PSPgo, gone – is it the end of the line for Sony's hybrid handheld?

It was an interesting idea with some decent functionality, but in the end, it was a brand extension too far. Sony Computer Entertainment has seemingly ceased production of the PSPgo, a smaller, lighter version of its PSP handheld console, which did away with providing games on physical media, requiring players to download titles from the PlayStation Store. The manufacturer has yet to confirm speculation, but according to VG247, a message on the company's Japanese home page yesterday simply read "shipment ended".

Launched in 2009, the PSPgo was a controversial attempt to bring an iPod-style digital-only experience to dedicated games machines. Well-built with an excellent screen and nice slide-out control pad, the device offered 16GB of flash memory storage space, enough for about 15-18 games, although this could be expanded to up to 48GB. It also provided Wi-Fi access and Bluetooth connectivity.

So what went wrong?

The main problem was price. The device retailed at £220, putting it just shy of PS3, while game downloads were in the region of £20-£25, which angered gamers used to paying a fiver or less for smartphone digital apps. Meanwhile, retailers weren't happy that they'd be stocking a piece of hardware with no means of generating revenue from software sales.

And of course, technology just overtook the machine. The irresistible rise of Android and iOS handsets tempted potential buyers away to where games were cheaper and much more plentiful.

But Sony no doubt learned some valuable lessons from the PSPgo. At the very least, its sliding handset has been re-used in the Xperia Play, and the company has discovered that creating awkward hybrids between dedicated gaming and multimedia/smartphone devices is not the way – hence, the current two-pronged tactic of launching the Xperia Play alongside the forthcoming NGP dedicated gaming device.

So will the PSPgo attain the longterm cult appeal of other lesser known handhelds such as the Atari Lynx, Neo Geo Pocket or Tapwave Zodiac? Well, if you're planning to hold on to one for nostalgic reasons, you'd better get online and start downloading games – you won't be able to pick up battered old carts on eBay in five years time...