370°

Should Sony Stop Developing Portable Game Consoles?

After the poor sales performance of the Playstation Vita , should Sony just skip handhelds all together? There's no doubt that the Playstation Portable was a stellar handheld system with some real classics.

With the launch of the Playstation Vita, we and many others expected a true successor. After poor sales and marketing of the system, Sony dropped first party game support for the console, referring to it mostly as an add on for the Playstation 4.

Read Full Story >>
gamerampage.net
PixelGateUk3015d ago

There's still a market there, it's just really tricky to crack these days

DarkOcelet3015d ago

I think if Sony makes a next handheld then it should be a Phone and a portable console at the same time.

That way, it can attract both games and Mobile market.

Kaneki-Ken3015d ago

They did before but with the PSP and it was a flop.

_-EDMIX-_3015d ago

Not sure what you mean by flop as it sold 80 plus million.

Not really sure thats a "flop" lol

Kurisu3015d ago

Remember the Xperia Play? They've been there and done that, but they put no effort in to bringing PlayStation games to it. It had a lot of potential but in the end all I had for it was Crash Bandicoot which came preinstalled.

DemonChicken3015d ago (Edited 3015d ago )

@ Dark

disagree - prefer proper games - thing the VITA is lacking is games. The VITA is a plenty hardware capable portable hand held and like the PS4, it has the potential.

I know Sony has neglected the VITA in respect to first party support but they could up the third party support. I would also love see some or most 3DS games on the VITA and as you can imagine the VITA is a better handheld spec wise but game wise not great. Only thing stopping me getting a 3DS is it's region block plus multi-platform = better sales.

ALSO Sony could make use of the success with the PS4 to capitalise and push the VITA.The VitaTV is a good idea but how about using their gaikai technology and stream Vita games to PS4 (remote play is gaikai tech and very useful!) and use the VITA similar like the WiiU game pad?

tl:dr just blasting ideas - need more games, if they won't support first party then push for more third party. Make use of the PS4 install base.

donwel3015d ago

@DemonChicken
I wouldn't say it's lacking in games, it has plenty of those. It would be more accurate to say it's lacking in 1st party games.
Sony's attention has shifted towards making PS4 a success, which is fair enough as they'd lose a lot more money from the PS4 failing than the Vita. Then again they're obviously making some money from Vita otherwise it would already have been discontinued.

Knushwood Butt3015d ago

There was never much third party support for Vita outside of Japan.

In Japan, it's pretty healthy. Globally, not.

On topic, yes, there must be an alternative to playing Nintendo stuff.

never4get3015d ago

Sony Xperia Octa-Core Phone with Detachable Controller!

ABizzel13015d ago (Edited 3015d ago )

No they shouldn't.

They're much better off simply making an android based gaming focused tablet, with dedicated controls, and labeling it PlayStation Tablet, and if it's really that important making a PS Portal / PS app that has games developed specifically by Sony and their partners just like NVIDIA does with the shield.

A $299 all purpose tablet that has dedicated PS games, and enough performance to play PS1, PSP, PS2, PSV, and PS3 games while streaming PS4 and PS5 and syncing a DualShock 4 or 5, with "MICROSD SUPPORT"...

is a much easier sell than a $199 gaming handheld that needs apps and services programmed for it (so waiting months / years for things like YouTUbe and Netflix), and having it turn into an indie only platform, and dedicated memory cards that cost $100.

Plus a tablet is bigger, can squeeze in better an more powerful tech, and looking at what the Shield tablet can do, handhelds need a significant upgrade in both specs, hardware (HDMI-out and more), and software support (features like TV mode).

PoSTedUP3015d ago

Im the only one thats still blown away by killzone mercs on a handheld. Yeah they should make another handheld, and yeah gtaVstories will be an early launch title. theyve learned from their mistakes. Not making another one would be a mistake. No more rolling the dice, do it right. Get the big third parties on board early, get a big game to make it take off, once it does, third parties wont be able to resist. More big games, indies will quadruple. You cant sell a console with no marketing and new (even though awesome) IPs. Being Bass akwards was their biggest mistake. it shouldve been, and infact is, the otherway around. Old but goodies first (e.g. GT, GTA, FF etc) then new IPs. That way you gain userbase and will sell more of the new IPs. Shame to see potential like gravity rush and tearaway go to waste.

strike1013015d ago

they need to release a cheap handheld ... it will sell...

donthate3015d ago

Great... we don't need another non-supported Sony device. Thanks, but NO thanks!

XisThatKid3015d ago

In short I hope not I rely on my Vita heavily

pivotplease3015d ago

The Vita has been cheap. Price wasn't the problem since I bought a PSP for 300 and Vita for 200 only two years after launch.

The problem is they need to balance their home and handheld consoles financially and divvy out games fairly. I don't think they will be in a position to pull this off until the PS4 has had another two years of success. When games like Uncharted and all of the JRPGs come, Sony will be in a dominant position globally and will be more open to risks and investments.

digitalwolf3014d ago

No all they need to do is stop with the proprietary memory card BS.

That's literally their only problem with EVERY portable console.

+ Show (12) more repliesLast reply 3014d ago
Kaneki-Ken3015d ago

They just need to advertise the system in the west because Japan get great advertising. Never once saw a Vita been advertise in NA, unless you talking about remote play with the PS4.

Hoffmann3015d ago

Things would be so different if Sony would have build up a Pokemon like game series on it or the psp and also got Capcom to continue making mH games for their portables. + more Phantasy Star Online games maybe

_-EDMIX-_3015d ago

@Hoff- that is easier said then done, Pokemon isn't some copy and paste concept that is received the same way regardless of IP.

That is like saying, if only they can make their own GTA or Call Of Duty..

I mean you do realize that Pokemon is on a unreachable level right now even for Nintendo standards right?

You can't catch what Pokemon is, its established and a phenomenon, its not just this easy thing to copy and do million as many reasons factor into Pokemon's long term success that many can't match, not even the company that owns Pokemon can match such a thing, even if the wanted to.

Kaneki-Ken3015d ago

You may disagree but is true. Let's face it, when was the last time Sony bother advertising the Vita in NA, there are many people here that they don't know what is Ps Vita and they don't know is a successor to the PSP because it doesn't say the word PSP 2. I own a Ps Vita, still supporting it and waiting for God Eater Resurrection and RAGE BURST 2 in the summer, Attack Of Titan, Sword Art Online Hollow Realization. Here in New York is rare, finding a person owning and playing a Vita.

Elda3014d ago

I've never seen advertisement for Vita either & I live in the tri-state area.

+ Show (1) more replyLast reply 3014d ago
Xb1ps43015d ago

To me it wouldn't matter because I wouldn't buy it...

pivotplease3015d ago

I would be skeptical because of how the Vita support panned out, but I would also be interested because in all honesty I put triple the hours into my Vita than my PSP. I'm odd like that though. I still think the best software lineup Nintendo had was on the GBA.

dauntingpixel3015d ago

i think the market that wants it is already firmly grounded in wither Nintendo or cell phones. i'm not a fan and think it's a whole lot of effort with far too little payback.

ONESHOTV23015d ago

DemonChicken i agree with more games would have been very good but streaming vita games to the ps4 is one i can't agree on

3-4-53015d ago

It's not tricky at all.

Just have a wide variety of appealing games with art styles that are pleasing to look at like on 3DS.

Vita is a great handheld with a poor selection of games.

There isn't enough variety and most of the games released for it in the past 2 years have been cringeworthy teeny bop anime games full of women characters in short skirts with huge boobs.

^ That style only appeals to so many people, and I'd be embarrassed to play 95% of those games.

PSP had a great selection of games, which is why it was successful.

The variety of games needs to be there and it is not.

Seraphim3015d ago

that is a huge problem for those who own. Game selection. I've been thinking it would be pretty nice to see more games brought over from PSP to Vita. Daxter, Crisis Core, and so on. Obviously some new stuff is much needed but imo it wouldn't hurt.

Think overall though the US just doesn't have a huge market for handhelds. Some who did buy the PSP realized they had no need or reason for it so passed on Vita. Kids these days are being born and growing up with tablets and phone games. And of course you have Nintendo with all their DS units that are more appealing to many who do want a handheld in part because of their library. I love my Vita but I can't recall the last time a game that was good, that was of interest released on it.

3-4-53015d ago

U.S. has a huge market for handhelds, as the 3DS is the best selling gaming device this gen and the DS is one of the best selling gaming devices of all time.

DS+3DS has a ton of variety. Not just a few games for everyone, but a TON of games for everyone of all different genres and subgenres.

The winning formula is there, but Sony tried to make it a portable PS3/4 and that was a terrible move.

It also has way too many Otaku/Weebo games.

C-H-E-F3015d ago

The vita sold bad for lack of advertisement, the console is by far the best handheld device i've ever used. I think if they do it again they need to do it RIGHT and really support it. During the ps3 and ps4 gen they just promoted it as a tack on device. Really horrible because I love my vita.

Eidolon3015d ago (Edited 3015d ago )

It's not tricky, they just aren't very invested in the thing. All this crap about "ohh mobile now adays is ruining the handheld console market" is BS, there will always be a decent market for handheld consoles, but it takes QUALITY over QUANTITY of games to make it successful.

nogoodusernamesleft3015d ago

sony should just throw in da towel with handhelds the 1st psp was infested with piracy and mods the vita only sells 3 units a month per region. sony abandoned it all major third party abandoned it. only indies and anime agmes left

Fluke_Skywalker3015d ago

What they should stop doing is bringing out hand held consoles and not supporting them!
And by that I don't just mean with game development I also mean with advertising and supporting other debs to bring content to the console. Helping 3rd party publishers etc.
The Vita is an a amazing bit of kit, but after the first year they just completely abandoned it. They never gave it nearly enough promotion, so it didn't sell as good as it could've and thus 3rd party publishers saw no reason to spend money making games for it.

digitalwolf3014d ago

People are talking about all this stuff when the only reason the vita failed is the memory cards, EVERY TIME.

The memory cards are proprietary and STUPIDLY EXPENSIVE.

Same with the PSP, but at least there were other devices that used those memory cards and it had a footing.

LOOK AT THIS. WHY?

http://www.amazon.com/PlayS...

+ Show (8) more repliesLast reply 3014d ago
Yumekichigai3015d ago

Sony just needs to do better next time.

PancakeLova3015d ago

True dat or they can just realize that it's inevitable.

smashman983015d ago

If theyre gonna treat it the way they did the vita then absolutely not

2pacalypsenow3015d ago

No they should support them more and stop using stupid proprietary memory cards.

pivotplease3015d ago

That would be a breakthrough. Realistically if a handheld came out with the extra shoulder buttons and was capable of graphical fidelity somewhere between what the PS3 and 4 are capable of (because this is the pattern they've been following unlike Nintendo) I'd be all over that.

DragoonsScaleLegends3015d ago (Edited 3015d ago )

I don't buy digital Vita games because I have no memory card space, I don't buy Vita memory cards because they are overpriced as fuc, I don't buy new Vita games because there are no good new Vita games unless you like the extremely weird, perverted Japanese games. Even if there are rare good Japanese games without a dub I'm not paying full price. Pretty much the Vita is just a portable PS1 for me which is great if it didn't lack a lot of the PS1 library. Sony shouldn't make another portable if they are going to wage another war on piracy which only hurt them and the consumer in the end.

Xb1ps43015d ago

Well said.. Memory card is one of the reason why I stopped buying games and I didn't even realise the reason for the memory cards was all about piracy.. Sony went in thinking piracy first....

DragoonsScaleLegends3014d ago

Every time I see a message about not having enough space I die a little inside thinking about what the Vita should have been.

Show all comments (115)
140°

Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night DLC Adds Free Gameplay Modes

Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night has received a bunch of new DLC, including two new gameplay modes, for free.

90°

20 Best Survival Games of All Time

From base building to swinging willies, here are the best survival games around, which include a couple of less than obvious picks.

Read Full Story >>
culturedvultures.com
210°

Microsoft once tried to nab LittleBigPlanet from Sony after a few drinks

It turns out that many moons ago, Microsoft once had its eye on the Sony published LittleBigPlanet series.

Read Full Story >>
eurogamer.net
XiNatsuDragnel3d ago

Microsoft had a good idea but fumbled it again.

Cacabunga1d 18h ago (Edited 1d 18h ago )

Project Spark idea was decent but they quickly gave up ..
LBP was wonderful

ApocalypseShadow2d ago

Microsoft in a nutshell. Always tried to poach Sony employees, games, 3rd party games and devices like the depth camera that was turned into Kinect but was running on PS2 before Xbox 360. Wouldn't be surprised they wanted LBP. Just like they worked behind the scenes pushing the MLB to bring Sony's baseball game to Xbox instead of making their own.
https://www.playstationlife...

They didn't spend years trying to develop their own baseball game. They wanted Sony's game.

They're scum.

Zachmo1821d 17h ago

Microsoft didn't force MLB on Xbox. MLB gave Sony 2 options either go multiplat or risk losing the license.

Rynxie1d 8h ago

And why do you think MLB said that? I believe Ms approached MLB.

ApocalypseShadow1d 7h ago (Edited 1d 7h ago )

Totally ridiculous comment.

The only exclusivity Sony had was to their own creation of The Show. Microsoft could have paid the MLB for the license just like Sony did and made their own baseball game.

Microsoft instead, groomed MLB for years in trying to poach Sony's game and bring it to Xbox. They're worth 3 TRILLION dollars. You think that's not enough money to make their own baseball game? Don't be delusional.

Microsoft spun it like they always do and told the media that they had to trust Sony with their hardware. After they put Sony in that position of not having a choice. Either go multiplatform or stop making one of their successful games. That's a no win scenario.

And what did Microsoft do? They didn't try to sell the game to the Xbox community. They put it on game pass to hurt Sony. Pushing the idea of why buy games that are $70 when you can play them in their cheap service for $10. It was a dirty tactic.

You fell for the Kool aid drink Microsoft served you instead of spitting it out. Hope it tasted good because you were fooled by Phil and the gang.

1d 2h ago
Hereandthere22h ago

Xbox executive Sara Bond has told Axios that Microsoft spent a number of years trying to get MLB The Show onto Xbox consoles. And when it finally succeeded in breaking off PlayStation’s long-held exclusivity, the company had to “trust” Sony with pre-release Xbox Series X/S consoles.

Bond revealed that MLB The Show “always came up” in conversations between Microsoft and the Major League Baseball organization. “We always said, ‘We love this game. It would be a huge opportunity to bring it to Xbox.'” she recalled. However, when Microsoft’s efforts materialized, it put the company in an awkward situation where it had to send in pre-release consoles to a rival company.

+ Show (1) more replyLast reply 22h ago
Notellin1d 4h ago

"Microsoft instead, groomed MLB for years in trying to poach Sony's game and bring it to Xbox."

Take a nap, conspiracies are rotting your brain.

1d 2h ago
Hereandthere22h ago

Xbox executive Sara Bond has told Axios that Microsoft spent a number of years trying to get MLB The Show onto Xbox consoles. And when it finally succeeded in breaking off PlayStation’s long-held exclusivity, the company had to “trust” Sony with pre-release Xbox Series X/S consoles.

ApocalypseShadow8h ago

Lying to yourself is unbecoming.

Article link tells you all you need to know in Sarah Bond's own words.

Hereandthere22h ago

They were too cheap/inept/lazy to develop their own mlb game, so they port begged for years and bribed the mlb to make the show multiplatform. Like i said many times, xbox brought nothing to the table their 24 years, ZERO.

ApocalypseShadow9h ago

At least you and others get it. Note drank the Kool aid and asked for seconds thinking it was refreshing.

Most don't even know how it all played out but it's there in black and white for all to see. Microsoft brought it up for years until the MLB forced Sony's hand. It was a win win for Microsoft. Kill one reason to buy a PlayStation or kill the game by dropping it in a cheap service to kill Sony's sales numbers on PlayStation.

OtterX1d 20h ago

"However, Healey said Media Molecule wouldn't have felt right doing that, adding it would have been "morally corrupt"."

Major kudos to Media Molecule for being an upright studio with principles.

Cockney3h ago

They chose well, Sony gave them the backing to pursue their dreams with no restrictions even tho their games especially dreams have very niche appeal. Media molecule and Sony deserve respect for this in an age of risk averse publishing.

RNTody1d 20h ago (Edited 1d 20h ago )

Great, more stories like this please. Show the last of the zombies holding the line what we've been saying for years: Microsoft is anti competition, anti industry and has no interest in making games at all.

But hey, at least there's an Xbox Games Showcase to look forward to, right?

Inverno1d 19h ago

Well considering SONY just killed the series, LBP would've been dead by now either way. Though MM probably wouldn't exist by now either, so I'm glad they stayed with SONY, hopefully they don't get shut down any time soon or ever honestly.

Sheppard7t31d 17h ago

How did Sony kill the series?

Inverno1d 17h ago

They shut down the servers, that's millions of user created levels gone. That and dead are pretty much the same, it's also been years since 3 and they cancelled HUB soooo.

1d 2h ago
fsfsxii1d 4h ago

They shutdown the servers because no one was playing, no one in the community cared about the user created levels so why keep them up? Wtf you guys would never succeed in running a business.

Inverno1d 2h ago

Yea dood no one was playing so they shut off the servers. Cause people with enough common sense can't just Google why they were actually shut of, right?

Show all comments (29)