Featured Post

June Update: PlayStation 6 and PlayStation Portable future visions

 The recent PlayStation video about the "simulated" technology in development, discussed between AMD and Sony engineers that will power the PlayStation 6 was interesting from a geek point of view. But from a gameplay perspective, there is - IMO - no need for a PlayStation 6 for another few years. Especially with the limp Xbox is-it-isn't-it launch .  June 2026 Update : The latest snippet of gossip for Sony's next-gen systems is a modular/external drive that will connect to both devices. Allowing installation on the portable of physical games, and reducing the cost of the PS6 by making the Blu-ray an accessory (like the PS5 Slim).  I prefer the idea of a dedicated dock on the PS6 that connects the next Portable to your entire PSN library, and they'd better make it work as an extra controller, but I'm sure there are practical benefits to the extra drive.   That should also boost sales of PS4 and PS5 physical games, especially on the second-hand market, as folk...

Will the Vita get a price cut for Christmas?

The Vita isn't selling well, that much the world knows. The Vita has few major games in development for it, don't think anyone can argue with that. Sony is still a company in deep financial trouble, despite sales of the PS4.

So, given all that, is it worth the company cutting the price of the Vita this year in time for the Black Friday, festive, New Year and other sales? Will some tens of thousands of extra units sold make much difference to the overall market? Without a big name game to sell it, will anyone even notice? 

Sony's previous price cuts don't seem to have made much difference and while Microsoft has started the ball rolling with an Xbox One price cut, Sony may be tempted to keep its margins higher on the better-selling PS4. Also, now Sony has PlayStation TV to sell, it might think it has its range and price points covered from sub-$100, then Vita and PS3 all the way up to the PS4. And, if it cuts the price of the Vita to $120-130, then that might dent PlayStation TV sales.
Adding all that together, I would be surprised if Sony did cut the price, except for perhaps a specific short-term period. Apparently selling just a couple of thousand a week in the States, Sony will be more keen on the a tiny profit from those, than losing money and trying to drive the user base, when traditional developers have already abandoned it. 

I'm not sure if using stock microSD cards would have helped the Vita's situation, but the proprietary memory cards certainly haven't helped. Having profited from them massively, perhaps Sony will finally cut those prices to sane levels, just for us loyalists? Thoughts welcome!

Currently playing on my Vita/PS3/PS4/PS5


Any news or interview requests, please contact psp2roundup@gmail.com Please note, As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.