote:Originally posted by ZippyDSM: Because they can save a buck building it and charge you 40$ to replace it of coarse!correctamundo, when the internal propertarian battery dies, you've gotta send it back to sony to be replaced, but i think $40 is a little low zippy.
  
  why can't companies let us use AA rechargeable or agree on a standard that we can replace ourselves.
  Well it would have to be AAAA to fit into that small a unit, and the 40$ is about what Apple charges to replace a battery, of coarse you have to spend 10-20 sending it to them too I think......

  31.8.2009 05:08 #8

• canuckerz

  The software sales for this generation of psp games is sunk long ago, piracy is already very widespread and anyone who intended to buy one either already owns one, or wants to buy a hackable one. They should have just kept on trucking and focused on hardware sales until they come up with the psp2.

  31.8.2009 05:53 #9

• bakedpsp

  Originally posted by beanos66: and again Sony screw the honest majority of their customersI agree.
  
  And yeah it will be harder to modify but that won't stop anyone from doing it. I think they go about it the wrong way, by screwing a majority of their customers will only power them more to get what they want on the PSP Go

  31.8.2009 05:54 #10

• KillerBug

  So based on this, can we assume that the PSP-go can be hacked easily, and all that one must do is open it up and splice into the wires going to the battery? If so, I am sure the pirate community is overjoyed. If not, then Sony has made this change to fix an issue that didn't exist in the first place!

  31.8.2009 06:02 #11

• bakedpsp

  Originally posted by KillerBug: So based on this, can we assume that the PSP-go can be hacked easily, and all that one must do is open it up and splice into the wires going to the battery? If so, I am sure the pirate community is overjoyed. If not, then Sony has made this change to fix an issue that didn't exist in the first place!Naa naa naa, they just did this so if we do try and modify the PSP Go and it don't work you end up having to go and buy another one :-(
  
  Pritty good tactics to make more money if you ask me ;-)

  31.8.2009 06:43 #12

• bam431

  Originally posted by hendrix12: all this really means is that you cant easily modify the hardware
  
  if a hardware exploit is found it wont stop people from opening it up and just doing it that way
  exactly i'll probably rip mine open anyways if i ever get one. It's not that i support game piracy but i don't like sony telling me what i can and can't do. Plus i already have a whole load of UMD's

  31.8.2009 09:45 #13

• canuckerz

  Quote:Naa naa naa, they just did this so if we do try and modify the PSP Go and it don't work you end up having to go and buy another one :-(
  
  Pritty good tactics to make more money if you ask me ;-)Taking a page out of microsoft's business tactics it seems.

  31.8.2009 10:02 #14

• shaffaaf

  good idea sony tbh. how many people seriously have had their battery fail? and ipods havent allowed this since forever yet no one minds about that.
  
  
  i also like how when the PSP first came out its was OMG UMD IZ TEH SUX! and now its going away its the holy grail.

  31.8.2009 10:34 #15

• bookfox

  Hm bad news for me if it is harder to modify ... :(
  
  
  

  31.8.2009 10:39 #16

• emugamer

  Hackable or not, I will not buy a device with that type of restriction.....ever.

  31.8.2009 11:59 #17

• Oner

  If this is "supposed" to be just like how the SixAxiS/DS3 battery was "supposed" to be the same way where it was "supposed" to be costly to change & that you where "supposed" to send it into Sony when it died then I suppose there will be no issue...seeing how I can get a DS3 Battery for $4.89 open it up and pop it in, but until it is released and someone opens it up we will have to wait to see exactly how difficult (if at all) it is to replace.
  
  Either way the PSP 3000 will still be available for those who want to be able to hack one and the 4000 is also coming soon as well (and it's based off the old one not the Go!). I myself won't be getting a PSP Go! until the price drops (and substantially at that, $250 @ launch! No way!) but that's okay...it just gives those who will be working hard to crack it time to do so (well in my case ;) at least) and then maybe give me a reason to pick one up at that later date.
  
  I honestly don't see a problem with this as of right now though. What company DOESN'T want to protect their product and solidify their relationship with publishers, devs etc? As it is, Sony is the ONLY company this gen to have a console that is not compromised, and that must be good for theirs and others business...sucks for us though, but we'll see. And as I said, if you want a hackable one it's not like they magically won't be available or something.
  

  
  
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  31.8.2009 12:30 #18

• Shinraboy

  All things considered I had figured that the Go would be the easiest of the lot to modify. I mean consider the plan Sony has to get a digital version of UMD's you already have. Not just that but it's all software right? It shouldn't be too hard...I mean there has to be a way to confuse and ISO rip into being a PSN style game....

  31.8.2009 12:52 #19

• BadCatt

  Ok, So I have PSP Go for 5+ years Can I still get a new battery? or is there going to be, time is up sucker Sony needs more money from you get the new one

  31.8.2009 20:29 #20

• hendrix12

  Quote:Originally posted by hendrix12: all this really means is that you cant easily modify the hardware
  
  if a hardware exploit is found it wont stop people from opening it up and just doing it that way
  exactly i'll probably rip mine open anyways if i ever get one. It's not that i support game piracy but i don't like sony telling me what i can and can't do. Plus i already have a whole load of UMD'si dont support piracy either but sony needs to make a reasonably legal way to create and run homebrew without any issues

  31.8.2009 22:29 #21

• fuzzerboy

  if sony doesnt want to have a replaceble battery for psp GO might as well we dont buy psp GO because we cant even play pirated games on psp GO

  31.8.2009 22:45 #22

• pcrazy99

  I'm fine with a psp phat. I will only upgrade to a new model when they add a second joystick.

  31.8.2009 23:12 #23

• KillerBug

  I'm still waiting for a PSPhone...I know that if I buy any PSP, the PSPhone will be announced the next day.

  1.9.2009 01:49 #24

• bakedpsp

  Originally posted by shaffaaf: good idea sony tbh. how many people seriously have had their battery fail? and ipods havent allowed this since forever yet no one minds about that.
  
  
  i also like how when the PSP first came out its was OMG UMD IZ TEH SUX! and now its going away its the holy grail.I've had some PSP batteries die on me, two phats and one slim, but just got new one's off the net -very cheap :-)
  
  I suppose the good thing about the go is not having an UMD tray cause lets face it ...... 1.8gb isn't alot, when you think about it a digital version of a game would be able to alot more, bigger size, maybe 2.5gb-now that would a good sized game, better graphics, more levels and options

  1.9.2009 02:35 #25

• cdxanti

  It wont take long after the release for parts to hit ebay and then you will be able to buy extra batteries and all of sony's efforts to stop hackers will be in vain. Its useless and i can just see the problems just rolling in with the movable screen. There are springs and gears that can brake and round out. The screen is vulnerable now because the buttons would keep the screen from touching a table top if you put it down the wrong way. Idiots

  1.9.2009 10:19 #26

• ooZEROoo

  I'll stick with my PSP 1001. Hackable and I can replace my battery. To top it off its cheaper then this new overpriced PSP GO. 16 gig on board storage is nice but not enough to convince me to buy this piece of crap.

  1.9.2009 22:12 #27

• ipwn74

  damn i got a go the day it came out and now i want to trade it in at gamestop and get a slim and pandora battery

  21.10.2009 03:56 #28

• hyslope

  Just wait and get the PSP Go USED at Gamers (gamestop does NOT sell them). They sell for $150 because they are a "download" only machine....no MONEY in that for the used game stores. I purchased one with 6.31 firmware a couple weeks ago, had JUST recently become able to run EMULATORS with the "Hot Shots Gold Open Tee" game save exploit!! I also purchased another used one for $150 at Mr. Money Pawn Shop here in town.....it had 6.10 firmware!!!!! So the free DEMO Patopon2 and game save exploit runs the homebrew and EMULATORS *old school* nes,snes,sega,n64....yada-yada-yada :) Slow me down------> but ya can't STOP me :) Oh, and there excuse to not have a user replaceble battery is CRAP. Hackers and Slackers haven't been able to use the pandora battery since somewhere around firmware 5.03 (2nd generation PSP 2000 and 3000) so it's JUST a scam to make big money off a $5 battery. AND your PSP Go "WILL BE UPDATED" no matter how much you scream and kick....it will be included in the service -no matter what- That's extra security for THEM. But don't lie guys....the PSP is a sweet machine no matter what. And I don't hear people crying because they can't hack there toaster and saying they won't buy one. Bull $-hit. If hacken is ALL you need these for "then build it yourself".

  12.9.2010 18:02 #29

• ZippyDSM

  UMDwas made to push portable film they just were dim enough to use it for their portable game system, thats why it did so poorly.
  

  Until lobbying is a hanging offense I choose anarchy!
  Ah modern gaming its like modern film only the watering down of fiction and characters is replaced with shallow and watered down mechanics, gimmicks and shiny-er "people".
  http://zippydsmlee.wordpress.com/

  12.9.2010 18:11 #30

• Bilay913 (unverified)

  Only Sony would do that, instead of just changing the battery-could've even used a watch batter for all I care- they just got rid of the access to it completely

  1.2.2012 15:43 #31

• Bilay913 (unverified)

  Originally posted by Bilay913: Originally posted by shaffaaf: good idea sony tbh. how many people seriously have had their battery fail? and ipods havent allowed this since forever yet no one minds about that.
  
  
  i also like how when the PSP first came out its was OMG UMD IZ TEH SUX! and now its going away its the holy grail.
  Yeh but dont 4get tht iPods hav like 15hours battery life for music and psp go has 3

  1.2.2012 15:56 #32