PS Vita and 3DS Predicted to have Three Years Left

Industry analysts suggest that the PS Vita and 3DS handheld consoles only have three years left in America and Europe before the wholesale and retail markets head on to the next generation of handheld gaming.

Speaking to MCV at Gamescom, the president of NISA (the Japanese game developers behind Disgaea) Takuro Yamashita said that the current gen of handheld gaming presents a solid opportunity of success for small developers.

He mentioned that the big companies have moved their focus onwards to the PS4 and Xbox One, leading to a lesser amount of competition on the handheld consoles which can be capitalised on by the smaller studios.

“I bet you that the small publishers can benefit without having strong competition if they continue to publish games for Vita and 3DS,” Yamashita said.

He predicts that the Vita and 3DS will have a continued lifespan of two to three years before the wholesale market for them wains.

Yamashita didn’t comment on the staying power of handheld gaming in Asia, although it is probable that the Vita and 3DS will have a longer lifespan in the Far Eastern markets. The Nintendo DS is the best-selling console of all time in Japan at just under 33M units sold. At 15.76M units, the 3DS currently outsells the Wii, N64, PS3, PS4, Xbox 360 and Xbox One.

It remains to be seen whether Yamashita’s prediction comes true, although with the upcoming Smach Zero and potential rumours of the Nintendo NX being handheld, it seems like quite an accurate forecast.

Related Topics: Nintendo 3DS, Vita

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