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When Will Sony Formally Announce The Demise Of Vita?

Let's get one thing straight: I love the PlayStation Vita.

I always have. I'd probably play it quite a bit if they actually made games for it (and when I say that, I mean games I can't play on PS3 or PS4). It always needed exclusive software that it just didn't get after the first year.

Anyway, the handwriting has been on the wall for ages. Sony never even talks about the unit anymore; it was barely mentioned at last year's primary industry events, and they haven't released any numbers or sales updates in forever. No new exclusive games have been announced and any game that does come to Vita seems to be available elsewhere. The bottom line is that Vita simply isn't in the news any longer; developers, publishers, and Sony aren't talking about it at all.

It should be obvious that Vita won't survive much longer. I'd honestly be surprised if they were still producing the thing at full capacity by the end of the year. There's really nothing to be done, either; if you can't get designers to really focus on the system and tap into its substantial power, it'll never stand out. Early on, games like Uncharted: Golden Abyss and Gravity Rush proved what the Vita was capable of, as did a few later titles like Tearaway . But clearly, developers aren't interested in only focusing on a failing platform.

Whenever it goes, I'll be sorry to see it. This is by far and away the best portable true gaming device in existence.

35 Comments

  1. kokoro

    I wish they'd do a Bravely Default port for the Vita, not that such a move is sufficient to preclude the inevitable demise… but still it would be awesome.

  2. Cesar_ser_4

    It won't be long til it dies. Sony has already announced the end of YT, Maps, Near support. So sad to see this machine with so much potential go to waste.

  3. Hexen

    The ps4 wishes it could sell as much as the vita in Japan.Over there is the second most popular device with constant games being announced and released so no is not going anywhere.

  4. LimitedVertigo

    The Japanese market is incredibly small compared to other markets. There's a reason the PS4 didn't even release on Day1 over there.

  5. Temjin001

    I don't think the Vita is going away anytime soon.
    I think Sony is keeping the price at $200 because I believe they're making a profit on the hardware. Surely between a memory card and the unit. They'll just continue to keep advertising expenses low and game dev investments low.

    While I've accepted the disappointment of Sony abandoning it with quality exclusives I still find plenty to play on it, exclusive content or not.


    Last edited by Temjin001 on 2/10/2015 10:38:53 PM

  6. Temjin001

    I also just looked at VGchartz. 2 weeks ago the system sold just under 30K units.
    I imagine last week of January is a slower time of year for hardware sales.
    If we multiplied that conservative time of year estimate by 52 weeks that brings us to 1,560,000 units.

    I think if Sony is drawing profit from each unit, and the assured purchase of at least one or two games with each of those hardware sales, the thing has got to be drawing in more money for them than say the PS Eye or some other component they sell. The thing takes up little space on store shelves and I suspect shipping is low cost for it too.

    Sony also often does back catalog PSN promos that push PSP/Vita/ and PS One titles. That's got to be a nice continuous trickle of profit for them too.


    Last edited by Temjin001 on 2/10/2015 11:07:23 PM

  7. Jawknee

    The Vita is basically an expansive PS1/PSP for me which is fine. I have a ton of classics all stored on one device. Shame it didn't get more AAA games. Sony should have continued popular series on the system lol God of War, Gran Turismo etc. Uncharted was just okay and really the only other exclusive game on it worth playing was Gravity Rush. Which is awesome. I hope they support it long enough to at least get a sequel for that.

  8. Temjin001

    Sony already announced that they're no longer supporting Music Unlimited on PS products. I suppose that means those systems are going away too soon right?

  9. Tim Speed24

    I traded in my Vita and went back to the PSP also. There is just way more games to play on PSP. I liked Vita but lack of support was frustrating.

    Vita where was Ace Combat,God of War,Gran Turismo……..sad face.


    Last edited by Tim Speed24 on 2/11/2015 2:21:16 AM

  10. MyWorstNightmar

    You weren't too high on Uncharted? I loved it for a handheld. Seeing what was possible on the Vita and it being an early title, it got me excited for what was to come. I would buy another Uncharted Vita game day one.

    I used that PSN program that came out to sort my games that I bought through Plus and all the sales. I have over a hundred Vita games. How the hell did that happen??

  11. Jawknee

    Yea I didn't like it that much. It wasn't bad and it did some creative stuff but it failed to grab me like the other entries did. I would love to see a inFamous game as long as it's Cole.

    And that is a lot of Vita games. I have maybe 8 vita games. Many were on the PS3. Most of my games are PS1 and a few PSP.


    Last edited by Jawknee on 2/11/2015 12:27:18 AM

  12. MyWorstNightmar

    A good many of those games are PSP games like Corpse Party, FF games, Valkyrie Chronicals, etc, so technically not strictly Vita games I guess.

  13. Temjin001

    Uncharted GA was solid (quite the jump for the team to man Order 1886 hot off it's heels). But alas it was the weakest title of the series. I'm concerned that four Uncharted games in so short time leading up to the 5th installment may have a tired feeling to it's play, especially it's story. This industry doesn't reward redundancy, and stuff like climbing picks (seen already in games like TR) isn't a big game changer.
    I feel like the blended survival elements of Tomb Raider (or even TLoU) is something some critics are going to expect from Uncharted 4.


    Last edited by Temjin001 on 2/11/2015 12:02:01 PM

  14. vatoloco47

    I love my vita and is a life saver on train rides. Only thing I wish they would do is enable multiple regions accounts like the ps3. So many good ps1 games on the usa psn store. I want to play breath of fire 4 in while im on the go 🙁

  15. ethird1

    The vita is a great system. But they should have just put all these games on the ps3 or ps4. They didnt and I will tell you why. Much like nintendo, you see all the jrpgs and rpgs and srpgs on the Vita because they know rpg players will buy the system. Nintendo does this as well with certain games only being able to be played on their handheld system.

    Now they made the VITA TV to play all these rpgs on tv. INstead of just putting these games on the ps3 or ps4, they decided to create a NEW SYSTEM TO BUY and know certain peeps will buy them to play certain games.

    Nothing personal. Just business.

  16. JackieBoy

    There were so many great titles I spent hundreds of hours on, like Uncharted, Wipeout, Soul Sacrifice, Killzone, Everybody's Golf…
    Unfortunately there are no new games and my Vita is gathering dust nearly a year now. I'm planning to give it to my younger cousin – he will have some fun:)

  17. ___________

    exactly what happens when you release a outdated system missing so many features its freaking predecessor had!
    vita now, next up ps4!
    nice to see $ony never learn from their mistakes…………

  18. PSTan

    The Vita could've been a true competitor to the 3DS, but in the end, the strong library can't hold up if there aren't new games for people to get excited about. The 3DS understood this and still has a slow steady stream of games worth playing coming out this year.

    I don't want the Vita to die. But they sort of brought it upon themselves.

  19. ___________

    not the hardware, that was the only thing that actually was pretty decent for its time/price.
    its missing allot of software features people expect from mobile portable devices, and even misses allot of software features the freaking PSP GO offered!
    a replacement is suppose to be a improvement in every shape and form, not the same, and most certainly not worse!
    same goes for PS4, WE NEED OUR DLNA AND PAUSE / RESUME GAME FEATURES ALREADY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


    Last edited by ___________ on 2/12/2015 8:06:05 AM

  20. Rachet_JC_FTW

    it was a greta system and i still love it its got games as far as i'm concerned but i'm not everyone so i guess that doesn't count for much but i hope its stays around a little bit longer

    happy gaming

  21. Underdog15

    LMAO… just want to point out that none of the trolls who claim this site is a fanboy site have shown up to comment on this article.

    Really… what else do we need as evidence?

  22. Rachet_JC_FTW

    yeah thats a good point where are they saying thats the vitas dead dead dead lol whatever not that i care they can say what they like

  23. artech7

    The majority of the people on this site are actually quite respectable when it comes to other systems. Certainly better than the Xbox and play station official forums.

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