At the start of the 2010s, for people captivated by the evolution of smartphones yet seeking a full-fledged gaming experience in their hands, the arrival of one device was shocking. Yes, that was the “PlayStation Vita.” Just as its name “Vita (= life)” suggests, it was a portable gaming device that provided an experience as if life had been breathed into games. The freedom to choose how to connect to the internet, in the form of two models—a Wi-Fi model and a 3G-compatible model—was also novel at the time. Mobile communication, which is now commonplace, was being used in a pioneering way on the Vita.

The moment the screen lit up when they first turned it on, everyone must have involuntarily exclaimed, “Wow!” The vividness of the colors emitted by the 5-inch OLED display was truly on another level among gaming consoles of the time. Furthermore, it boasted four times the resolution of the PSP, and the beauty of the visuals packed into the small screen was like a jewel. The immersion into the game world was literally spreading out “in your hands.”

Front touch operation was within expectations. But when you heard that you could touch the back as well, didn’t you wonder, “Is that really necessary?” However, this turned out to be surprisingly interesting. The Vita, which gave “new meaning” to the act of touching, greatly extended the breadth of the gaming experience. Especially when operating via Remote Play, the sensation of moving the game with your palm was addictive, and I remember that novelty.

“Capable of console-level operation”—what made this a reality was the dual analog sticks equipped on the Vita. It was revolutionary to be able to move the camera this seriously or smoothly control the character on a portable device, wasn't it? In addition, it had a built-in microphone, gyro sensor, and accelerometer, providing outstanding interactivity by recognizing the player's movements. The fact that it was even compatible with Skype made it interesting that it had uses beyond just gaming.

The slim model that appeared in 2013 was not just a downgrade. Although there were voices of disappointment about the change from OLED to LCD, the overall design was refined, and the rounded form that particularly fit the hand made it comfortable to use every time. Its lightness, which made it easy to carry in a bag, made it truly a game console that blended into daily life. That might have been the reason why it continued to be loved by many users as the final model.

Furthermore, an entity that leaped beyond the portable device category was the “PlayStation Vita TV.” The idea of connecting it to a TV and enjoying Vita games on a large screen was surprising. The controller was the DualShock. In other words, Vita games could be played almost with the feel of a home console. This hybrid attempt made us re-recognize the potential of the Vita.

You can't help but feel Sony's seriousness in the fact that 24 titles were available at launch. The excitement of playing new titles like Uncharted, in addition to familiar ones such as Everybody's Golf and Ridge Racer, right in the palm of your hand is still vivid today. There was also the cutting-edge genre of location-based games, and adding variation to how games were played was a unique appeal of the Vita.