Two big PlayStation 3 franchises are heading to PSP, Sony has this afternoon confirmed, with LittleBigPlanet and Motorstorm launching on the device later this year.

The handheld version of LittleBigPlanet will be seemingly the same as its PS3 brother, allowing users to create and share game levels.

MotorStorm: Arctic Edge, meanwhile, takes places to a new racing arena.

The news follows our report earlier this month where Sony said it would ‘re-invigorate’ the platform with key franchises.

“These are just the start of a stellar line-up of games coming to PSP this year, positioning 2009 as the biggest year for PSP to date,” a statement from the format-holder said.

“There are a lot of big claims in the gaming industry but we’re confident when we say that 2009 is going to be an exciting year for PSP,” added Mark Hardy, European MD, SCEE.

“Our fans have demanded big PSP titles and this year, we’re going to deliver again and again. With Resistance: Retribution™, already on its way to stores, PSP gamers are going to get one big franchise after another.”

These details have emerged from the Destination PlayStation event taking place for retailers in America today.

At the event Ubisoft also confirmed that a PSP game based on Assassin's Creed was also heading out for the device ater this year.