Hope you like climbin', too

You won’t be playing Sly Cooper: Thieves in Time this Christmas, developer Sanzaru Games has announced. The game has been pushed into 2013 – but it's getting a bunch of new features to make up for it.

First up is PlayStation Vita cross play. While we already know about the game’s cross save functionality, the title will also boast some clever Wii U-esque interactions. “Following true Sly tradition, Thieves in Time is absolutely packed with stuff for players to collect,” Sanzaru's Glen Egan revealed on the PlayStation Blog. “But sometimes these items can be quite difficult to locate. Thankfully, you now have a secret weapon.”

Armed with the PlayStation Vita, you'll be able to look into the game’s world and track the various treasures down. Pointing the handheld at the TV screen brings up an X-Ray viewpoint, highlighting all of the hidden objects in the area. Tapping an item on the Vita touch-screen sends a signal to the PS3 game, pointing your partner towards the collectable goodies.

You’ll also be able to use the Vita to snap pictures of various tapestries and art treasures to unlock more loot. Again, you'll just need to point the handheld at the TV screen to start the interaction.

All of this will be made possible thanks to Sly Cooper: Thieves in Times' adoption of the recently announced cross buy initiative. You'll only need to purchase the PS3 version of the game to be able to play it on both platforms.

There’s more information – including an introduction to the title’s latest ancestor – on the PlayStation Blog. In the meantime, check out the brand new trailer below.

[source blog.eu.playstation.com]