Shuhei Yoshida Reveals Why PS Vita Did Not Succeed as Focus Was Split on PS4 Development
[summaraize]
Former PlayStation boss Shuhei Yoshida recently explained why the PlayStation Vita did not succeed. He said Sony did not have enough resources to support both the PS Vita and the PS4 simultaneously. Even though the PS Vita had features like the Nintendo Switch, some choices made during its development held it back.
In an interview with Kinda Funny Gamescast, Yoshida described the PS Vita as a “lovely piece of hardware” that was particularly popular for indie games. However, he admitted that some decisions were missteps, such as using proprietary memory cards, which increased users’ costs. He also highlighted that features like the back touchpad and OLED screen, though innovative, added unnecessary expenses.
Shuhei Yoshida Reveals Why PlayStation Vita Did Not Succeed
The PS Vita originally included a video output in its development kit, but this feature was removed in the consumer version to save costs, a decision Yoshida called a “really bad idea.” He noted that this could have brought the console closer to the concept of the Nintendo Switch.
Yoshida also acknowledged Nintendo’s strategic focus on a single, versatile platform, saying, “The Switch is PS Vita 2.” However, he noted that Sony’s legacy has always been about offering cutting-edge technology at affordable prices, making such an approach unlikely.
In the same interview, Yoshida discussed his initial skepticism about the PlayStation Portal, which is a streaming-only device. “I was like, who’d want this hardware? Just being remote play. I remember saying to the hardware team, the only way PlayStation Portal will be successful is if we sell it at $200 and they did it. Not because I said it, because they clearly had the same way of thinking,” he shared. Despite his doubts, Yoshida has been impressed by the strong reception and sales of the PlayStation Portal.
In other news, Shuhei Yoshida, who has been with Sony since it started, has left the company after 31 years.
Stay connected to MP1st and the latest news by following us on Bluesky, X, Facebook, TikTok, YouTube, and Google News.
