All PlayStation Vita games will be digitally available for download via the PlayStation Network confirmed Sony.
This will come as a relief for those previous PSP owners who only had a PSP Go; they found out the hard way that not all PSP games were released digitally.
While the PS Vita will feature hardcopy games available in brick-and-mortar stores on NVG Cards, fans of the digital-only lifestyle will be happy to know that they can download ANY retail title, if they so wish.
And of course, having the option to get any game either digitally or at retail in hardcopy form is a win-win for the consumer, giving you more choices and easily allowing you to go to a store to buy those games you really want (or ones with physical extras) while purchasing others in digital form.
What is unknown is whether or not all PS Vita games will be available digitally DAY AND DATE as at retail. Since Sony is touting the digital downloading of all games for the PS Vita, one hopes that having all games available digitally on day one will be a reality with the PlayStation Vita.
The PS Vita will launch in 2012 in the West in two flavors: Wi-Fi for $250 or 3G via AT&T (In America, other carriers elsewhere) for $300.
Many social networking features (and Alternate Reality games using the PS Vita’s cameras) are a main highlight of the upcoming Sony handheld and include support for: FourSquare, Twitter, Facebook, Skype, Internet Browser, Friend Profiles (see a feed of updates on what your friends have done in each game, Trophies they’ve earned, etc.), the PlayStation Network and PlayStation Store and the PS Vita’s services called Near (see PSN users nearby your physical location via the built-in GPS on the PS Vita) and Party (chat via voice or text with anyone in your chat party no matter what game you are playing).
The PS Vita’s social features as first announced are shown in this video.
Via 1UP