Sony will step away from the dedicated handheld market once it ends the production of its PlayStation Vita in 2019. The media giant has decided instead to focus on its home console efforts. We’re entering into a world without a Sony handheld for the first time since 2004.
This is according to a report from Business Insider. The report details the various reasons why Sony has decided to step away from the handheld market. One of the main reasons behind the move is to allow Sony to focus wholeheartedly on the PS4. Currently, the PS4 has sold over 82 million units. Rumors are beginning to circle regarding the PlayStation 5, too. Games such as Spider Man have sold millions in just three days and, with the likes of Death Stranding, The Last of Us 2, and Ghost of Tsushima set to release next year, the momentum shows no sign of stopping.
The PS Vita, meanwhile, has not proven so successful. Since its release in 2011, the powerful handheld device has only gone on to sell just over 16 million units. It never came close to Nintendo’s 3DS in terms of popularity. Sony has decided to end its production next year, with Sony Interactive Entertainment senior vice president Hiroyuki Oda explaining the decision to Famitsu. “In Japan, we will manufacture PlayStation Vita until 2019. From there, shipping will end.” Oda added, too, that Sony does not have “any plans regarding a new handheld device.” A representative from Sony has confirmed to Business Insider that there will not be a successor to the PS Vita.
Such a move out of the handheld market will leave it entirely within Nintendo’s clutches. Nintendo has seen continued success in the area, with the DS almost outperforming even the PS2 with just under 155 million sales. The 3DS, and now Nintendo Switch has seen Nintendo perform well in the handheld space.
