Nintendo and Sony both fucked up their handhelds. They deserved to sell under expectations. What the 3DS and Vita brought was nothing compared to what the DS and PSP brought. Hopefully the next set will bring something new to the table that'll get more people to buy handhelds again.

I feel that handhelds are dying down, but it seems hard to say if they are truly doomed or not. I think the next generation of handhelds can determine whether it is or not. The 3DS didn`t do DS numbers, but over 50 mil is nothing to frown at. The only thing that seems apparent is that Sony needs to step up their game or step out.

But you see I would say it isn't the technology but the ecosystem that creates the disparity between handheld and mobile markets.  The handheld market is built on the premium model, the mobile on the freemium model.  Those who desire and expect one will not be comfortable with the other.  So I think handhelds will stick around for a while yet for that reason in particular: the premium model.  It's a smaller market than the freemium by nature, but still plenty lucrative for now.

I think the issue with this gen is the 3DS and later models of the Vifa have been less useful compared to their predecessors. If Sony and Nintendo were offering 4G models of these devices sales would be much higher. Instead they have given away all of the marketshare they gained last gen to tablets and smarthones that are always connected devices.


I really hope both companies release phone and tablet versions of thier next handheld platform. Android and iOS are complete garbage and completely useless for me as my primary reason for buying eletronics is for gaming. Give me a well supported platform that is games first, but also does calling, texting, banking, etc. then I am there.

Dedicated handhelds that have less appeal to a younger audience are dying. 3DS is staying afloat because it appeals to all ages, whereas Vita is mostly focused on core gamers with games that appeal more to an older audience. Problem that same audience is more likely to stick with their smartphones, rather an outdated clunky device, vice younger audiences who don't have or need smart phones.

Mobile phones are shit doh

Many people, somehow, do not understand what the words "dead" and "dying" mean. It's amazing. Every time something normalizes to a lower baseline, it's supposedly dying. Cracks me up sometimes.

I say the same thing when people say WiiU is dead. (vita too if im in the mood :p)

They both underperformed so badly but something dead does not ship 3mil+ a year lol.

Ya I remember seeing a few people say that Call of Duty was dying because it doesn't sell as well as it did a few years ago.

"Hardware-200.2 million"

What handhelds are these?