PlayStation TV facts for kids
The PlayStation TV was a small device that let you play PlayStation Vita games and other PlayStation content on your television. It was like a PlayStation Vita, but without its own screen or controls. Instead, it connected to your TV and used a regular PlayStation controller. This allowed you to enjoy portable games on a bigger screen at home.
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What Was the PlayStation TV?
The PlayStation TV was a tiny home video game console. It was first known as the PlayStation Vita TV in Japan. Sony, the company that makes PlayStation, released it in 2013. Its main goal was to bring PlayStation Vita games to your living room TV. It was also designed to be a media streaming device.
How Did It Work?
This small box connected to your TV using an HDMI cable. You would plug in a PlayStation controller, like a DualShock 3 or DualShock 4, to play games. It had slots for PlayStation Vita game cards and memory cards. This allowed you to play games you already owned. It also had a USB port and an Ethernet port for internet.
What Games Could You Play?
The PlayStation TV could play many different types of games. It was a versatile little system.
Playing PlayStation Vita Games
You could play many PlayStation Vita games directly from their game cards. You could also download digital Vita games. However, some Vita games that needed the touchscreen, rear touchpad, or motion sensors did not work well. This was because the PlayStation TV did not have these features.
Other Classic Games
Beyond Vita games, it could play games from older PlayStation systems. This included PlayStation Portable (PSP) games and PlayStation One (PSOne) Classics. These were games originally made for Sony's first consoles. You could also stream games using PlayStation Now, a cloud gaming service. This let you play PlayStation 3 games without needing a PS3 console.
Why Was It Created?
Sony wanted to expand the PlayStation Vita experience. They aimed to offer a low-cost way to play Vita games on a TV. It was also part of a bigger plan for PlayStation to be a central entertainment hub. The PlayStation TV could stream movies and TV shows from various apps. It also supported Remote Play from a PlayStation 4. This meant you could play your PS4 games on a different TV in your house.
When Was It Released?
The PlayStation TV first launched in Japan on November 14, 2013. It later came to North America on October 14, 2014. It was released in Europe and Australia on November 14, 2014. The device was sold at a budget-friendly price. This made it an affordable option for many players.
Why Did It Stop Being Sold?
Despite its interesting features, the PlayStation TV did not sell very well. Sony stopped shipping the device in Japan by early 2016. It was also discontinued in North America and Europe later that year. Several reasons led to this. Many popular Vita games were not compatible with it. Also, people often preferred to play Vita games on the handheld console itself. The rise of other streaming devices also made it harder for PlayStation TV to stand out.
Images for kids
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Ports on the PlayStation Vita TV
See also
In Spanish: PlayStation Vita TV para niños
