PlayStation Vita FAQ

Get all the essential PS Vita info here.

What is the official name?

The official name is PlayStation Vita (PS Vita). "Vita", which means "Life" in Latin, was chosen as the most appropriate name for the next generation portable entertainment system as it enables a revolutionary combination of rich gaming and social connectivity within a real world context. Sony Computer Entertainment is aiming to transform every aspect of your daily life into an entertainment experience.

What is the meaning of NGP?

It stands for "Next Generation Portable". We used it as a code name before announcing "PS Vita".

When will PS Vita be available?

PS Vita will be available 23 February 2012.

How much will PS Vita cost?

It will cost $449.95 for the Wi-Fi version and $549.95 for the 3G/Wi-Fi version.

What is the difference between PSP (PlayStation Portable) and PS Vita in terms of hardware specs?

• Advanced portable entertainment system
  A high performance CPU/GPU combined with an organic light emitting diode (OLED) screen enables rich, visually striking graphics never seen before on a portable entertainment system. PS Vita also adopts the Super Oval Design form factor, which fits comfortably in your hands.

• Revolutionary User Interface
  PS Vita features a unique rear touch pad, along with a front touchscreen, one camera on its front and one on its rear, as well as three motion sensors, a gyroscope, an accelerometer, and an electronic compass.

• LiveArea Screens
  Every game title for PS Vita will be provided with a space called LiveArea Screens where you can share the fun and excitement with other players. You will have access to the latest game related information provided via PlayStation Network, view an constantly updated Activity log chat in real-time with friends and more.  

• Location based services
  SCE will provide location based services on PS Vita as part of the basic features utilising PlayStation Network. The new application called near, developed specifically for this service and the network, will be pre-installed on the system.

• Wi-Fi and 3G network connectivity
  PS Vita is equipped with 3G in addition to Wi-Fi.

• Closely co-ordinated with PlayStation Suite
  Newly developed and released game content for Android based portable devices can also be enjoyed on PS Vita.

What are the specs of the OLED screen?

The screen is a 5-inch (16:9) display with 960x544 pixels and approximately 16,770,000 colours displayed.

Do all PS Vita users have to sign up with a mobile phone provider?

No. You can enjoy PS Vita using only Wi-Fi.

How do you buy PS Vita games?

You can either download PS Vita games directly from PlayStation Store to a storage medium via the Internet, or buy the new games medium at selected retailers.

Why did you decide to adopt a touchscreen on the front and a rear touch pad?

PS Vita allows you to interact directly with games in three dimension-like motion, through touch, grab, trace, push and pull finger movements. The combination of the touchscreen and rear touch pad enables gameplay experiences that have never been offered on any portable device. The rear touch pad also allows you to interact with games without obstructing the brilliant OLED screen.

Do you have any plans to introduce a video output cable? Will PS Vita have HDMI output?

No, PS Vita does not have a video output feature.

Can you take out the battery from the system?

No. PS Vita has a in-built battery.

There are two slots on the PS Vita, what are they for?

One is for the new game medium (PlayStation Vita card), the other is for storage media which can be used for personal and downloadable content.