Sony, like others in the industry, knows that the days of pure handheld gaming consoles are numbered and that the PS Vita will likely be Sony’s last foray of a standalone handheld gaming device. With the explosion of smartphones and the public’s distaste for carrying multiple devices as smartphones continue to get more and more powerful, it’s easy to see why the PS Vita will be the last of its kind. However, this doesn’t mean that the PS Vita experience will be lackluster or unsuccessful. Sony realizes that the ever so powerful Vita needs to be more then just a gaming machine; specifically, one that has access to apps and social networks that we are all so connected with.
Regarding the latter, Sony already has covered with a dedicated Facebook, Twitter, and FourSquare app which will launch alongside the Vita for free. Offering these apps, however, is an entirely new endeavor for Sony, but one that they are aggressively pursuing. Starting today, developers running on Windows XP (32bit) and Windows 7 (32 and 64bit) with access to the PlayStation Suite will be able to download a new SDK, based on C# coding that will allow a limited number of apps to be submitted for the closed beta testing. Those developers will have to be in UK, Japan and the United States with apps written in English. Though Sony will be selective about which app gets approved while also using a majority of the submitted apps to better improve the SDK, developers will be happy to know that they won’t actually need access to the PS Vita hardware in order to develop their apps.
Furthermore, these apps will be built on the PlayStation Suite SDK which will be available on the PS Vita, Sony Tablets, Sony Ericsson smartphones and any other Android tablet or smartphone that wishes to take advantage of the PlayStation Suite SDK as Sony has made it an open-ended platform. This is particularly compelling to developers as it will give them access to a far greater market share then just Sony branded machines. With this invasion of Android devices, Sony can now position the PlayStation brand as more then just hardware, but a platform, thus ensuring its position in the gaming market long after the fall of dedicated portable handheld consoles occurs. Well played, Sony, well played.
Discuss:
Do you think it’s a good move for Sony to expand the PlayStation brand beyond PlayStation hardware?