Sony still has a place in the portable games market despite the lack of strong sales from its latest handheld, the PlayStation Vita.
That’s according to Sony Computer Entertainment Worldwide Studios (SCE WWS) chief Shuhei Yoshida, who wouldn’t be drawn into commenting whether or not PS Vita would be Sony’s final stab at the handheld market.
"Yeah I think we can still pursue it [the handheld market], and I don’t think we have to make that decision now," he told CVG.
"Also, the distinction between the portables and mobile is [blurring], because there are all kinds of hybrids, different form factors and operating systems can still be conceived, in terms of how we characterise portable and mobile. We still like PS Vita and we know people who buy it really like it."
Sony announced at Gamescom this week that it had slashed the price of PS Vita in the U.S. and Europe to €199 and $199, respectively.
Sales of PS Vita have failed to capture the momentum seen during its launch months, and Sony’s handheld business is now in decline. During its last financial briefing, the console maker forecast combined sales of five million units for PS Vita and PlayStation Portable.
In more positive news, Sony announced a slew of new PS Vita games on the horizon, with a large chunk dedicated to the Indie games scene. Aside from that, we also have Killzone: Mercenary, Tearaway and Borderlands 2 to look forward to.
Do you feel PS Vita is doomed to struggle, or do you feel that the upcoming release schedule will reinvigorate lagging sales? Sound off in the comments section below.