Sony has unveiled that a new category dedicated to indie games has opened on the PlayStation Store, "building on the support that PlayStation has offered independent developers in the effort to highlight some of the most unique gaming experiences on PlayStation platforms."
You'll remember that Sony's big push at GDC wasn't a AAA first-party title or even a third-party partnership. Instead, the publisher of Uncharted and Infamous flung open the doors to independant publishing via PlayStation Network, making an attractive new home for indies on console. It's one area of the publishing world that many of the bigger names in the industry have ignored, and it'll surely be a feather in Sony's cap thanks to the stellar support they've had thus far. Journey, The Unfinished Swan, Retro City Rampage, and Papo & Yo have all helped pave the way for indies on PlayStation.
It's notable too that Xbox Live Indie Games hit the ground running but has only succeeded in pushing indies to the back of their Marketplace. Lots of indies have seen success on Xbox Live Arcade, but something about the way Sony has embraced even Divekick feels completely different from Microsoft's approach.
The keys will be sustaining this category with new content and clarity about what's "indie" and what's not. You might not think your next-gen console decision will be made based on a $5 indie game, but it's certainly worth considering the necessary role downloadables have played in keeping the Vita and 3DS afloat in the early days.
This is a big win for Sony, even if it's not evident yet. I certainly hope the competition has something up their sleave for indies as well. PlayStation Blog also has details on an indie sale for Retro City Rampage, Papo & Yo, and the newly released Zombie Tycoon II to celebrate the new category.
