Sony announces 25 Vita games for US launch

By Trevor Mogg Published December 22, 2011

With the US/Canada launch of Sony’s new PlayStation Vita handheld gaming system just a couple of months away, the company has announced details about what games buyers of the new device can look forward to.

In a post on the PlayStation blog on Thursday, director of hardware marketing John Koller said there would be 25 games available, with 100 more in development, when Vita launches on February 22.

Recommended Videos

“SCE Worldwide Studios, along with our publishing partners, have been working extremely hard to build games that provide you all with new ways to experience gaming on the go,” Koller wrote in the post.

The new games, which will cost from $9.99 to $49.99, will be available at retail stores and also from the online PlayStation store. Gamers will be able to purchase the software a week prior to the launch of the PlayStation Vita.

Games from Sony include Escape Plan, Hot Shots Golf: World Invitational, Hustle Kings, Little Deviants, ModNation Racers: Road Trip, Super StarDust Delta, UNCHARTED: Golden Abyss, and wipEout 2048.

Others games in the launch day line-up will include EA Sports FIFA Soccer (Electronic Arts), Dungeon Hunter Alliance (Ubisoft), and Army Corps of Hell (Square Enix). For the full list, click here.

The blog post added that every purchase of the new gaming device will include “six AR Play Cards and one voucher to download a handful of augmented reality mini games called AR Play via the PlayStation Network.”

Koller also announced news of a $39.99 Starter Kit that includes a bunch of accessories such as a 4GB memory card, pocket pouch, protective film cover, card case, headphones and cleaning cloth.

The Vita launched in Japan last weekend, shifting more than 320,000 units in its first two days of sales. However, its call center was quickly inundated with calls from gamers complaining of Wi-Fi connectivity problems and screen freezes. With the US/Canada launch date still two months away, the Japanese company should have all of those issues sorted in good time.

Sony is banking on the Vita to help it maintain its position in the mobile gaming market in the face of tough competition from iOS and Android devices, as well as Nintendo’s 3DS system.

The PlayStation Vita will sell for $250 (Wi-Fi only) and $300 (Wi-Fi/3G).

Topics

Contributing Editor

Not so many moons ago, Trevor moved from one tea-loving island nation that drives on the left (Britain) to another (Japan)…

Gaming

Sony axes two more live-service games, including one God of War spinoff

A titan wielding a grenade launcher in Destiny 2..

In an apparent response to the Concord disaster, Sony has cancelled two live-service games, including one potential God of War title. However, in a bit of good news in light of the layoffs rocking the game industry, Sony says neither of its two studios are at risk of closure.

Jason Schreier of Bloomberg reports that Bend Studio and Bluepoint Games, both PlayStation studios, were working on two separate live service games — a venture Sony has been heavily invested in. Last year, Sony saw one of its worst failures in the launch of Concord, alongside a massive success with Helldivers II. Live service games have proven to be a risky venture, but they are extremely profitable when done well.

Gaming

We predicted gaming’s 2024 last December. Here’s what we got right (and wrong)

Nintendo Switch.

It's my favorite time of the year at Digital Trends. Every time a year ends, I like play prognosticator and predict what's going to happen in video games the following year. I've run this series for the past few years and I often find that my guesses are spot-on come December. That's always a rewarding moment as I reflect on a long 12 months. On the flip side, sometimes I'm so embarrassingly wrong that I get a good laugh to end the year.

This year, it's the latter.

Audio / Video

Attention, PS5 gamers: the Sony Pulse gaming earbuds are $30 off

The Sony Pulse Explore wireless gaming earbuds on a white background.

Whether you've just bought the PlayStation 5 from gaming deals, or you've had it for a while, you should always be on the lookout for offers on accessories that will further improve the experience. For even better audio, check out the Sony Pulse Explore wireless gaming earbuds, which are available from Best Buy at $30 off. From their original price of $200, they're down to $170, and considering they rarely go on sale, this is an excellent time to pick them up. You'll need to hurry with your purchase though, as we're not sure when this offer expires.

Why you should buy the Sony Pulse Explore wireless gaming earbuds
For PS5 accessories that will let you enjoy lifelike sound while playing the best PS5 games, you can't go wrong with the Sony Pulse Explore wireless gaming earbuds. They're powered by planar magnetic drivers, which are usually found in audiophile-grade headphones and wired earbuds, and they offer a lossless wireless connection that's made possible by PlayStation Link technology that utilizes a proprietary USB dongle. The wireless gaming earbuds are also equipped with two hidden microphones with AI-enhanced noise rejection, so you'll be heard loud and clear when you're talking to your teammates during online multiplayer matches.