The PlayStation Vita Is Officially Dead

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After eight years, Sony’s called time on its handheld console.

The PlayStation Vita, Sony's underappreciated handheld console, has now officially ceased production. 

Credit: Tom's Guide

(Image credit: Tom's Guide)

The blame for the device’s poor performance can be laid at the rise of mobile gaming on smartphones and tablets, which took off around the same time as the Vita’s release.

It’s a shame, as the Vita had some interesting features, including an OLED touchscreen and a rear touch pad, which later found its way onto the front of the DualShock 4 controller for the PlayStation 4. It was also able to control and display PS4 games via its Remote Play function, similar to what we saw on Nintendo’s Wii U, which was released a year later.

MORE: The 9 Best Games of March 2019

Games are still being produced for the Vita, but according to The Verge and Polygon, that too will come to an end on Mar. 31. The Vita’s library featured a few notable titles, such as Wipeout 2048, Uncharted: Golden Abyss, Tearaway and Gravity Rush. Fortunately for players without Vitas, many of these games later were ported to the main PlayStation consoles.

Sony has said it isn’t planning on creating a successor to the Vita. Considering the Nintendo Switch occupies a similar space as a high-fidelity portable gaming experience, and has already sold more than the Vita did in just two years, it’s not surprising they’re reluctant to try and recapture this part of the market.

If you are interested in purchasing one of the last Vitas to be produced and getting in on some of the unique experiences of the platform, have a look at the reasons why it’s still worth buying this expiring console.

Richard Priday
Richard Priday
Assistant Phones Editor

Richard is based in London, covering news, reviews and how-tos for phones, tablets, gaming, and whatever else people need advice on. Following on from his MA in Magazine Journalism at the University of Sheffield, he's also written for WIRED U.K., The Register and Creative Bloq. When not at work, he's likely thinking about how to brew the perfect cup of specialty coffee.