Vita gaming gets a stay of execution through PEGI decision

I have a nagging doubt that Sony won't bother restarting the process of approving Vita games after lockdown, citing a need to focus resources on the PS5 launch. That doubt was compounded by the European rating board PEGI raising prices for Vita developers after Sony decided not to add IARC ratings on the Vita's digital store.

The PEGI change would have added €1,000+ cost to the cost of any Vita game released in Europe. With most titles selling 1,000 copies at best, that would be economically unsustainable, even for the few developers and publishers who are releasing games for the love of the handheld, and the outsized coverage they get in a small market.

As physical Vita releases get fewer and smaller in production run numbers, the chances of a developer or publisher getting any money had basically vanished, in Europe at any rate. Ratalaika Games for one has been quite specific about the threat.



The good news is PEGI has rescinded that charge (see note below), which means developers might be happier pushing their last remaining games to the Vita, and perhaps seeing portable PlayStation games released into its 10th anniversary year. Of course, there's still every chance of Sony being miserable turds and pulling the plug on the whole thing, but we'll see!


Additional: I apologise for any rude and abusive tweets I may have mentioned PEGI in.

And yes, I know this is tiny change for massive corporations, and appeals only to a few thousand die-hard, possibly slightly mad gamers. But the Vita remains important to this hardy bunch, and as a sign to Sony that we won't let a good machine die, this is good news.