One dedicated fan just gave the PSP a second life as a working GPS. Nearly 20 years later, the handheld is showing live maps, turn-by-turn directions, and pinpoint location tracking. Yes, really.
It all kicked off with a viral X post by 1800ghostman who showcased a PSP running full GPS software, complete with a cheeky caption: “I’d like to see the Nintendo Switch do this.” The image spread fast, eventually landing on Reddit and Instagram, where disbelief turned into retro admiration.
Comments poured in: “Still can’t believe the PSP had a GPS,” one user wrote on Instagram, while other younger players were baffled it even had a GPS in the first place.
PSP used as a GPS and fans challenge Switch to do the same
Sony released the PSP-290 GPS receiver back in 2006. With it, plus hacks like MapThis or Go Explore, fans turned the console into a legitimate navigation system, including voice guidance, downloadable maps, and satellite lock.
Naturally, with the Switch 2 only just releasing, many fans began to challenge Nintendo to do the same, joking on Reddit that they’d “like to see the Switch 2 do this.” Others remarked that the “PSP walked so Switch 2 could… still not have GPS in 2025,” poking fun at the lack of hardware in the brand new console.
Of course, the Switch 2 doesn’t include GPS hardware at all, so recreating this setup would take some wild modding or mobile tethering and plenty of alterations, which could brick your Switch. As such, it’s extremely unlikely we’ll ever see Mario or the Switch in general getting us to our destination.
Nevertheless, nearly 20 years on, the PSP is still capable of functioning as a GPS, just be prepared if you go on any road built after 2006.
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