Gaming website 1UP is making some big claims about the new model of Sony's PlayStation Portable game console. Its editors say they've seen the device and spoken with sources who've worked with it, and if what they say is true, you'll be able to pickup a radically rebooted version of the console this fall.

1UP says that the controls will slide out from beneath the screen (an old standard, as far as PSP rumors go), but that apart from that they'll be the same controls we've always known. That means no second analog stick for first person shooter fans. Sorry!

More interestingly, though, the new model will drop the physical UMD format for its games and instead download all its titles over the PlayStation Network. You will supposedly be able to download as many as 100 titles on launch day, including both classics and new games like a mobile version of the popular Grand Turismo racing game.

Sony is allegedly considering naming the console the PSP Go!, PSP Slide, or PSP Flip instead of PSP-4000 or PSP 2 as have been rumored in the past. Since Sony has already been promoting a Go! line of accessories, 1UP guesses that that's the most likely name.

The rumored release date is September for Japan, and either October or November for the United States.

Quoted from www.1up.com.