PlayStation Vita

PlayStation Vita
Original model of the PS Vita (PCH-1000)
Also known as
  • PS Vita
  • Vita
DeveloperSony Interactive Entertainment
ManufacturerSony Electronics
Product familyPlayStation
TypeHandheld game console
GenerationEighth generation
Release date
  • JP: December 17, 2011
  • NA: February 15, 2012 (1st ed.) / February 22, 2012
  • EU: February 22, 2012
Other regions: see[note 1]
Lifespan2011–2019
Introductory priceUS$249.99[6]
Discontinued
  • WW: March 1, 2019
Units soldSee Reception and sales section[note 2]
MediaPS Vita Card, digital distribution through PlayStation Network
Operating systemPlayStation Vita system software
CPUQuad-core ARM Cortex-A9 MPCore
Memory512 MB RAM, 128 MB VRAM
Storage1 GB flash memory (PCH-2000 model only)
Removable storageProprietary PS Vita memory card (4, 8, 16, 32 or 64 GB)
Display5-inch (16:9) OLED (PCH-1000)/LCD (PCH-2000) multi-touch capacitive touchscreen, approximately 17 million colors, 960 × 544 qHD @ 220 ppi
GraphicsQuad-core PowerVR SGX543MP4+
SoundStereo speakers, microphone, 3.5 mm headphone jack, Bluetooth
Input
CameraFront and back 0.3MP cameras
Touchpad5-inch multi-touch capacitive touchpad (back of the console)
ConnectivityIEEE 802.11 b/g/n Wi-Fi, 3G, Bluetooth 2.1+EDR
Power2210 mAh[11]
PCH-1000:
approx. 3–5 hours for games, 5 hours for video, 9 hours for music (in stand-by mode)[12]
PCH-2000:
approx. 4–6 hours for games, 7 hours for video, 12 hours for music (in stand-by mode)
Online servicesPlayStation Network
DimensionsPCH-1000:
83.55 mm (3.289 in) (h)
182 mm (7.2 in) (w)
18.6 mm (0.73 in) (d)
PCH-2000:
85.1 mm (3.35 in) (h)
183.6 mm (7.23 in) (w)
15.0 mm (0.59 in) (d)
MassPCH-1000:
260 grams (9.2 oz) (Wi-Fi)
279 grams (9.8 oz) (3G)
PCH-2000:
219 grams (7.7 oz) (Wi-Fi)
Backward
compatibility
PlayStation Portable (download only)[13]
PredecessorPlayStation Portable
RelatedPlayStation 3
Xperia Play
PlayStation 4

The PlayStation Vita (PS Vita, or Vita) is a handheld game console developed and marketed by Sony Interactive Entertainment. It was first released in Japan on December 17, 2011, and in North America, Europe, and other international territories beginning on February 22, 2012. The console is the successor to the PlayStation Portable, and a part of the PlayStation brand of gaming devices; as part of the eighth generation of video game consoles, it primarily competed with the Nintendo 3DS.

The original model of the handheld includes a 5-inch (130 mm) OLED multi-touch capacitive touchscreen, two analog joysticks, and front and shoulder push-button input, and supports Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, and optional 3G. The Vita features a quad-core ARM Cortex-A9 MPCore CPU and a quad-core SGX543MP GPU. The PS Vita 2000 series, a revised version of the system, was released across 2013 and 2014. It has all of the same features with a slightly smaller size, extended battery life, and an LCD panel instead of an OLED. Sony released the PlayStation TV, a short-lived, re-purposed version of the Vita that uses a television screen like a home video game console, discontinued at the end of 2015.

The Vita's design was intended to meld the experience of big-budget, dedicated video game platforms with the then up-and-coming trend of mobile gaming as seen on smart phones and tablets. However, in the year after the device's successful launch, sales of the hardware and its bigger budget games stalled, threatening to end its lifespan. A concentrated effort to attract smaller independent developers in the West, combined with strong support from mid-level Japanese companies, helped keep the platform afloat. Though this led to less diversity in its game library, it strengthened support in JRPGs, visual novels, and Western-developed indie games. This built moderate sales in Japan and a smaller yet passionate userbase in the West. Though Sony has not released exact sales figures, estimates are around 15 to 16 million units. In the platform's later years, Sony promoted the PlayStation Vita's ability to work in conjunction with its other gaming products, such as Remote Play of PlayStation 4 games, similar to the Wii U's function of Off-TV Play.

The platform stalled in 2017 upon the release of the Nintendo Switch, and was completely discontinued in 2019. The system is regarded as a commercial failure in the video game industry, and was significantly outsold by the Nintendo 3DS. No direct successor was released by Sony, though in 2023, a similar remote play accessory, PlayStation Portal, was announced for release by the end of the year for the PlayStation 5.

  1. ^ "PlayStation Vita Launches From 22 February 2012 – PlayStation.Blog.Europe". PlayStation Blog. Sony. October 19, 2011. Archived from the original on January 21, 2023. Retrieved October 19, 2011.
  2. ^ "Sony partners with Vodafone for PS Vita". CNET Australia. November 22, 2011. Archived from the original on November 23, 2011. Retrieved December 13, 2011.
  3. ^ "Rogers Communications Inc. | Rogers to enable wireless connectivity for 3G PlayStation® Vita in Canada". Newswire.ca. Retrieved September 11, 2012.
  4. ^ 2014-12-11, Censors loom large over Sony's PlayStation prospects in China Archived January 16, 2023, at the Wayback Machine, Reuters
  5. ^ Karmali, Luke (March 10, 2015). "PS4 and Vita China Release Date and Special Editions Revealed". ign.com. Archived from the original on January 16, 2023. Retrieved March 10, 2015.
  6. ^ "The Real Cost of Gaming: Inflation, Time, and Purchasing Power". October 15, 2013. Archived from the original on September 15, 2020. Retrieved August 28, 2020.
  7. ^ Cite error: The named reference Guardian-2013-01-04 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  8. ^ "なぜ、いまPS Vitaがオススメなのか? PS Vitaのデータを、ハードとソフトの両面から、分析してみよう". Famitsu (in Japanese). Archived from the original on July 31, 2014. Retrieved July 31, 2014.
  9. ^ Cano, Jiménez (June 17, 2015). "Vender medio millón de algo que vale 400 euros en España tiene su mérito". El País (in Spanish). Archived from the original on January 16, 2023. Retrieved June 17, 2015.
  10. ^ "Jeux vidéo: retour à la croissance pour un marché français tiré par les consoles". La Tribune (in French). February 10, 2015. Archived from the original on January 16, 2023. Retrieved June 18, 2015.
  11. ^ Christopher MacManus (September 14, 2011). "Sony reveals PlayStation Vita battery life". CNET. CBS Interactive. Archived from the original on January 16, 2023. Retrieved May 3, 2013.
  12. ^ Cite error: The named reference battery was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  13. ^ "PS Vita: The Ultimate FAQ – PlayStation.Blog". July 25, 2013. Archived from the original on July 25, 2013. Retrieved November 6, 2018.


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