It impresses me just how much Astrobot's Playroom focuses on Vita. For a handheld Sony seemed to hate, not care about, and have no idea what to do with. Astro whips it out constantly if you idle him, the big CPU in the plaza whips it out when idle, and there's a lot of collectable moments for it. Japan Studio and Asobi seem a lot more fond of it than PlayStation HQ..... You'd almost think it was a beloved piece of their history when playing that game. Despite its paltry sales, PS Vita has always been a generally well-regarded piece of hardware. Unlike other console failures, it’s generally accepted that Sony’s second handheld was the “right device released at the wrong time”. That is to say, its commercial shortcomings largely revolved around the transition to smartphone gaming and the limitations of its software library, rather than any inherent issues with the system itself. But in 2021 Nintendo Switch is basically Vita 2 - the better machine that is everything Vita wanted to be, fully realized. With all the proper buttons.

a b "PS Vita's indie assault: Devs reveal why they're rallying behind Sony's handheld". September 5, 2013 . Retrieved December 30, 2016. With higher-profile games not pushing the system sales enough in 2012, big third-party companies like Ubisoft and Activision started reducing or eliminating support for the system, especially in the West. [32] Additionally, while the Monster Hunter series had significantly boosted the sales of the PSP, its absence instead hurt the Vita. Its developer, Capcom, had decided to release Monster Hunter Tri and future Monster Hunter games exclusively on the Nintendo 3DS, where it would sell millions of copies for Sony's main competitor. [15] [50] With support diminishing, Shahid Ahmad, Sony's Director of Strategic Content, instead began a new approach to software, through directly reaching out to, and making accommodations for, smaller, independent developers who had previously released games for mobile and PC platforms. [32] While not completely reversing the sales trends of the Vita, the lower costs of making or porting smaller-budget games made it easier for developers to make a profit on the system's smaller userbase, and in turn, increased consumer attention on the console, keeping the device afloat. [32] Fez, Spelunky, Hotline Miami, and OlliOlli all found success with releases on Vita. [32] Ahmad also maintained interest in the device by directly interacting with consumers on social media; the game Tales of Hearts R was localized into English only because it was number one in a survey of games desired on the platform. [32] Sony continued to support the system with games through 2013 as well, albeit lesser so, with titles such as Killzone: Mercenary and Tearaway, along with a handful of other Western-developed ports such as FIFA 13 and Rayman Legends. [51] a b c Vlad Savov (January 27, 2011). "Sony's next PSP, codenamed NGP". Engadget. AOL. Archived from the original on March 15, 2012 . Retrieved January 29, 2011. Yin-Poole, Wesley (September 20, 2018). "No plans for a Vita successor, Sony says". Eurogamer. Archived from the original on May 25, 2023 . Retrieved June 1, 2023.

You don’t necessarily need a top-spec console for a beautifully crafted RPG, and Ubisoft Montreal proved that with Child of Light in 2014. The emotionally impactful offering achieved a high rating across all publications, and we regard it as a simply must-play title – it’s one of the best games for the Vita device, hands down. 13. Dragon's Crown Your only real option is to go second-hand, but many places are still charging a small fortune for these preowned or refurbished models. Nevertheless, we regularly sweep the net to find what prices are available today if you're desperate to buy a PS Vita.

a b "PS Vita sales to top 12.4 million with price cut – Research firm". GameSpot. Archived from the original on October 21, 2016 . Retrieved March 31, 2016. Sony updates PS Vita sales figures: 'over 1.2 million units worldwide', 2 million in software". Archived from the original on December 23, 2016 . Retrieved December 30, 2016. a b Jim Reilly (November 17, 2010). "Alleged PSP2 images surface". IGN . Retrieved November 19, 2010. Rayman has been around in the gaming industry for years, and the handheld option is one of the best PS Vita games. The visually pleasing platformer from Ubisoft Montpellier is just as enjoyable on the smaller screen as it is on consoles. 10. Metal Gear Solid HD Collection We just love games with completely unique concepts, and Tearaway falls into that category thanks to its original paper-crafted world. The 2013 Media Molecule game was rated 3.5 stars out of 4 by USA Today and was praised for its imaginative features. 5. Danganronpa SeriesLuke Plunkett (July 7, 2009). "PSP2 In Development, As Powerful As Xbox". Kotaku. Gawker Media . Retrieved December 8, 2010. The current Switch library is fantastic, with lots of finely crafted, enjoyable titles and some surprising yet impressive ports. Also " its commercial shortcomings largely revolved around the transition to smartphone gaming and the limitations of its software library" - that line is taken right out of Patcher's notes circa 2012. The dedicated handheld is doomed! Mobile is the future! According to GamesRadar, Gravity Rush is easily among the best PS Vita games. The esteemed publication gave the title a score of 4.5 out of 5 and commended its innovative gameplay. The 2012 offering from SCE Japan Studio is an action-adventure in which you control a woman with the power to manipulate gravity. 4. Tearaway Take 2016's Doom as an example - on Switch, it has a 'low' visual quality and low resolution, limited to 30fps but with Streaming, you could get a much higher resolution with much higher graphical settings (inc RT for example) and 60fps too because the game is technically running on much better hardware.