Welcome to QJ.NET's first-ever Weekend Warrior article for the Sony PlayStation Portable! This week's segment covers a wide range of topics, including some dev updates on Team M33's latest custom firmware release. Two Japan games are also in the spotlight, along with some news on the sales of titles over in Europe.

There's also the matter of Sony's other future plans for the PSP, which will have much to do weaning the PSP of its dependence on your PS3 or your PC for its steady influx of downloadable goodies.

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When Sony announces a firmware update for the PSP, you can be sure that the homebrew developers aren't too far behind. Having successfully decrypted Sony's official firmware 4.00 in record time, Team M33 worked overtime on creating their own CFW. Progress comes at a price however, with M33 bidding farewell to a cornerstone of PSP homebrew development.

But lo!, this just in from a couple hours ago! Dark AleX has finally released PSP CFW 4.01 M33 with a promise to follow it up with the 1.50 kernel add-on! Get your CFW update below!

Link: PSP CFW 4.00 to include in-XMB recovery mode, savestate support *Update*
Link: Team M33 officially says 'Bye Bye!' to 1.50 kernel
Link: Dark AleX releases PSP CFW 4.01 M33; 1.50 kernel add-on to follow

This week also sees the initial public launch of Auraomega's Project4 XMB replacement, lauded to be the first homebrew of its kind. To think that not too long ago, the project was in danger of being axed due to an unfortunate incident with the Dev's PSP. It's been a long difficult road, but now it looks like Auraomega's efforts are finally paying off.

Link: PSP homebrew shell: Project4 v1.6180 released *Update 2*

Intrigue dots the gaming side of this week, with Sony Japan recently setting up a countdown timer for a new mystery title. The timer's gone now, and the game appears to be a sequel for the Yuusha no Kuse ni Namaikida RPG. With no indications of an English release, it looks the fans will want to look to their favorite import sites to  grab this title upon launch.

Link: Pixelated mystery timer found on PlayStation Japan site

Speaking of games, there's also the matter of some new info that's cropped up for Square Enix's Dissida: Final Fantasy, with the game scheduled to arrive in Japan by the end of this year. We got quite a bigger-than-usual dose of updates for Dissidia this week, including a lot of speculation of the character rosters by some of you commenters.

And speaking of Square Enix titles, gamers are going to get some classic treats from the RPG giants. Gamers in Japan, at least. Over at their region's PlayStation Store, Xenogears and Einhander are now available. After which, Square Enix promises to deliver more of their PS1 classics online.

Link: Dissidia: Final Fantasy website update: Story, Character, and Info sections now up
Link: New Dissidia: Final Fantasy trailer reveals end of 2008 release date
Link: Square Enix to release PS1 games on PSN Japan, starts with Xenogears

So, how does Agent Clank's latest misadventure compare to his past escapades in the likes of Size Matters? Brace yourself for the obligatory 007 jokes, as we fill you in on the details with our Secret Agent Clank game review.

Link: Secret Agent Clank QJ.NET Review - Shaken, not stirred

On the corporate side of the news, Sony has hinted that they're planning to keep the handheld system in service for ten years. Optimistic? Perhaps, but Kaz Hirai's previous presentation at Sony Global indicates that they've already got some pretty good ideas on how to make this a reality.

Link: Exec says Sony is shooting for a ten-year lifespan for PSP
Link: Sony document unveils PSN video download service, possible PS3 price cut, and more

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For now, we'll focus our attention on Sony's long-term plans for the PSP. There's the matter of Sony's previous corporate meeting, which disclosed plans to enable the handheld to directly access the PlayStation Store. Then there's the press wire from the same meeting announcing plans for a PSN-based video download service for the PS3, which in turn may also allow streams to the PSP.

The way it's going, Sony might be  presenting the handheld as a multifunctional entertainment system that can do far more than just play games. Of course this is just speculation on my part. If Sony were serious about turning the PSP into the media bonanza we all want it to be, they will want to fix its two biggest hardware-related issues: its paltry memory stick capacity, and anemic battery life.