PS Placeable: The adorable mod that turns a PlayStation Portable into a console

When Sony launched the PlayStation Portable almost exactly 20 years ago, the value proposition was right there in the name: a PlayStation, but portable. But now modders have flipped that, introducing a PSP that can be played on a TV, console-style, and they've dubbed it the PS Placeable.

It's a non-destructive mod to PSP-2000 and PSP-3000 systems that allows you to play PSP games on the TV off the original UMD physical media format, with a wireless controller like the PlayStation 4's DualShock 4—all wrapped in a miniature, PlayStation 2-like enclosure.

Let's be frank: One of the main reasons this thing gets special attention here is that its look is both clever and, well, kind of adorable. The miniaturization of the retro styling of the PlayStation 2 is a nice touch.

Of course, there have long been other ways to play some PSP games on the big screen—but there has always been one downside or another.

For example, you could connect the original PSP to a TV with convoluted cables, but you would then have to use that tethered handheld as your controller.

Much later, the PlayStation TV set-top box made by Sony itself was essentially a console-style take on the PlayStation Vita, and like the Vita, it could play numerous classic PSP games—plus, it supported wireless controllers—but it didn't support most PSP games, and it only worked with those downloaded through Sony's digital store.

And if you go into the world of emulation, you have a plethora of options—but then you're missing out on using original hardware and UMDs.

The PS Placeable is essentially a true console form factor natively running and supporting all PSP games, with Bluetooth controller support to boot.

There are thousands of PSPs with broken screens floating around, and this mod seems like the perfect next step for each of them. Further, this mod potentially opens up PSP games to a new audience of players with disabilities who can't use traditional controllers, as, in theory, you should be able to connect something like the Xbox Adaptive Controller to the PS Placeable.

It's not all perfect, though: It requires a web app for connecting the Bluetooth controllers, it doesn't address the longstanding scaling challenges with PSPs connected to TVs, and it's quite pricey unless you do the work yourself.

The modders have made it available for purchase in various ways, including parts that total under $100 to do the modifications yourself or an all-in-the-box, ready-to-go solution that even includes a PSP itself for $275. The initial run is already out of stock, but more will be made—or you can send your own PSP off to the modders to have it done for you.

If you decide to build it yourself, you can find instructions both on the mod's website and in Macho Nacho Productions' helpful YouTube video review, which goes into a lot of detail about the device.