John-ShepardWill the PlayStation Vita survive?
Gamers have been asking that question for months but in fact, Sony isn't totally unsatisfied with the portable's position.
Sony UK boss Fergal Gara tells Eurogamer that the Vita is here to stay, and the upcoming release of Minecraft could really help the unit's bottom line:
"It's trucking along. It's currently in year-on-year growth and enjoying a healthy year, and it's about to hit its biggest and potentially most powerful release of the year, which is Minecraft. That could be an extraordinary release for Vita."
The PlayStation 4 has also helped to boost Vita sales, as Gara says they're "seeing a bit of reflected glory from PS4." Remote Play is helping but despite rumors that a PS4/Vita bundle is in the works (and Sony hasn't shied away from the idea), there's nothing official yet on that front. The increase in Vita sales isn't entirely due to Sony's next-gen console, though.
Added Gara:
"It's just found its niche. It's not the biggest niche in the world, and we've been fairly open about talking about it entered a crowded landscape with many other devices providing some sort of handheld fulfillment. But for those who want that more specialist device and a more specialist experience, it does a damn good job, and therefore it trucks along quite nicely."
It's clear that the Vita isn't the runaway success everyone hoped it'd be. But perhaps with time, and with enough software, it will do okay. The problem is that Sony says they won't be pursuing too many AAA blockbuster productions for the system, which could be problematic…
but what happens if MS takes away Minecraft from everyone? What happens to Vita then?
I'm a content Vita owner but I'm still disappointed Sony doesn't throw us more of a big production now and again.
Not because they think they're going to make any money back on those big productions but because they sold a whole first generation of Vita owners on the idea that having a Vita is like having a PS3 in your hands with PS3-like experiences. They seem to have dropped a whole lot of us like dead weight.
Last edited by Temjin001 on 9/12/2014 9:54:40 PM
Microsoft won't remove Minecraft from PlayStation. They actually can't. Mojang already signed a contract with Sony guaranteeing Minecraft would be available on PlayStation. Unless Microsoft pays Sony a heafty sum of money to buyout Sony's contract with Mojang, Minecraft on PlayStation isn't going anywhere.
Besides, it actually makes MORE sense for Microsoft to leave Minecraft on the PlayStation and every platform imaginable because every time Sony sells a copy of Minecraft, Microsoft makes profit on it.
I agree though. I wish there was more AAA titles on Vita. At least PlayStation Plus and Japanese developers keep it alive.
Why would they do that? They didn't remove Skype from all platforms when they bought them. MS is in it for the cash.
Last edited by Beamboom on 9/13/2014 2:14:05 PM
It won't be a good thing if Minecraft gets bought by Microsoft. RIP Vita again?
yeah look i've like the vita alot i have more than a dozen games and about hlaf or more physical games the bigger ones and abunch of bigger and smaller digital ones its a great system .
happy gaming
The psp had a reputation as a slow burner before it got big. Maybe it'll happen with this one too. If I'm not mistaken the psp really took off after a certain price cut along with some amazing console variants and bundles such as the darth vader psp that came with battlefront. Maybe they should try that again.
PSV would be a success if Sony localized the whole series of Legend of Heroes: Sora no Kiseki to their latest instalment Sen no Kiseki II in English under their own studio. Look how well the series had fared in Asia.
These AAA titles are legendary but seems like XSEED can't be bothered to release the 2nd title. Sony should buy back the publishing rights from Nihon Falcom to release these series for the success of Vita.
Im surprised Psextreme have not written the review of the series?
Just bought 4 vita titles this month. It's been my gaming device of choice for a couple of months now. Hopefully it does better.