Sony is about to give the PlayStation Vita, its struggling handheld video game console, a major shot in the arm through mandatory Remote Play support with all upcoming PlayStation 4 titles.
Shuhei Yoshida, President of Worldwide Studios at Sony Computer Entertainment confirmed the feature on Twitter:
@mrdawe Yes, it’s true unless the game requires specific hardware like the camera. It will be great to play PS4 games on PS Vita.
— Shuhei Yoshida (@yosp) May 29, 2013
The new functionality will mean that future PlayStation 4 owners will be able to stream almost all of their games to the PlayStation Vita without buying an extra copy.
The 💜 of EU tech
The latest rumblings from the EU tech scene, a story from our wise ol' founder Boris, and some questionable AI art. It's free, every week, in your inbox. Sign up now!
Sony has been experimenting with this idea on the PlayStation 3 for some time and shown a plethora of content, including Killzone 3, running on the PlayStation Vita with almost no impact on the in-game experience.
Remote Play will mirror the streaming experience offered on Wii U using Nintendo’s GamePad controller, although it’s important to note that the price tag here is considerably higher. The Nintendo Wii U comes with both parts bundled as standard, while Sony enthusiasts will need to shell out an awful lot of money to get the same experience.
The caveat, however, is that the PlayStation 4 and PlayStation Vita are significantly more powerful that the Wii U. Both sets of hardware should be able to handle next-generation games, offering players superior performance and better titles all-round.
For those who have bought the PlayStation Vita already, Remote Play is a sign that Sony is still prepared to support the system. The handheld gaming console has struggled not because of its feature set or cost – a price cut in Japan has sort of solved that problem – but because its library of games is simply too small.
The rise of smartphone and tablet gaming has questioned whether dedicated handheld gaming consoles are still relevant. Nintendo has answered that somewhat with the 3DS, improving its catalog and price tag to the point where it’s still competitive, but the PlayStation Vita has suffered since its launch in December 2011.
Remote Play, if done correctly, could offer gamers an almost infinite number of titles to enjoy around the house.
Image Credit: YOSHIKAZU TSUNO/AFP/Getty Images
Get the TNW newsletter
Get the most important tech news in your inbox each week.