I've been meaning to get around to some basic PSP mods for a while, but one of my favorite modders basically just remade the retro handheld. Rather than simply buying a cheap replacement shell or swapping in an IPS display, YouTuber Polymatt has designed and manufactured the portable's body using brass and acrylic from scratch.
As with all of Polymatt's videos, this PSP project is all about the journey rather than the finished product. The video details what the modder admits is a project that doesn't have a specific end goal in mind, with the only ambition being to "elevate" the gaming handheld with a shell that "really does the design justice."
In this instance, that means gifting the PSP an acrylic front and back shell alongside a brass CNC-milled core. Polymatt describes the process of tearing down the mid-2000s handheld as an "archeological dig", which is something I really relate to as a retro console modder. It's a reference to the design philosophies that inevitably dictated how systems came to be and the minds making the gadgets.
You might now be itching to make your own PSP shell, but I honestly don't think even console modding enthusiasts will be taking on this project. Polymatt's self-described "rabbit hole" involves using high-tech 3D scanners, spraying the original parts with slow-evaporating "scanning spray" to make them a white, camera-friendly color, then modelling the shell before testing fitting using 3D printed prototypes.
To cap that all off, the modder then machines blocks of brass and mills acrylic to make the final parts, which come with lots of sanding and detail work. The process looks therapeutic, but it requires far more skill and patience than just popping the innards in a new plastic shell. In the middle of all that, Polymatt even designs his own USB-C mod board that replaces Sony's old barrel jack, something I haven't even considered yet.
The end result is a PSP that looks like a high-end fashion brand handheld that skirts the line between elegance and Steampunk vibes. Polymatt confesses that he made a few boo-boos, though, like somehow forgetting to mill out the shoulder button spaces and accidentally blocking the power switch with the new USB-C mod. Nevertheless, this custom body is basically a work of art, and is an example of what's possible in terms of reviving and revamping our beloved old gadgets.
I'll be sharing my own PSP project soon, and that will focus on adding simpler IPS screen mods to my pink handheld. If you've got any requests ahead of that, or thoughts about new parts in general, let me know, and I'll look into them. Just note that I won't be modelling my own shell, I'll leave that to talented folks like Polymatt.
- Retro handhelds at Amazon
- PSP mods at Aliexpress
Using Valve's handheld for retro shenanigans? Take a peek at the best Steam Deck docks to play on bigger screen.
