PlayStation 30th anniversary PSP-3000 is here, but sony didn’t make it

Sony never released a PlayStation 30th anniversary edition of the PSP, but one hardware modder has created a custom version of the handheld with a familiar grey finish and several modern upgrades. The modified PSP-3000 features an IPS display, USB-C connectivity and a 5,000 mAh battery, bringing some welcome hardware changes to Sony’s portable console. The one-off device was built for a customer in South Korea and takes its design cues from Sony’s official anniversary collection. It’s still a PSP-3000 underneath, though the new screen, charging connection and battery make it quite different from the handheld Sony originally sold.

A PSP-3000 inspired by Sony’s 30th anniversary collection

Sony celebrated PlayStation’s 30th anniversary in 2024 with a limited-edition hardware collection inspired by the original PlayStation console. The range included special versions of the PS5 Pro, PS5 Digital Edition, PlayStation Portal, DualSense and DualSense Edge controllers. The PSP didn’t make the list. This custom PSP-3000 fills the gap with a grey exterior, the multicoloured PlayStation logo and commemorative branding inspired by Sony’s anniversary hardware.

The builder used an original Sony PSP shell and repainted it by hand rather than fitting a commercially available replacement. The finished device follows the same colour scheme as the official anniversary collection, complete with details inspired by the first PlayStation. It’s an independent modification, not an official Sony product. The anniversary branding comes from the custom design rather than a new hardware release from the company.

A new IPS screen replaces the original display

The changes go beyond the exterior. The builder replaced the PSP-3000’s original LCD screen with an IPS panel, giving the handheld an updated display. Sony’s original PSP-3000 shipped with a 4.3-inch widescreen LCD running at 480 × 272 pixels. The replacement uses IPS technology, which can offer wider viewing angles and more consistent colour reproduction than older TN-type LCD panels.

It’s one of the more substantial hardware changes in the project. The builder hasn’t published detailed specifications for the replacement screen, so there’s no confirmed information about its exact brightness, response time or colour accuracy.

The modification changes the display technology, but it doesn’t turn the PSP into a modern handheld with a high-resolution OLED screen. The original console hardware remains in place, with the new panel handling the display.

USB-C charging and a much larger battery

Charging gets an update, too. The custom PSP-3000 replaces the original charging arrangement with USB-C, giving the device a modern connection for charging and data transfer.

Sony’s standard PSP-3000 relied on a dedicated DC charging socket and a separate Mini-USB port. The new connection brings these functions to USB-C, removing the need for the original charging connector.

There’s a bigger battery inside, too. Much bigger. The modified handheld uses a 5,000 mAh battery, compared with the 1,200 mAh battery supplied with standard PSP-2000 and PSP-3000 models.

Fitting a battery of this size required a significant internal change. The builder removed the Universal Media Disc drive to make room, leaving the custom PSP without its original optical disc mechanism.

The larger battery offers considerably more capacity on paper, but the builder hasn’t provided confirmed figures for actual battery life. Running time will vary with screen consumption, battery performance and the demands of individual games.

The controls have received attention, too, with metal dome switches incorporated into the button assembly. The modification changes the physical input mechanism without replacing the console’s original processing hardware.

Custom firmware gives the PSP a different interface

The hardware isn’t the only part of the project to receive an update. The builder installed KOMMANDER Shell & Overlay, alongside extra themes included in a software package based on ARK-5. These modifications change the PSP’s interface, bringing a different appearance and menu experience to the handheld.

The software changes accompany the new exterior and internal components, giving the finished device a more extensively customised presentation. It’s still running on PSP-3000 hardware, though. The builder hasn’t replaced the processor or converted the console into a different gaming system. Instead, the project combines the original PSP platform with updated components, modified controls and custom software.

Custom PlayStation anniversary PSP costs around $600

The finished PSP-3000 was built as a commissioned device for a customer in South Korea, with the total price reaching approximately $600, including delivery. Shipping accounts for part of the expense. The builder reported higher transport costs associated with the large battery, with delivery charges and applicable taxes contributing to the final amount.

The $600 figure applies to this individual commission rather than an established retail price. There’s no official Sony version of the anniversary PSP-3000, and the custom unit isn’t part of the company’s commercial anniversary collection.

For this particular project, the builder has combined the PSP-3000’s original gaming hardware with a repainted shell, IPS screen, USB-C connection, larger battery and modified software. The result is a custom handheld based on Sony’s 30th anniversary design, with hardware changes extending considerably further than its exterior.

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