The Time Is Right For a Vita Successor

WholesomeGamer: "PlayStation's Vita might be dead but a successor could make the dream live once again."

[ThatMiamiGuy]

Even if they just released a Vita 2, I'm down with it. These new rumors about a PSP 2, might just happen.

[Erik7357]

Yes the time is right for a vita 2 and you can get it now.

Go get a Switch!

[Apex13]

Here here

[Aenea]

Ahh cool! The Switch now runs all PS1, PSP and Vita games too? Sold!

Wait! What? It doesn't? Hmmm, never mind....

@a_adji

Where? Where?

You probably wanted to say "hear! hear!" tho....

[DTRUE92]

Lots of salt on n4g today.

[ABizzel1]

They need to completely rebrand their handheld market if they want to try again.

Coming with another Vita or PSP IMO is a waste of time, and will end up just like the Vita. They need to simply make a PlayStation Tablet, so it can have much better battery life and hardware.

The other problem is that mobile computing isn't quite there yet. It's still on the level of PS360Wii U. I mean Sony could use Tegra just like Nintendo. The P1 would give them a slight performance advantage, and with the X1 they would have the same performance but since Sony doesn't rely on making a profit on hardware at launch they could actually price it lower then Nintendo. But that brings up another issue.

Performance is still going to be too low which is why the Switch is kind of lacking 3rd party support now. I'm sure with Sony going mobile there will be a bit more support, but looking at the Vita's success (or lack thereof) and 3rd party support will be hard even for them.

On top of that Sony has no real handheld franchises to compete against Nintendo in this market, and to be frank most people aren't going to want to spend up to $600 on 2 rivaling handhelds.

Sony best bet at hardware is making a gaming tablet that has an architecture almost identical to the PS4's with a similar lower powered Jaguar APU with maybe only 4-core, a Radeon R7 Graphics core (best TDP to performance reaches just over 700 GFLOPS, which is half the power of the XBO), and 4GB + 1GB Vram. The architecture would allow for PS4 games to be easily ported down to 720p @ low settings and should run most PS4 games natively on the device.

This is the best bet for Sony making another "portable". However, there are issues.

[WoshJills]

Your comment makes sense. The tablet market cannibalizes the mobile gaming market, so it makes sense for Sony to launch a gaming tablet to compete against the Switch. That way PlayStation fans could play their PS4 games on the go -- like Uncharted 4, Horizon Zero Dawn, Bloodborne, and the upcoming Last of Us 2 -- but at 720p instead of 1080p. Then when they want to go full definition, they can go to their home console.

I don't understand the down votes. This was a well thought out comment with even specs to support the thought process.

To add onto your idea, everything could sync using PlaySration Plus' cloud and there could be integration with PS Now. Just my two cents.

[ABizzel1]

Game performance.
For games running at 30fps this configuration is fine, since again most games can get away with being 720p @ 30fps, low settings. The problem would be AAA games that run at 60fps or that rely heavy on graphics / particle effects. Those 60fps games will average more around the 40fps mark, with ranges usually 30 - 50 fps, like Tomb Raider Remastered on PS4. Locking the games to 30fps is a quick fix, but it definitely defeats the purpose of online games like Call of Duty, Overwatch, etc... So there will definitely need to be an even lower setting version to get those games up an running, which is more money spent on a the version of a game that is likely to sell less than any of the others.

Next is rebuying games. No one likes to rebuy a game, especially when the version you're buying is technologically inferior. If this concept is to succeed then there needs to be significantly more crossbuy, and bundled pricing where you can get the PS4 and digital versions for portable for say $79.99 or less ($69.99 would be the sweet spot), it would make sense in those cases. But having to pay $60 for the PS4 versions and $40 for the portable, or even worse another $60 would make this DOA.

Lack of Exclusives. The reality is Sony isn't really into investing into handheld gaming anymore, so while it may have great 3rd party support (can run GTA5, COD with tweaks, Fifa, and more) exclusives will likely be sparse. If anything we'll at best see PS3 collections, mobile ports, and retired franchises making their way to the device which isn't a bad thing but definitely not the support that Nintendo offers its handhelds with huge games like Pokemon, Animal Crossing, Mario Kart, and now their full developer muscle on portable.

Next is hardware from a different perspective. The above hardware would work and do a good job, the problem will be two other areas. Battery Life and Storage. This tablet will drain battery life quickly which means there needs to be a large and durable battery inside of it to hit 3 - 5 hours of gameplay. I have a Switch and the battery life sucks on it, realistically you get 2:30 hours of battery life out of Zelda, and with the more demanding hardware I listed above a PS Tablet is going to need a mega battery and cooling. Then it'll also require a built in 128GB - 256GB storage considering the amount of space AAA games require. Dropping resolution and settings down to low will help, along with eliminating multiple language and audio files, but compressions is going to be a must considering some AAA games are over the 50GB mark. Also 4G support is a must for online gaming.

Finally price. This device at best will cost gamers $299 and that's being extremely generous. We're more than likely looking at a $399 device, which is ultimately why it can't just be a gaming tablet, and has to function as a traditional tablet as well to help justify that price outside of just being a weaker portable PS4. And like the PS4 you can use a Linux based OS to have everything up and running (just go with a custom Ubunutu, although emulation support will be there, which could be a selling point as well).

Good 3rd party support, PS3 remasters, Mobile developer support, emulation with Ubunutu

IMO that's their best bet.

[Apex13]

Typical, and when it drops you won't support it.

[Fist4achin]

Im all for it, but it would be awesome if sony were to really pay attention to the best features of the vita, psp, and even the 3ds and combined them into one device. I think it would sell like hotcakes!

[Derceto]

Indeed. I'm sure Sony is just frothing at the mouth with anxiety to throw yet another mobile device out there to watch fail against the competition.

PSP and Vita were both hilariously destroyed by Nintendo, and didn't even put a scratch in their market share.

Now with Switch having a huge head start as the next mobile? Don't hold your breath.

[EddieNX]

I agreee with you o_0

[IanTH]

Calling 70+ million PSP's "hilariously destroyed" seems a bit...well, disingenuous anyway. Obviously Nintendo sold a vast number of DS units, but if anything that just proves to me that - as in the console space - multiple systems can co-exist successfully. Yea, the Vita wasn't great but it sold more than the Wii U and Nitnendo decided it was worth releasing the Switch into a market that already contained two established consoles with incredible head starts. So I don't think your reasoning here is overly sound.

Now, do I think Sony are likely to make another handheld? No. I think they'd have to vastly retool how they handled handheld gaming (take a page from Nintendo and do "AA" budget games and not Golden Abyss/Killzone Mercenary level productions) and I've gotten the distinct impression Sony has ceded handheld gaming to smartphones and Nintendo.

I love my Vita though, so I would love to see them take one last crack at it.

(And sad as it is, I feel just because I disagree I'll be labeled a fanboy. So...I own all the consoles, handhelds and a gaming PC. I'm waiting on a few more releases for Switch before buying in since I played BotW & MK8 on my Wii U. I even play games on my smartphone! Though not as often lol. I just love gaming. Don't know why anyone would want less options to choose from, or less companies to compete for our gaming dollar.)

[_-EDMIX-_]

"Calling 70+ million PSP's "hilariously destroyed" seems a bit...well, disingenuous anyway."

Agreed but PSP sold 80 million.

http://www.gamasutra.com/vi...

"t if anything that just proves to me that - as in the console space - multiple systems can co-exist successfully."

Yes but that was 13 years ago.

Different market.

PSP and DS and Phones could exist when that market was wide open.

not today.

3DS selling less then PSP, PS Vita selling 14 million etc shows that the phone market is just taking so much shares that maybe a PSP3 doesn't make sense in a market like todays.

"Vita wasn't great but it sold more than the Wii U and Nitnendo decided it was worth releasing the Switch into a market that already contained two established consoles"

Selling better then Wii U doesn't mean anything to Sony, their goal was to move enough units to make a lot of money on software, do you think that if MS and Nintendo sold 2 million of a console that Sony selling 5 million means they are doing good? Selling "better than" is irrelevant to them.

Also the Switch is a portable. Nintendo is not releasing something in a market with Sony and MS, Switch is again a portable. They are if anything showing that Wii U hurt them ENOUGH to go portable only with an option to out to the TV.

"Don't know why anyone would want less options to choose from" ??

You are confusing speculation and market talk with what we personally want. Seriously....don't do that. That is beyond ignorant. Many saying they think Sony won't make a PSP3 are not saying this as in they don't want one, they are simply saying this based on the current market and speculation.

Thats all.

I would love a PSP3 that was a PS4 and had a feature to out to the TV just like PSP had, but I know based on how the market is, its just unlikely.

That folks simply talking about the market and business, not personally saying they want less of something etc

[IanTH]

@EDMIX I said 70+ as I saw different numbers from different sites, and saw 80 from VGChartz, a site I give varying credibility to. Not sure the value in bringing it up as it didn't alter my point (if anything it strengthened it). I think regardless of how many millions, we can agree it was many.

Obviously I know this is a very different landscape for handheld gaming - I wouldn't have included smartphones next to Nintendo in regards to Sony ceding the handheld market if I didn't. I talked about lowering development costs - if it was the PSP market, it would be less an issue since they were at that point largely dedicating console budgets to handheld games and it worked out. This same approach was disastrous with Vita games coming close to PS3 budgets. I think I showed market was taken into account.

I was discussing his specific criticism on Sony bowing out because Nintendo is already the handheld leader. Essentially he's saying "why bother trying"? I was giving a reason as to why. If you'd like to extrapolate that again, showing the 3DS can be successful in a market where smartphones reign supreme shows there can be successful coexistence. Harder, certainly, but possible.

In bringing up the Wii U and Vita sales, obviously no correlation to Vita sales and Wii U sales exists, it was simply to show that an analogue existed as to why a company would try again even in a market where they previously failed, not to mention one that has existing, well established companies with strong leads in market share.

"Do you think if MS & Nintendo sold 2 million of a console that Sony selling 5 million means they are doing good?" It certainly can. Obviously one is taking the lead, but just because one has less does not mean it is not worth having, or that it is a failure. Your ratio is not all that far off of a very current example: XBOX One. It's selling less than PS4, but still successful. Less successful can still be successful. It's like saying a millionaire is a failure because he isn't a billionaire. If that's the case, why is Nintendo even releasing a Switch or new 3DS variants into a market where Smartphones are #1? Obviously relativity is important, and to say otherwise seems ignorant.

Speaking of, I think you misunderstood my last comment. I wasn't taking a potshot at you, nor anyone who says a Vita successor isn't likely - I've made it clear I myself don't find a new Sony handheld likely (though I have mused they may try a PlayStation Tablet, if you pick through my recent comments). I was mainly discussing people who would label me a fanboy for disagreeing - people who irrationally want one platform to succeed and all others to fail, even though that would be to the detriment for their favored platform. I tried to cordon that section off from the rest, having it within its own bracketed section, but I guess it wasn't clear.

What you say about market share and wants is even right there in my comment - I state I don't believe they'll make one but I would love one anyway. I talk right there about what they would have to do to survive in such a market. His comment was obviously flippant as to Sony coming in and failing rather than a level headed discussion like you and I are having. Many of his comments are. I wouldn't extrapolate anything I say to him as anything that is applicable to you.

I've seen you on the site quite a lot. You and I can be among the most verbose of commenters giving more detailed insight into our reasoning than most. Even on this topic I think we're mostly in agreement, so I'm not sure what the friction is here lol.

[Segata]

80 million PSPs sold but DS sold 155 million. So yeah PSP was still left in it's dust in sales but IMO PSP was a better system.

[_-EDMIX-_]

@Insta- " I was giving a reason as to why"

I understand, I read your whole post.

""Do you think if MS & Nintendo sold 2 million of a console that Sony selling 5 million means they are doing good?" It certainly can"

No. lol

The example is to show all companies have their own goals, if MS and Nintendo released something that only sold 2 million, and Sony sold 5 million, the would all still be failing. Selling "better than" isn't the goal, selling at all past a certain number is the goal. What others are selling is irrelevant.

"Obviously relativity is important" I mean...yes but why then go on to stretch that anyone selling 5 million is great solely because someone sold 2 million? lol BOTH would be considered failures bud, we are not talking about ratios or someone else, thats the point. If they BOTH needed to sell 20 or 30 million, all 3 would have failed.

"- people who irrationally want one platform to succeed and all others to fail, "

I agree, but even with those who are trolling, they are merely pointing out that Sony historically sold less, thus the likeliness of another portable seems unlikely.

"His comment was obviously flippant as to Sony coming in and failing rather than a level headed discussion like you and I are having"

I agree, I don't care for his trolling, but I also don't disagree with some of his views even though I don't care for the delivery of it lol

PSP sold well enough to warrant a PS Vita, PS Vita just didn't sell well enough to warrant a 3rd PSP.

I get its just speculation too as you bring up good points in the what if category.

" I think we're mostly in agreement, so I'm not sure what the friction is here lol"

Agreed.

I don't disagree with you on most of your points. For Sony to come out with a beast portable, they have a lot against them. Its a tough market and PSP3 needs to be ironclad. BC to digital PS3, built in memory, playing PS4 level games, Crossbuy like how we see with PSVita, PS3 and PS4, TV out accessory etc. They have soo much that they have to get correct and even then its worrisome.

[deafdani]

PSP sold more than 80 million consoles, or about the same as Nintendo's handhelds before the DS.

No other non-Nintendo handheld has ever managed to come anywhere close to that.

To say that the PSP was a failure is disingenous, especially by trying to compare it to Nintendo's best selling handheld ever. The PSP was extremely successful on its own.

[hiawa23]

To be fair the PSP sold like 80 million. That is pretty impressive for anyone not named Nintendo. It was the Vita that tanked, and seeing how Sony pulled support for the system other than the Indie, and phone style games which I don't like I would not buy another Sony handheld.

[SurgicalMenace]

You know, Derceto, since you are such an expert, why aren't you in Japan offering your sought after advise to Sony. I am sure with all of your experience creating games, movies, consoles, and music there just has to be something on the market that you created that can cement your opinion as valued. If not out now, when's it launching? I'm sure the people in your community have to be proud to have such a brilliant individual and are brimming with anticipation for your next innovation. I'm not sure if you can sense the massive element of sarcasm, but really dude, is you throwing their numbers out there some type of achievement for you? If they only sold one of something that they uniquely created, it is leaps and bounds beyond the abilities of any of us left buying, playing, and bashing their products. That's the problem with people in the gaming community now, acting as though everything is a competition all because they're too insecure to step from behind their keyboards/ controllers to actually create something of their own. Throwing out opinions, as though playing for 500 hours to platinum Skyrim validates you as a gaming expert. No, the only thing that does is waste valuable time, that could be better spent, learn to improve upon what your opinion only intends to tear down. I know this, because I had to put the games down to become the very experts that I looked up to. I hope that you see this a constructive and not destructive, but it had to be said.

[Protagonist]

@Derceto

By that logic, nintendo should not have made a successor to the wii u because it got hilariously destroyed by Sony and Microsoft.

[rawshack]

It would be cool if they copyed the switch

[Nu]

Yoshida was seen taking photos of Switch at e3. Maybe they will copy some ideas.

[Elda]

I don't trust Sony far as handheld's are concerned knowing in 2012 the Vita was released & in 2015 they announced they were not supporting it with first party titles anymore.My Vita hasn't been touched since KZ:Mercenaries.

[badz149]

Not even with all the free games from PS+?

[Elda]

I loving my PS4 exclusives but nothing of interest on my Vita.

[PygmelionHunter]

Free?

[badz149]

Free...rented...whatever! There are great choice of PS+ games on the Vita

[DigitalRaptor]

Sony doesn't have enough studios to support both PS4, PSVR to the degree they are right now, as well as another risky venture like Vita 2.

[_-EDMIX-_]

I feel they likely do, simply that it doesn't make sense after the whole Vita 14 million thing.

They could let some studios work on a PSP3 but that doesn't really help the successful PS4.

I think maybe they are right to leave that market to Nintendo and mobile. Even Nintendo is struggling in that market right now.

[The 10th Rider]

Especially when you consider PSVR as well. As it is PSVR could use more AAA first party support, if they announced another handheld they'd be splitting themselves between three platforms and there's no way they'd be able to keep them all afloat.

[_-EDMIX-_]

Agreed.

With them getting more PSVR developers, its just unlikely they would jump into a market they just sold 14 million in.

Portable market is just owned by Nintendo and mobile phones.

As much as I'd like a PSP3, Its just unlikely and I think Sony is right to not even make one, at least not right now.

[DarkZane]

The problem is that even if Sony release the Vita 2 or PSP2, no matter how awesome it is, it's gonna end up flopping because they will use overpriced proprietary memory cards again.

If they were to use SD or MicroSD cards, the system could easily outsell the 3DS.

[DillyDilly]

It needs to be a proper Console Portable & play Console Games or bust as this is where the Switch succeeds

[_-EDMIX-_]

After 14 million units of Vita, maybe never.

Who knows.

They need to look at the market and really see if we even have room for a PSP.

When 3DS is struggling just to match PSP sales, you know its time to leave that market.

PS Vita made some HUGE mistakes (memory cards folks), but even then, It still just felt lost. Even as someone that owns 3 PSP's (Original, a 2000 and a 3000 PSP), the Vita was just not happening.

Lets look at WHY I got a PSP.

First...its 2004, such a device that is playing PS2 level games is unheard of.

Second, KH, Final Fantasy Crisis Core ,Metal Gear, GTA AMAZING games, to the level of PS2 and even BEYOND that.

Third, Sony's own titles, God Of War, GT, Daxter etc.

Forth, outing to the TV, LOVED that feature

I owned a PSP largely for the second reason. This is where its hard for Sony to really come into the game. Those 3rd parties did such a great job with those titles, that the PSP was sorta the king of 3rd party concepts on a portable.

Your GTA, FF, KH, MGS etc.

PS Vita......(crickets)

Now, don't get me wrong, I like Uncharted and many of Sony's series, but they just lend themselves to a widescreen type appeal.

I liked GTA, FF, KH etc on Portable and they made sense, but with those same companies not on board, a PS Vita makes less sense for me years later then it did in 2004.

No outing to the TV even with hackers making their own is strange and a missed opportunity. I saw no benefit to not allowing to out to the TV even with the Cradle accessory existing for Vita.

So all this is on Sony. It is not Square or Capcom or Konami's job to sell PS Vita, its Sony's. Their series just didn't help move the PS Vita and Sony's choices in terms of memory cards, pricing and accessories didn't help either.

I mean...it lacks an accessory that already exist for PSP

I don't see another PSP in a while and I think maybe its a good idea Sony just not make another one. That market is Mobile phones and Nintendo. With Switch being portable, Nintendo is double downing on that market.

[FallenAngel1984]

I still find it hilarious Vita outlasted Wii U

[Last_Boss]

And has a shit ton more games.

[_-EDMIX-_]

Well Sony did a good job with the system's architecture as to why it has so much support still.

Cheap porting allows developers to not take a huge hit when making a Vita version. We are still seeing a lot of Vita/PS4 RPG combos come out lol

Goes to show that having a good architecture can help you long term.

[The 10th Rider]

@_-EDMIX-_,

It has so much support still because it sells fairly well in Japan. If it didn't sell well in Japan then Sony likely would have ended production by now.

[_-EDMIX-_]

@10-Agreed.

Japan is pretty much keeping PS Vita a JRPG machine and alive right now.

[FallenAngel1984]

The biggest selling feature of Sony's portable line was the console experience on the go. With NS seeking to fulfill that it'd be hard for a future PlayStation handheld to get even Vita's marketshare

[_-EDMIX-_]

Well not really.

Consider Switch isn't really doing PS4 or XONE on the go, simply Wii U on the go.

Sony can still come out with a Portable that is the power of PS4 sorta like the PSP was the power of the PS2 in 2004.

I mean...it'd cost a lot of money but its feasible.

I don't know how much of that market even really exist to support both of them anyway, I don't even think those buying the Switch are even buying it for that concept as much as they are buying it for Nintendo IP

[Razzer]

Agree. Switch's hybrid concept already fulfills the full console experience on the go. Biggest difference is Nintendo is putting its full weight behind Switch. Sony started out pretty good with Vita, but the support died fairly quickly. Sony can't create a hybrid as that would conflict with their PS4. Don't think they are interested in another dedicated handheld at all.

[ForeverTheGoat]

Nah it would be waste honestly. They just need to stick to consoles. Nintendo pretty much own the handheld territory and I don't really hear people clamoring for a new psp or vita.

[ILostMyMind]

People are clamoring for a new PSP.

[ForeverTheGoat]

Who? The few people in the n4g comment section? That's hardly enough incentive to get them to make another one.

[ZeekQuattro]

Only people clamoring for a new PSP is hackers because that device much like the Dreamcast was a hackers paradise where most major games could be gotten for free. lol

[nevin1]

If they do, I hope it's called PSP2 and just distance themselves from the Vita name/brand.

[Kallisti]

Probably not, with the Switch recent launch

[Prince_TFK]

Well its not. The Switch was just released and Sony has just started to produce good exclusives for the PS4. The shouldn't divert their resources to other platform and it also seem they cannot compete with Nintendo in handheld department.

[KimikoGaming]

If Sony supports it for its full lifespan instead of just supporting it for the first two years, it could do really well. That was the biggest issue with the Vita.

[SkippyPaccino]

It's time to merge Sony's mobile division with its handheld devision. If sony is going to go handheld again, it needs to be part smartphone. That way you can also subsidize the "phone" with a carrier. So that 1000$ handheld becomes 299$ on contract

[Vipre77]

If they do it, I wish them well, but I most likely won't buy it. I had an original PSP fat model and then later a PSP-3000 slim model. Traded in the fat PSP for the Vita. Still have the newer PSP and the Vita but they get no playtime.

I feel like Sony left the Vita out to dry and never gave it the proper marketing and support that it derserves. Too many indies and not enough AAA's. Always had poor retail presence and most stores don't stock it at all anymore. I haven't seen one at Target or Walmart in 2-3 years. Best But hasn't stocked it in probably a year I'd guess.

I still enjoy my Vita, but it could have been so much better. Too many games that I never would pay money for. Only got them cuz of PS+ freebies. Not enough games I would and did pay money for.

I simply don't trust Sony to handle another handheld the way it needs to be handled to ensure its success and make it a worthwhile expenditure of my limited gaming funds.

[Segata]

I'd love a Vita 2. I just don't see Sony doing it.

[hiawa23]

After what Sony pulled with the Vita I would never buy another handheld from them.

[TheColbertinator]

Why? So that Sony kills it again? No thanks.

[conanlifts]

Do it right and release a fully compatible ps4 portable. Imagine every ps4 game instantly being available ( digitally at least)on the portable on launch day. Then going forward every ps4 game also working on the portable too. this would be the best portable ever made and probably the fastest selling portable too. Probably need to wait 12 -24 months for this to be possible in terms of power though.

[chris235]

mobile gaming with dedicated machines is pretty much dead

[Aenea]

What I would love to see happening is a PS4 Portable with a 1080p screen, runs all PS4 games as well as PSP, PS1, PS2 and Vita games. When you insert it into the dock it uses the dock's APU which is the same as the Pro's...

Since it's a 1080p screen it can also be used as a screen for the wireless PSVR2.............

I can actually see this happening, not now already tho, but in a few years....

[andibandit]

No just focus on PS4, PSVR, PS5

[C-H-E-F]

No, They literally just released a PSVita Slim last year and it bombed, releasing a Vita2 will hurt us as a playstation community. I have a vita and play it only on roadtrips really, still have games i haven't opened yet like soul sacrifice 2, and killzone mercenaries, because of games like persona 4 and freedom wars. I'd rather sony focus on the consoles than wasting billions on another handheld thus taking funding away from the ps4/ps4pro resources.

[Knushwood Butt]

My Vita aint dead.

Currently about 25 hours into Farming sim 16.

Speak for yourself.

[blawren4]

They have the infrastructure to make this happen, but the question is, do they have the resources to do it? Unless they've been planning something for years, it's not likely anytime soon with the expense they layed out for PS VR and PS Pro. Seems they've gone a different direction.

[GamingManiac]

If it could play ps3 games I'd buy it day 0!!!

[TXIDarkAvenger]

I rather just have them focus on PS4.

[3-4-5]

The game selection needs to be better. Vita as a handheld was fine aside from small buttons, but the game selection was 50% niche JRPGs like hyperdimensionwhatever.

You need a variety of games and the PSP had that but Vita didn't....that and the expensive memory card.

I'd buy a Vita successor for sure. I love handheld gaming.

[Protagonist]

I'd buy it.