PSVita successor sounds unlikely according to Shuhei Yoshida

[vetus]

www.eurogamer.net/articles/2015-09-26-sony-climate-not-healthy-for-playstation-vita-successor

Don't hold your breath for a PlayStation Vita successor - so says Shuhei Yoshida, president of Sony Computer Entertainment Worldwide Studios.

Yoshida was quizzed on Sony's plans for a gaming handheld during the Q&A portion of his just-finished EGX 2015 developer session.

The affable exec replied that he and the rest of his team had enjoyed working on Vita, but that the rise of smartphone gaming had created an unhealthy climate in which to launch a successor.

"That's a tough question," he replied when asked about a PlayStation Vita 2. "People have mobile phones and it's so easy to play games on smartphones," Yoshida said. "And many games on smartphones are free, or free to start.

"I myself am a huge fan of PlayStation Vita and we worked really hard on designing every aspect. Touch-based games are fun - there are many games with really good design. But having sticks and buttons make things totally different.

"So I hope, like many of you, that this culture of playing portable games continues but the climate is not healthy for now because of the huge dominance of mobile gaming."

With PS Vita being clarified by Sony as "legacy platform" outside Japan, these news aren't so surprising. Sounds like Nintendo will be the only company dedicated to portable consoles in the next generation.

[Weasel]

"I myself am a huge fan of PlayStation Vita and we worked really hard on designing every aspect. Touch-based games are fun - there are many games with really good design. But having sticks and buttons make things totally different.

No! NO, you fool! Buttons are the one advantage portables have over mobiles! Without buttons, we're nothing!

[Allie]

Final Death of the JRPG (at least as we know it) imminent?

[Chronis]

I know they've tried before, but if they are giving up on the dedicated handheld, maybe it's time to revisit the a gaming smartphone. Playstation Xperia, anyone?

[Arale]

I don't know, I prefer this vastly to them making a new handheld and thus making my Vita outdated.

[Pixel_Crusher]

It'll be interesting to see all those risque anime games getting released on Nintendo's next handheld now that Sony confirmed this.

On the other hand (though unlikely), if Nintendo doesn't make a new handheld, it's gonna hurt a lot of devs that only got enough workforce to create smaller budget games that were only possible on those platforms (licensed games based on "not so hot" anime, experimental stuff like Firefly Diary, etc.).

[Cash Master]

The Vita's only been out for 3 years - seems a little early to be calling it now!

[Allie]

Sept 30, 2015 5:17:24 GMT -5 Pixel_Crusher said:

It'll be interesting to see all those risque anime games getting released on Nintendo's next handheld now that Sony confirmed this.

On the other hand (though unlikely), if Nintendo doesn't make a new handheld, it's gonna hurt a lot of devs that only got enough workforce to create smaller budget games that were only possible on those platforms (licensed games based on "not so hot" anime, experimental stuff like Firefly Diary, etc.).

If they've got no problems putting Senran Kagura games on a Nintendo Handheld, I don't see Nintendo refusing to allow stuff like Monster Monpiece.

[Sturat]

There's no need for a Vita successor yet! ...but it will be interesting to see if there is a market for a successor a few years from now. Would people buy a Nomad/Turbo Express-type handheld that plays PS4 games?

I think one of the biggest disadvantages portables will have in the coming years is people expect internet access everywhere, but they shouldn't have to pay for more than one data plan. If tethering other devices to your phone gets easier or municipal WiFi expands, portable consoles might have a chance, otherwise, we'll just be lucky if there's a niche among mobile gaming where people attach controllers to their phones...

[Joseph Joestar]

Sept 30, 2015 9:11:10 GMT -5 Sturat said:

There's no need for a Vita successor yet!

I agree, and wish that they'd do more with the Vita than make it a hub for playing your PS4 games.  I guess on the bright side there's still a lot of good games to play on it, enough to warrant a purchase at least.

[llj]

Sept 29, 2015 22:48:50 GMT -5 Allie said:

Final Death of the JRPG (at least as we know it) imminent?

They're beginning their transition to PCs already.

In 10-15 years we might have the exact reverse of the 90s. WRPGs on consoles and JRPGs mostly on PCs.

[shelverton]

I love the Vita and I love the 3DS. They're my main devices for gaming right now and I especially think the Vita is sort of the ultimate handheld, tech-wise. I don't need better graphics, but I definitely need more games. I hope it will continue being a thing for at least 3-4 more years, even if it becomes even more niche.

The 3DS is fantastic but I wouldn't mind a better screen. So the bottom line is that I don't mind if the Vita is the last Sony handheld ever cause I still can see myself collecting games for many years to come. I'll do the same with the 3DS but I wouldn't mind better screen resolution.

But the Vita hardware is perfect as it is, IMO.

[Allie]

For me, the Vita has mostly been a repository for storing a significant number of PS1 RPGs in a small space, when I actually get around to playing it.

[GamerL]

Considering how advanced smart phones are these days and they're only going to get more and more so, I'd be surprised if outside of Nintendo there would ever be another gaming dedicated handheld released by anybody.

[Weasel]

Sept 30, 2015 15:45:10 GMT -5 GamerL said:

Considering how advanced smart phones are these days and they're only going to get more and more so, I'd be surprised if outside of Nintendo there would ever be another gaming dedicated handheld released by anybody.

I'd be more accepting of playing most of my games on mobile if the options for gamepad controllers weren't so limited and awkward.