It seems like at times in our culture, certain events and situations turn into a universal truth without much research or acceptance. This usually tends to deal with one group’s bias which is then fueled by more loud and vocal groups. Soon after, their opinion is turned into a universal truth without much reason as to why. The PSP has unfortunately been a victim of this phenomenon with the media always looking at it with a stink eye. An eye that always doubts the system and attempts to put it down or marginalize its gains.

Though many call the PSP an under-performer, the truth of the matter is that Sony has just announced that the little system that was introduced to us in 2004 has now crossed the 70-million-units-sold marker. This in part, for a system that always cost more that its counterpart from Nintendo (though it also offered a ton more), is not a number we should take lightly. Nintendo has long been in the handheld business while this was Sony’s first walk in this territory. What’s more is that many forget that during the time where Sony was bleeding a loss of $300 on each PlayStation 3 sold, it was the PSP that was helping keep the division in some kind of balance. With over 3,200 titles available on UMD and many more via PSN, the PSP has come to sell over 298 million games during its lifetime. What’s more is that Sony has no plans to get rid of the system once the PS Vita comes out and is instead going to leverage and continue to support it, much like they did with the PS2 during the PS3’s early few years.

So hit the jump for the official press release and while you are there, let us know your PSP story. Do you have a PSP and if so, what are some of your favorite games and times to use it?

 PSP® (PlayStation®Portable) Sales Reach 70 Million Units Worldwide

TOKYO, June 6, 2011 /PRNewswire/ — Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. (SCE) today announced that the cumulative worldwide sales of PSP® (PlayStation®Portable) handheld entertainment system reached a total of 70 million units(*1) as of April 27, 2011.(*3) As of the end of April 2011

As the first handheld platform from the PlayStation® family, PSP made its debut on December 12, 2004 in Japan, March 2005 in North America, May 2005 in Asian countries and regions, and September 2005 in Europe/PAL territories. PSP has continued to evolve as an innovative handheld entertainment system, offering a wide array of exciting software titles and fun peripherals, as well as upgrading features through regular software updates.

With the launch of PSP, SCE opened up an entirely new gaming market by offering users new ways of enjoying digital entertainment, including playing games on-line with family and friends via a wireless LAN feature. In fall 2008, PSP users were given access to PlayStation®Store directly via wireless Internet, where they could access many games available for download. This was followed by the launch of the video delivery service, offering access to downloadable movie content for the PSP system, which was launched in the United States in July 2009, followed by Japan and Europe in November 2009. In October 2009, “minis” offering a range of all-new downloadable games for PSP became available exclusively via digital distribution on PlayStation Store, whilst the digital comic service was launched in Japan, the United States and Europe in December 2009.

On the games front, more than 3,200 titles on UMD are available worldwide, with cumulative software sales reaching 298 million units to date (*2). In addition to packaged games, many games have become available for download via PlayStation®3 or PC. Currently, a total of over 2,180 titles, ranging from PlayStation®Network exclusive games to “Game Archive” titles featuring the original PlayStation games, and downloadable version of UMD titles are available for download(*3). Many more exciting new software titles are planned continually for release from third party developers and publishers as well as from SCE Worldwide Studios.

Inheriting the basic functions and the design philosophy of PSP-1000, slim and light PSP (PSP-2000) was launched in September 2007, and SCE introduced PSP-3000 to the world in October 2008, featuring an advanced high contrast LCD and a built-in microphone, while maintaining the form factors of PSP-2000. As an additional lineup of the PSP series and the first handheld platform which is exclusively a networked device, PSP® (PlayStation®Portable) go was launched in October 2009.

SCE will continue to promote the expansion of the PSP platform and offer a variety of interactive digital entertainment along with PlayStation®Vita as an official name of for next generation portable entertainment system, which will make its debut at the end of the this year.

(*1) Sell-in number

(*2) As of the end of March 2011