Sony's Yoshida confirms PS3/PS Vita Cross Buy for North America

Shuhei Yoshida: PS Vita-PS3 Cross Buy price promo is coming to both Europe and North America. My quote by Famitsu was meant as "not decided for Japan yet".

[remanutd55]

he had to before the media started another attack lol

[ddurand1]

is this all games that have vita counterparts?

example: Madden?

[Godchild1020]

As of now I think it's just first party titles. It's up to third parties if they want to be in on this push.

I would loved for EA to get in board especially with NFS:MW coming later this year.

[majiebeast]

Yoshida always fast to clear something up i thought it was pretty obvious with all the blogposts for pasbr,sly 4 and qforce though.

@God child

Ea is thinking about crossbuy with NFS:MW, if it will happen who knows i certainly hope so.
http://www.computerandvideo...

[jonboi24]

I think for EA and third parties, maybe they can do something like a limited time Cross-Buy promotion would do. Like for example for the first week a game is released the Cross-Buy promotion is in effect. This will increase first days and probably pre-order sales. After seeing the initial week sales they can decide to continue it or not. Another option is they can have Cross-Buy limited to a number of units like a limited edition.

[blitz0623]

It's for games that are cross playable. Madden is not cross playable - it is just available on both PS3 and Vita (as is Mortal Kombat, UMvC3, etc.). Only PS All-Stars and a few first party titles (Sly 4, Ratchet and Clank FFA)are currently confirmed to be cross playable. These games are the ones included in cross buy.

[PS-Analog]

I thought this was confirmed a long time ago. MotorStorm RC already had it and they also said back then that more title in the future will support it.

[Sheikh Yerbouti]

I like jonboi's idea. Personally, I don't feel a promotion is needed outside bundling the two versions for a nominal discount. Tying it to pre-orders makes for a great value-add, much better than a plastic bat-a-rang and some post cards.

[pixelsword]

What is "cross-buy"?

Do they mean if you get the PS3 version, you get the Vita for free?

[mistajeff]

@pixelsword

Buy the PS3 version, and you get a free download of the vita version. It's only for first-party titles, at least so far, and the only ones that they've officially announced it for thus far are PS All Stars, the new Ratchet, and Sly 4.

[crawling182]

I really can't see many third parties getting behind this. For third parties I could instead see them release what might amount to 'Minis' on PSN, similar to an iPhone/Android app.

[SilentNegotiator]

I just hope that third parties realize that 99% of people aren't going to buy both versions of the game, so if they offer cross-buy, it will be icing on the cake and gained sales, not lost sales.

[avengers1978]

Truth; I'm not going to shell out 60 for the PS3 version and 40 to 50 for the Vita version, I would however get both for 70 to 80$ in a cross buy promotion... but 100+ dollars, no thanks... and I'm only doing double buy if the game is also cross-play

[b_one]

Media nowdays are nothing more than a butthurted teenagers

[FragGen]

Welcome to the new internet/blog-based "media".

[b_one]

Kill it with negative voting ;)

[DA_SHREDDER]

yeup, and while he did that, I just now regretted selling my PS Vita. <sob? nooooooooooo!

[Spenok]

Why would you sell your Vita just before the holiday season? Not to mention before even really giving the Vita a proper chance to showcase itself and its games? Every system ever has had a slow start. Most people remember the PS3, but so did 3DS (and in my opinion it still has a lack of games... still love it though) as well as 360, and so on and so forth. My philosophy for a system is give it at LEAST a year to see what happens with it and what games are released before you make a definitive opinion on it.

But then again you look at systems like the PS3 and 2 1/2 years down the line they started release amazing games, and have kept up ever since.

But im just ranting now lol... >.>

[NastyLeftHook0]

sow sick

[daggertoes83]

Get better sow.

[MySwordIsHeavenly]

That was probably the best comment I've read all year.

[RandomDude655]

lol...i like the cut of your jib

[josephps3]

When I hear one day that you can now crossbuy and crossplay titles like Dishonered, Blackops2, Farcry3, Borderland2, Xcom etc all the AAA PS3 on the Vita, I'll buy it right away.

I wouldn't even mind paying $40 for the digital copy but hopefully they can bring it down to $20. I really don't think they will be able to give it out for free. I don't want a shitty watered down port. Give me a good vita port where everything is preserved. The only difference is I'm playing it on a smaller screen.

[spektical]

wat are you saying? im confused...

they are giving away select vita games for ps3 counterparts for free. And SONY is talking to 3rd parties to get them to join in.

[josephps3]

That's what I read/heard. Select sony PS3 titles will be available for Vita download for free if you buy a PS3 copy and yes they're trying to get other publishers to jump onboard but I really doubt that business structure can succeed.

Even if they made the Vita so cheap and easy to port PS3 games it still cost money and time. I want as many 3rd party publishers to jump onboard. For that to happen you have to pay something. I'd be willing to pay $40 but I realize a lot of ppl would not. But maybe $20 is a sweet spot.

@ DivineAssault. Why can't you have both. Vita specific designed games but also all the PS3 ported titles available on the Vita.
I remember hearing it was Sony's goal to make the Vita capable of delivering console experience. Isn't that why they made all the PS3 control buttons mappable on the Vita?

I just hope its possible because if it is then all of a sudden the Vita in my opinion is a must have.

[Soldierone]

Basically, a third party only cares about money. If they are handing out Vita titles for free, they are not making money off it, so they have two greedy options

1 Make an actual Vita game and put effort into it, but don't bundle it.

2 Make a piece of crap, call it a Vita game, and bundle it.

Joseph is saying don't take either option and just tack on 20 bucks "extra" so that way the greedy third party publisher is still making money, and see's it as worth the effort of putting an actual good Vita game with the ps3 version.

Sony has no issue with it because its their own games, they in return sell more Vita's and more copies of their own game. Third parties need a reason to bundle the game, otherwise why even bother making a Vita game? It isn't charity, and its quite obvious they only care about money at this point.

[MrBeatdown]

I'd guess that for the most part, Vita and PS3 versions were always competing with each other to begin with. Those with a Vita and PS3 probably only buy one version, and those with only one system bought it for the platform they had. I can't imagine there being many people who bought two version of the same game, and if that's the case, it's not really a significant loss of profit. Instead of the one group buying the PS3 version, and the other group buying the Vita version, both groups get both versions. In the end, a publisher being able to say "we're giving you both versions for the price of one" makes for some great PR, it adds a whole new extra layer of value to their game, and is even more of a reason for people to buy new over used. In the end, I think publishers have more to gain from giving away the second version.

The only issue is managing DRM. How do you keep a guy from buying the PS3 version, cashing in the Vita version, then trading in the hard copy. I suppose they could stop selling online passes so cheap, to discourage used sales, or require some kind of sync with the hard copy to keep the digital version valid. My guess is that will be a greater issue than the cost of giving one version away.

[DivineAssault]

The vita is a handheld & a very powerful one at that but its no PS3.. Some games just arent possible in their full form.. I dont want ports from consoles either cuz i think originally created vita games are much more fun to play.. AC liberation is much more appealing as a spin off than a port of AC3

[takohma]

While it isn't a PS3. GG was able to program the same engine for killzone on PS3 to the Vita. That makes me wonder what other engines can run on the Vita that also run on the PS3

[DivineAssault]

That wouldve been a stupid mistake for them had it not came to the US.. Japan should get it too cuz even though they dont like the same games we do, they will feel abandoned by them.. But hey, they got to transfer umds & the west didnt so now were even

[nevin1]

Wow when this was 1st announce, I assume its a worldwide program.

[Soldierone]

Even though they already confirmed it via their own news site....they had to confirm again because a major news site has monkeys for journalists. lol

[MASTER_RAIDEN]

i cant help but feel a little worried about this. does sony really need to move vita titles that badly? /:

ive gotta say, usually these "IS DOOMED" articles dont get to me, but theres something about vitas instability that forces me to hold off on purchasing one. i really just want to buy one and be HAPPY with the purchase, not having to worry that tomorrow sonys going to shut down the ol' vita factory. ):

[Bathyj]

Unlikely. When does Sony ever NOT support their platform, even if its not a runaway success?

This cross-buy is a great idea. Who wants to buy a game twice for PS3 and Vita?

I personally dont have a Vita and probably wont get one as I dont game on the go, but if I got a heap of games for it because I was buying the PS3 versions anyway, I would probably get one to make use of them. It would be hard for me to not shell out for the hardware when I already had the software sitting, going to waste.

[0pie]

is this me or most of the news who come from examiner come from twitter most of the time...?

[Pedantic91]

It's just another cheap feature tacked on a PS console/handheld that nobody asked for nor needed that Sony is hoping that will stick and will catch on.

PS1 ~ PocketStation

PS2 ~ Onimusha 3: Soul Katana

PSP ~ Chotto Shot, Solid Eye

PS3 ~ 3D TV, uDraw Game Tablet II

And many more.

Exclusive unique original games built for the Vita is what will drive the sales, just like the past PS branded consoles/handheld before it.

[PirateThom]

So... you're comparing a free second copy of a game to uDraw tablet?

What?

[Pedantic91]

Announcing new original games is probably the only way.

Besides, i don't wan't to see the Vita riddled with ports from older brother console.

The time spent convinving 3rd parties to agree wtih this new feature is time better spent on marketing, having 1st party work on the Vita and convincing 3rd parties to work on new games for the Vita.

My 2cents.

[morganfell]

Wow. The economy really is in trouble because two cents doesn't buy what it used to.

I always laugh when people say Sony needs to do this thing here, or that thing there. That isn't Sony or any smart company. There is no one thing that you can do and make it. Sony has always been about multi-pronged, multi-path approach.

Unique titles alone will not drive sales. The Vita has had several good unique titles already including the biggest launch lineup to date. It also nailed what what universally agreed as the pricing sweet spot. It takes titles, it takes features, it takes functionality, etc etc etc ad nauseum.

The press is on Sony's ass 24/7/365 far more than other companies. Sony can't just do something like Crossbuy. They have to do it at a higher standard than other companies. Otherwise it's doom and gloom. They announce Crossbuy and put it on their own blog yet dumbass malcontent kids that ought to be put over someone's knee start screaming about Crossbuy not confirmed in the US. IT"S ON THE BLOG YOU IDIOT CHILDREN!!!! Now Yoshida has to come out and say it again...in big letters... with small words for these morons.

It's amazing. There were people here yesterday saying it better come to the US, the next post a guy gives the link, then 30 minutes later someone posts, well they need to confirm it. WTF? Maybe there is something to this chemical additive brain damage story...

[USEYOURFIST]

i dont think you can really compare it to those things apart from perhaps Pocketstation. I agree that original vita games are tghe most important thing and there are not enough i like the look of for me to jump in and get one at the mo. But i do think if third party figure out a way to do cross buy and make a profit so that cross buy actually gets widespread support then it really can massivley increase sales. As it stands im much more interested in a vita now though ive been burned once with the xperia play and lack off supported so im gonna wait and see where this goes.

[Hicken]

I don't think you understand.

This is not a "feature." This is a GAME. There's nothing "tacked on" about an entire game.

You buy the PS3 version: you get the Vita version. It's been announced for first-party titles, and their working on getting third parties onboard.

The Vita has quite a few "exclusive unique original games," but people also buy systems for their favorite multiplatform titles, such as sports games, Grand Theft Auto, Call of Duty, and others. Many of the Vita's versions of games are compatible in various ways with their home console siblings (for example, I can use the players I created in my Vita version of The Show in my PS3 version, and vice versa), allowing you to continue progress whether at home or on the go.

Buying both copies of a game to do this, though, would cost you over a hundred bucks; cross-buy- at least on first party titles- seems poised to cost you only what you'd pay for the PS3 version. It seems likely that third party games may cost a little more, but that's still preferable to spending $100 on the same game twice.

I don't understand how you can see that NOT working out, or how you could compare it to those other things.

Oh, and quite a few people were asking for this.

[Pedantic91]

The reason you all disagree with me is because you're all so darn concerned about the Vitas current state. It was never about a free Vita copy.

It's sales are abyssmal and you're all hoping that this new feature "crossbuy" will help the Vita rise in HW sales.

And what about the 3rd parties who do agree with this idea ? you honestly expect them to giveaway a free Vita copy every time you buy the PS3 version ?They would lose out on profit unless they raised the PS3 games cost to higher than 60$.

I just can't believe how accepting of this you all are. Why would you want even more ports ?

Whatever, ive already voiced my "unpopular" opinion so i'll just leave it at that.

[abzdine]

it's only for first party games so far but i'm fine with it.

[Reaper9937]

Is there a PSN voucher for the Vita version included in every PS3 physical copy or does this only apply to PSN purchases?

[fooltheman]

Voucher will be present in a physical copy, but the vita version will be digital.

[Reaper9937]

Thanks a million for the feedback bro, I appreciate it.

[abzdine]

wouldn't that make people sell the vouchers in the black market ?

[WetN00dle69]

Thanks for this info dude!!!!
I dont know about you guys BUT this sounds mighty fine!

[bahabeast]

Even though its currently for first party onli im sure atleast some third party devs will adapt, first month of release get the vita version free is a model they can use if they dnt want to loose too much. People who have ps3 onli will be forced to buy a vita just to see what they are missing out on everytime they have the free mobile version sitting around doing nothing, smart move Sony i expect to see some ps3/vita bundles by mid or end of next year

[DOMY311]

Hey i have a question regarding PS+ for Vita. If i buy ps+ subscription will it be like on ps3 that you get free games and when the service expires you must recover the subscription to play them again? And im not a PS+ member yet.

[abzdine]

PS+ program for Vita hasn't been detailed yet. I'll guess it's gonna be a bit of the same as PS3, just for Vita so that means even more content !! Let's wait for an official reveal.

[jukins]

3rd parties will eventually get in on this. Its a huge incentive to buy games on day one and and will probably intice people to buy doc seeing how they already saved money via a free vita copy especially if dlc is cross buy as well

[HarvesterOSarow]

This is great news. Japan Studios has some of the best games IMO, so I think after third parties see this take off they will jump on the idea.

[lifesanrpg]

In all honesty, this is a great promotion! I don't know how it will work financially, but this is a great move by Sony from a consumer standpoint.

It makes me want to get a Vita

[Firebird360]

Instead of doing dlc for pre orders what if they did cross buy for pre orders. Say you pre order madden 13 ps3 and get madden 13 vita code. Get all devs to atleast include cross buy on pre orders, that's a win win situation for devs and Sony both.

[carlocgc]

sounds good but who owns a vita anyway?

[TheRacingX]

I do btw, its a pretty nice piece of kit, playing Uncharted, MK, Unit 13, Stardust Delta, also PSP stuff like Little Big Planet, Stardust Portable, which btw you can map the button layout to the 2nd analog stick, so psp games that used the buttons as the "look" function (FPS) now play smoother and more console like with the analog stick, and they get upscaled graphics to take advantage of the OLED screen, I've got apps on there like Facebook, You Tube, Netflix, Skype. Now if they give me PS3 game remote play, PS1 & 2 games, and some of the cool phone apps like infinity blade, shadowgun, etc. I think they'll be on to something. Now add in the free Vita version of a game I'm already buying, That's alot to offer I tihnk......

[carlocgc]

Sony can barely get third parties to make games for the vita much less give them away for free... While far from dead Vita will make much more sense once its hacked to bits half a decade from now :)

[MoreRPG]

Nice looks like i'll finally get a PS Vita

[Quiescent]

yay