Using the PlayStation Vita in 2024 - Review!

Released 13 years ago, the PlayStation Vita was the final true dedicated handheld console from Sony- and despite a strong start, it would receive little support until its discontinuation in 2019. Even so, there remains a dedicated community & homebrewing scene, and for good reason- so let's talk about how the PS Vita holds up in 2024!

Timestamps:
0:00 - It All Starts Here
2:09 - is PS Vita worth it in 2024?
4:17 - PS Vita OLED, Slim, & TV
5:42 - Display, Hardware, & Controls
8:16 - Game cards & memory cards
10:12 - Vita Software & Homebrewing
11:45 - Built-in Apps & Features
14:33 - PS Vita Games & Experience
18:05 - Unlimited Potential
19:54 - PlayStation Portal
21:18 - the PS Vita is fun.

Music:

[Tech]

Today marks the 30th anniversary of PlayStation - and so it only felt right to give some credence to the most underrated Sony console ever made, at least in my opinion. Did any of you ever own the PS Vita?
Hope you all enjoy, and thank you for watching!

[massahwahl]

The Vita was a godsend on breaks when I worked retail as a teenager

[SpencerPressly]

I’m a vita sicko who has had the system since 2012 and never one jail broke it. I own 400+ games physically and still have more left to collect. My favorite system of all time.

[video-luver]

My word... The 3DS had a dedicated Youtube app longer than the Vita.

[YungStinkyWinky]

Not enough support from Sony and other devs killed it... It simply cost too much to make games on a PS 2.5-power console, when they could have just been making regular games for the PS3 or upcoming PS4. Honestly I think it's the best handheld ever made, before the Switch or SteamDeck. Not to mention super expensive yet limited storage lmao.

[video-luver]

I bought a pre-owned OLED model from Gamestop back in 2019. Literally the LAST Vita I ever saw at that store. I've never regretted the purchase.

[LigerSuperstar]

The first console I bought with my first part time job after deliberating between Sony or Nintendo. I was so disappointed with the lack of game released.

[santosmurilo]

I had a Vita OLED back in 2014. Lots of fun with the system

[T.O.Wallee]

I remember having a blast playing all these games. Especially Marvel Vs. Capcom 3 where I can just just play for a few matches whenever I have free time

[Sean-D]

10:36 The XMB UI was not from the PlayStation 3, the PlayStation Portable came out 2 years prior and even before the PlayStation Portable, Sony released a Japanese exclusive DVR/Console hybrid called the PSX which was the first device to feature that UI.

[wchris]

I saw someone playing a Vita in public just a couple weeks ago, I was stunned. It was while I was in line for a ride at Disney

[Nando]

I got my first vita on April of this year from Japan and uh boy have i enjoyed my time with it, the console still hold great by today standards (besides de L2, R2) most games run at a steady 30FPS and even if some don't with homebrew is really easy to get them to, I have really had a great time playing games like uncharted, killzone, batman and MK9.

[JoshHoulding]

I just got my Vita in September and I love it. Mine is from eBay and pre-hacked so all the games are free and easily accessible through pkgj, Adrenaline is amazing for PSP and PSX games, the buttons, joysticks, touchpad, etc. are in great condition and are satisfying to use, I could go on and on about how great this thing is! I had a PSP growing up and love that the Vita is essentially a better PSP with access to a whole other library of games as well.

I've been playing Persona 4 Golden, Telltale's The Walking Dead, LEGO Indy, and Lumines Electronic Symphony in bed lately, and have been having a blast!

[ShaunaMorgan]

I still use my release day OLED. Still one of my favorite gaming devices. I also have the slim and the PSTV.

I kept the OLED original, modded the slim.

[StepHell]

I love my Steam Deck but it's enormous, I would prefer something Vita-sized

[spookypineapple]

I bought my Vita a month before I deployed to Afghanistan. The console made it through the year like a champ, and I got it refurbished after I got home (new screen, housing, battery). I still play it on a regular basis, with it being full of GBA, PSP, and vita games. Fantastic console despite Sony's attempts to kill it.

[StyleshStorm]

PS Vita also had some of the most unique 1st party Japan Studio games ever. Soul Sacrifice and Soul Sacrifice Delta in particular.

[NeilCooper]

I still use my Vita. I love games such as “Frobisher Says”, “When Vikings attack”, “Fez” and “Counterspy”

[glendc]

13 years? Holy crap! i've imported my OLED model back in the day from Japan, still using this marvelouspiece of tech to this day.

[pian-g]

The most frustrating thing is, that even with the rumoured new PS portable being developed, there isn't going to be real 'succesor' to the Vita. This mostly comes down to the time the vita was made, and like you said, was trying to compete with smart phones as an all in one entertainment device. The PSP and Vita could do so much more than game.
Specifically, the Vita, you could transfer music and movies to it, and use either cable or bluetooth for the audio. And the music player was actually thought out to work with the whole system. So if you're playing a music, you leave the player and open a game, some games automatically turn off their in game music. And that is still an amazing and easy experience we won't get with the new portable, since I doubt they will allow the same ease of access to tranfer files from computer to vita like before. And will focus more on streaming services like Spotify and Netflix.
It felt like all the best of entertainment on a specifically entertainment focused device. It was basically the walkman for me.