Will Sony ever make another portable PlayStation? The outlook, according to the company’s Magic 8 Ball, looks increasingly unlikely. While the Nintendo Switch is enjoying enormous success primarily due its handheld functionality, boss Jim Ryan told Game Informer that “clearly it’s a business we’re no longer in now”.
The executive did have praise for the PS Vita, describing it as “brilliant in many ways”, but it’s a product that the platform holder couldn’t find traction with. It’s a shame because its initial promise, to play console experiences on the go, is not massively different to the Switch’s main selling point. Unfortunately, the PlayStation maker just couldn’t get the concept to stick.
The manufacturer currently commands four of the five best selling home consoles of all time, so it clearly knows where it strengths lie. Having said that, the PlayStation Portable was a humongous success, rivalling the Nintendo DS for some time and going on to sell almost 100 million units outright. As such, it’s a shame to see the organisation’s efforts in this area end.
Of course, you can never say never. There may be a time at some point in the future when a new portable makes commercial sense for PlayStation, and we’re sure that it will be quick to change its tune should that occur. Just don’t expect it anytime soon, we suppose – there’ll always be PlayStation Now on your laptop, we guess.
[source gameinformer.com]
Comments 36
I think it's interesting that a lot of what people love about the Switch is also what people loved about the PS Vita. But obviously Sony didn't have Mario Kart and Zelda, and the hardware wasn't quite powerful enough to deliver those console experiences on the go.
It was close, but just a little too early.
So many greats memories I have with the PSP & Vita . A shame the market is going to be won by Nintendo by default = /
I kinda wish I kept my Vita. I had it for a year or so but decided to sell it after beating the few games I had on it.
If they go the streaming route, then maybe they don't need a Handheld console to give gamers the Playstation on the go experience. It looks like this is going to be Microsofts approach with xCloud with Xbox One gaming on the go so maybe Sony will go that route too instead of the local handheld gaming console of the Switch.
It also means that they don't have to invest in hardware research, development and manufacturing costs and would use hardware that many people already own - a smartphone!
The Vita seemed like an attempt at being a portable home console by putting big games on it, handheld needs to be quick pick up/put down games.
Hopefully we'll see some of the exculsives move to console.
Say it aint so Jim! The Vita will always be among my favourite consoles, and mine will be used for a long time yet. I have a huge stack of games still to play. It just works for me. Yes i could get a switch - and i probably will - but the vita holds a special place in my heart for getting me through years of daily commuting.
And its introduced me to wonderful IP's id have never tried elsewhere, like Ys, Danganronpa and Trails of Cold Steel/Legend of Heroes; it was my introduction to Persona, and was the natural home for indie releases and rhythm games like Hatsune Miku.
Sony's stance doesnt come as a surprise however. The console just didnt do the numbers for a number of reasons (not just the proprietary memory cards), and Sony's focus is understandably on the PS5 One day i hope they will change their stance, but with streming to mobile devices getting easier i doubt its a risk they will repeat in future
@m8e3point1415 One of the biggest downfalls of Vita was that Sony seemingly forgot about it too early on. It quickly found a footing in the indie market, but that's not enough to keep a handheld alive long term.
Sony had gold in their hands with Vita and botched it. Still annoyed as it’s such a good bit of kit and could have been amazing.
PSP was fantastic and had the games - vita had the chance to be a all time classic machine. Instead it’s seen as a joke and it really wasn’t.
It’s no switch and nowhere near... but it wasn’t set up to be that. Sony obviously wanted it to work with ps4 but it didn’t work like it should but has a handheld it was amazing - needed more commitment to games and more help to succeed but Sony like instant success and domination- they were never gonna get that with a handheld
Greedy memory card choice was a design flaw from the start.
I don't mind as long as they greatly improve Remote Play and PlayStation Now next gen. xCloud is in BETA right now and it already works better than anything I've tried so far.
@BAMozzy I think it is a safe bet that will be the direction they will be heading. They already have remote play available on certain mobile devices, albeit only on the same wi-fi network as your ps4. With 5G already available that seems the next logical step for the reasons you stated.
@m8e3point1415 Well, exactly. But if you could have literally played Uncharted 2 on it, might have been a different story. That's why I say it was close, but too early.
I still play and prefer the Vita over my Switch - as a handheld console. (:
I need to pick up another Vita from Japan soon.
This makes me sad.
@m8e3point1415 says more about you than the library tbh as there's plenty of fantastic games in the device.
@sabaki08 I dont want a handheld just for remote play i see that as a waste. I loved the different games like Soul Sacrifice. The Switch is awsome thing but i dont think we should have 2 consoles. 😉
PS. Anyone bringing up the memory cards for being the reason Vita failed are talking nonsense, the memory cards are a very small factor that most people don't even think about when it comes to purchasing platforms of any kind.
Don't forget that at the time Nintendo 3DS was also not selling great alongside WiiU cuz the industry as a whole wasn't performing as well as other gens and so Ninty had to make the choice to pull all the stops with the 3DS to bring it around as handheld have always been where Ninty have excelled.
@Flaming_Kaiser While my comment was misleading, I didnțt mean specifically of RP with the Vita. Been using it a lot on other devices lately. Best match is using my iPad.
@sabaki08 Ah ok never mind then. 😉
Ps3 era and ps vita era is the time when sony are being greedy. Expensive memory and cannot multi user really impact to vita.
They should at least add a new update to make it region free so people can get more use out of it. Having an AU account sux when you can't play Breath Of Fire IV in it due to needing US PSN logged in
Just make a PS Now app that let's you connect a dualshock via bluetooth to your mobile device. Boom. Portable playstation gaming.
It's disappointing since I really like psvita but I'm glad now sony can focus all their attention and energy to their home console only. Can't wait for ps5, I think the console will have better launch games than ps4
@NoxAeturnus Just add 5inch screen to dualshock 5 pro version and make the gamepad wifi compatible for psnow streaming.
If nintendo can make $200 portable with cpu, gpu, ram, storage, etc, sony should be able to make dualshock 5 with screen for $100-$120. It will be cool if I can take ds5pro with me when I'm out of town and want to play their 1st party games 😀
PSP was such a versatile device and, more importantly, affordable. Sony did a lot right with it. The games, movies, apps. Hell I still use it as my main music player because I have a ton of songs stored on PSP memory sticks.
Vita had the potential to be even better, but it was priced out of the mass market and when it didn't take off it unfortunately had to be sacrificed given the financial state of the company at the time and the fact it couldn't afford to have PS4 also struggle out of the gate. Sucks, but that's how things played out. And there's really no going back now. PlayStation fans expect the best performance a PS system can give and home consoles are just going to be better at that. Like a great sports team, play to your strengths. For Sony, that's the home market. Still happy I bought a Vita and got to experience games like Uncharted: Golden Abyss, Gravity Rush, Assassin's Creed Liberation, Killzone Mercenary and tons and tons of indie games which were more suited to on the go gaming.
I will always like the idea of the psp/Vita. I still have my Vita and will occasionally boot it up, but I don't know why. I find it extremely uncomfortable to play. Hurts my thumbs after playing for a half hour or so. Anyone else have this problem??
I loved the PSP and always chose it over the DS...but I then got the VITA...it found it's home for a little while, but again, lack of games for it at the time, and I ended up getting rid of it, and unlike other consoles that I've gotten rid of, I've had no temptation of getting it back. Still have my PSP and a ton of games and even UMD Movies for it and even though it doesn't get as much play anymore, it was a fantastic portable system at the time! The vita could have been something, but just like what some others mentioned, Sony seemed to give up on it or forget about it, their main focus became getting the PS3 to sell better. Let's just hope that Sony learns their lesson and doesn't price the PS5 too high. With the massive success they've earned with the PS4, let's hope they stay on top in the console market, and don't also forget that if they did another handheld, their teams are split between projects for both systems...if you look at nintendo during the Wii/Wii U/3DS/DS generations, if one console was getting a bunch of games that year, the other wasn't and vice versa. With nintendo just only having to focus on the Switch (sorry 3DS), they're able to bring more games to it...I'd rather have Sony stick to what they're doing better at, but I could see them eventually trying something like the Switch, especially if nintendo rounds it again for their next console and has another success, or if Microsoft tries to lay into the handheld. Never say never, Sony will try something again, but the big question would be...will there be a market for it?
I really hope they don't. Great as the PSP and Vita was. There just isn't a market for such. I rather them focus on the console and games.
Shame, but I can sort of see where they're coming from. As said by @Gamer83 , the PSP was affordable. Plus it did something the DS couldn't do - play PS2 level quality games on the go. I still remember seeing Lego Star Wars: The Complete Saga and laughing at just how bad the animation was on the DS when the comparatively old PSP could show super slick PS2 quality visuals.
I suppose gaming experiences have changed what people want and yes, Crossy Road or Angry Birds are fun for a quick blast, but I used to play on the PSP at home because it was that good!
Now, the Vita gets wheeled out for holidays or long journeys but it just doesn't hold the same fun level as the PSP.
anyone else think that they should add a Vita Emulator to the PS4 and allow us to play our digital Vita games on it
the Vita didn't have a huge library of games but it had some great ones that deserve to be played
plus the Vita is still the only place i can play FINAL FANTASY 1 through 10 on the go with great picture and sound quality and actual controls
Love the Vita but not surprised. I used to want a replacement but I do agree there isn't a market for it sadly.
I sold my Vita 2 months after I got it. It really didn’t do it for me. There just wasn’t enough good games imo
A modded Vita is glorious I have one. The memory card prices KILLED the system hands down.
Next time Sony, don't abandon your hardware 2 years after launch. They had so much history to learn from, and some huge success with PSP. They barely even tried, threw it out the window, didn't give a s-t, and suckered people into buying a product they didn't believe in.
And don't use proprietary memory cards. Idiots.
@Wormold you =/= the general public.
@Wormold yes because the majority of gamers visit this site.
The simple truth is to the GENERAL PUBLIC, memory cards barely matter and the most important aspect to every Tom, dick & Harry is as you have said... The price of the actual device itself, why do you think the Xbone SAD was the biggest seller during Black Friday cuz it sure wasn't due to any supposed features of the hardware that's for sure.
To me, the vita is much like the wiiu. Both had great ideas which was console (console-esque for the vita) on the go (game pad, if you had no interference was wonderful for walking around the house) but they both had hardware hiccups AND lackluster support by 3rd parties for mainstream games.
I feel like Nintendo took the next step with Switch (and it was obvious when they started merging the os and shop eco system with the accounts and Iwata-denka's push to align the software and hardware teams that this is where they were going) but Sony decided it wasn't worth going back to the drawing board. I love the switch, it is just behind the WiiU as my favorite system (before you mock, if you look at the VC library, the WiiU exclusive library and the Wii library all playable on the WiiU it is an amazing system...it just was marketed horribly), however I would like to see Sony stay in the market. Oh well.
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