Despite being popular with developers and regular new content, Sony is shutting down PlayStation Mobile this July. Support for PlayStation Mobile has already been dropped on Android devices and soon it will be dropped for the PS Vita too.
Sony have announced that support for PlayStation Mobile on Android devices has ended for PlayStation Certified devices. Devices running Android OS version 4.4.2 or earlier will be able to enjoy the entire library of games and apps, but those on Android OS 4.4.3 or later may run into compatibility issues. Sony say that their focus is on content for PS Vita TV and PS Vita from now on, and that PSM will continue.
Sony has revealed that PlayStation Mobile is expanding to an additional eight countries across the SCEE region today: Belgium, Denmark, Finland, Ireland,Netherlands, Norway, Sweden and New Zealand. If you don’t already know, PlayStation Mobile games work on PlayStation Certified smartphone and tablet devices, like the Sony Xperia series, and the PlayStation Vita console.
Sony is making it even easier for people to become PlayStation Mobile developers, by removing any existing barriers. Sony has decided to waive the $99 publisher license fee for PlayStation Mobile, which means you can bring your games to PlayStation Vita or any PlayStation-certified device free of cost. Once your gave has been developed, you can get it onto the PlayStation Store and give it away for free, or sell it to gamers.
As part of Sony’s “Six weeks of free PlayStation Mobile gaming” promotion, Cubixx is now free to download from the PlayStation Store, making it the third PSM game to be given away for free. The game is playable on the PS Vita and any PlayStation certified Android device.
Sony has officially opened the doors to the PlayStation Mobile Developer Programe, allowing third-party developers to start creating apps and games for PlayStation Certified devices, including the PS Vita. The program allows developers to create apps using the PlayStation Mobile SDK and distribute them via the PlayStation Mobile Store for an annual fee.
New PS Vita and PlayStation Mobile games are available on the European PlayStation Store this week, including Super Monkey Ball: Banana Splitz and Street Fighter X Tekken. New DLC content is also available to download too.
On the European PlayStation Store, PS Vita owners can now download new title Burn the Rope, and the Super Monkey Ball Banana Splitz demo. Two new PS Mobile games are also available, along with new PSP and PSOne titles to enjoy. Finally, new DLC is also available, including the free Battalion pack for Pure Chess.
Sarah Thomson, senior manager of Mobile Content Acquisition, confirmed that trophies and online leaderboards were coming to PlayStation Mobile. Thompson revealed the news when speaking to Polygon, stating that “it’s a priority for us.” Trophy support wasn’t included with the PlayStation Mobile launch last week, as Sony wanted to release a “minimal, viable product” first.
Not a lot of new content has been added to the PlayStation Store this week, but you do have over 20 PlayStation Mobile titles to enjoy following the official launch. New PS Vita DLC is available on the store this week including new LittleBigPlanet costumes and the The Director’s Cut DLC for Escape Plan.
