The most direct competition the PlayStation Vita faces is the 3DS – at least, in theory. Both pieces of hardware are graphically powerful and dedicated to delivering quality games on the go, so it makes sense to compare the hardware sales figures to see which company has the more sound strategy. However, even if Sony is working its tail off to increase the Vita’s install base, Worldwide Studios boss Shuhei Yoshida argues that he and his colleagues don’t discuss catching up with Nintendo too often.
“We don't necessarily talk about catching up to the 3DS – but we'd like to increase the installed base of PS Vita,” Yoshida said in a new interview with GamesIndustry International. “For us to be able to provide better hardware, in our mind – the new PS Vita is slimmer and lighter, easier to hold, has some internal memory from the get-go, so it's a bit more value – but the important thing is to continue to provide great games and game experiences.”
The goal isn’t to keep the best games locked down to a single piece of Sony hardware, either. The PlayStation ecosystem is designed to work in harmony.
“The games can come not only from PS Vita's dedicated games – Vita and PS4 are designed with each other in mind, to connect to each other. If you own a PS4, you can play PS4 games via remote play, and once we start the Gaikai service, you'll be able to play PS3 games on PS Vita,” he continued. “We continue to add our services on PlayStation, and for PS Vita, the enjoyment and the sources of games will expand, not just from PS Vita dedicated games. Those are the strengths that we have on PS Vita compared to other products – it's a device that you can use to enjoy PlayStation content from different sources.”
With a new $199 price point, the PlayStation Vita is slowly becoming a sensible addition to every on-the-go gamer’s collection.
