With the official reveal of PlayStation 4, Sony has indicated that the new console will have a fundamental role to play for those who already own Sony's newest handheld console PS Vita. While there have been talks about how the Vita will be acting as a second controller for the PS4, not everybody thinks that such a strategy from Sony will actually work out in the long run.
Wedbush Securities analyst Michael Pachter recently shared his thoughts on the PS Vita handheld's prospects when connected to the next generation PlayStation 4 and the shortcomings that the Vita currently possess on a recent episode of Pach-Attack.
Pachter initially dismissed the possibility of the Vita handheld being saved by the option of Remote Play with almost all of the PlayStation 4′s upcoming titles, and confirmed his belief stating: "I think if they made the PS Vita in different colors it wouldn't sell more. The only thing that's going to sell more Vitas is compelling software. God, I shudder to tell you how many units of Vita were sold this month, but the answer is 'not very many.'"
"The Vita is dead, it's over. It's a really great device that nobody thinks they need so no one's buying it - it is really slick, if you get one you will like it."
As far as the use of remote play with PS4 and PS Vita is concerned, Sony states: "Remote Play on the PS4 system fully unlocks the PlayStation Vita system's potential, making it the ultimate companion device. With the PS Vita system, gamers will be able to seamlessly play a range of PS4 titles on the beautiful 5-inch display over Wi-Fi access points in a local area network."
Pachter's beliefs, however, contradict a previous statement from Sony supporting the PS Vita and its uses with the PS4. Recently Shuhei Yoshida, Sony Computer Entertainment President of Worldwide Studios, confirmed that the PS Vita could act as a second PlayStation 4 controller, provided the specific game titles have that functionality built into them.
The confirmation came via his official Twitter page. When asked, "if the PS Vita 'The Ultimate companion' Can be used as a second controller on the PS4?" Yoshida wrote: "In a normal sense, no. Unless a game is specifically programmed to allow such use of PS Vita."
The PlayStation 4 is currently set for a fall 2013 arrival.
