How Bluepoint Is Bringing PlayStation All-Stars to Vita

Those of you that have played PlayStation All-Stars Battle Royale on the Vita will testify that it’s an absolute technical masterpiece. Whatever your opinion on the controversial mascot mash-up, it’s hard to take issue with the game’s uncompromised performance on Sony’s stacked handheld hardware. Running at an unwavering 60 frames per second in native resolution, it really is a sight to behold.

The port is being handled by Bluepoint Games, the acclaimed studio which previously re-mastered God of War and Shadow of the Colossus in high-definition. And according to senior producer Darryl Allison, the team’s intent was clear from the start: to recreate the full PS3 experience of PlayStation All-Stars on the Vita.

“By that, we don’t mean a game with similar features carrying the same name,” he told the PlayStation Blog. “PlayStation All-Stars is about showcasing the possibility of true cross-play between PS3 and Vita. The feature richness of the PS3 version’s arcade mode, online modes, player progression system and its unlockables and customization… It’s all here on Vita. The connectivity and gameplay is a frame-perfect, seamless experience.”

But how, aside from voodoo magic, has the studio achieved such an impressive feat? “Bringing the very best out of this portable platform has led our team at Bluepoint to hit back with a combo of high-end math and old-school dev tricks,” Allison continued. “It hasn’t been easy, but we’re doing it, and all with the game blazing at 60 frames per second. PlayStation All-Stars makes you believe that with Vita you have a PS3 in the palm of your hand.”

The slick performance is about more than just graphical flare, though. Because PlayStation All-Stars is a cross-platform game, it’s paramount that no individual has an advantage over the other. “It’s important that there are no advantages (or disadvantages) due to the different hardware – no network lag, no input lag. PlayStation All-Stars on Vita must be – and is – tuned to have the same tight gameplay responsiveness,” Allison concluded. “From button press to character action, the quality of fighting is upheld to PS3 standards.”

Those of you in the game’s current beta will no doubt agree that Bluepoint has done a stunning job. It's genuinely impressive playing against three other online multiplayer opponents on different platforms without any lag whatsoever.

PlayStation All-Stars may be generating some negative feedback from fans of the other first-party fighting game – but SuperBot Entertainment and Bluepoint are teaching their closest competitors a thing or two about slick network connectivity if nothing else.