Memory cards for the PlayStation Vita are stupid expensive. Much of the gaming public seems a bit paranoid of a digital-only future. No matter. 48% of all Vita game sales are digital.
Sony was clearly planning for a lot of digital sales on the Vita from the onset, leading the charge by announcing early that every Vita game would be available on day one as a digital download. Whereas previous platforms treated digital downloads as an occasional perk, Sony made it a rule. With this recent announcement of a 48% digital sale rate, it may be paying off.
It’s interesting that Vita owners seem to be so eager to adopt the digital option. For one, some Vita games are rather large. Killzone: Mercenary started out at over 4GB on day one, making it impossible for owners with the low-end 4GB Vita package to download the digital version. Those who plan on making the most of the digital offerings may want the maxed-out 32GB memory card, but that sells for close to $100/£70 – for most of us, it’s a stretch to call that affordable.
Then there’s also the paranoia of a digital-only console future, an impending doom to would-be game collectors. Microsoft was famously derided for its intention to fashion the Xbox One in such a way — though, the bulk of those complaints were aimed at the 24-hour verification check that crippled those with poor-to-no internet connectivity. Still, owners of the PlayStation Vita are quick to partake.
It makes sense, though, that the Vita could lead the console charge in digital-only adoption. The notion is quite well-suited to a mobile platform. Who wants to carry a case of game cards when you could pocket your handheld system with its library built right in?
Also of note from Sony’s closed-door meeting with IGN is the announcement that the new Vita Slim model recently released in Europe will be coming to North America, bundled with Borderlands 2. Sony also stated that one in three Vita owners also purchased a PlayStation 4.
The hugely successful Nintendo 3DS also struggled out of the gate before posting fantastic numbers. If Sony’s announcements are any indication, perhaps the Vita is finally turning the corner itself.
Last Updated: February 12, 2014
Alien Emperor Trevor
February 12, 2014 at 11:41
Isn’t that a WiiU. What’s a Vita?
Hammersteyn
February 12, 2014 at 11:43
Imagine the next Vita is called Pro-Vita.
Alien Emperor Trevor
February 12, 2014 at 11:48
That’ll fail. Crappy build quality.
TiMsTeR1033
February 12, 2014 at 12:02
Tastes bland too
ElimiNathan
February 12, 2014 at 11:44
Yup the only hard copy I have is NFS that I got with my Vita, rest are Digital Copies but I have the 4 Gig mem card, so its a constant delete,download,install mission whenever I want a new game 🙁
TiMsTeR1033
February 12, 2014 at 12:03
So the games you bought you lose forever when a new game comes around…
ElimiNathan
February 12, 2014 at 12:04
Re-download if I feel like playing again. 10MB uncapped not such a mission
TiMsTeR1033
February 12, 2014 at 12:05
how long does say 4 gb take to download for interest sakes?
Chronopanda
February 12, 2014 at 12:43
Can’t you backup your downloaded games on a pc using the built-in content manager? which means you don’t need to re-download the games every time?
ElimiNathan
February 12, 2014 at 13:06
Dude good idea Ill check that out. Vita has just been lying next to my PC lately haven’t played on it in a while
Draco Lusus
February 12, 2014 at 14:28
That is how I did it, before I got the extra 8GB memory card. Still doing it tho. So install all the games you can on the sick, then use content manager to back it up, wipe card, and download the rest.
ElimiNathan
February 12, 2014 at 14:29
Hmm would be cool if you could do multiple backups, each named according to what games are backed up
ElimiNathan
February 12, 2014 at 13:06
If it was downloading at max speed 56 minutes
Hammersteyn
February 12, 2014 at 11:45
Bt Games in my area doesn’t have the biggest selection of Vita games so it’s not like I have a choice.
Verrayne
February 12, 2014 at 12:57
Order them online. It’s cheaper and you can just go and pick it up.. never really understood that logic from BT.
Hammersteyn
February 12, 2014 at 13:03
Thanks 😀
Verrayne
February 12, 2014 at 13:53
Also you can try play asia once in a while I got persona 4 golden with shipping for R250, however that was before the exchange rate went down the nkandla drain.
Hammersteyn
February 12, 2014 at 14:09
Never heard of them. Thanks again!
Ricardo Harvey
February 12, 2014 at 13:25
Big memory card is about R750, New vita game is R400 on average, so its not that much more. That coupled with a psn account and you set as far as games go.
Fnuik
February 12, 2014 at 14:15
My Vita game collection consists of mainly PS+ games, and its quite a lot of games. I only have the horrible COD declassified and NFS most unwanted (micro transactions) that came with the vita on a physical card.
Ektso Gedinkja
February 12, 2014 at 16:38
I also bought all my games online. I am starting with all the small indie games, so the 4gig mem card is holding quite a bit of content. And of course I am lazy and I have a 10mb uncapped line so buying games online is awesome.