PlayStation Vita Legacy Platform

It's perhaps an indictment of the current state of the PlayStation Vita in the Western world that we haven't really found the need to write an update on the device for some time. While there was hope of the format's fortunes turning around 18 or so months ago, the platform's fate has remained unchanged for a while now. And while it continues to be supported by a steady stream of high-quality Japanese and indie releases, Sony has suggested that it now sees the system as a "legacy" device.

Speaking as part of the Japanese giant's Investor Relations Day yesterday, group president Andrew House admitted that despite "strong" sales in its native Japan and Asia, it doesn't necessarily foresee an upturn in sales for the handheld or its microconsole counterpart, the PlayStation TV. In fact, as part of its financial documents, the company denoted write-offs for the components of both consoles.

But what does this actually mean? Well, you can confidently rule out significant first-party support from anywhere but Japan, as the days of titles like Tearaway and Uncharted: Golden Abyss are now long gone – but you probably knew that already. The term "legacy" doesn't necessarily mean that the device is done, though – in computing it generally refers to a piece of hardware that is outdated but is still widely used. Expect plenty more cross-buy titles as long as they keep selling, then.

Update (15:15PM BST): Quotes like this always look bad out of context, and it seems we should have done a little more homework. While gaffer Andrew House did describe the PlayStation Vita as a "legacy platform", Sony has since clarified in a statement sent to Venture Beat that he was primarily referring to the first generation version of the format, which is no longer available.

"What Andy mentioned as 'legacy platform' was a part of the write-off the Vita component for the first generation of Vita, which is no longer available in the market," a spokesperson said. "And he did not directly mean the current Vita and PlayStation TV models, which are available in the market. Our portable business will be continued, and many users are now enjoying PS4 Remote Play features as well as original Vita game titles on Vita and PlayStation TV."

To be perfectly honest, we think that the platform holder's saving face a little bit here – after all, the financial documents show that components for the PlayStation TV were written off as well, and not just the Vita 1000. Also, the fact that the platform holder mentioned Remote Play as a primary use for the format in its statement perhaps tells you everything that you need to know.

[source gamesindustry.biz]