For gamers looking for a portable gaming experience, there are a few options on the market, including the Nintendo Switch and the Steam Deck. A few years prior, Sony was also in the portable gaming market, and it managed to make big waves with the PSP and, to a lesser extent, the PS Vita. These handhelds proved that it is possible to take the home console gaming experience and pack it into an impressive portable gaming system that also serves as a media powerhouse.
Although the PSP was very popular, the PS Vita struggled to bring Sony economic success. Consequently, Sony has tiptoed out of the portable gaming market, choosing to focus on home consoles and VR gaming instead. While this is a smart business move for Sony, gamers will sorely miss PlayStation's presence in the portable gaming scene.
PSP and PS Vita: Sony's Portable Gaming Era
When the PSP launched in 2004, it wasn't the only portable gaming system on the market. It faced tough competition from the Nintendo DS, but the PSP has a few things that make her stand out. It sports a large LCD screen and accepts UMDs, which complements its robust media capabilities. Its superior processing power also lets the PSP deliver graphics far beyond what the DS can, making it the go-to system at the time for gamers looking for a console gaming experience on the go.
Although the PSP never outsold the DS, it was still an undeniable success. In total, it shipped over 76.3 million units globally, and it enjoyed bestselling games such as Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Stories and Gran Turismo. It also underwent several revisions, as seen with the PSP Go which ditched UMDs, and the PSP Street which lacks Wi-Fi capabilities. Nintendo would follow up the DS with the 3DS, while Sony would trust the PS Vita to continue its foray into the portable gaming market.
With the PS Vita, history repeated itself, and the handheld was much more powerful than its competitor from Nintendo. It abandoned UMDs in favor of proprietary game cards, and it introduced a touchpad on its rear. It also has a front and rear-facing camera, and two analog sticks to better replicate the home console gaming experience. Several fantastic games were released on the device, including Uncharted: Golden Abyss and Killzone Mercenary, and its remote play capabilities make it a good companion to the PS4.
The PS Vita's Downfall
The PS Vita had potential, though it failed to find the success that the PSP did. Official figures have never been released, but it is believed that the device only sold up to 16 million units. Many reasons have been attributed to the portable console's failure. Some argue that it came at a time when smartphones were offering greater gaming options, making portable gaming less attractive. Others claim that the PS Vita failed due to its expensive proprietary memory cards. Piracy, which increasingly became an issue later in the handheld's lifespan, also didn't help. In 2019, just seven years after it launched, Sony stopped production of the portable console.
According to Sony, it is unlikely that it will pursue portable gaming again. Due to the reasons above, and Sony's focus on its home consoles and VR headsets, Sony Interactive Entertainment CEO Jim Ryan has revealed that making handheld gaming consoles is "a business that [PlayStation's] no longer in now." It is an understandable position for Sony to take, as it would rather focus on its specialty rather than encroach on a playing field that Nintendo is dominating. Furthermore, thanks to remote play, gamers can stream their games on their phones and tablets, providing a reasonable solution for PlayStation gamers still craving a portable experience.
For fans of the PSP and the PS Vita, it is quite heartbreaking to know that gamers will likely never receive another portable gaming system from Sony. Fortunately, despite the PS Vita's commercial failure, it has amassed a loyal fan base that has continued developing indie titles and visual novels for the handheld. Consequently, years after Sony stopped producing the portable system, there are still countless gems to be discovered on it.