Sony will cease accepting PS Vita software for submission this summer, as despite reversing its decision to remove the portable’s storefront, it will still enforce policies that will effectively bring an end to new releases. Despite nearing its 10th anniversary, titles have continued to deploy on the device with semi-regularity, with Astro Aqua Kitty being a relatively recent example.
But prolific publisher Sometimes You – who, like Ratalaika and various other smaller indie game labels, has been a big supporter of the portable – has revealed on Twitter that “the old deadlines for new digital releases on PS Vita are still valid”. It expanded: “The store will continue to work for customers, but the games will stop coming out this summer.”
It’s obviously a shame as there clearly was a small but committed audience for new PS Vita software – we still play ours fairly regularly, too! – but Sony had to draw the line at some point. The main news is that the storefront will remain open, so you can continue to purchase and enjoy the hundreds of titles that released over the years.
[source twitter.com, via psu.com]
Comments 47
Sony still can’t resist cutting the Vita’s legs out from under it....even after it’s been legless for years already!
Sony offer the PS Store back to the Vita with one hand while stabbing it in the back with the other.
It's clear that Sony want it to die and, despite their best efforts, the 16m units out there are saying they are not ready to die just yet. This wouldn't be a problem if they had a replacement PSP in the wings, but they don't and even the Xperia smartphones can't emulate it.
"Et tu Sony?"- Vita devs
Shame because the Vita is amazing.
I'm still waiting for the physical of Scourge Bringer.
Anyone played Assasins creed chronicles on the vita? Is it worth a purchase?
Okay and this is still stupid as they still sold dev kits a very short time ago. Again, with this new reprieve they could have set a much more reasonable deadline for the devs, still gated it. Just more reasonable. This lack of transparency with them is frustrating. What’s more is keeping the store open has divide the consumer based who were very upset by the decision.
even though they were still product and selling brand new vita consoles up until about 2 years ago... you would probably expect at least 3-5 years of support for something you were selling as new, never mind
A shame because the Vita had some amazing games on it. If only Sony gave the system the support it deserved it wouldn't be here right now. I still play on mine quite a lot.
@Abeedo I understood that reference
@Bad-MuthaAdebisi pretty sure they stopped selling psvitas much longer ago than that.
My Vita is loaded and ready for the apocalypse. Its got a semi lifetime of content on it and my physical copys as well.The House In Fata Morgana keeps calling my name......will always love this lil' machine. I think I play it more than my Switch.
Sad to see Sony has successfully snuffed out the tiny bit of support Vita owners were still enjoying, although my main concern was about its massive digital library becoming inaccessible by official means. Really glad Sony backtracked on that, considering the system isn't even a decade old yet!
Great way to commemorate 10 years
@naruball Pretty sure they are right. Vita production officially stopped in 2019. While new Vitas in the West were harder to get; you could get a new one from someone selling a Japanese one.
@The_New_Butler "Just to put the decisions into perspective really."
Why does it matter? There are developers that want to continue making games for it, that's it. They are making enough that they are willing to go through all the hoops, hastle and time.
My plan is to eventually replace my PS Vita, which was stolen a couple years back, so as long as I can redownload my existing library of games, I’m pretty happy. I particularly miss P4G, Muramasa Rebirth, Killzone: Mercenary, LittleBigPlanet Vita and, most of all, Super Stardust Delta. None of which I can play on my PS4 Pro. And although I have them on PS4, indies like Shovel Knight, Curses N’ Chaos, Sound Shapes, Spelunky and Hotline Miami are all way nicer to play on Vita, especially while chilling in bed.
Psvita is an amazing portable, some of my favorite games like gravity rush and tearaway is from that machine, also it’s the best way to play psone classic like castlevania sotn. I hope sony bring all games from psvita store to ps5 store since it will be really easy to emulate it on ps5.
@oats-81 I mostly play my Switch docked. As good as it is as a handheld, it never clicked with me in the same way as the Vita. Such a special little machine. I’ve had my eye on The House in Fata Morgana for a while now, didn’t know it was on Vita.
@wiiware That would be amazing. Can’t see it happening, but I hope it does!
@Boucho11 it is well worth the purchase.
@BleedingDreamer ok cheers
@Boucho11 started it recently. I havent got far yet, but its pretty fun. Controls and plays perfectly, but i think i prefer the traditional gameplay of Assassins Creed 3 liberation on the console. However as a side scrolling AC game, its a decent time
So does it mean some belatedly notified development projects still have to be cancelled or rushed or are they at least allowing to finish everything that's already been in the works? 🤔
@Boucho11 Liberation? It's also on Switch (bundled with AC3), but if you don't have one or prefer it here, that's easily one of the most memorable games on the platform. I haven't even played much despite it being among my first Vita purchases (still on the first game in the respective binge), but what I've experienced already had quite an impression on me. And the game can also boast being an Assassin's Creed with a female protagonist before it was cool.😄
I bought my Vita in 2019 and so far it’s one of my biggest purchase regrets. It has so much potential but the games just aren’t there and the ones I do want are so expensive. I downloaded Persona 4 but haven’t started it yet so there is that. But i’m considering paying the full price to download Trails of Cold Steel just so I have something else substantial.
Edit: oh and I recently got Suikoden 1 & 2 when we thought the store was closing. So there is some playtime to be had there.
Apparently we have around 7 games left for the system if they are finished in time:
1. Russian Subway Dogs - some kind of side scrolling beat em up i think?
2. Horizon Chase Turbo - trophies for this ace looking arcade racer leaked last week (also on switch and i think PS4?)
3. Seraphim - space shooter
4. Game from 2Awesome studios (probably Aeon Drive - a side scrolling shooter)
5. Hand Cannon Janky - a black and white 2d style platformer.
6. Something from Sometimes You (publisher in the article)
7. Sturmfront: the mutant war - bullet hell arcade shooter
Lets see what we get. I'll probably pick up anything that comes out now for the system so long as it isnt shovelware. I just bought Astro Aqua Kitty (Shuhei Yoshida even got it for Vita!), which released last month - and i need to pick up scourgebringer which also dropped in April
The Vita was such as awesome product. A few shortcomings and bad vision did it in (much more the latter).
The lack of L2 and R2 buttons and the expensive storage options were the only downsides to the hardware. The OLED screen was magnificent, and it is my favorite way to play PSX classics.
I still hold out hope that we'll get another handheld from Sony that corrects the hardware problems and comes with another amazing screen. I know it's next to impossible though. Until then, My Razer Kishi on my Note 20 U with Remote Play will have to suffice.
@K1LLEGAL I've spent far too much time on the console. What type of game do you like and maybe i can help? There is a treasure trove of great games on the system
Rest in piece, Vita!
I loved spending time with you!
The Revenge of Ryan.
He....Laughs....Last!
@Rob_230 Wasn't aware of Horizon Chase Turbo being released on the Vita. I love that game and will definitely pick it up... cross-save would be nice though.
@The_New_Butler I agree.
At the very same time, Sony has to make online multiplayer completely free again. Just like it was for PlayStation 3 users.
The only ones "sad" about this (no more new games on vita) are in the extremely vocal minority (less than 1%). Also, you got to be out of your mind to keep releasing new games on vita at this point. Hey! Why not go an extra step and also release new games on the PS3 too (just nonsensical).
@Topov81 yeah its not confirmed yet but it seems a good fit. The trophies went up here last week:
https://www.truetrophies.com/game/Horizon-Chase-Turbo-Vita/trophies
Be interesting to see if there is cross save functionality for sure - although i assume cross-buy is off the table
@Rob_230 well for the most part RPGs which of course I know it has a lot of. But they seem to be more expensive on the Vita than anywhere else; but thats why I mentioned Trails of cold steel.
Otherwise 3D platformers which the console seems to be heavily lacking in. I actually have the Sly trilogy from cross buy and I have the Ratchet trilogy. Jak I have on PS4 so no need.
To be fair I should try Tearaway.
It’s hard I can’t explain it; just feels like it’s missing something. And then there are games on it that have been ported to Switch like Atelier or even visual novels.
I think i’ve spoilt myself by having ALL the consoles. And the Vita seems to have the fewest games to justify it’s purchase. The prices kill it though. I would happily buy a couple of the Samurai Warriors games if they weren’t like £33 still.
Sony should re-introduce sales. If I look on PSPrices I can see most of these £30-£35 games have gone down to like £6-£8 before but now they don’t have Vita sales. I missed the boat.
@K1LLEGAL Yeah man, the situation with the sales is SUPER annoying. I've had a vita since launch and have amassed a decent digital library, but there are a number of games i passed on when on sale (like the atelier trilogy), thinking - next time. And if course i'll now miss out on as next time never came.
I'll share a few faves with you if you do decide to pick up anything though. Of course some are available elsewhere, but the Vita just felt special when playing:
Action/Adventure - Uncharted Golden Abyss, Gravity Rush, Assassins Creed 3 Liberation, God of War collection, Muramasa, Metal Gear Solid HD collection, Odin Sphere, Dragons Crown
JRPG - Persona 4 Golden, Persona 3 Portable (PSP), Final Fantasy X/X-2 (look just as good as the PS3 version), PS One RPG's, Trails of Cold Steel 1 & 2, The Caligula Effect, World of Final Fantasy, Cosmic Star Heroine, The longest five minutes, Child of Light
Action RPG - YS Memories of Celcetta, Ys 8, Ys Origin, Tokyo Xanadu, Tales of Hearts R
Visual Novel - Danganronpa 1-3, Steins;Gate, Root Double, Nonary Games, VA-11 HALL A
Platformer - Ratchet and Clank Trilogy, Sly Trilogy, Little Big Planet Vita (best version of lbp imo), Tearaway (better then PS4 version), Rayman Origins/Legends, Sly Thieves in time
Souls like - Salt and Sanctuary
Meteroidvania - Timespinner, Axiom Verge, Guacamelee, Batman Arkham Origins, Shantae Half Genie Hero,
Point and Click - Day of the Tentacle, Grim Fandando, Broken Sword Curse of the Serpent, Read Only Memories, Demetrios
Shooters - Killzone Mercenary, Resistence Burning Skies (underrated game), Unit 13
Racing - NFS Most Wanted, Sonic Racing Transformed, WipeOut 2048
Fighters - Marvel vs Capcom 3, Blazblue Continuum Shift Extend, street fighter x tekken
Other - Severed, Rogue Legacy, Shovel Knight, Velocity 2X, Fez, Persona 4 Dancing all night, Hatsune Miku, Bastion, Dragon Quest Builders, Super Time Force Ultra, Hotline Miami, Lumines Electric Symphony, Freedom Wars, Soul Sacrifice / Soul Sacrifice Delta, Stardew Valley, Disgaea 4, undertale
You can pick up run sackboy run for free which is an endless runner - or at least you used to be able to.
Then of course all the psp stuff is up there too, including some which are improved because you can remap the controls to use the Vita's second stick to control the cam.
Fact is im just scratching the surface. There is a wealth of quality stuff to choose from!
@mousieone There had been countless reports all over the West of people not being able to buy a new one in most stores. It effectively stopped being sold in the west a long time ago. Being able to buy a Japanese one from someone is not the same.
@naruball Let me rephrase that. It was possible to buy a brand new one from stores in Japan and Asia.
Also, “effectively stopped” does not mean “discontinued” nor does that mean it was impossible to buy them in all areas. All that amounts to is anecdotal evidence which is of course not factual.
@Rob_230 I really appreciate the list - what an effort! A lot I have played on other consoles which is more on me for buying the Vita so late.
Something like Tokyo Xanadu looks cool but again its £40 on vita and currently £10 on PS4 on sale. This means Vita will lose out almost every time
I want to try the Danganronpa series too but again it’s gonna be cheaper on PS4. I think I will get Tearaway and maybe Sly 4 since it’s a fair price to download. And then keep an eye on Trails OCS and Tales of Hearts. I think Hotline Miami is on sale at the moment and i’ve not played those.
Theres a couple there I don’t know much about so will look into - soul sacrifice, hatsune miku, muramasa. Thanks a lot.
@Boucho11 Yes, absolutely. I have the physical box of the Trilogy for Vita and played through them all. One of the AA titles on the system, I'd say. Graphics is very good and gameplay is too, despite being a linear 2D action/stealth platformer. China is the best of the three, India is rather good, Russia is on the weak side, but in general the collection is a must have for AC fans.
I wish Sony would kind of do the opposite and bring some of its portable franchises over to mobile.
Annapurna did sterling jobs on Unfinished Swan, Flower and Journey. Why not port over Flow, Patapon and Locoroco? Or an update to Pursuit Force? That would work quite well with touch controls.
In the wake of the previous store closure announcement, I found hard copies of Unit 13 and Muramasa Rebirth.
Another dagger that Sony pushes on the poor Vita.
I bought a vita last summer while waiting for my PS5 and I’m glad I finally got around to experiencing Gravity Rush and Killzone Mercenary! For the record, there was still a multiplayer player base for killzone and I was able to get all the multiplayer trophies.
@crazykcarter I just checked the trade in price for my Hori grip that I bought for about £20 and that seems to be going for almost a £100 now!
Recently did sell my PS3 card reader (the one that read PS1 & PS2 memory cards) and sold that for almost £60!
@art_of_the_kill I really dont know if the sales are crap why keep the store up. I never seen any salesfigures so what do i know.
RIP new Vita games, we hardly knew ye
@mousieone most people don't bother buying from Asia or Japan. Just like one can technically buy from ebay, but the average consumer simply won't.
Sure, you can even buy a ps2 from stores, if you want to whether they are discontinued or not. But is the number of people buying ps2s (or psvitas) large enough to be significant?
Developers knew all too well that the install base is small and wasn't growing. So it's not like Sony pulled the rug out from under their feet. It was a risk developing for a dying platform.
That's all I meant.
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