Inafune stated that he and Sony Computer Entertainment, the company that produced the game, are having discussions regarding a Soul Sacrifice sequel. He states,

“Soul Sacrifice is something I specifically designed for the Vita using the hardware’s specific features. To drive Vita sales even more, I have an idea for a Soul Sacrifice sequel. I’m actually approaching [Sony Computer Entertainment] regarding this project.”

Thanks to the game, PlayStation Vita sales have been on the rise. The PS Vita has been struggling with sales, and Sony had to reduce the pricing of its system in order to bring sales up. While that helped, Sony still needs new games that will make consumers want to purchase a PS Vita. Games like Soul Sacrifice, which is a new IP, is what the company is looking for.

Soul Sacrifice is a 3rd person game that resembles that of the Monster Hunter franchise. Your character is a sorcerer that you can customize in many ways. The character can be a tank, a melee DPSer, or a ranged caster. The game features 4-player co-op, where you can team up with strangers or friends to battle dangerous bosses. You are rewarded experience points and bonus points after successfully winning a fight. The game is strange as it allows you to sacrifice your allies or your limbs in order to cast powerful spells.

Soul Sacrifice is one of those games that Quantic Dream COO Guillaume de Fondaumiere believes will revive the gaming industry. In a recent interview, Fondaumiere stated that game developers needed to be more creative and experimental with their game releases. He told developers that experimental games didn’t have to be “unprofitable” and that sales could reach figures that were once perceived only achievable by well-known IPs. He says that game developers need to develop new IPs, like Soul Sacrifice, in order to get gamers, both old and new, interested in the industry again.

[via IGN]

Like its PlayStation 3 counterpart, the PS Vita trilogy is remastered in 720p anti-aliased graphics and will run at 60 frames per second. The PlayStation Network Trophy system will also be implemented into the game. Alongside the classic aspects of the games, the Jak and Daxter trilogy will also feature new touch-based controls that can be used throughout various mini-games in the story.

The Jak and Daxter Trilogy isn’t the only remastered games coming to the PlayStation Vita. Sony also plans on remastering the popular Final Fantasy X and X-2 duo as well. The games will be remastered with richer colors and smoother graphics. Unfortunately for PS Vita users, they will have to buy the Final Fantasy games separately, while those of you who have a PlayStation 3 will be able to purchase the remakes in a bundled package.

Sony has remastered a bunch of games for the PlayStation 3, including the Devil May Cry series, God of War series, and more. While it may seem like the company is milking out every penny from these franchises, its beneficial to gamers who haven’t tried these games out yet, as well as gamers who want to take a trip down memory lane. The Jak and Daxter trilogy is set to launch sometime in June for the price of $29.99.

[via PlayStation Blog]

The NPD group didn’t release specific sales data, however according to GameSpot, the number 1 game, BioShock Infinite, sold 878,000 copies in March. Luigi’s Mansion: Dark Moon, which came in 6th place, sold 415,000 copies according to Nintendo. The sales figures for all of the games on the list include the standard edition of the games, collector’s edition, game of the year editions, and bundles, however, games that were purchased in hardware bundles (like the Nintendo 3DS/Luigi Mansion bundles) were not counted.

Total industry sales for March reached $992.5 million. While the sales figure is impressive, it is still a 10% decline year-over-year from March 2012. A majority of the sales were generated by the video games themselves, totaling $602.4 million. However, NPD Group analyst Liam Callahan says that the $992.5 million the game industry made only accounts for about half of what the market really spent in March. He says,

“When you consider our preliminary estimate for other physical format sales in March such as used and rentals at $190 million, and our estimate for digital format sales including full game and add-on content downloads including microtransactions, subscriptions, mobile apps, and the consumer spend on social network games at $670 million, we would estimate the total consumer spend in March to be just under $1.9 billion.”

The month of March turned out to be extremely beneficial to game publisher Take-Two Interactive, who published both BioShock Infinite as well as NBA 2K13. The sales it achieved with both games were the highest sales for any individual company monitored by the NPD Group since it began tracking sales in 1995. Also while sales in the game industry declined 10%, new game launches for last March were still 40% higher than March 2012. Hopefully we see the momentum of March continue on throughout April in the NPD Group’s next report.

[via IGN]

Jak and Daxter was first released on the PlayStation 2 way back on December 3rd, 2001. The game received positive reviews from a variety of critics and became an instant success. Following the launch of the first game, 5 additional games were produced for the franchise, as well as the Jak and Daxter Collection (the remastered version of Jak and Daxter: The Precursor Legacy, Jak II, and Jak 3, for the PlayStation 3).

As we know, Sony loves to remaster old games in order to grant gamers a trip down memory lane (as well as make quick and easy money). They’ve remastered a bunch of games so far, including the first two God of Wars, ICO, Shadow of Colossus, the Devil May Cry series, and a whole bunch more. These games were remastered in 720p anti-aliased graphics and play at 60 frames per seconds. They are all also compatible with PlayStation’s trophy system.

The Jak and Daxter Collection for the PS Vita should be very similar to its PlayStation 3 counterpart. It will keep the main storylines and core aspects in Jak I, Jak II, and Jak 3, but will feature smoother and higher quality graphics, as well as much smoother gameplay. The games will also include support for the PlayStation Network Trophy system. Considering that the game has already been rated, it shouldn’t be too long now before the game hits the stores.

[via IGN]

Don Mesa, Director of Product Planning for Sony, says that the company is very excited that Telltale is working together with Sony. He said, “Having (a studio) like Telltale, a very successful indie developer, coming into to support us send a strong message.” Telltale hasn’t said, however, whether the game will be released as an entire season, or if it’ll be released episode by episode.

Having developers still create/port their popular titles to the PS Vita is a sign of reassurance for the game console, and it should help boost sales of the system. The PlayStation Vita had a hard time nabbing sales after launching. Eventually, Sony decided to reduce the price of its PS Vita gaming system in Japan, and saw the sales for the system quadruple. Because the Japanese version of the PS Vita did so well after being discounted, Sony decided to extend the same discount to the United States. To ensure the stability of sales for the PS Vita, Sony will need more and more developers to bring games over to the device.

Many gamers are excited to see this game available for their PS Vitas. They will soon be able to play through the horrifying, gory storyline in this game anywhere they want. Another game PS Vita gamers can look forward to is the remake of Square Enix’s Final Fantasy X and Final Fantasy X-2. The games are currently in development, but have made good progress so far. On March 25th, Square Enix is set to release an announcement trailer for both games. While the games will be sold under one title for the PlayStation 3, PS Vita owners will unfortunately have to pay separately for each game.

[via IGN]

The rear-touch controls will allow users to navigate through various content. They will be able to flip through pages in a magazine or an e-book, navigate through their music selection by skipping or replaying their songs, scroll around through web pages, and more. There are a ton of possibilities that can come with rear-touch controls, and most will be utilized in order to create a much more pleasant one-handed user experience.

While Google has just received its patent, and Apple had the patent since 2006, they’re still way behind Sony. Sony was the first to implement rear-touch controls in its PlayStation Vita device. The device utilizes the rear-touch feature in many games. The touch-pad is used in many games to perform tasks like lobbing grenades, performing silent kills, controlling the camera, selecting multiple targets, navigating through maps, and more.

Google will not be limiting rear-touch controls on just Android smartphones however. It says that it may bring it to its Android tablets and Chromebook as well. Hopefully Google follows through with implementing its rear-touch controls, unlike Apple. We could see the use of rear-touch controls be used in so many ways other than just flipping a page. Developers would probably have a field day with the feature, integrating it within their apps and their games for a much better user experience.

[via Patent Bolt]

Yoshida says that it’s all just a matter of economics, and the current exchange rate is the reason why Sony cut the price in Japan, exclusively. The exchange rate has been an issue for Sony, and it has also plagued Nintendo financially in the past. However, it’s still possible (and extremely likely) that Sony will eventually drop the price after the Vita has been on the market for a while.

This news comes after Sony officially announced the PlayStation 4 yesterday during a two-hour-long event in New York City, where the company unveiled the new DualShock 4 controller and showed off some new games from partner developers. However, Sony failed to show us the actual console, which Yoshida defends by saying that the company is leaving more unveilings for later on in the year.

Sony is focusing on many new key elements in the PlayStation 4 user interface, and integration is a big one. Sony will be pairing up the Vita and the PlayStation 4 in a big way, and gamers will be able to use the Vita to control some of the features on the PlayStation 4 console, which is great news for gamers who plan to own both devices.

[via Joystiq]

The PlayStation cloud service does more than just stream games, you’ll also be able to share games with friends. Yup, if you get stuck and can’t figure out a situation just hit that share button on the new controller and invite a friend to help you out. While we’re still waiting for more details on their cloud service one thing is clear – Things are about to get crazy.

Remote Play works on multiple levels. From sharing games with others, to continuing where you left off right on your PlayStation Vita. This means everyone that has that awesome device can stream their game right to the 5-inch display on the go. If the kids take over the living room, or your dad wants to watch Monday Night Football – simply leave the PS4 on and continue right where you left off with the Vita.

Just like NVIDIA’s recently announced Project SHIELD you’ll be able to enjoy beautiful HD games with stunning visuals being powered by the PS4, but streamed to your VITA. We have a feeling we’ll be hearing much more on this, and hopefully Sony will also be integrating Remote Play with their wide array of Xperia Android-powered smartphones. The image above certainly hints to tablet support, although then that would skip over the possibility of selling more Vita units. We’re unsure how many titles will initially be supported, but they claim to eventually offer all PS4 games with Remote Play. Stay tuned for more details as they all come available.

For those of you with a PS Vita, you can now take a trip down memory lane as you progress through the world of Final Fantasy X again. You can help Tidus find his way back to Zanarkand, you can help Yuna collect her army of Aeons, and you can help the group destroy Sin in order to bring peace to all of Spira. All of this while seeing how Square Enix has changed the game while maintaining all of the important aspects.

The remake of Final Fantasy X HD was announced around 2 years ago, and now we’re finally seeing it come to light. For those of you who don’t own a PlayStation Vita, I would suggest holding off on buying one because it seems that there are some price-cuts going around. Japan has just cut the price of its PlayStation Vita systems to only 19,980 yen, or $212. Also, if you don’t feel like playing the game on a small 5-inch screen, the remake should also be heading on over to the PlayStation 3.

We’re still not sure when Final Fantasy X HD will be released, but we may hear more about it during the PlayStation meeting on Wednesday. What I would love to hear more about in the future is if there has been any progress made for the HD remake of Final Fantasy 7. I know that that’s something fans have been looking forward to.

[via Eurogamer]

Normally, it seems like each title is going to be priced at $1.49. In celebrating the launch of PlayStation Home Arcade, Sony has made Icebreaker and WipEout 2D free, offering up a free demo of Scribble Shooter alongside those two titles. PlayStation Home Arcade is launching with more titles beyond those three though, so check out the full list below:

• Icebreaker (Free)
• WipEout 2D (Free)
• Scribble Shooter (Demo available for Free) – $1.49
• Frogger – $1.49
• Time Pilot – $1.49
• Asteroids – $1.49
• Centipede – $1.49
• Astrosmash Gen2 – $1.49
• Shark! Shark! Gen2 – $1.49
• Mad Blocker – $1.49

Sony says that if you have already purchased any of these games as an arcade cabinet within PlayStation Home, you’ll be able to download it for free within PlayStation Home Arcade. So, if you’ve already been using PlayStation Home to get your classic arcade kicks, you’ll have a bunch of games waiting for you on your PS Vita after today. The company has also released a launch trailer for PlayStation Home Arcade, so give it a look and see if it’s something you’re interested in.

The PlayStation Home Arcade app should be available for download now on the PlayStation Store. While it isn’t anywhere near as exciting as a new game announcement would have been, some PS Vita owners will definitely like the idea of taking old school arcade games with them on the go. Are you going to download PlayStation Home Arcade on your PS Vita?

[via PlayStation Blog]

One user reported on the NeoGAF forums that, while he did have a 32GB memory card (with 9GB free), his PlayStation Vita would only allow 100 apps to display, and in order to download more apps, he would have to delete some to make room, and then restart the portable gaming device to have the changes go into effect.

The user’s PlayStation Vita contained “around 50 Minis, 10 PSOne titles, 20 or so mandatory apps, and 20 Vita/PSP games/apps” on the 32GB memory card. While the Vita limits itself to 100 apps regardless of storage capacity, it seems the only workaround is to have multiple memory cards, each with 100 apps and games at most.

Then again, that defeats the whole purpose of having a high-capacity 32GB memory card in the first place, but that seems like the only way around it at this point. Sony has yet to comment on the situation, but you can guarantee that we’ll hear from them soon, and hopefully this problem is just a bug that’ll eventually get fixed, but we won’t hold our breath.

[via Engadget]

There’s no explanation as to why the game is going free-to-play, but it seems to be getting a couple new features in the transition. Specifically, we’re talking about trophy and leaderboard support, so you’ll be able to compete with your friends over PSN and earn trophies for your collection while you do so. It’ll also feature HD graphics after its free-to-play switch, which is yet another perk to look forward to.

The game will be compatible with the PS3 and the PS Vita when it becomes free, so it seems to be losing PSP compatibility with this switch. As many of you already know, Jetpack Joyride places players in the shoes of Barry Steakfries and tasks them with guiding him through a never-ending side-scrolling level. Along the way, Barry will need to dodge electrified gates, laser beams, and rockets as he collects coins.

You’ll be able to stash these collected coins away and use them to purchase new upgrades and items that will help you progress further. It’s a very addictive and fun game, so if you’ve never played it before and you own a PS3 or a PS Vita, you might want to check it out once it’s available for free. Are you ready for some more Jetpack Joyride?

We had a lot of talk about Black Friday deals and sales today, with Apple kicking off its Black Friday festivities at midnight on November 23. Xbox Live has plenty of deals for you to take advantage of as well, while we heard that Steam will be kicking off its autumn sale tomorrow. T-Mobile strengthened its 4G network in a number of markets today, while the 2013 Nissan Leaf was revealed in Japan. A new survey is saying that kids want Apple products most for Christmas, with new rumors tipping the Galaxy S IV for a February 2013 launch.

A snazzy looking white Nexus 4 has popped up on TalkTalk, while Lenovo unveiled the new ThinkPad Carbon Touch today. The FTC may not have enough evidence to hit Google with an antitrust lawsuit, and Razer has released its new Death Adder 2013 gaming mouse. Reggie Fils-Aime is saying that the Wii U has a long way to go, while Nintendo says that more Wii U stock is on the way, with the US as a priority. Skype 3.0 has landed on Android, and today was the 27th birthday of Windows 1.0 (they grow up so fast).

RIM’s stock took a jump after an analyst predicted that BlackBerry 10 has a 20 to 30 percent chance of success, and Nokia released HERE Maps for iOS. Sony pushed update 2.0 for the PlayStation Vita out the door today, while Gearbox released Mr. Torgue’s Campaign of Carnage for Borderlands 2. Finally tonight, we’ll end with a couple of interesting stories from NASA: it turns out that the Mars Curiosity Rover has discovered something big that NASA isn’t telling us, while scientists have snapped a picture of the Super-Jupiter planet Kappa Andromedae b. That does it for tonight’s Evening Wrap-Up, enjoy the rest of your night everyone!

There are a couple caveats that you should be aware of, though. First, the service only works on “PlayStation Certified” devices, which means the Vita, obviously, but also only a handful of newer Android devices from Sony and HTC. The list consists of the Xperia Play, Xperia Arc, Xperia S, Xperia Ion, Xperia Acro, Xperia Acro HD, Sony Tablet S, Tablet P, the HTC One X, One X+, One S, and One V.

Second, PlayStation Mobile only works on up to three devices. This isn’t too much of a problem, since most users wouldn’t own more than a Vita, smartphone, and tablet at once, but for a service where its main selling point is playing games on multiple devices, you’d think they would allow unlimited devices or at least more than three.

Once you purchase games, and have PlayStation Mobile installed on three of your devices, you’re pretty much good to go. The games take advantage of both the Vita’s touchscreen and gaming controls, as well as the on-screen virtual DualShock controller for the Android devices. Right now, there are only 20 games to choose from, but we’re guessing that number will grow over time.

[via Android Community]

The game is built specifically for the PS Vita and allows the player to enjoy an entirely new story to explore and play. The portable game has all the tools to create any type of level or game that the player can imagine and can share player creations via the PlayStation Network. The game has 45 new story levels in games to play across six different themes.

The game features new characters, and all the action is set on the fairground planet of Carnivalia as players battle a Puppeteer, who is stealing all the joy from Craftworld. Players fight through a series of themed levels in a storyline to foil the Puppeteer. The game takes advantage of all the multitouch features of the Vita.

The game also supports location-based functionality to find other players in your vicinity and challenge them to beat your score on a particular level. The game also supports multiple player modes, including local same screen versus competition and online multiple player game play for up to four players. The game includes all existing DLC packs along with new tools specific for the PlayStation Vita. The game is rated E for everyone and is available now.

As with most of these downturns, Sony’s gaming executives are there to say that everything is going well. Wired has pulled together some recent quotes from SCEJ president Hiroshi Kawano and SCEA president Jack Tretton, and the feeling at Sony is pretty clear: the Vita is doing okay, and if it isn’t, then the upturn is right around the corner.

Kawano, for instance, recently told 4gamer.net that the Vita experienced “extremely lively” download sales in June, which he takes to mean that the Vita is on the rise. He unsurprisingly didn’t talk numbers, so we don’t know how well the Vita is actually doing in the digital realm. Tretton recently told GamesIndustry International that Vita sales are “acceptable” and that he’s feeling much better about the Vita now than he did four months ago. He claims that the Vita has the hardware, and with good games, the buyers will come.

But that right there is the kicker: “acceptable” sales aren’t good enough for a lot of big-time developers and publishers. A platform needs to be showing strong sales (or at least a lot of potential) before the big guys will spend millions of dollars on making a game for it. The Vita definitely has some exciting games on the horizon, but it doesn’t have as many as it should. That probably isn’t going to change as long as Vita sales remain average, so Sony still needs to come up with a plan to get Vitas flying off the shelves. Nintendo did it with the 3DS price cut, and as much as Sony is resisting the idea of a PS Vita price cut, that may just be the thing the Vita needs to become a smashing success. Stay tuned.

“I think Desmond needs to end,” Hutchinson said. “At some point. You know what I mean? Things that go on too long lack resonance. We’re asking people to remember seven years’ worth of story. Which is like saying you were in junior high and now you’re finishing college. And you need to remember what you were doing in junior high.”

Hutchinson compared Desmond’s part in the Assassin’s Creed universe to Rod Sterling’s role introducing each episode of The Twilight Zone, saying despite the fact that each episode had its own unique story, Sterling was there at the beginning of each one. Therefore, Desmond and Sterling both kind of serve as the one constant in an otherwise always-changing universe.

If you’ve seen any screenshots or trailers for Assassin’s Creed 3, then you know it’s a pretty radical departure from the rest of the series. Hutchinson says that it’s “90% a new game” and, were it not for the continuation of Desmond’s story, Ubisoft “could have called it anything else, and people would have said okay.” Assassin’s Creed 3 won’t be the only title in the series to step into uncharted territory, as the PS Vita‘s upcoming Assassin’s Creed 3: Liberation doesn’t even feature Desmond at all. It looks like Desmond’s last hurrah may be coming up sooner rather than later folks, so get in some quality time with the character while you still can.

Though software didn’t fare as bad as hardware did, it still did pretty terrible. In June 2011 software sales rang in at $461 million, but last month that figure took a 29% dive to $328 million. Accessories, on the other hand, actually grew year-over-year last month, climbing 4% to $169.8 million.

But wait! Before you start saying that we’re headed directly for another video game crash, keep in mind that NPD only tracks data for physical hardware, software, and accessories sales, meaning that everything else isn’t included in these figures. In fact, NPD analyst Anita Frazier says that when the company’s estimates for things like digital software purchases, DLC purchases (which includes money spent on microstransactions and subscriptions), rentals, used sales, and social game spending are all tallied up, consumers spent an estimated $1.36 billion on video games in June.

Looking at the top 10 software list for June, we see that Lego Batman 2 took the top spot, followed by Ghost Recon: Future Soldier in second place. Diablo III landed a third place ranking, while Max Payne 3 and NBA 2K12 rounded out the top five. Take a look at the full top ten list, but remember that this list only covers physical media sales:

1. Lego Batman 2: DC Super Heroes – 360, Wii, PS3, PC, DS, 3DS, Vita
2. Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon: Future Soldier – PC, PS3, 360
3. Diablo III – PC
4. Max Payne 3 – PC, 360, PS3
5. NBA 2K12 – PC, 360, PS3, Wii, PS2, PSP
6. Batman: Arkham City – PC, 360, PS3
7. Pokemon Conquest – DS
8. Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 – 360, Wii, PS3, PC
9. Battlefield 3 – PC, 360, PS3
10. The Amazing Spider-Man – 360, PS3, Wii, DS, 3DS

Finally, the Xbox 360 finished off the month with 257,000 units sold, while Nintendo says that the 3DS sold 155,000 units, the DS 150,000, and the Wii rounded out the bottom with 95,000 sales. Sony has not yet commented on how many PS3s, PSPs, and Vitas were sold last month.

[via VG247]

Here is the full lineup: on July 31, The Expendables 2 Videogame launches. On August 7, Sound Shapes is released. On August 14, Papo & Yo becomes available, and on August 21, Counter Strike: Global Offensive hits the PSN. Each game will sell for $14.99. Those who belong to the premium PlayStation Plus service will be able to save $3 on each title.

Gamers who buy two of the games will receive a $3 PSN voucher. Those who buy three will get a $6 voucher, and those who buy all four will receive a $10 voucher. All games will be available for pre-order on June 24. This idea of pre-ordering digital content is still something to get used to, since the whole concept of pre-ordering is to ensure you get the title if it sells out. That’s not an issue with digital content. But I digress.

[via PlayStation Blog]

“Making his first appearance on the PSX in 1995, Heihachi is one of only five characters to appear in every iteration of Tekken thereafter, brawling his way through 17 years of King of Iron Fist tournaments. Heihachi fans will feel right at home with this newest interpretation, Sony explained in a blog post. Toro, known as the Sony Cat, “brings a unique stance-based fighting style to PlayStation All-Stars, affording him several different sets of attacks to utilize in combat,” Sony said.

Super Smash Bros is a runaway success franchise for Nintendo. It would be crazy to think that anyone else could create such a fanatic following. After all, the mascots of Nintendo have more star power than any PlayStation or Xbox icon could have, simply because they have been around longer. Nevertheless, there is no disputing that PlayStation fanboys are more than ardent enough to make a Sony character fight fest a resounding success.

[via PlayStation Blog]

The other big news from Sony Japan is that the PlayStation 3 will gain the ability to download and play classic PS2 titles. That’s maybe a bit of a sore point for consumers, with the original PlayStation 3 featuring backwards compatibility with PS2 games while future versions removed the functionality. These new downloadable titles will work across any PS3 as well.

PS2 titles will launch in the PlayStation Store on July 25th, and games will include Biohazard Code: Veronica, Dragon Force, and Decisive Warfare. Titles will cost between ¥800 (~$10) and ¥1,500 (~$18.8), but there’s no word yet on if Sony plans to bring the the same functionality to consoles outside of Japan.

[via Engadget]

In a recent interview, the company’s director of communications John Rafacz was asked what studio would be developing the Vita title. He apparently said, “I don’t know. With regards to the Vita, all I can tell you is that it’s quite literally declassified … When I know, I’ll tell you.” Rafacz was described as sounding “confused” when answering the seemingly simple question.

Among the other Black Ops speculation is that a Wii U version of Call of Duty: Black Ops II is in the works. But so far, the only officially announced console versions are those for the PS3 and Xbox 360. In summary, even though Sony is trying to make you believe that the Vita is a platform that developers are interested in, those very developers don’t even know details about Vita games that they’re involved with.

[via Videogamer.com]

The YouTube app for the PS Vita will offer features including recommended videos, search, viewing history, and add to favorites. It can play high definition video up to 720p. An HD button will appear when playing these videos, which you can tap on to switch from HD to SD.

Videos can also be viewed in two modes, full screen and small screen. The full screen mode overlays a control panel towards the bottom of the screen, while the small screen mode shows the video on one side with the suggested videos, comments, and information accessible on the other side. The like and dislike buttons are also available in this mode.

[via PlayStation Blog]

“You see, in PulzAR, the Earth is in grave danger. Somewhere just beyond our planet’s outer atmosphere, a series of colossal asteroids are spinning ever closer on a deadly collision course to wipe out humankind. So far, all attempts to divert their trajectory have failed. Now, in mankind’s desperate last stand against certain catastrophe, it’s up to you to command a network of explosive rockets and try to blast the asteroids into a harmless meteor shower before they reach Earth,” described Sony in an earlier PlayStation Blog post.

Augmented reality has become one of those technologies that seems really captivating and fascinating on paper, but in practical execution it ends up seeming clunky. It is a part of both the 3DS and the PlayStation Vita as they try to differentiate themselves from smartphones and tablets, although there are AR applications from Android and the iPhone as well. It just isn’t really taking off.

[via PlayStation Blog]

For example, Sony spent a good deal of time talking about PlayStation Plus. The company announced that 12 new free downloadable games will be available to Plus subscribers this month. Sony noted that 80% of PS3 and Vita users take their devices online, so a solid digital strategy is very important for it.

Among the PSN announcements made were that Hulu Plus will be making its way to the PlayStation Vita, along with fellow video service Crackle. There are more than 1,500 downloadable games currently on the PSN, and an additional 200+ are planned to release over the next 12 months.

[via PSU]

Sony promises that the headset will offer higher fidelity speaker drivers for dynamic sound, preset modes to optimize the audio experience, noise-cancelling microphones, and 7.1 virtual surround sound. It also has a feature called BassImpact, which Sony says delivers “an unprecedented level of immersion, while sharpening your perception on the battlefield or anywhere else you play.”

The Pulse headset will be available in the fall for $149.99. This isn’t the first time Sony will be launching a PlayStation-branded headset. The company launched an Official PS3 Wireless Stereo Headset last year. This new set doesn’t reference PlayStation in its name but there are PlayStation logos etched into it.

[via PlayStation Blog]

It’s part of Sony’s strategy to sell the Vita as more than just a gaming device, and to prove that it can be competitive in the same space as smartphones and tablets, when analysts left and right are saying that dedicated portable gaming systems are on the way out. The Vita also has apps like Skype, Netflix, and nico nico. The YouTube app will be available at the end of June, according to Sony.

“With the YouTube application on PS Vita, you can watch millions of YouTube videos on the stunning 5” OLED screen, from comedy to gaming tips to today’s viral trends. The YouTube application features many of the functions you’re already familiar with – you can easily search for videos, choose favorites and make comments, and your personal YouTube account is available right on your PS Vita,” the company wrote in a blog post.

[via PlayStation Blog]

According to a report on MCV, the service will be called “Storyteller” and it is likely that it will also be available on the more portable Playstation Vita system. Downloadable books and other content will be available through the Playstation Store, potentially via a brand new dedicated channel in the same way that games and video are currently broken up into different sections within the digital download platform.

According to the report, there will be an emphasis on children’s content, meaning Sony sees this as perhaps an interactive storybook platform for your children. Unfortunately for Sony, it doesn’t exactly have a great track record in this space. Even though its Reader ebook device beat the Kindle to the market, it failed to captivate consumers. And specifically within the Playstation business, Sony launched a digital comic service for the PSP, allowing users to download comic books and read them in between gaming sessions. That service was subsequently shut down due to lack of interest.

[via MCV]

This version of the game has been spotted by a NeoGAF forums user who found the domain name registry for the website that’ll provide info on the game – BattleRoyalethegame.com (whois). As for the job listing, you can thank The Gaming Liberty for that. They were snooping around LinkedIn when they found Robert Krekel.

Krekel’s Curriculum Vitae states that he is currently working as Sound Designer on PlayStation All-Stars Battle Royal for both PlayStation 3 and Vita. Sounds undeniably legit to us! Have a peek at our full review of the PS Vita as well as our timeline surrounding Battle Royale – and stay tuned as we grab it at the end of this year!

LittleBigPlanet was one of the first Vita games to be announced, making an appearance at last year’s Electronic Entertainment Expo. The game will incorporate all of the Vita’s many unique features in a way that only an LBP title could. For example, turning over panels requires the use of the back touch panel, and tilting some objects uses the accelerometer.

The PlayStation Vita is still waiting for that one killer title that will move hardware. LittleBigPlanet is starting to become an aged franchise, but the one thing that makes it stand out is its uniqueness. And something like the Vita, with many unique and differentiated hardware features, can really take advantage of that. The game is currently in a closed beta test. The online component will be a major factor in this new game, so we’ll see how it stands up and if it is able to incite Vita passion.

[via PlayStation Blog]

Designer “Robert K.” listed PlayStation All-Stars Battle Royale on the PlayStation Vita as one of the titles he’s worked on (along with the PS3 version as well as Starhawk and Uncharted 3: Drake’s Deception). If the game is coming to Vita, the real question now is whether or not it will cross-platform compatible with the PS3. This could be the title that really makes that feature become noteworthy.

Super Smash Bros is a runaway success franchise for Nintendo. It would be crazy to think that anyone else could create such a fanatic following. After all, the mascots of Nintendo have more star power than any PlayStation or Xbox icon could have, simply because they have been around longer. Nevertheless, there is no disputing that PlayStation fanboys are more than ardent enough to make a Sony character fight fest a resounding success.

[via Eurogamer]

“You see, in PulzAR, the Earth is in grave danger. Somewhere just beyond our planet’s outer atmosphere, a series of colossal asteroids are spinning ever closer on a deadly collision course to wipe out humankind. So far, all attempts to divert their trajectory have failed. Now, in mankind’s desperate last stand against certain catastrophe, it’s up to you to command a network of explosive rockets and try to blast the asteroids into a harmless meteor shower before they reach Earth,” described Sony in a PlayStation Blog post.

Augmented reality has become one of those technologies that seems really captivating and fascinating on paper, but in practical execution it ends up seeming clunky. It is a part of both the 3DS and the PlayStation Vita as they try to differentiate themselves from smartphones and tablets, although there are AR applications from Android and the iPhone as well. It just isn’t really taking off.

[via PlayStation Blog]

However, so far, only a small amount of those games have actually been made available. But today, there’s good news. “Starting today, you’ll have even more reason to never stop playing. We’re very excited to announce [more] PSP titles and minis will be available on the PS Vita Store, with many more coming soon,” Sony said in a post on the official PlayStation Blog. Among today’s new PSP titles are Cho Aniki Zero, Strikers 1945, Valhalla Knights 2, and Tom Clancy’s Rainboy Six: Vegas.

The minis are Aero Racer, Age of Zombies, Blast Off, Dynogems, Echoes, and Vempire. That’s quite a slate of titles for one day. In addition, Sony promised no fewer than 29 more PSP games will be “coming soon” to the Vita, and nearly 40 other PlayStation mini games were also unveiled. So even though the Vita isn’t really a backward compatible system, Sony is showing that it does at least appreciate those who want to play previous-generation titles on it.

[via PlayStation Blog]

Of course, that’s also because it was actually on US store shelves as well as other regions. In its first couple months on the market, the Vita was only available in the very limited region of Japan. In March, Sony said, only 52,492 Vita units were purchased in Japan. That represents less than 10% of the 600,000 or so units that were sold on a global scale. So bringing it to the larger markets has of course had a boost in sales.

It still needs to prove that the Vita is a viable handheld, and that there is room in the market for a dedicated handheld game device when so many people are now content to play games on their iPhone, Android phones, and tablets. Sony said that in its next fiscal year, which runs from April 1, 2012 to March 31, 2012, it will be able to do that. It projects that 10 million units will be sold in that period.

[via Examiner]

Speaking of ambitious, Sony claims that Resistance: Burning Skies will bring a lot of firsts to the table – including the “first-ever dual-analog FPS control on a portable device, the first competitive multiplayer shooter experience on the PS Vita, and the first support for Party voice chat.” Sony also revealed that there will be 25 trophies to collect in the game, of course one of which is the coveted platinum trophy for collecting all other trophies.

The Resistance franchise is one of Sony’s biggest first-party series, and when it made its debut on the PSP it was one of the most ambitious portable games of the time. This entry on the Vita is going to try to surpass that presence even more. “I know many of you are chomping at the bit to get out there and start taking the war against the Chimera online, so you’ll be happy to hear that last week, Resistance: Burning Skies went gold,” Sony’s Derek Osgood wrote on the PlayStation Blog.

[via PlayStation Blog]

“We’re hoping to get a ton of feedback on the overall experience from the folks who know LBP best – and that means you! For a chance to take part in this exclusive event, head on over to our sign-up page to register. There will be much more info to follow. For now though, dust off your finest analytical hat, and prepare to dive into Sackboy’s latest escapade,” wrote developer Tarsier Studios in a post on the official PlayStation Blog.

Unfortunately, there is no way of knowing when you might get accepted into the beta, and Sony hasn’t given an official start date. Tarsier Studio’s Simon Rosenkotter wrote, “You will know whether you’ve been picked, when you get an email containing the download code.” LittleBigPlanet made a huge splash on the PS3 but its presence on the PSP was muted. We’ll see if it can bring back the excitement on the Vita.

[via PlayStation Blog]

Of course, the offer of free DLC could also just be a way for Sony to get gamers addicted to the idea of new content and then start paying for it, which they’ll have to do for next week’s DLC entitled the Soccer Pack. That one will cost $2.99. The following week, on May 22, a Ghostbusters pack will arrive. That’s right – you’ll be able to fight as a Ghosbuster or as the Stay Puft Marshmallow Man, and can equip the proton pack or the Ecto 1 weapon. This pack will also be priced at $2.99.

The Vita has struggled to prove itself as a viable handheld device in a world where consumers are feeling increasingly satisfied just carrying around the Android phones and iPads everywhere. But the fact remains that Sony has resources and content partnerships that mobile game companies just don’t have – you won’t see Ghostbusters DLC coming to Angry Birds anytime soon.

[via Gamezone]

That, of course, remains a mystery, but like any good mystery there are always some clues to be found. And on Sony’s official E3 website, which is presented as though it’s designed for show attendees but is clearly trying to attract spectators as well, the company boasts that people who visit Sony’s E3 booth next will be “be one of the first to witness the launch of more than 20 new gaming experiences.” So, “gaming experiences.” Gotta love the art of the cryptic marketing language.

Does that mean Sony will be unveiling 20 brand new games at the show? It would be an almost unheard of number for a first-party game presence at E3. Sony’s primary goal at this year’s show may not actually be to prove the PS3 is still cool and relevant – it could very well use this opportunity to try to show that the PlayStation Vita is actually cool and relevant in the first place. A solid block of games could help do that. Or maybe a brand new kind of gaming “experience” would help too, whatever that means.

[via IGN]

But wait, there’s more! Sony will also be offering an “inner ear headset” in white for ¥2,800 (~$35), plus a carry pouch, strap, and leather case. Once you have those, you just need your best white suit and you’ll be all set to do some gaming on the go in all white.

No word yet on when we can expect to see this version hit the US/Europe, if at all, but something tells us not even a whiter shade of pale can boost sales of the handheld console. It got off to a good start in Japan, then quickly fell off from the top of the sales charts the following month. It shouldn’t come as much of a surprise: while the hardware is fantastic, iOS and Android dominate the mobile gaming market right now with a lower cost of entry and cheaper games, even if they might not be as immersive as what you can get on the Vita.

[via Kotaku]

When asked about the Vita, he was quoted as saying, “It’s obviously a very hi-spec machine and you can do lots of things with it, but I don’t really see the combination of software and hardware that really makes a very strong product. But I can’t really say.” He tried to say that these comments aren’t coming out of a place of being a competitor, because he doesn’t look at the Vita as a threat to the 3DS.

“I’m not looking at Vita as happy that it’s not selling well, or scared that it would sell well – I’m not looking at Vita that way,” Miyamoto said. This is the same kind of argument that was heard from media and analysts everywhere when the PS3 first launched – that it was a powerful system but didn’t meet the basic needs of a video game system, addicting games. Vita sales have been poor so far, but we’ll see if Sony can turn that around.

[via CinemaBlend]