Sony is confident the PS Vita will able to compete against the handheld version on the Nintendo Switch gaming platform. Despite the latter making a huge statement in the gaming market, there is no significant market for a new device for Sony to consider developing a new one. According to Andrew House, Sony's head of video gaming, one of the reasons why the brand is not capitalizing on a dedicated platform is because most players are now content with playing on their mobile phones.
The PS Vita has been around since 2011. Since then, Sony has not released any successor to the platform. Also, Sony believes that Nintendo is ahead on cultivating a different "strategy and approach" to the device, making it very successful amid the widespread use of mobile phones. In August, the Switch outsold Sony's PS4 and Microsoft's Xbox One consoles bringing a new milestone to the Nintendo brand.
Sony sees a weak market for handheld devices
Speaking to Bloomberg, House said: "The Nintendo device is a hybrid device and that’s a different approach and strategy and We have not seen that as being a huge market opportunity."
Sony is working on supplying consoles and VR as part of their hardware gaming products.
He further added that apart from Asia, Japan, in particular, the PS Vita has not made a significant market for Sony to create a new Handheld device.
"The lifestyle shift toward the dominance of smartphones as the single key device that is always with you was the determining factor," House added.
Ace Research Institute analyst, Hideki Yasuda said game developers who currently work on games for the PS4 and PS Vita will eventually cease on updating the latter but are seen to continuously work for the PS4 and Switch.
Game developers on hand-held devices
A Konami spokesperson revealed that additional device will enable them to reach more market but House believes, the mobile phone trend will be large enough to host such handheld device games.
The Nintendo Switch maintains its sales streak and is currently one of the most elusive devices you can find online or in retail stores. As the holiday season approaches, the question whether Nintendo will be able to provide enough stock remains in doubt.
Nevertheless, Nintendo for America CEO Reggie Fils-Aime said, all efforts are being made in order to manufacture enough stock for those who want to buy and those who made their pre-orders online.