Hands-On Video Of 'PlayStation Phone' Prototype Surfaces

After months of rumors surrounding the existence of a "PlayStation Phone," hands-on video has surfaced showing a prototype Android phone utilizing Sony's trademark controller layout. Tech site Engadget got its hands on a prototype of Sony Ericsson's Xperia Play, as the mobile device is officially known. Though the PlayStation branding doesn't appear anywhere on the hardware, a PSP-Go-style slide-up screen reveals a familiar, PlayStation-like directional pad and button layout, complete with square, circle, triangle and X buttons. Those buttons can be used to interact with the Android interface as well as standard Android apps. Engadget demonstrated their use with emulators for the original PlayStation and the Game Boy Advance. A touch-sensitive pad in the middle of the controls seems intended for games designed exclusively for the device, and includes grooves outlining two analog-stick shaped circles. The hardware also includes shoulder buttons on either side, start and select buttons, and a menu button that appears intended to bring up an on-screen keyboard. While Engadget's prototype did not include any proprietary game software, it did come with a PlayStation Pocket app, which includes styling similar to the system menus on the PSP and PS3. Menu options in the app allow players to filter game lists in the order they've been played or added. With the PlayStation controls hidden away, the Xperia Play acts as a standard Android 2.3 phone, complete with a four-inch multi-touch screen, built-in camera and standard menu buttons. More information on the Xperia Play is expected at the Mobile World Congress, being held in Barcelona starting February 14. The phone is unrelated to the long-rumored follow-up to the PlayStation Portable, which is expected to be formally announced at a Sony event in Japan Thursday.