What is the future of the PS Vita?

Kutter28 shares his thoughts on the PS Vita's future.

[Mikey32230]

The future is bright!.. i hope :D i love my vita.

[Kurisu]

I have no plans on picking up a PlayStation Vita. What I'm waiting for is PlayStation TV! I'm getting a PS4 in October and it's going in the front room. Because it's the family room I don't have that much time to game in there, so I'll hook the PlayStation TV up in my room alongside my PS3! That way I can play PS4 in my room, as well as having access to PlayStation Vita games.

Sony need to push hard with PSTV as it has huge potential, but it seems to have dropped off the radar. Hopefully that will change at Gamescom.

[joeorc]

@Kurisu

"Sony need to push hard with PSTV as it has huge potential, but it seems to have dropped off the radar. Hopefully that will change at Gamescom."

Sony is pushing real hard on Playstation TV

Its not dropped off the Radar, as a matter of fact its getting a release for the market in the west this fall and also Releasing in China also as a lead system to penetrate the Market in China even over the PS4!

Another Thing is its already in 6 Asian Countries other than just Japan, and with The Market in China being a very large Market, a micro-Game Console Like the Playstation TV WILL HAVE A MASSIVE PRICE ADVANTAGE...THE PS4 AND THE XBOXONE ARE OVER $770.00+ TO OVER $800.00

WHILE THE PLAYSTATION TV IS $102.00 USD and with a back catalog of over 1000 games at launch+supports official small indies developers like in China that can test and run their Code on just a retail ver of the playstation TV which also offers Self publishing , a start up of no licence fee, to boot just recently the Unity 3D game engine went live Support for the Playstation TV/Vita

http://blogs.unity3d.com/20...

To people that may make light of that announcement, that means an existing Apple or Android Application can be ported to playstation Vita or Playstation TV and you are not wasting code time!

Sony is not giving up on the PSVita as "just a companion device to the PS4" they have turned the priority development of the playstation vita as a Micro-Game Console for your living room or bed room.

[Darkstares]

It sold just 15k in the U.S. last month, a nearly 50% drop from same month last year. I don't expect much support for it in North America, at least not any real big games unless they are simply cross-platform games.

[joeorc]

@Darkstares

" I don't expect much support for it in North America, at least not any real big games unless they are simply cross-platform games"

Sony is not going to heavy invest into making very many AAA games in very large number's for the simple and blunt truth, the vast majority of Consumers do not want them and the Numbers show it.

For instance when Sony does, the majority of gamer's call the game a watered down PS3 port! or another one is why play that on a 5" screen when i could play the same game on a big screen on my PS3, as a matter of fact the vast majority of gamers even stated i would rather play that game on a big screen they stated Sony please make that game for the PS3!

So Sony decided to make the main PSVita platform for development for being a Micro-Game Console now being 1st priority over the standard Vita..though the main games being built will no longer really have back touch pad game design added in support or camera use in the games being developed, that still means that the standard playstation Vita will still be able to run those games though.

The price of the playstaton TV being $99.00 to $139.00 for the playstation TV bundle with a controller and a 8GB flash card allows the Playstation Vita as a Micro Game console a better chance in the market to sell AAA game development on the Vita platform than a standard Playstation Vita does because that is what the "Majority of gamer's have been telling Sony for since playstation Vita was launched"

Expect more AAA to be developed for the playstation TV as the main Vita and the PSVita just a port machine of that playstation TV game from here on out.

[SpiralTear]

@joeorc

"Expect more AAA to be developed for the playstation TV as the main Vita..."

That's not going to happen. Sony has said up-front that their AAA Vita efforts aren't worth it. The problem is that Playstation TV is essentially a Vita without portability or the hardware whistles. They're not two completely different architectures.

And besides, while gamers know of Playstation TV, the average consumer doesn't understand what the difference is between that and a PS4. Sure, it's much cheaper, but it has no identity, and even if it did, the Vita's terrible support from Sony is what will damage game development for PS TV too...because they're essentially the same. How's Sony gonna give people an idea of the difference between the two systems and give them individual marketing campaigns?

Sony made their decision with the Vita and that decision is not supporting it with AAA games. PS TV's success is coordinated closely with that of the Vita, meaning we're not going to see new AAA material for that unless Sony pulls a complete 180 and gets their act together with the Vita.

[chazjamie]

it has no future

[Rydro]

Great things take time. It will beat 3DS soon!

[Gears_President]

I don't know about that. I have the original and I love it. If they ever discontinue it Ill just get every game ever made for it.

[4NextLvLGamers]

I have hope as I love the Vita too! It just doesn't appear that Sony knows how to bring in Triple-A titles from the top level dev teams.

[miyamoto]

The Ps Vita will evolve into a more balanced video game platform for the core gamers and the casual; the young and the older gamers; from AAA exclusives to popular 3rd party games.
The PS Vita is going to have "The Right Games" now that Sony has come to their senses about the portable gaming scene.

[CyberSentinel]

If you love JRPG's (which I do;-) then vita is the portable system to own.
I'm more then happy with my vita.

[DEATHxTHExKIDx]

like Usual lets wait for TGS and Gamescocm like we do every year. see what Sony says for Vita and then we can have more articles deciding if it's dead or alive. Then repeat.

[bjmartynhak]

Basically this after KZ:Merc and Tearaway were announced... Sad.

[Emanno]

If the PS4 can outsell so much like cakes then the Vita has a bright future.

[Protagonist]

Awesome device but Gamescom Is Vital.

I wish Sony Playstation concidered what a mistake it was to treat their own product like that at E3.

[MrSwankSinatra]

If they don't give the Vita a big push at gamescom then I have no hope left for the Vita.

[Protagonist]

I would not take it that far as I am sure Sony Playstation will support the PS Vita for at least six more year.

The question however is how they support it.

[TheTowelBoy]

Agree I own mine and at this point only for remote play in bed

[MajorGecko]

i use mine as a skype/youtube device i have all the latest games it just feels like the party's over on vita.

[Agent_hitman]

All it need is more support from western devs not just japanese devs.. It has still life to succeed

[k-dillinger]

but western devs arnt even really making and supporting the 3ds its Nintendo and Japanese games brought over here from japan

[Chard]

I haven't been keeping up with Vita but did they ditch the OLED model? Is the LCD slim model close enough in screen quality?

[guitarded77]

Yes they did, and no it isn't the same. But it's not horrible either.

On topic of the article - There were a few grammar errors. Dude needs to proofread.

He also says you can count the "AAA" on one hand, which isn't true. Killzone, LBP, Borderlands, Metal Gear, Gravity Rush, Mortal Kombat, Tearaway, Assassin's Creed, Call of Duty, Final Fantasy, MLB The Show, FIFA, God of War, Ratchet and Clank, Rayman Origins/Legends, Ninja Gaiden, Soul Sacrifice, Uncharted

Then you have critically acclaimed games like THe Walking Dead, Limbo and Minecraft.

Finally, with remote play, you can play all your PS4 games on the handheld too if you have a proper connection.

I'm not saying I don't want more BIG games on the platform... I REALLY do want more big games soon, but downplaying what Vita has accomplished with all the negative press given, it's actually pretty amazing. I think it's the must own handheld for core and adult gamers. But third party is going to have to see the potential and make the games. The market is there... there may not be as many as 3DS, but like the article says, there is a high attach rate, and that's just as important.

[4NextLvLGamers]

@Guitarded77 - Those "AAA" games were good, but still fell short. Not everyone wants MK on the Vita, I personally thought it was great, but you need to be into the fighter genre. Uncharted and Killzone were some of the best on the platform and did respectfully well. COD tanked! Horrible game. For the second year in a row I have MLB The Show on the Vita and its improved over last years game, but again not everyone is looking for a sports game on the go. We need another Uncharted to go along side Uncharted 4 perhaps? No one really knows the answer, but I hope Sony figures out how to bring third party dev's onto the platform and then maybe the system will see its full potential.

[SpiralTear]

I think a better phrasing is "exclusives" because that's what Sony isn't giving the Vita. Almost all of those games you can find on another system. You buy a system for exclusives. If you can get the game on a system you already own, why in the world would you buy a $200 system to play it there?

[Spotie]

Not everyone wants any game. I'm tired of that stupid mentality.

Nintendo does with the 3DS what they do with their handhelds: cater to s rather small band of interests, so that the majority of owners wind up getting the software because the only things there are the things people expect.

Be it handheld or otherwise, Sony doesn't do that. Their libraries have a slew of games for many different crowds, and they don't rely on any one to do most of the selling. The 3DS eventually lives and dies on Mario and Pokemon. Why are people expecting the Vita to be add narrowly focused, and why are they disappointed when that sort of game is absent?

It's also easier, believe it or not, because of the focus of the 3DS, which really is all about the kid market. That's not to say the games don't appeal to anybody else, but they're obviously geared toward a younger market. Parents and grandparents then buy the things for the young ones, and so many more are going to be sold. The Vita isn't aimed at that crowd and never was; it's target market was and is much smaller.

Whatever. This has been the same since the start. People will see what they want. Or ignore what they want.

[bjmartynhak]

Blacks are deeper in LCD. No bluish whites too.

But OLED is better for colorful stuff, like Rayman, Ragnarok and colorful indie games like Guacamelee.

LCD will be better for Uncharted, Killzone and obscure artsy indie games like Limbo.

LCD model is more comfortable too.

[nope111]

We need a release date for Freedom Wars and Oreshika Tainted Bloodlines.

[Inception]

My guess is between september or november.

[OtakuDJK1NG-Rory]

there no future til Sony understands what Vita needs. Vita is perfectly fine in Japan. No worry there. But the west need a 360 turnaround.

[voodoochild346]

Turnaround 360 and land where you started? Smart....

[OtakuDJK1NG-Rory]

exactly
Get the developers who started the Vita life.
Another Assassin Creed, Call of Duty, get the Sony developers who developed for it early back on it and change the focus of Console gaming on the go to handheld gaming.

[mclean_514]

Its so unfortunate, there are only a few really good AAA games. Lots of good indie games at least but if Nhilistic did a better job with declassified, burning skies and if Bioshock vita came out I think the situation would be much better. If Sony had more faith in it and supported the hell out of it I think it would find its legs. At the end of the day Im just a gamer and dont have any buissness credentials to back up my statements but it would be awesome to see more good AAA games on the vita.

[iamnsuperman]

I know this is going to be an unpopular opinion but they should kill it. I have a Vita (I don't really play it that much anymore) but Sony seems to have moved on from it. We have playstation TV coming out shortly, PS Now in the near future and Sony is about to release another set of mobile handsets. I feel in some ways the Vita is a lost cause for Sony and they could make a meaningful jump on the rest of its competitors (in the mobile space) by getting remote play on their mobile devices. It is a perfect time for Sony. The PS4 is popular and Android device are getting more popular by the day

[guitarded77]

Well, you kinda hurt your own argument. You say PS TV is coming out... well, it plays Vita games, so Sony is fixing to increase the install base for people who will buy games for the systems. Also, your argument with PS Now is a bit off, because Vita will me the best mobile device for now, as it has the proper controls for experiencing those games on the go. Tablets and phones can't do that without a separate controller.

[iamnsuperman]

Vita isn't popular at all and the main hook for PlayStation TV is not going to be the games but the interaction with the PS4 and multimedia functions (those two things are going to sell the product and two they need to get those two thing right). Your argument is based on if the Vita becomes popular (but it never has and never will be). Sony pretty much acknowledges this when they dropped the Vita name from the PlayStation TV. At the minute remote play is the last unique feature the Vita has to be popular (playstation TV plays Vita games, PS Now will be available on nearly all devices in near future) but it hasn't really done anything meaningful for sales of the Vita and Sony as a whole. This feature is best suited for their tablet and mobile division (as they are more popular and it is something their competitors cannot do). The Vita is holding back potential growth and integration across the Sony porducts

[joeorc]

@iamnsuperman

"I know this is going to be an unpopular opinion but they should kill it. I have a Vita (I don't really play it that much anymore) but Sony seems to have moved on from it. We have playstation TV coming out shortly, PS Now in the near future and Sony is about to release another set of mobile handsets."

The Playstation TV is a PSVita!

there is no need to kill the standard playstation Vita because its market viability does not hinge on how well it does in the short run, only how long does it stay viable in the retail chain, the sales number's may be small but it is indeed generation profit, and its a companion device for not just the PS4 but also a micro game console for the bed room, living room or on the go.

Sony has no real need to drop it because the retail chains are still re ordering the system. and when the playstation TV releases that is just one more "VITA PLATFORM IN THE MARKET"

The 3DS is geared for a Hanheld market that is of the past because even though its got a ton of sales they are small vs the smartphones and tablets, and no matter what Sony would have done there just is not much growth for the standard handheld game console market past Nintendo, at this point Sony is going to remain the 2nd largest market share holder of an ever decreasing market size when smartphones and tablets have the lions share in not only systems sold but also game software sold in the mobile market also even more than Nintendo. Sony Knows this very well

they see where the market is heading. The Micro-Game console is the one area where the "vita" as a platform can grow market share that's why they made the playstation TV, but at its core the playstation TV is a Vita. So why get rid of the Vita when its still generating profit?

[Afterlife]

There is no bright future for Vita. 3DS ftw.

[Protagonist]

Get it through your skull! not everyone likes nintendo games or the nintendo franchise.

So freak off ! with that 3DS ftw.

[Inception]

I'm waiting for Freedom Wars, Oreshika, Danganronpa 2, Tales of Hearts R, Akiba's Trip, Senran Kagura Versus, Murasaki Baby, and Trails in the Sky 2nd chapter. But i got a feeling sony will push Gravity Rush 2 for next year. I'll wait for Gamescom and TGS. Maybe they will give new info about it, including the next YS or any new JRPG.

Anyway, yes, Vita sales aren't that hot but that doesn't mean the platform is dead. No, far from it. For people who likes japanese games than Vita still a good platform to go. Some good indies (Guacamelee, Hotline Miami, Velocity, Minecraft, etc) and multiplat from western dev (Child of Light, Oddworld: New & Tasty, Walking Dead, Grim Fandango, etc) also add a nice value for Vita.

[ninjahunter]

Vita has a pretty strong entry library right now. There are at least a couple AAA games of every genre on it.

Im not quite certain what exactly it needs to succeed though. People are always saying "It needs more exclusives, or it needs more AAA ports". But its got exclusives and its got AAA ports. Perhaps sony just doesn't have any western appeal anymore.

[CBaoth]

Then they need to treat 3rd party properties like 1st party ones. I mean why on Earth did Sony waste all that money on Warrior's Lair (it had been in developmental hell on PS3 long before migrating to Vita) when a better game, Torchlight 2, was waiting to be scooped up? Runic might be intrigued by cross-play. We can't go past 4vs4 MP because of network stability issues? No problem throw enough money at Gabe for a L4D2 port. He (Valve) might be interested in a mobile port.

Those are just a couple examples of Sony trying to appeal to Western audiences. Hindsight is 20/20, and clearly, Sony should've at all costs, kept MH and RE on Sony platforms and focus on just Japan and the western otaku in Europe and NA.

[L0YD]

Who?

[arkaeviz]

My last hope is this coming Gamescom, after this it's time to give up, it's been 2 and a half years of sticking my eyeballs on news regarding slew of AAA games and still falls short, Darn it it's not that I want 10 games to be announced but announcing 2 AAA games a year and waiting for it like a survivor waiting/searching for rescue is really heartbreaking, well atleast other than games I still use my vita fo browsing and watching movies

[hiawa23]

I love the Vita but it is clear there is no future for the Vita. The best thing Sony could do was make it the PS4 sidekick, so it is clear to me they can't sell it devs, and they don't know what to do with it, so I don't expect anything going forward. This is the reality we are faced with.

[Jiiiiiiin]

The future of vita is fantastic o/

[Chespin]

The last Sony handheld I'll ever buy. I don't know what I expected but an indie machine and a PS4 accessory isn't why I bought it.

[joeorc]

@Chespin

"The last Sony handheld I'll ever buy. I don't know what I expected but an indie machine and a PS4 accessory isn't why I bought it."

You will not have to worry about buying one anyway, the PSVita will most likely be the very last dedicated game handheld From Sony anyway, the "Vita" as a platform is and has been migrated over to being a living room Micro-Game console as the growth market share there is just much more ready over the dedicated game handheld system, past Nintendo no other handheld has ever been able to over take Nintendo's lead in the market. and With smartphones and tablets now that will be even more disruption to an already shrinking market.

@4NextLvLGamers

" I think PlayStation TV will hurt Vita sales and gives the consumers mixed reactions. Unless your among the hardcore who are up to date on everything Sony is doing, people won't know the difference between PS Vita and PlayStation TV."

Why would they need Too?
the PSVita is a Mobile
the Playstation TV is a Micro-Game Console
Both are "Vita's" but only one of the systems has the "Vita" Name in the product!

Playstation TV is designed for the market of Micro-gAME CONSOLE'S IT IS ALREADY A VITA BY DEFAULT, SO HURTING THE "Vita" is pretty ironic thinking the standard Vita well sell less? than it already is?

Ever Vita platform that sell to the coinsumer is still a Vita, any developer that makes a game or app for the playstation TV the game/app will still run on a standard vita!

i really do not get why people keep saying that. lol

[4NextLvLGamers]

Wow, a few mixed reactions here. Some say the future is bright while others think its over. The Vita has a few good AAA titles but not the right game to push the platform to sell units. I love the Vita as well. I think PlayStation TV will hurt Vita sales and gives the consumers mixed reactions. Unless your among the hardcore who are up to date on everything Sony is doing, people won't know the difference between PS Vita and PlayStation TV.

[xchamp]

Seeing as we were forced to get Vita dev kits before we could get PS4 dev kits, developers will use them

[TheOnlyMastrx]

Hope its bright, haven't had the chance to pick one up yet. If Sony do create a PS4/Vita bundle then thats probably when I will get mine as I don't have the PS4 yet either.

[TheGrimReaper0011]

I luv my vita and I luv the games on it

But I'm not a fool wearing a pair of rainbow glasses and thinks everything is happy happy joy for the vita

Sales are bad and publishers stay away from it

At least it's been doing well in Japan and Sony is porting most games over (cause we know THEY sure as fuck wont make any games for it >_>)

All in All, I dont think it's a bright future and that it'll end up being a niche console. Not loved by many, but loved by those who have one IMO

[DCfan]

Its already a niche console. Just look at the games coming out for it, they're all niche japanese games.

[thatbasedgamer1990]

Just give us the Gta trilogy already, or Fallout 3 port. The vita NEEDS games which appeal to the western audience. Sony don't even want to try anymore because they are Godamn retarded!

[ritsuka666]

Vita is dead a much long ago..it's game library is still really inferior and severely lacking compared to the Nintendo 3DS's game library and the certain memory cards are ridiculously overpriced.. these factors just doesn't make me care for the console at all.

[TongkatAli]

Japan loves it and I like Japanese games, fudge western games.

[max04]

Ps vita need AAA games to back on track again, i wish it can get more AAA games like GTA v.The person who disagree with me is a Nintendo 3ds fan i know they wanna let us down