Shuhei Yoshida, president of Sony Computer Entertainment Worldwide Studios, has revealed this week that Sony has no plans to create a follow-up device to their PlayStation Vita handheld portable games console.
The PlayStation Vita originally launched in Japan back during December 2011, which was then followed by a launch in Europe during February 2012. The device was highly anticipated and aimed to provide a high-quality gaming experience on the go, featuring dual analog sticks, a touch screen, and a rear touchpad.
The Rise and Fall of Handheld Consoles
Since their launch, both Sony’s Vita and Nintendo’s 3DS handheld consoles have sold fewer units than the systems that preceded them. This decline in sales can be attributed to several factors, including the rapid advancement of smartphone technology and the increasing popularity of mobile gaming. Yoshida explained that:
Due to the rise of smartphone gaming, an unhealthy climate has been created in which to launch a successor. People have mobile phones, and it’s so easy to play games on smartphones. Many games on smartphones are free, or free to start.
I myself am a huge fan of PlayStation Vita, and we worked really hard on designing every aspect. Touch-based games are fun – there are many games with really good design. But having sticks and buttons makes things totally different. So I hope, like many of you, that this culture of playing portable games continues, but the climate is not healthy for now because of the huge dominance of mobile gaming.
The PlayStation Vita was designed to be a powerful handheld console, capable of delivering console-quality graphics and gameplay. It featured a quad-core ARM Cortex-A9 MPCore processor and a quad-core GPU SGX543MP4+. Despite its impressive hardware, the Vita struggled to compete with the convenience and accessibility of smartphones.
Challenges and Future of Portable Gaming
One of the main challenges faced by the PlayStation Vita was the lack of third-party support. Many developers were hesitant to invest in creating games for a platform with a relatively small user base. Additionally, the rise of digital distribution and the popularity of free-to-play games on mobile devices made it difficult for the Vita to attract and retain players.
Another factor contributing to the Vita’s struggles was the high cost of proprietary memory cards, which were necessary for storing games and other data. This added expense deterred potential buyers and frustrated existing users.
Despite these challenges, the PlayStation Vita has a dedicated fan base and a library of high-quality games. Titles such as “Persona 4 Golden,” “Uncharted: Golden Abyss,” and “Tearaway” showcased the Vita’s capabilities and provided memorable gaming experiences.
Looking to the future, it is uncertain whether Sony will ever revisit the handheld gaming market. The company has shifted its focus to the PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5 consoles, as well as virtual reality with the PlayStation VR. However, the success of the Nintendo Switch, a hybrid console that can be used both as a handheld device and a home console, demonstrates that there is still a market for portable gaming.
In conclusion, while the PlayStation Vita may not have achieved the commercial success that Sony had hoped for, it remains a beloved device among its fans. The rise of smartphone gaming has undoubtedly changed the landscape of portable gaming, but the desire for dedicated handheld consoles with physical controls persists. Whether or not Sony will ever create a successor to the Vita remains to be seen, but the legacy of the PlayStation Vita will continue to be remembered by gamers around the world.
Source: Eurogamer
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