PlayStation games are coming to Android, and not just to the much-leaked Xperia Play handset. Sony has announced PlayStation Suite, a service that will bring PSOne games to new smart phones running the Android 2.3 Gingerbread operating system.
The PS Suite service was unveiled today as part of Sony's launch of the next-gen NGP handheld. It will launch this year with a range of PSOne games from Sony, plus an on-handset PlayStation Store application via which you'll be able to buy and download more games.
Which games? "We will announce the titles when ready," stated Sony in its press release, keeping its cards close to its chest.
Handset makers will have to get a 'PlayStation Certified' licence from Sony, which will allow them to slap the PlayStation logo on their devices. This could be a big deal -- after months spent speculating about the PlayStation Phone, it seems we might get a blizzard of them, from different manufacturers.
That's not all. Sony wants developers to make new games for PS Suite, in a move that could see games from both the iPhone and Sony's existing PlayStation digital store making their way to Android. PS Suite games will also be playable on the NGP.
Life has been fairly dull for Android-owning gamers until now. We were at the Mobile Games Forum in London yesterday, where developers were queuing up to be extremely rude about Google's Android Market app store, and explaining why so many are focusing on the iPhone instead.
PS Suite has the potential to change all that if Sony does a good job with its new service. But the key will be which games are available and which handsets support it. How you pay for games is also an important factor, but we reckon the service will tie into Sony's existing PSN Wallet system.
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Comments 7
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MrMoose 27 January, 2011 11:30
So would current Android handsets (such as my Desire!) be suitable for this once upgraded to 3.0?
MrMoose 27 January, 2011 11:31
Or even 2.3!
anonymous 27 January, 2011 12:25
It's a little unclear at this point - the mention of licences for hardware makers possibly means not, if Sony wants to be sure devices have the processing grunt to run these games properly. But then maybe HTC could apply for the licence retrospectively for existing smartphones...
Amusicsite 27 January, 2011 12:47
When and which phones will it support seem the big questions.
anonymous 27 January, 2011 12:47
Excellent idea and i'm looking forward to this, I just hope Sony don't mess it up and it goes the way of the N gage
Anonymous 27 January, 2011 12:53
This makes a nice departure from the Sony of a few years ago who made everything in propertery formats. Hopefully it will have minimum hardware specs too.
Anonymous 27 January, 2011 17:45
Would be good when someone finds a way to import ISOs of original PS1 discs rather than having to wait for Sony to release them in the store