Report: PS Vita games to be (physically) manual-less

Japanese retails are currently preparing for the launch of the PS Vita, which is set to be released tomorrow, several months before the US and UK get their hands on the exciting new handheld. But as gamers and press begin to get copies of the games, they're noticing that something is... missing. It's the instruction manuals - apparently, while they're still being included in the game itself in digital form, they're not being included inside boxed copies of the game.

Above: The box looks pretty barren for us

Andriasang is reporting that the paperwork to the left of the image above isn't actual a manual, but a single sheet of paper showing warning messages. You know, the stuff that says "don't shove the system in your mouth" and "if you have seizures, please don't play this game."

If you want to find out about the controls, see the credits, or... read whatever it is developers typically put in the manual... you need to view the digital version within the game. This isn't all that surprising. This past generation has seen shrinking manuals as a trend, both because of developers trying to save money, and gamers caring less about the packet of paper included in their videogame boxes, and more about the content of the games themselves.

So, what about you? Sad to see them go, or are you fine with saving a few trees?

Hollander Cooper

Hollander Cooper was the Lead Features Editor of GamesRadar+ between 2011 and 2014. After that lengthy stint managing GR's editorial calendar he moved behind the curtain and into the video game industry itself, working as social media manager for EA and as a communications lead at Riot Games. Hollander is currently stationed at Apple as an organic social lead for the App Store and Apple Arcade.