PS Vita and a PS5 Portable - Thoughts on the future of Sony Handhelds

SQXO: I’m not really interested in a PS Vita 2 and I’ll tell you why. The problem with Sony in recent years is it doesn’t seem to be able to concentrate on more than one piece of hardware at any one time.

[ApocalypseShadow]

**The problem with Sony in recent years is it doesn’t seem to be able to concentrate on more than one piece of hardware at any one time.**

False. PS4, PS4 Pro, PSVR and PS Vita, Xperia phones, projectors, TVs,bluray players, cameras, mp3 players, etc, etc

Nintendo owns the portable market. Always have. Cellphones and tablets now play games at the level of portable consoles but the games are cheaper or free with ads. That hurt the market. It didn't make sense for Sony to produce AAA games at $20-$50 for a market that was dying and rejected in English markets for iPhones and Galaxies. Vita was still selling in other markets like Asia though.

Gamers first liked the price, then said it was expensive when nintendo lowered their expensive price for old tech. Gamers said they didn't like the memory cards. But Sony made it to cut down on game theft that happened to PSP. Gamers didn't rage over Nintendo's 1 proprietary game card. But have an uproar over Sony's cards that allow multiple games to be put on it. Gamers also said games like uncharted felt like hand me downs and not 1 to 1 of PS4. So Indies became more prevalent. Sony added remote play giving gamers the added value of playing PS4 games, but that still wasn't enough for some gamers. The media and some gamers wanted Vita dead years ago. Now, they will get their wish.

VR is here to stay. The slow but steady creep into education, job instruction, real estate, construction, entertainment, medical field,
gaming, etc, means it will stay in some form as an option in all of them. Sony knows this and will continue its efforts to grow the VR market. It only sells at a non mass market pace because it's not inexpensive to buy and costs more than the console. I love it though.
It's amazing . But PSVR 2 is s given for PS5. And hopefully, PSVR 1 backwards compatibility.

[Araragifeels]

I only wanted a PSVITA with the SD card or another price drop that make the memory card affordable but PlayStation decided to keep the same price. They couldn't even drop the price again after they announced that they won't support the PSVITA. I am still interested on buying more games but most of it is digital exclusive in NA and I don't want to to spend $100 on a 64 GB memory card. And i don't think that they will drop the price once PSVITA production stop early next year.

[ApocalypseShadow]

Nintendo made a proprietary game boy and Gameboy color cartridge. No one bats an eye. They do the same for game boy advance and Nintendo DS. No one bats an eye.

Nintendo also keeps their prices high on their games for a very long time. No one bats an eye. Gives them a free pass.

Sony does it....

"I can't believe it's so expensive." "Why is Sony limiting me from buying all those cheap sd/micro sd cards and pro duo cards so that I can upload/download games from the Internet like movies, music and games that are already being done?

See:psp game theft. And just for added bonus, PS1,PS2 and PS3 game theft from uploads and burning. Cry me a river.

And now, people are crying PSVR is expensive. Tech is not cheap. Especially new. PSP wasn't cheap. PS Vita wasn't cheap. We all don't get to have what we want. Ask yourself how many games are on Vita? Did you play them all?

Mc storm, no support? PSVR has more than 150 games. Sony releases Astro Bot tomorrow. Don't lie to yourself. Blood and truth is coming. By Sony. Sony just supported Firewall. And with a bundle. Don't lie to yourself. They are supporting it. VR will be on PS5.

[rainslacker]

@Apocolypse

The memory card isn't the same as the cart used to deliver games. I also don't recall the memory cards for those systems being overly expensive or even proprietary, as other companies made them besides NIntendo. On top of that, they weren't essential to operating the system.

I agree with you on the games, but the price is what the market is buying them for, so it is what it is.

The memory cards on the PSVita were vastly overpriced for what you got. While this was to recoup manufacturing costs I'm sure, it was a situation that Sony put themselves in by making it proprietary, and them being the only ones who could make them.

No doubt the draconian content policies on the Vita were due to piracy of their other systems, but Sony took it to the extreme, and fell into the hole of punishing all users to have to jump through hoops because of it.

That being said, Sony was praised for the "cheap" price of the Vita, which was in relation to the 3DS at the time, but then when it came to light that you needed to spend at least another $20 to get the smallest memory card, $50 for one that was of reasonable size, the true costs started to come to light.

Not that I think Sony needed to allow standard SD cards, but they should have at least made the system usable out of the box, or had reasonable prices for the memory cards themselves.

[Araragifeels]

Why are responding to me like I am going after PlayStation. PSVITA memory card are too expensive and even the Nintendo Switch SD card with the Nintendo Brand is much cheaper than PSVITA rather I could buy two switch memory card for the same price as PSVITA 64 GB. I can't understand what are trying to say about the PSP and I don't understand what you brought it up along PS1, PS2, PS3. Why are talking to me about PSVR? I don't care about VR in this article. Obviously PSVITA is expensive but other console have already drop the price couple of times. Why are you asking me how many games are in the Vita and if I play all of them. Dude, you need to calm yourself since you are acting aggressive towards me with responses that is irrelevant with my reply.

[ApocalypseShadow]

feels, I'm not coming after you. I'm just blunt. But I'm not trying to dog you. The point is that systems, games, accessories, etc. aren't cheap. They are just not.

Gamers complain that Sony didn't make cheap hardware like the old days of $299. They complain that games are now getting expensive. They complain about memory cards, PS Aim not being cheap or not being able to use the sharp shooter from PS3 on PSVR. They complain that there wasn't enough AAA games for Vita but would complain if they did and it hurt the amount of PS4 exclusives. They complain that Sony wasn't doing cross play with their actual competitors who want to own the market share just like Sony does. Then, complain that they are now doing it and testing a beta with fortnite.

They would complain if PSVR got a lot of AAA exclusives that weren't flat screen games or non VR compatible. Just as they complain that there aren't enough. No matter what, Sony can't please everyone no matter what they did. Could the memory cards have been cheaper? Sure. I don't disagree. But I wait for a sale if something is not the price I want or I don't even buy that product at all. That's just how capitalism and consumerism works.

But as I said, Nintendo gets a free pass either way as they keep their game prices high and have put their games on cards you can't put into anything else. Don't take it personal. I'm not mad at you.

[Vegamyster]

Apocalypse Shadow

Nintendo didn't get free passes, there was countless articles claiming the 3DS was/is a failure early in it's life.

https://gameranx.com/featur...
https://metro.co.uk/2011/08...
https://www.forbes.com/site...
https://ca.ign.com/articles...
https://ca.ign.com/articles...

You know what they did? They dropped the price and released big games for it and the rest is history. The fact is the memory cards for the Vita were overpriced day 1 and still are, they also stopped supporting the game with 1st party content just a few years after it came out, you can blame others all you want but it's Sony's job to give people a reason to pick up the device.

[mcstorm]

I see where you are coming from but if you think about it sony have started to mess up.

The psv was amazing the hardware was nothing like we had seen before and even though Nintendo have owned the market for years even i thought the psv would be the winner this time around. Not true though as memory cards were to expensive, games were lack luster lbp, if, mnr, resistance to name a few had things missing from them like online, lack of content or poor online.

As for the other things you have pointed out. VR I agree is here to stay but not in gaming on consoles. Sony are not supporting the tech at all if you look at the big name games Spider-Man, UC, GOW and TLoU2 little if any vr support.

As for the ps4pro this is the most pointless console on the market at the moment it's not that much more powerful than 4 and it was made to show off vr which is lacking any type of support.

The base ps4 is what is selling and doing well but don't try and surer coat the mistakes Sony are making. All 3 have messed up each gen and will carry on messing up and also creating good products and services.

Sony are leading this gen but need to steady the ship for the start of next gen as both Nintendo and Microsoft are making some strong moves.

The gaming industry is always moving and changing and nothing different this gen.

Next gen Defo going to be another fun one when it happens.

[AspiringProGenji]

PS4 Pro is as pointless as the Xbox X since all those 6tf don’t make games look that drastically different. Games even play at the same FPS as every base console. At least PS4 got talented devs that can push it regardless of being weaker and managing to make the exclusives look better than 4k enhanced games on the X

“Sony are not supporting the tech at all if you look at the big name games Spider-Man, UC, GOW and TLoU2 little if any vr support.”

Except these games are not made for VR in mind. VR needs their own type of games, which it kees getting, not hals assed VR features that would give motion sickness. Not every non-VR game is supposed to support it

[mcstorm]

@AspiringProGenji im sorry where i i day the Xbox X was not pointless?

And dose Forza horizon 4 not push the Xbox X at true 4k in an open world game?

Anyway back to VR as you said it needs it own games name one big selling game that has psvr support? FIFA? COD? BF? AC? Nope none of them and the reason why it will never be big on a console.

Im not saying it's bad it's just not what gamers want. All 3 have had made mistakes this gen the ps4 pro is a mistake the x was needed by Microsoft after the Xbox and Kinect mess up and the switch was needed after the wiiu mess up.

Its ok Sony can make mistakes to you know every company dose it.

Look at Samsung with the note 7.

[Imortus_san]

Vita died when Sony launched PS4, PSVR is not supported by Sony big AAA titles, Xperia phones suck and most DOA, Sony big strength are on Movies and Music, PS4 and TV's, they even killed the Vaio that were great.

[jukins]

You guys are being to generous. The vita died on arrival. Dont get me wrong I was and still am a day 1 vita owner. When it was revealed it was the new handheld king but that changed the instant Nintendo droppednthebpricenofnits struggling 3ds by a large margin and also started to release and announce the games handheld fans have been waiting for. That and the vita mem card prices made a high cost of entry.

It def had promise that why I got it but I saw it early on too many ports few must have exclusives games announced but never shown and Nintendo taking off with its handheld

[DarXyde]

"False. PS4, PS4 Pro, PSVR and PS Vita, Xperia phones, projectors, TVs,bluray players, cameras, mp3 players, etc, etc"

If you take their words at face value, sure, you've made your point. But I think it's quite clear they're talking about Playstation and not Sony entirely.

Even then, PS4/Pro play the same games, PSVR requires the aforementioned hardware, and Vita isn't exactly what I would call "well attended to". Sony themselves have kind of left Vita to its own devices. You're kinda cheating with the hardware mentions.

[Godmars290]

And that's cause Sony only ever thought of it as support system for the PS3, and only the PS3. With the PS4, and because of mobile gaming, the monetary mentality attached to it, its on life-support.

[rainslacker]

I think Sony had big plans for the Vita, and much of it seemed designed around the PS4, and not as a support system for the PS3. Too much of the Vita was integrated into what they were doing on the PS4 for this to not be the case, and that stuff was there day one on Vita. It showed that Sony was really thinking about the next gen quite a while before announcing it.

I think Sony just got to a point where the Vita was struggling, and the PS4 was selling like crazy, and they just decided to focus their efforts on the PS4 instead. It probably made business sense since they also had the PSVR coming up as well.

[DarXyde]

rainslacker,

I second that. To me, it seemed clear that there was an interest in PS Vita/PS4 interconnectedness more than PS3. PS4 can even use Vita as a controller. The touch screen and back panel compensate for a lack of triggers and provides a touchpad.

If you ask me, it was not intended to be a PS3- focused device as Godmars290 seems to imply. No disrespect intended mate, I don't agree with this assessment.

[marioJP87]

Yeah, what happened to vita then?
What is happening to PSVR?

[ApocalypseShadow]

VR is brand new and is doing fine without turning it into a fad that will fade faster than the Wii did. Companies know that this isn't something you rush. But today's gamer wants everything now and everything perfect the first time while being cheap. They seem to ignore history and how things grew over time and were expensive in the beginning.

The gimmie gimmie gimmie generation want VR like the holodeck or Ready Player One at $99 today. There were tons of consoles before today's consoles came out. Takes years.

"Well, I can't wait."

Yup. Sounds like most modern gamers.

[Muckspread]

Someone doesn't understand the concept of business divisions.

[Godmars290]

While the PSV may seem to be viable in Japan, is that going to be enough to make a successor when it'll clearly need one with the PS5?

[Segata]

I'd love a new Sony handheld. Sadly that isn't happening.

[ILostMyMind]

I still today would buy a Vita if not for that damn memory card.

[Tross]

I would love for Sony to take another stab at a handheld, but only if they've learned a thing or two from the Vita. I'm personally fond of my Vita...when I don't need memory for it as prices range from an arm and a leg to a piece of my soul. Seriously, WTF?

The PSP was a success for a non-Nintendo handheld, and to this day, acquiring pro-duos isn't that difficult. Vita memory on the other hand? Screw that. If it wasn't for that and Sony's abrupt decision to cut Western software support for the device not too far into its lifecycle, the Vita probably would have fared at least a bit better. I mean, it is an otherwise solid device. Proprietary memory cards are the devil, and a healthy variety of software from different regions probably also helped the PSP's success.

These are things Sony should take to heart, but if they can do that, I think they could achieve reasonable success with a new handheld.

[ApocalypseShadow]

Sony knows the writing is on the wall. The market has changed because of a market saturation of cellphones and tablets that have cheap games and free games with ads that are as powerful or more powerful than portable game consoles. Parents aren't going to spend the money. Consumers are now used to cheap or free with commercials and advertising.

Parents still do with Nintendo because they are synonymous with portables, Pokemon and Mario. Like fun entertainment is synonymous with Disneyland. Sony is now synonymous with consoles. Not portables. And you see that with sales. Actually Nintendo has seen it in some ways also as Switch is neither a portable or console. As cool as it is, It's ride won't last long. Won't even hit 100 million. Maybe not even 50 million.

The only thing a company can do now is corner a market others have not until it is saturated. Switch fills the void for now. Just as the upcoming Oculus Quest will fill a void that consoles, portables, tablets and PC can't fill. It's a stand alone VR unit that will sell quite well because nothing right now will compete with it early next year.

[tehpees3]

They just never gave people a reason to buy it. Its entirely Sony's fault. A one year map of exclusives isn't trying to support a system because all Sony's own Vita games started development before it came out. Nintendo at least took responsibility for Wii U and left it with their biggest Zelda ever, Sony bailed at the first sign of trouble.

I honestly see Switch as karma because Nintendo stuck to their guns on the concept while Sony walked away from it.

[chris235]

handheld gaming is still dead

[tehpees3]

It isn't dead. As long as there is a sizeable market its worth pursuing and 3DS and Switch prove there are still people that want PROPER games and not mobile shovelware.

BTW Miitomo got shut down and Pokemon Go and Mario Run are losing their player bases by the day. It seems to me its actually mobile gaming that is dying.

[Stanjara]

The only thing are memory cards for me. I was planning to buy Vita and put in 256gb sd card to play cross buy games. Well, lets just say i gave up.

[Tesal]

The problems with vita were the following

SD cards .......
no multi-users " I want to play/enjoy other contents from other countries like classic spyro/crash " but I am locked to one account .... unlike the PS3 at that time or PS4
Weak Hardwares, yes it was a jump from PSP but it was not enough vs the phones/tablet market.

At least they should have allowed for mutil-users 'n optional choice of any SD cards .. it would have helped it alot

I hope there will be another PSP revival at upcoming PS5 without all the restrictions. along with L2=R2 buttons.

[FernDiggidy]

Being able to play (not stream) Horizon, TLOU, GOW, Bloodborne, Spidey etc etc on the go would be heaven.

Highly doubtful though.