Despite some enthusiasm when it was announced in Japan, Sony pushed the mute button on the PlayStation TV's overseas release. While it boasts an attractive price point, support for the microconsole has been slight, so it's no surprise to see US retailers already cutting the diminutive device's price.
GameSpot reports that Amazon, Best Buy, Walmart, and GameStop have all discounted the system, presumably in an attempt to reduce stock. You can now get the core unit for $79.99 or the DualShock 3 bundle for $99.99. In the latter's case, that represents a $40 saving compared to its asking fee at launch last year.
This doesn't appear to be an official price cut, as the Japanese giant's still demanding full price on its own website – but it's interesting that so many stores have reacted at once. If you're in the market for one of these, we'll have a rather late review imminently. In the meantime, feel free to ponder why a product named PlayStation TV doesn't have Netflix in the comments section below.
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[source gamespot.com, via vg247.com, mcvuk.com]
Comments 22
I think this is not because of Vita TV lack of features(Netflix) its just that Sony hasn't bothered to market the product, they barely show it off besides mentioning it on their websites when a game supports it,
This happened over a month ago, way before the holidays, you can probably Google it to find out when.
Im one of those who was waiting for a year to buy this - was all set to buy the $130 bundle - but the lack of Netflix, Hulu, Amaozn made me buy a PS3 instead. Even after the price drop it still didnt seem worth it. Not just b/c it was missing those 3 apps, but the impression it gave that others, such as HBOgo, would never arrive. And w/ the PS Vue announcement not even mentiong PS TV it really seems abandoned. W/o streaming tv support they never should have bothered. Or at least release it w/ a better game than The Lego Movie, whatever the best game was this would play ' I kniw most of the quality Vita games arent compatible but there must be some well known entity, maybe Freedom Wars, at least they realeased about the same time, synergy.
@Epic My exact thoughts. For such a "unique" product, they can't expect it to sell itself.
It was probably just a cheap experiment that never had the budget it needed to succeed.
I bought one on saturday.
It was the lack of support for the likes of Netflix and Amazon Prime that killed interest in it for me....went with an Amazon Fire TV instead. The console wasn't well advertised either tho...but still it lacks the features of the products its trying to compete against.
I didn't even know the Fire TV had games on it until I turned it on...good bonus.
If this ever got Netflix, I'd probably buy it.
I'm thinking about buying one sometime this year.
Sony should make a bundle that comes with both a PS4 and a PSTV.
Not even kidding, was going to buy one at launch because I really, really liked the remote play, but with no Netflix I cancelled it at launch. Then the other day actually I was looking into media streamers, remembered the pstv and remembered no Netflix. Wound up not getting anything.
@BigDaddyT0101 With a PS4 w/ Plex, I'm no longer looking for any other options. It seriously does it all for me.
@Deadstanley "It sounds like it's already end-of-life."
That's the vibe I get too. Sony didn't promote it, didn't bother making sure it at least matched their consoles' other streaming platforms, and threw their hands in the air when it wasn't flying off the shelves. It's like the Vita but on a much shorter timeline.
@the_-don1
Funny, I sold mine on Saturday.
I bought mine as a media device for my bedroom so I could take my Wii U to my game cave....but no media apps and i play vita games on my vita so it twas useless to me
@CrazyOtto
Despite your username that idea is not crazy. A ps4 pstv bundle would be cool and would spread the word about the device. I think it's a decent idea
Marketing costs Sony money. Sony now, along with many other people, realise this product is not worth spending money on.
I have a Roku box and I LOVE it so I saw no need for this.. also I own a PS3 PS4 and a vita.
@eLarkos You're right, but if that's their attitude, I've no idea why they bothered.
Honestly they shoudl have not called it PS TV they should have called it something like the PS Vita Mini Console or something like that. Alot of people are disappointed that this doesn't have Netflix, Hulu Amazon etc. but with so many devices already have those integrated in them already it doesn't bother me.
What they need to do is market it showing off the streaming of PS4 games and Vita games on the big tv then i am sure it will be a better seller.
Dualshock 3 bundle is a good deal. Those things are like 55 bucks alone!
I was wishing that it would have been a multi-user environment like the PS3 & PS4 instead of a single user environment like the Vita.
Everyone shares the same user so shares games saves and trophies.
As others have also said another drawback is they stuck with the expensive proprietary Vita Memory Cards.
They should have just released a video out cable for Vita's 1.0 mystery port or a screen mirror option for the PS3 or PS4 so we can play on the big screen.
Without the touchscreen and rear touchpad you lose a lot of innovative gameplay.
@Malouff
.......and you lose most of the good games on the Vita. Since no company is going to waste resources patching their game for a product Sony isn't even going to promote, then PSTV will remain a micro-console missing almost all the Vita's big games. It's a shame, really.
I had forgotten that this device even existed, TBH xD.
I'd be tempted to buy it if they ever added NetFlix, Hulu, and Amazon though, and also got support for all Vita games.
@get2sammyb Yea, well that's the big question isn't it? My guess is that it was a cheap conversion with no real support intended unless for some reason it boomed. If that's the case then it's not very good for consumer relations.
Do we know if Sony made a loss or profit on this thing? I wouldn't be surprised if they have made some money on it.
On the other hand it could have just been a decision at the time and now they simply just don't want it anymore. Sony have made terrible decisions in recent times cough Vita cough
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