The PlayStation TV is one of those consoles lost to time for most gamers. Released in 2013 under the name PlayStation Vita TV in Japan, this tiny box was essentially a home console version of Sony‘s PlayStation Vita handheld. Despite some genuinely innovative capabilities ahead of its time, the PlayStation TV never caught on and was quickly discontinued. However, its flexibility and power as a Vita game player, streamer, and emulator have earned it a cult following. Read on for a comprehensive look at what PlayStation TV was, why it failed, and whether it‘s still worth tracking down today.
What Exactly Was PlayStation TV?
At its core, PlayStation TV was a small set-top box that let users play PlayStation Vita games on a television. About the size of a few stacked credit cards, it connected via HDMI and featured a Vita game card slot to play physical cartridges. However, PlayStation TV could do much more than this. Users could also access and purchase Vita, PlayStation, and PSP games digitally through the PlayStation Store. Plus, PlayStation TV supported PS4 Remote Play game streaming over a local network. This meant PS4 games could be streamed to and played on PlayStation TV, allowing households to have a PS4 console in one room and Vita/PS4 gameplay in others.
In many ways, PlayStation TV presaged game streaming and reflected Sony‘s aim to make gaming more portable and flexible across devices. It released at an opportune time just as video game streaming services were emerging. However, various factors detailed later meant it never caught on in North America or Europe.
PlayStation TV Hardware and Specifications
Despite its diminutive size, the PlayStation TV packed decent performance for playing PlayStation Vita titles:
- CPU: Quad-core ARM Cortex-A9
- GPU: Quad-core SGX543MP4+
- RAM: 512MB
- VRAM: 128MB DDR2 + 256MB DDR3
- Internal Storage: 1GB (Expandable with Vita cards)
- Video Out: HDMI (1080i max resolution)
- Networking: Ethernet, WiFi, Bluetooth 2.1
- USB: 1x USB 2.0 port
- Other I/O: PlayStation Vita physical game card slot
Its quad-core ARM-based processor and poweful quad-core GPU were essentially identical to those found in the PS Vita portable. Combined with 512MB of RAM, performance was smooth for Vita titles. The PlayStation TV also had 1GB of internal flash storage for system data and saved games, expandable via Vita memory cards. It output games over HDMI at up to 1080i resolution – not equal to its PS3 and PS4 console siblings but excellent for a $99 Vita game streamer/player at the time.
PlayStation TV Pricing and Bundles
The PlayStation TV launched in North America on October 14, 2014 with an MSRP of $99. This made it an affordable system for playing Vita and streaming PS4 games. It was a great deal cheaper than purchasing a dedicated Vita portable, especially as bundled packages offered the PlayStation TV with a DualShock 3 controller and even games in some cases.
Popular bundles available included:
- PlayStation TV with DualShock 3 Controller: $139.99
- PlayStation TV with DualShock 3, Lego Movie Videogame, Lego Movie: $149.99
- PlayStation TV with Dualshock 3, Sly Cooper: Thieves in Time, The Ratchet & Clank Trilogy: $149.99
For those who already owned PS3/PS4 controllers the $99 standalone PlayStation TV was an easy purchase for playing Vita games on the big screen. And the bundles adding acclaimed titles like Sly Cooper made for even more enticing value given those games could be played natively on the PlayStation TV hardware.
Why Did PlayStation TV Fail?
Given the PlayStation TV‘s unique streaming capabilities and flexibility to play Vita, PSP, and PlayStation 1 games both physically and digitally, its commercial failure seems puzzling. Sony‘s little Vita streamer box launched at an affordable $99 price point in North America, making it one of their most accessible and value-driven devices. Unfortunately, several key factors led to poor sales and the PlayStation TV fading into obscurity:
1. Streaming Device Confusion
The PlayStation TV entered the market at a time when dedicated streaming boxes were saturating stores. Roku boxes offered Netflix, Hulu, and more for video, while competing microconsoles like the Ouya promised Android games on TVs. For many buyers, it was unclear exactly what the PlayStation TV‘s purpose was. This streaming device confusion meant it got lost among competing options.
2. Lack of Strong First-Party Support
A game console is only as good as its software library. And while the PlayStation TV did offer backwards compatibility and PS4 streaming, Sony did little to market it or release compelling first-party Vita titles that showcased the hardware. They seemed to treat it as an accessory rather than a core pillar of their ecosystem.
3. Minimal Marketing Efforts
Piggybacking off the previous point, Sony barely marketed the PlayStation TV even at launch. This made it easily overlooked next to PS4 hype and established streaming devices. The unique capabilities of PlayStation TV simply weren‘t conveyed to mainstream consumers. There was no advertising push showcasing its Vita game library or PS4 game streaming traits.
4. No PlayStation Now Support at Launch
When the PlayStation TV debuted, Sony‘s game streaming service PlayStation Now was still months away from release. This meant one of the major advertised features of playing a streaming PS3 game library wasn‘t even available yet. As hype for PlayStation Now increased, PlayStation TV had already flamed out.
5. Internet Bandwidth Limitations
Finally, when PlayStation TV launched in late 2014, limitations in many users‘ home internet bandwidth and wireless meant PS4 Remote Play performance was hit or miss. For optimal PS4 game streaming a fast, reliable wired network was required – something many households lacked. This made one of its main selling points irrelevant for some customers.
While the PlayStation TV concept was excellent on paper, a combination of market confusion, minimal promotion, missing features, and real-world infrastructure challenges blunted its consumer appeal and sales momentum. Despite this, the PlayStation TV has gone on to earn cult-classic status for gamers thanks to its forwards compatibility and hacking potential.
Renewed Interest for Modders and Collectors
Despite its commercial failure, the PlayStation TV has found renewed enthusiasm among collectors and retro gaming enthusiasts. Like other Sony systems, hackers and modders have found ways to jailbreak the device and fully unlock its hardware. By installing custom firmware players can enjoy features like:
- Vita Game Whitelist Bypass – Play any PS Vita game, bypassing Sony blocked software.
- Overclocking – Run the CPU and GPU faster for performance gains.
- PSP/PS1/Retro Console Emulation – Install emulators to play titles from PSP, PS1, 8/16-bit consoles and more on your TV.
Modded PlayStation TV systems with custom firmware, unlocked game compatibility, and retro emulation capabilities often sell for a premium on eBay. For Vita game players and enthusiasts willing to tinker, the PlayStation TV represents an amazing tiny console with a ton of flexibility. And because it still taps into the PlayStation Store, there‘s a huge game library spread across PS4, PS3, PSP, and PS1.
Is PlayStation TV Still Worth Buying Today?
For retro gamers, the PlayStation TV is definitely worth tracking down – especially if you already own a PS4 and a library of PlayStation games. Although it may take extra legwork installing custom firmware, it now fills an essential niche:
- Play your PlayStation Vita game library all on a big screen.
- Stream your PS4 to another room, wirelessly over a home network.
- Tap into a massive range of classic PlayStation games from PS1/PSP eras.
- Get a tiny box capable of retro console emulation and homebrew too.
Install third-party software like RetroArch or Adrenaline and PlayStation TV transforms into an all-in-one retro game system, PS1, PS3, PSP, and PS4 streamer. The only downside currently is the high prices these often sell for on the used market – generally over $100 even years later. But for retro fans willing to invest, few consoles pack as much flexibility and power in such a tiny package. PlayStation TV was a little box far ahead of its time.
