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Opinion: Does the Sony comeback start here?

New IP and Cross Buy provide optimism for PS Vita

Opinion: Does the Sony comeback start here?
We all knew Sony had a lot to prove at Gamescom. Coming into the second half of 2012, the Japanese giant had been lacking momentum for too long.

On the back of poor financials and disappointing PS Vita launch sales, the firm had done little to inspire confidence in the platform's future with a generally uninspiring E3 showing.

So the pressure was well and truly on in Koln. With both Microsoft and Nintendo having decided to give this year's showcase a miss, Sony would never have a better opportunity to grab people's attention and turn things around.

Star of the show

In most respects, Sony delivered. With genuine big news thin on the ground, it was easy to say that Sony 'won' the show, but it really did. Hands down.

It wasn't just the unusual amount of exciting new IP that the firm revealed, but the potential significance of some of its other announcements.

In isolation, the fact that Media Molecule's next project, Tearaway, is coming exclusively to Vita was a sizeable statement of intent. With hindsight, it's exactly this kind of system-selling software that has been conspicuous by its absence in the early part of the Vita's lifespan to date.

Elsewhere, new Vita exclusive editions in the Killzone and Ratchet And Clank franchises certainly won't hurt. In fact, they bolster a first party release roster that already includes the likes of LittleBigPlanet, Sly Cooper, PlayStation All Star Battle Royale and former Capcom legend Keiji Inafune's new project Soul Sacrifice.

Third party depth

Meanwhile, strong third party offerings such as Assassin's Creed III: Liberation, Call Of Duty: Black Ops - Declassified, Need For Speed: Most Wanted, FIFA 13 and Street Fighter X Tekken help add vital strength in depth.

But all of this seemed like gloss next to innovations like Cross Play, and the addition of the value-add subscription service PlayStation Plus to Vita.

Cross Buy, in particular, is the kind of feature many have been advocating for a while now. Essentially, Sony has recognised (to its credit) that one of the main problems with mainstream console brands is that gamers don't want (or have the means) to have to pay for their favourite games twice.

Sure, they love that their favourite brands have come to Vita, but the reality is gamers generally can't justify shelling out over a hundred bucks to own them on both their PS3 and Vita. To get around this thorny issue, Sony has come up with a simple plan: buy it on one console, get it free on the other.

So far, download-only titles Sound Shapes and MotorStorm RC support the initiative, but it's the full-price products such as Ratchet & Clank: Full Frontal Assault and Sly Cooper: Thieves In Time that offer the most tempting savings.

Cross marks the spot

The initiative also ties into the existing Cross Play system that allows PS3 and Vita players to join in the same multiplayer matches, while Cross Save syncs the same save game across platforms, allowing you to pick up the game on Vita from where you left off on PS3.

Elsewhere, Cross Control allows PS3 games to be controlled via the Vita, and lets you share downloaded content between the two.

Of course, this is just the start for Sony. If it can persuade third parties to come on board with the various Cross initiatives, then it not only helps Vita become a much more viable handheld gaming system in the long run, but gives gamers a much greater incentive to buy full-blown multi platform console games on Sony systems.

Whether the technical and financial realities make it a wholly feasible exercise for publishers and developers is another matter entirely. While Sony's first party studios are happy to work on whatever Sony asks it to, the same cannot be said for its third party partners - unless there are serious incentives to get behind it.

Causes for pessimism

In the here and now, though, Sony has serious work to do. In the days after Gamescom, official figures revealed that just 2.2 million Vitas have shifted worldwide to date - a figure that compares poorly when stacked up with previous handheld systems at the same point in their lifespans.

Neogaf estimates that the PSP had shifted 5.05 million at the same point, while the 3DS managed 6.68 million and the DS 6.65 million. Going further back the mighty GBA had shifted some 9.58 million.

Although it's fair to say that the Vita has faced the kind of competition from smartphones and tablets that its predecessor never had to deal with, even the most hardened Sony apologist would admit that a 2.2 million installed base is well below even the most pessimistic estimates.

Comeback kings?

Can the Vita make a sterling comeback?

Possibly, but it'll take a lot more than a few cool first party titles with Cross Buy offers to make a big enough difference. Sony needs to court the third parties like never before, and have the kind of blockbusting titles that sell tens of millions. Think GTA, Gran Turismo, Final Fantasy, Call Of Duty, FIFA...

This year, it's all very well having some big-looking titles in the COD/FIFA/Assassin's Creed realm of blockbusters, but it's questionable whether they will have a big enough impact this Christmas.

If Sony can cling on long enough with Vita to get through to 2013's holiday period, and really ramp up Cross Buy, and follow through with a tempting price cut, then all the pieces may fall into place just in time for a injury time comeback.

Until then, place your bets and grit your teeth. It's going to be a bumpy ride.


There's no such thing as 'not enough time' in Kristan's world. Despite the former Eurogamer editor claiming the world record for the most number of game reviews written before going insane, he manages to continue to squeeze in parallel obsessions with obscure bands, Norwich City FC, and moody episodic TV shows. He might even read a book if threatened by his girlfriend.