New Battery to double the current PSP playing time

Soon gamers will be able to game for even longer on their PlayStation Portables--undoubtedly good news for all those with lengthy commutes. When the PSP Slim was announced at this year's E3, many were disappointed that the criticism of the original device's battery life was not addressed.

Announced on the official PlayStation US Blog, the new 2200mAh battery will double the playing time of the PSP Slim, although it will make the Slim less slim due to the fact that the battery is "slightly thicker" than the standard model. The battery will come with two custom PSP Slim covers in piano black and ice silver to match the rest of the unit.

The battery can also be used with the original PSP model, and is due out in North America in mid-December for $44.99. A Sony Europe spokesperson told that there are currently no plans to release it anywhere else.