Following the recent release of the PSP 5.00 firmware update, Sony Computer Entertainment Europe’s vice-president of publisher and developer relations Zeno Colaço claims that the handheld’s new digital distribution method will "ignite" development for the handheld.

The firmware update, which is now live at the UK and US Playstation Stores, allows the PSP to directly connect to the Playstation Store and download content. In an interview with Pocket Gamer, Colaço claims that this new digital distribution method will give publishers and developers “much more scope in relation to the types of games they can release."

"If [publishers and developers] want to do a smaller game just released online, or add downloadable content, such as new characters to a UMD game, they can do that. Customisation is a big part of what consumers want these days, so we want to empower developers to be able to add such features and deliver them however they want to.”

Colaço hinted that gamers should expect a new wave of family-oriented games, claiming that the PSP’s downloadable content model will stimulate this trend: "I have to be careful what I say but publishers are definitely exploring more opportunities in terms of the types of games they can release on PSP, even in terms of more female-oriented games, puzzlers and less hardcore games. The opportunity we're providing with digital distribution will ignite those thoughts."

Colaço also claimed that he's content with how much third-party support the PSP is seeing, citing upcoming titles such as FIFA and Need For Speed. "I think publishers see PSP as a strong third-party platform, which isn't the case on other handhelds," he claimed. "Worldwide sales remain bouyant and the new hardware, combined with the new firmware features, mean it's an attractive console for them."