I saw this mentioned briefly in the PS4 thread, but I thought this was pretty big news on its own since it applies to non-gamers. Please close if it is redundant. This is exactly what Sony needed to do to make gaming more accessible and mainstream for the general public. Genius move, especially at $99! This will give Apple TV a run for its money. Sony announces PS Vita TV, a tiny console to take on Apple TV A $99 set-top box backed by one of the biggest names in gaming Sony has just announced PlayStation Vita TV, a 6 x 10 cm console and set-top box that connects to a TV. It's based on PS Vita hardware, and besides playing Vita, PSP, and PS1 games, also offers access to a range of entertainment services and PlayStation 4 cross-functionality. It will cost 9,480 yen, or around $95 excluding sales tax, and is out in Japan on November 14th. A separate bundle, including a DualShock 3 controller and 8GB memory card, will sell for ¥14,280 (around $143). The PS Vita TV supports Japan-specific video services such as Hulu, Tsutaya TV, and Nico Nico Douga as well as Sony's own Video Unlimited, and also includes Vita-style apps such as the LiveTweet Twitter client and Reader ebook software. The tiny box can be used as an extender for PlayStation 4 games, letting you play them on another TV screen if the one connected to the PS4 is occupied, and will also act as a second Vita system to enable ad-hoc multiplayer gaming with the portable console. Not all PS Vita games will be supported, however, since the DualShock 3 controller lacks the Vita's touch-sensitive hardware required by certain software titles Although Sony announced earlier today that the PlayStation 4 would come to Japan months later than the rest of the world, the PS Vita TV looks like a good bet for the region. With the Japanese market dominated by handhelds such as the PSP and 3DS in recent years, Sony's best play for local living rooms may well be to go small. The company has yet to announce release plans for the rest of the world. The PS Vita TV matches the Apple TV on price while offering a far more robust gaming proposition. Apple is rumored to be planning significant software enhancements for its set-top box that could possibly come at Tuesday's press event, but these are so far not expected to involve gaming. If Sony can offer a similar content lineup for the PS Vita TV in the West — the initial announcement is focused on Japan, which exists in an entirely different media landscape — Apple may have a serious new competitor on its hands. And if nothing else, it's an unexpected lease on life for the PS Vita handheld, which has struggled to gain serious traction in the marketplace. Link <iframe width="420" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/rG5l78gbvpU" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
It is pretty nice IMO (especially at that price), but I think it is premature to push it against Apple TV. They're kind of different things, focusing on different types of consumers. This thing is great for gamers who might want some media functionality (and maybe to get more use out of their PS3/PS4). Apple TV (or other devices) seems like a better option for people who want a cheap media box though (with gaming as a plus only). It will be interesting to see how Sony pushes this and continues with support. PS+ really makes owning various PS platforms a plus (pun intended?), and I can see some PS4 owners getting this due to the "impulse" price (all these free games tied to their account, might as well try them out). Presumably Gaikai streaming and maybe their IPTV service will support it in some way, but until Sony actually gets those services up and running, I wouldn't really expect too much from the Vita TV. You can start to see the new vision of PlayStation they have though.
pretty cool idea...probably doesn't cost much in terms of development since they basically put a vita inside a small box and got rid of the screen and touchpad.
