Sony might have pulled the plug on the PS Vita quicker than fans wanted, yet it still champions the device as a significant milestone in the evolution of portable gaming. On a webpage celebrating PlayStation’s 30th anniversary, Sony expressed its ambition to deliver “console-quality” gaming experiences in a sleek, handheld format.
A lot of discussions have revolved around the reasons behind the PS Vita’s failure, despite its seemingly advanced nature for its time. According to Sony, the PS Vita introduced groundbreaking features in handheld gaming and launched with a robust and varied lineup of games.
Sony elaborated that the aim was to deliver a genuine console experience in gamers’ pockets all over the globe, which led to innovations on a smaller scale. This included how players engaged with game environments and the creation of a connected ecosystem with home PlayStation consoles.
What’s notably absent from the webpage, however, is any mention of the PS Vita’s lifetime sales figures—a number Sony has never officially shared. In contrast, they proudly mention that the PSP, its predecessor, sold over 80 million units.
Unofficial estimates place the PS Vita’s sales at around 15-16 million units. With those numbers in mind, it’s not shocking that Sony took a break from exploring the portable gaming frontiers.
However, there’s a silver lining. Reports from reputable sources hint that Sony might be gearing up for a comeback in the handheld market, spurred on by the success of the PS Portal.
