So much for one UK games retailer’s rancorous predictions that the PSPgo will “fail miserably” – it’s going down a storm across the Pond...

How stormy? How about a 300% uplift in the three days following the new hardware’s launch. Not bad going, eh – and it’s better than the 120% sales increase enjoyed this side of the Atlantic. Although that, in itself, is still pretty spectacular.

Sales of downloadable games have also skyrocketed Stateside, leaping 200% on the back of biggies such as Gran Turismo. There’s plenty more in prospect to keep things swinging too, as Sony America’s Patrick Seybold tells Gamasutra.com:

"The launch of PSPgo has generated strong consumer interest in the overall PSP platform and the PlayStation Network's digital content offering."

"With several blockbuster games launching digitally and on UMD in the coming weeks - from LittleBigPlanet to Assassin's Creed Bloodlines – we expect this momentum to continue and look forward to a strong holiday season for both the PSPgo and PSP-3000."

Well, go the ‘go, and all that. A successful hardware launch has got to be good for games on the whole, so we’re pleased to see it. We were rather taken with the compact new unit too, even if the PSP3000 is more flexible and much better value for money.

On that note, a quick reminder that the PSPgo is already substantially cheaper than it was at launch – many UK retailers are now selling it for £199.99 instead of the usual £224.99. Can’t be bad.