Skip to main content
GamesRadar+ GamesRadar+ GamesRadar+ The Games, Movies, TV & Comics You Love
Sign in
  • View Profile
  • Sign out
flag of UK
UK
flag of US
US
flag of Canada
Canada
flag of Australia
Australia
  • Games
  • TV
  • Movies
  • Hardware
  • Video
  • News
  • Reviews
  • Guides
  • Deals
  • More
    • PS5
    • Xbox Series X
    • Nintendo Switch
    • Nintendo Switch 2
    • PC
    • Platforms
    • Tabletop Gaming
    • Comics
    • Toys & Collectibles
    • SFX
    • Newsarama
    • Retro Gamer
    • Newsletters
    • About us
    • Features
Total Film
Gaming Magazines
Gaming Magazines
Why subscribe?
  • Subscribe from just £3
  • Takes you closer to the games, movies and TV you love
  • Try a single issue or save on a subscription
  • Issues delivered straight to your door or device
From$12
View
Trending
  • Prime Day Deals
  • Superman
  • Donkey Kong Bananza
  • Switch 2 stock
Recommended reading
Best PSP games: A screenshot of someone playing GTA on a PSP.
Games The 25 best PSP games of all time
Toem 2 screenshot showing the photographer meeting a character with a photo request who holds up a little flag with a camera on it
Games From a Stardew Valley-like with a horrifying twist to an adventure from the artist behind Journey, these are the Day of the Devs SGF Edition 2025 games I need in my life
Future Games Show Summer Showcase 2025 logo
Games Everything announced at the Future Games Show Summer Showcase 2025
Relooted screenshot showing a cinematic of all of the characters that make up the heist team
Games Day of the Devs Summer Game Fest Edition 2025 brought us 7 new reveals - here's what they were
Ghost of Yotei art with protagonist sitting surrounded by swords
PS5 Everything announced at the PlayStation State of Play June 2025
Digital Dragons 2025 photograph of the large sign outside the Krakow International Conference Center
Events & Conferences With creators of Cyberpunk 2077, Frostpunk 2, and award-winning indies under one roof, Digital Dragons is helping Polish game developers "catch up to the West"
Reach screenshot showing a giant mythical robotic-like figure reaching threateningly towards the player, who's hands can be seen from a first-person perspective as they take cover
Games Upcoming PSVR 2 Games: New PlayStation VR2 games for 2025 and beyond
  1. Platforms
  2. PlayStation

13 ways Gamescom proves the Vita has a bright future

Features
By David Roberts published 13 August 2014

When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works.

Long live the Vita!

Long live the Vita!

If you're a Vita fan, you were probably just as hopeful as I was that Sony would give it the spotlight during its Gamescom press conference. And man, did Sony deliver. High-production AAA projects were announced in droves; several ports for awesome PC-only indies were revealed; and fast-paced sizzle reels did an incredible job of reminding us all that the Vita has many uses outside of just games. Thanks to Sony's undying support, the Vita is now in a perfect position to beat out its competition.

Sure, some people argue the device suffers from "paltry first-party releases" and "a complete lack of exposure from the very company that designed the thing". And yeah, sometimes they even claim the system is all but dead in a market completely dominated by Nintendo and Apple. But I say NAY to the naysayers. In fact, Gamescom is proof that the Vita is more alive than ever--here's why.

Page 1 of 16
Page 1 of 16
Papers, Please is coming to Vita

Papers, Please is coming to Vita

Papers, Please is a PC indie-hit that has you play a bureaucratic border guard. Who will get into the country you're guarding? Whom will you refuse access? Now you can make these life-changing decisions from the comfort of your couch. Sure, the reveal of the Vita port for Papers, Please was really confusing, as Sony stuffed it inside a video reel filled with PS4 games. Plus the game's creator had to hop on Twitter and clear up the port's intended platform. Doesn't matter though, it's a new game to play, and this one happens to be genuinely excellent. Take that, 3DS.

Page 2 of 16
Page 2 of 16
More AAA studios are dedicated to the system than ever

More AAA studios are dedicated to the system than ever

The Vita is finally getting some love from big name developers. I mean, look at Media Molecule--it has constantly trumpeted the Vita as an excellent piece of hardware. Tearaway is a truly excellent game, one that made use of all of the Vita's numerous features. So what better way to show how awesome the Vita really is than to port one of its best games over to the PS4? Maybe Media Molecule can even convert a few console gamers to Vita lovers!

Page 3 of 16
Page 3 of 16
It, ummm

It, ummm

Those are just two of Sony's many Vita-centric Gamescom announcements. However, both of them pale in comparison to... uh... that... other announcement... You know, the one with the Lasers? Crap. Lost my train of thought. But I'll be damned if I let the naysayers win--Gamescom is as good a time as any to remind you that the Vita is useful for lots of other things...

Page 4 of 16
Page 4 of 16
It makes for a surprisingly good paperweight or doorstop

It makes for a surprisingly good paperweight or doorstop

Sony's conference was so packed with awesome Vita news that you might have forgotten about this useful tidbit. The Vita is an impressively weighty device, and when you're not basking in the warm glow of its high-definition screen, you can set it down on all sorts of things to keep them from moving. Post-it notes, legal documents, to-do lists, your kid's awful drawings--weighing more than 9 ounces, the Vita will make virtually anything stay put. Oh, you've got a door that needs to be propped open? Don't worry, the Vita can handle that, too. It's a truly versatile machine.

Page 5 of 16
Page 5 of 16
An upcoming software update will let Vita owners permanently accessorize their bodies

An upcoming software update will let Vita owners permanently accessorize their bodies

Now here's an exciting Gamescom announcement: in the coming weeks, the Vita will receive a big software update that adds a few pounds to its weight. So what does this mean for you? If you ever drop your Vita on a sensitive bit of skin, like an ankle or a wrist, you can give yourself a giant gash, which will likely leave a permanent scar--I recently tried it out during a closed beta test, and it worked marvelously (results above). Don't think of it as an injury. Think of it as a way to display your undying devotion to your favorite handheld. And you can impress your friends with embellished stories of how you got it.

Page 6 of 16
Page 6 of 16
It's STILL great for watching YouTube and Netflix

It's STILL great for watching YouTube and Netflix

Video streaming apps like YouTube and Netflix have been made for pretty much every tablet, gaming console, television, toaster, and box with a screen on it--and the Vita is no different. The apps work just as well as you'd expect, and you can watch your favorite cat videos and C-grade horror flicks with relative ease. In hindsight, this has little to do with Gamescom, but I just wanted to remind you that this is something you can do with a Vita.

Page 7 of 16
Page 7 of 16
It's a pretty decent flashlight substitute

It's a pretty decent flashlight substitute

I actually discovered this one while watching Sony's conference in the dark, so it counts. The darkness ain't got shit on the Vita's impressively bright screen. Just turn that sucker on, and you'll be able to maneuver through inky blackness with ease (and without a single stubbed toe, to boot).

Page 8 of 16
Page 8 of 16
It's great for playing games Sony accidentally forgot to tell you about

It's great for playing games Sony accidentally forgot to tell you about

Ah, yes, but you wan't to know about the games, right? WELL THEN. Sony cleverly announced a few titles during Gamescom by not talking about them at all. Have you heard of the free-to-play social strategy game Destiny of Spirits? How about Uncharted: Fight for Fortune, the collectible card game based on Sony's flagship franchise? No? Well, now you have, and they're ready and available for you--or anyone, really--to play them. Please play them.

Page 9 of 16
Page 9 of 16
...and indie games no one's heard of

...and indie games no one's heard of

The Vita is practically the destination for indie games. Papers, Please is just the latest to join the Vita's incredible lineup of smaller games. One guy slaved over his creation for three years, and his art-house stick-figure fantasy rogue-like tower defense game is finally coming out on the Vita. You've got 8-bit walking simulators like Proteus, the epic Farming Simulator, and whatever the hell is on PlayStation Mobile. There are so many games on offer here that you'll easily be able to wait for all those big budget Vita games that are in the works.

Page 10 of 16
Page 10 of 16
...and really bizarre (and often perverted) Japanese games

...and really bizarre (and often perverted) Japanese games

One common complaint about the Vita is that it has absolutely no games, and that couldn't be further from the truth. You can play a Japanese cooking game starring busty ninjas, or a Japanese RPG where you breed with other girls to build your party, or a Japanese game where you strip the clothes off of vampires, or even a Japanese game where you punish young girls. In fact, if it's a game filled with half-naked anime ladies, you'll likely be able to play it on your favorite handheld. Who needs Uncharted when you've got Hatsune Miku?

Page 11 of 16
Page 11 of 16
...and really weird, obscure Japanese visual novels

...and really weird, obscure Japanese visual novels

Nothing says "video games" quite like reading 40 hours of text, and Japanese developers have opened the floodgates to American audiences. Games like Danganronpa or Virtue's Last Reward feature hour after hour of hot reading action. You'll be tasked with expertly pressing the X button hundreds--nay, thousands--of times to make your way to the game's thrilling conclusion. Think you have the skill to make it through? These games will test your mettle.

Page 12 of 16
Page 12 of 16
...and, of course, a half-dozen Monster Hunter clones

...and, of course, a half-dozen Monster Hunter clones

That's not to say that every Vita game is an escapade in perversion or filled with words. No, you've also got the insanely popular and ridiculously obtuse Monster Hunter series--and all of its clones! While the only official Monster Hunter game on Vita right now are the PSP games, they're available on the digital store, waiting to be downloaded--and a Vita one is on the way. There's also Soul Sacrifice, Toukiden, Ragnarok Odyssey Ace, and many, many, many more. You too can be completely lost and die constantly for hours at a time.

Page 13 of 16
Page 13 of 16
Expand your library with a wealth of PS Plus titles

Expand your library with a wealth of PS Plus titles

One thing that always gets a lot of love during Sony press conferences: the value of PlayStation Plus. Which is a thing that also exists on the Vita. Every month, Sony cycles in two more games that you can download for the price of absolutely free--as long as you're a member of their program, of course. So that obscure Japanese boob game you've been eyeing for a while? Just wait a few months, it'll probably show up on Plus for free at some point.

Page 14 of 16
Page 14 of 16
Play all of your favorite PS4 games

Play all of your favorite PS4 games

If you've got a PS4, you've got even more games at your disposal. As long as you've got a decent connection (and your internet provider's idea of providing "customer service" doesn't involve throttling your account), you can easily stream games from your PS4 right to your vita. Play Assassin's Creed 4 while tucked into bed, or play Diablo 3 on the toilet--it's your game, take it where you want. Alternatively, you can pick up a Vita TV, as displayed during Gamescom, and stream your Vita games from those same locations. Not bad.

Page 15 of 16
Page 15 of 16
See? It's not dead at all!

See? It's not dead at all!

If Gamescom has proved anything, it's that there's no better time to be a Vita owner than now. Let the haters drink their haterade--you've got that 80-hour-long visual novel about a harem of scantily-clad yet strangely demure females you're playing. Do you have a unique use for your Vita or a favorite game you like to play? Let me know in the comments!

Be sure to check out the rest of our Gamescom coverage--like this list of 42 games you might have missed from the conferences, or our preview of Sony PS4 (not Vita) exclusive Bloodborne.

Page 16 of 16
Page 16 of 16
PRODUCTS
Akiba's Trip: Undead and Undressed Tearaway Conception 2: Children of the Seven Stars DanganRonpa: Trigger Happy Havoc Soul Sacrifice Zero Escape: Virtue's Last Reward UNCHARTED: Fight for Fortune
David Roberts
David Roberts
Social Links Navigation
David Roberts lives in Everett, WA with his wife and two kids. He once had to sell his full copy of EarthBound (complete with box and guide) to some dude in Austria for rent money. And no, he doesn't have an amiibo 'problem', thank you very much.
See more Playstation Features
Read more
Best PSP games: A screenshot of someone playing GTA on a PSP.
The 25 best PSP games of all time
Toem 2 screenshot showing the photographer meeting a character with a photo request who holds up a little flag with a camera on it
From a Stardew Valley-like with a horrifying twist to an adventure from the artist behind Journey, these are the Day of the Devs SGF Edition 2025 games I need in my life
Future Games Show Summer Showcase 2025 logo
Everything announced at the Future Games Show Summer Showcase 2025
Relooted screenshot showing a cinematic of all of the characters that make up the heist team
Day of the Devs Summer Game Fest Edition 2025 brought us 7 new reveals - here's what they were
Ghost of Yotei art with protagonist sitting surrounded by swords
Everything announced at the PlayStation State of Play June 2025
Digital Dragons 2025 photograph of the large sign outside the Krakow International Conference Center
With creators of Cyberpunk 2077, Frostpunk 2, and award-winning indies under one roof, Digital Dragons is helping Polish game developers "catch up to the West"
Latest in PlayStation
Diablo 4
Blizzard puts the nerf bat down, reaches for a dash of buffs instead, then says screw it and buffs literally every Diablo 4 class in the next update
FC 25
FC 25 Futties tracker adds 99-rated cards for Pele, Ginola and Mbappe
Destiny 2 Lightfall
"I am a husk, a shell, totally empty": In an act of MMO masochism, Destiny 2 team spends 84 brutal hours locked in a blind run of the Salvation's Edge raid, insisting on the Master difficulty I struggle with even after raiding for 10 years
Borderlands 4
Borderlands 4 narrative director reveals his biggest uncertainty, and looking at the script, yeah, I get it: "The crowd falls apart like that guy in the cube that gets cubed in the movie Cube"
Lords of the Fallen twin knights with swords and spears
I don't know folks, I think game dev might be kind of broken: slick Soulslike RPG Lords of the Fallen has passed 5.5 million players but still isn't profitable
Arthur Morgan and Sadie ride horses in Red Dead Redemption 2
Rockstar Games may have unintentionally confirmed Red Dead Redemption 2 and GTA 4 re-releases, fans theorize as mysterious new support options are discovered
Latest in Features
David Corenswet as Superman with Krypto the dog and a robot in the Fortress of Solitude.
James Gunn's Superman has finally found the cure to superhero movie fatigue: just make them more like comics
Abraham's Boys: A Dracula Story
New indie horror Abraham's Boys: A Dracula Story is Frailty meets There Will Be Blood with a haunting focus on family – and I have no complaints
Superman shows off his strength on the cover of Superman Unlimited #2.
Here's how to start reading Superman comics once you've seen the new movie
David Corenswet as Superman in James Gunn's Superman
Superman ending explained: your biggest questions answered on Lex Luthor, the Justice Gang, and what it sets up for the DCU
The Sims 4 Enchanted by Nature
After 16 years of The Sims 3, The Sims 4 Enchanted by Nature might just be the whimsical expansion pack that pulls me away from EA's iconic 2009 life sim for good
Superman
Every comic book character in Superman, listed in order of appearance in James Gunn's new movie
  1. Zion Wright grinds along a wooden balustrade in in Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 3 + 4's San Francisco level
    1
    Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 3 + 4 review: "A nostalgic, must-play hit for fans"
  2. 2
    College Football 26 review: “Thanks to rivalries and dynasty, this is the greatest show on turf”
  3. 3
    Mecha Break review: "This mech battler makes up for lacking customization with a varied roster that lets me live out my Evangelion fantasy"
  4. 4
    Death Stranding 2: On the Beach review: "This tarpunk delivery epic is more Metal Gear Solid than ever, for better and worse"
  5. 5
    Rematch review: "As with Rocket League, the just-one-more-game pull is magnetic"
  1. David Corenswet as Superman inside the Fortress of Solitude in James Gunn's Superman.
    1
    Superman review: "A triumphant reinvention and a promising start for the DCU"
  2. 2
    Jurassic World Rebirth Review: "An unscary sequel that needed a little more time in amber"
  3. 3
    M3GAN 2.0 review: "A bold sequel with a slightly underwhelming conclusion"
  4. 4
    28 Years Later Review: "Enough terror, splatter and suspense to satisfy”
  5. 5
    Predator: Killer of Killers review: "Great characters, thrilling action, and gorgeous Arcane-esque animation"
  1. Lee Jung-jae as Gi-hun in Squid Game season 3
    1
    Squid Game season 3 review: "A staggeringly excellent final season wraps up one of the greatest Netflix shows ever"
  2. 2
    Ironheart review: "A relic of Marvel's content-at-all-costs era"
  3. 3
    Star Trek: Strange New Worlds season 3 review: "The show's most assured run of episodes to date"
  4. 4
    Doctor Who season 2, episode 8 spoiler review: 'The Reality War' is "a mix of the good, the bad, and the truly baffling"
  5. 5
    Doctor Who season 2, episode 7 spoiler review: 'Wish World' is "an exciting and ambitious" start to the season finale, with hints of WandaVision

GamesRadar+ is part of Future US Inc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. Visit our corporate site.

  • About Us
  • Contact Future's experts
  • Terms and conditions
  • Privacy policy
  • Cookies policy
  • Advertise with us
  • Review guidelines
  • Write for us
  • Accessibility Statement
  • Careers

© Future US, Inc. Full 7th Floor, 130 West 42nd Street, New York, NY 10036.

Please login or signup to comment

Please wait...