According to Shuhei Yoshida, the reasons for the failure of PlayStation Vita are special memory cards and high-cost designs.
Former PlayStation executive Shuhei Yoshida, PlayStationVitaHe explained the reasons why it could not achieve the expected success. Yoshida stated that special memory cards and some technical decisions played a big role in the Vita’s poor sales performance. He also stated that features such as the rear touch panel and OLED screen of the device create unnecessary costs. These design errors caused PlayStation Vita to become unpopular among users due to its high cost.
Exclusive Memory Cards for PlayStation Vita
According to Yoshida, one of the biggest mistakes of PlayStation Vita was the memory cards produced specifically for this device. Users had to purchase these expensive memory cards in addition to games, increasing the total cost of the device and reducing its accessibility. Yoshida said that this decision was a big mistake and forced players to spend extra money unnecessarily.
Another controversial feature of the device was its rear touch panel. Yoshida stated that this feature was “unnecessary” and unnecessarily increased production costs. It was also announced that although the OLED screen is visually impressive, it puts a serious burden on the cost of the device and therefore LCD screens are preferred in subsequent models.
Yoshida emphasized that the lack of sufficient game support for PlayStation Vita was an important factor in the failure of the device. The greater popularity of main consoles such as PlayStation 3 and PlayStation 4 caused studios to direct their resources to these platforms. This limited the number of games developed for the Vita and reduced the appeal of the device.
Additionally, Yoshida stated that he does not think it is a good idea for PlayStation to re-enter the portable gaming market. He stated that despite the success of competitors such as Nintendo Switch and Steam Deck, it would be risky for PlayStation to invest in this area again. Despite this, it appears that the Vita has left a mark on the portable console market and Sony is learning from this experience in its future products.