Despite a solid launch, the PS Vita handheld has failed to become the hit that Sony (SNE) was expecting. Saddled with a $250 price tag and games that cost as much as $40 to $50, consumers have questioned what value a dedicated gaming portable has in a world where tablets offer quality games for $10 or less. In an interview with CVG, Sony’s VP and MD for PlayStation UK Fergal Gara said that “it’s not out of the question” that the company might sell the PS Vita and PlayStation 3 together in one bundle. In other words, two consoles in one box. Any takers?
“We put together packages for retail, and there’s no reason why we shouldn’t create a ‘Vita plus PS3’ bundle, which could feature games that use cross-play, as well as include a PlayStation Plus subscription that both devices could use,” said Gara. “Is a dual-console bundle box a perfect solution to that? I’m not sure, but I think there’s scope to have deals where people buy both the Vita and PS3, along with cross-play games and get a discount.”
Gara repeatedly mentioned cross-play games. Cross-play is Sony’s implementation of cross-platform gameplay. Players on a PS Vita can play against PlayStation 3 players and vice versa. Such a feature has been impossible before because gaming handhelds have never been as powerful as home consoles. The PS Vita is essentially a portable PlayStation 3 thanks to its full array of buttons and dual-analog sticks.
As the Wii U launch approaches, Sony is no doubt looking for different campaigns to strategically steal thunder away from Nintendo’s (NTDOY) touchscreen-equipped Wii U GamePad.
