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[Boss Mog]

The Vita has been out for over 3 years now and it's probably been the system with the most untapped potential ever.

Even by today's standards it's still a fantastic portable gaming machine: it's sleek looking, has a good resolution screen, dual-analog sticks, dual cameras, front and rear touch, the best d-pad ever and it's still highly capable graphically, not to mention the fact that it can now do 60fps remote play of PS4 games.

Even though Nintendo launched the New 3DS recently it kind of feels like 3DS is on its way out as Nintendo seems to be shifting focus toward their next handheld/home console combo. I feel like the Vita might be able to exploit this transition period and really gain momentum.

The system is finally starting to have a decent install-base and some publishers are starting to announce some high profile projects for it, like Square announcing a new SaGa game or Nihon Falcom's Tokyo Xanadu.

When you saw what Square could do with the PSP with Crisis Core or Birth By Sleep it makes you wonder what they could achieve graphically on the Vita. Rockstar also pushed the PSP with Liberty City Stories and Vice City Stories. Could you imagine a San Andreas Stories on Vita? PS2 ports could also make publishers some easy money. I would easily buy Vita Versions of FFXII, DQVIII, Suikoden (III IV V), Xenosaga (I II III), Wild Arms (3 4 5) even if they were digital only.

If Sony could get the price down to $149 (and get the memory cards down to reasonable prices too) and if the system got one high profile exclusive like a new Tales game or Monster Hunter 5 I think there could be a total rebirth of the Vita and it could easily go on for another 4-5 years alongside the PS4, getting lots of quality software along the way.

So, am I totally delusional or could the Vita get a second chance at stardom?

 

[enigmatic_alex44]

I think it's time to pack it up

Child of Light got a surprise physical release on March 24 (in North America) but my previous purchase was Tales of Hearts and the one lone game I'm awaiting is the new Dangonronpa this fall. It's pretty much dead in the water at this point

 

[GhostTrick]

Unlikely. Also about SaGa and Tokyo Xanadu, I don't know if these are titles expecting to move a lot of Vitas... or even to sold a lot of softwares.

 

[Icyflamez96]

The Vita will never regain its Vita

 

[Toki767]

It's always been possible, but Sony outside of Japan has never really shown any interest in it.

 

[Pankratous]

Sony are the problem. They still haven't dropped the price of memory cards. Absolutely nobody wants to pay such high figures just to store their games and saved data. Also, they aren't pushing their own franchises to drive sales of the platform so why should 3rd party developers do it?

Sony need to get their act together to save what would be the best handheld ever.

 

[axisofweevils]

I think that ship has sailed. The fact Sony are discontinuing Near says it all.

 

[ghibli99]

Unpossible.

 

[Zalman]

Sony themselves don't even care about it anymore.

 

[Xenus]

It's dead Jim. I love my OLED model to death but it's not going to have a renaissance. Minecraft was probably the last fleeting chance of that.

 

[RM8]

Not going to happen. As with WiiU, it's better enjoyed for what it is.

 

[plasmawave]

They need to allow third party memory cards imo.

 

[NEO0MJ]

It's dead, Jim.

 

[Yado]

So, am I totally delusional

Yes.


It's a nice fantasy but that's all it is.

 

[Flunkie]

Renaissance, no. Repositioning, yes. Revision, hopefully.

Vita 2 with DS4 parity controls (L3/R3 and L2/R2) launched at the same price as Vita sells for now.

 

[Ibuki]

I really love my Vita and I wish something could be done. I seriously don't think they can save it at this point. Even the whole PS4 remote play thing didn't really help.

 

[Acquiescence]

It'll keep trucking along in Japan for a good while, but everywhere else, it's pretty much certifiably dead.

 

[Bass260]

Nah. Sony unfortunately doesn't care.

 

[ILoveBish]

It's as possible as Nintendo making games for mobile.

Wait.....

Spoiler

ITS NOT HAPPENING.

 

[Jawmuncher]

I've given up all hope. When Playstation Experience "Vita Support" was cross-buy indies and some ports I knew it was time to call it a wrap.

 

[James Scott]

If sony made more games for it and marketed it, it might do better than it is now, but they seemingly think those resources are better spend on PS4.

 

[Shizuka]

It's not dying, not as long as I'm around, buying one game at a time.


Honestly though, I feel like it'll stay afloat for another year or two.

 

[Nightbird]

They need to allow third party memory cards imo.

This could change quite something. The Memory Cards are way too expensive (wich is why i'll stick to my 8 GB for now)

 

[manzoman96]

I wish

 

[ClayKavalier]

There's a much better change of Sony releasing a new portable then the Vita making a comeback, and even that is a long shot.

 

[Herb Alpert]

As likely as a WiiU renaissance I would say...

Spoiler

but it seems there are rumbling noises of Vita getting DQXI and MH5 so... /s

 

[James Coote]

Would be an incredible turn-around, but I doubt it'll happen. Between Sony killing PSMobile and some of the sales figures I've heard for digital-only Vita-proper titles, I think sadly it's had it.

 

[Circinus]

If the market appeal is not there as it is right now, I think it's unlikely that it will ever change at this point.


Amazing handheld by the way. Arguably the best ever created, even beating Nintendo's handhelds. I was skeptical at first, but I've had mine for almost a year now and I'm very happy with it.

Commercial performance doesn't matter that much to me, as long as the current installed base still buys enough games to keep making it worth it for independent developers to make games for it.

 

[entremet]

If sony made more games for it and marketed it, it might do better than it is now, but they seemingly think those resources are better spend on PS4.

The Vita launched with tons of Sony software. People just didn't bite and they cut their losses and shifted to PS4 support.

At least we still get new features, indie games and firmware updates still.

 

[IdreamofHIME]

Vita is Latin for Death.

 

[Pankratous]

A PS4 bundle with a Vita with some decent games could possibly help. People buying a PS4 anyway, see the bundle that comes with another handheld console - heavily advertised as being able to remote play PS4 - also has its own games for mobile gaming. People might see value in that.

 

[TheSeks]

Hahahaha...

Even Sony has dropped support over the past year. It's dead, Jim.

 

[batrush]

It will still receive Japanese support for years to come. It will have a much longer lifespan than the 3DS.

 

[Trigonometrize.]

Vita will forever live on in our hearts. Our Tales of Hears... R... ©‎.

Vita will continue to be what its owners and fans make of it: a huge pile of good games that are there if you look for them and prefer the handheld experience to console. And if you speak Japanese.

 

[BigDug13]

The system is profitable for Sony overall. It also has an incredible attach rate of games.

If your expectation is that it will ever compete with Nintendo's handhelds in overall sales, you might as well put that idea to rest now. If your expectation is that the division will be overall profitable for Sony, we're already there.

 

[REDSLATE]

Not likely.

 

[TheSeks]

http://i.imgur.com/xjPi6Th.gif

I used to think this gif was annoying, then I realized it perfectly encapsulates the only type of game still coming out on Vita.

No, Cyan. It's still annoying. Even if it does "encapsulate" the fanbase that is left for the system.

 

[Novocaine]

I think that ship has sailed. The fact Sony are discontinuing Near says it all.

All that says is that they finally realized Near is shit.

 

[MisterHero]

People buy console games for consoles.

Sony's own PS3 is a waaaaaaaaay better value for the same price anyways

 

[zoukka]

It's 99 euros with 5 games everywhere and still doesn't move from the shelves. It's a dead system.

 

[Magwik]

It's not happening, it'll never happen.

 

[WickedLaharl]

.

 

[FluxWaveZ]

As possible as a Wii U renaissance.

 

[TheSeks]

People buy console games for consoles.

I dunno. Portable DOA5 was appealing. But the system's lack of western development REALLY killed that "console on the go" approach. I'm even surprised Boredlan--er--"Borderlands" 2 was even ported due to fanbase outcry by Sony.

 

[Jawmuncher]

All that says is that they finally realized Near is shit.

Near and 3G should have never been a thing for the vita.

 

[bananafactory]

Sony abandoned it in the AAA space and now markets it as a PS4 accessory and indie machine.

That's good enough to keep it going for a couple more years but it's never going to break out of the niche audience it has right now.

 

[Thornton Reed]

If Microsoft never bought mojang I think we could have seen a minecraft bundle. Who knows what that would have done?

 

[Mass_Pincup]

The Vita is already great as it is IMO. The depth of the library is really amazing, there's something for everyone if you really look into it and if you're not bothered by playing on handheld. Maybe not enough if you only play a certain type of games (It's really lacking in WRPG and FPS) but if you have a wide range of taste it's a handheld you should look into. But a renaissance is highly unlikely, Sony and more precisely Yoshida (at least that's what I think) dropped the system way to quickly, so we're left with indies and japanese games for the foreseeable future, not that's a bad thing.

I used to think this gif was annoying, then I realized it perfectly encapsulates the only type of game still coming out on Vita.

Sure, even though that's utterly false. It's not like you care anyway.

 

[CazTGG]

I don't think it's a matter of asking if it's possible because it is possible but rather on the likelihood of it happening. In terms of the latter, it is very unlikely that we will see a revitalized interest in the PlayStation Vita, be it from developers to produce exclusive titles or consumers picking up the system and its admittedly niche library. That isn't to say we won't see worthwhile exclusives come out for the system (Severed is looking very promising) or that said upcoming exclusives won't meet sales expectations, but it is a shame it's not seeing the same level of success as its predecessor because it's provided some of the most enjoyable experiences i've played this generation, from Tearaway to TxK, to say nothing of the convenience of having Playstation 1, PSP and Vita titles on the go at once.

 

[Parakeetman]

I used to think this gif was annoying, then I realized it perfectly encapsulates the only type of game still coming out on Vita.

Seeing how the West constantly shit on it every chance they got from pretty much all media outlets along with the general public its no wonder why titles are reduced to localized stuff from Japan for the most part.