As Microsoft gets set to launch the Xbox ROG Ally, former PlayStation boss says one of the biggest mistakes they made with the PS Vita was trying to bring the console experience to handheld

Asus ROG Xbox Ally and ROG Xbox Ally X with glowing blue light backdrop. — (Image credit: Asus)

Nintendo is the undisputed king of handhelds, from the Game Boy all the way to the hybrid Switch 2. But that doesn't mean other companies don't want in. Microsoft is trying its hand at getting into the handheld space with its Asus ROG Xbox Ally, and PlayStation put in a good few years with the PSP and PS Vita. But, it made one big mistake.

"One of the mistakes we made with Vita, is we were very keen on creating a living room experience and the 10ft experience in a 10-inch space," says Shawn Layden, the previous president and CEO of Sony Interactive Entertainment America, on the HipHopGamer podcast.

Shawn Layden And HipHopGamer Discuss The Gaming Business Future, Xbox, PS6, Nintendo, AA Gaming. - YouTube

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"To win in handheld is not to bring the best conversion of the console experience to the handheld," he continues. "To win in handheld is to make great handheld experiences. Don't try to make that big thing fit in that space. Understand what you can do in the space that's really interesting, compelling, people want to do it again. I think that's the content challenge for moving into the handheld area."

Previously, Sony legend Shuhei Yoshida said the Vita's proprietary memory card was another reason the console failed.

Microsoft seems to be going the route of simply putting its badge on another company's hardware, but Layden says that comes with its own set of challenges, too, such as not being able to as effectively control the strategy and how it reflects the Xbox brand.

"I don't know what Microsoft's view on how they're gonna bring their games to handheld [is], I don't know what that would look like," he adds.

While you're here, check out the best gaming handheld of 2025.

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I'm Issy, a freelancer who you'll now occasionally see over here covering news on GamesRadar. I've always had a passion for playing games, but I learned how to write about them while doing my Film and TV degrees at the University of Warwick and contributing to the student paper, The Boar. After university I worked at TheGamer before heading up the news section at Dot Esports. Now you'll find me freelancing for Rolling Stone, NME, Inverse, and many more places. I love all things horror, narrative-driven, and indie, and I mainly play on my PS5. I'm currently clearing my backlog and loving Dishonored 2.

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