We discussed in a previous article that Sony’s patents that were filed a short time ago suggested that a PSP 3, Vita 2 or a new 5G Sony handheld console could be on the way. Or at least in development discussions.
However it now seems like Sony are not planning this after all. In a recent interview with Game Informer, Sony’s president and CEO, Jim Ryan, suggested the company has no current plans to develop any more portable consoles in the near future saying, “PlayStation Vita was brilliant in many ways, and the actual gaming experience was great, but clearly it’s a business that we’re no longer in now.”
This is disappointing for portable gaming fans. Although it doesn’t totally rule out a successor to the Vita and PSP at some point down the road, it certainly dampens hopes of a reveal in the near future. The Nintendo Switch’s mega success proves that there is indeed life in portable gameplay beyond ‘mobile gaming’, something that has never really appealed to mainstream gamers like it does the casual audience.
One argument is Sony should take advantage of Nintendo’s success by releasing their own console, and that the time is now to capitalise. The counter argument is Nintendo have the market sown up and Sony should focus on the PS5. Who knows, maybe the PS5 will have some form of portable offering, after all, remote play existed between the PS3 and PSP as well as with the PS4 and PS Vita. Nintendo have mastered this concept but it would be unwise to count Microsoft and Sony out of this market just yet.
Remote play could be taken to the next level with the PS5, and Xbox have big plans for their own portable gaming service. Could this become a three horse race?
Merry Christmas everyone.