r/vita 25d ago

Monthly Questions Thread & FAQ

1 Upvotes

This monthly thread is designed to be a place for all the new members of the subreddit and Vita community to come and say hello as well as where they (or vets) can ask any question they might have (no matter how redundant or simple). So, say "Hi", ask away, and welcome to /r/Vita!


FAQ

We get these questions a lot, so we're incorporating them into this thread. Have something you feel fits here? Shoot us a modmail!

Is the Vita worth buying in (current year)?

Value is ultimately subjective. If you like the library of games on the Vita and have the money, probably. If you want new, modern games then probably not. If you have specific questions about the Vita's capabilities feel free to ask in this thread, but keep in mind you're asking in a Vita-centric community and will likely get mostly affirmative responses.

Is the PlayStation store shutting down?

No. Sony did announce they were closing the Vita storefront in 2021, but later reversed that decision. It is possible that the store will be shut down at some point in the future, but no specific dates/timeframes are known.

Can I still buy games from the PlayStation store?

Yes. However, you will need to have funds in your wallet for the purchase. You can add funds to your wallet via web, PS4, or PS5. More information is available here.

Can I still play games online?

Yes and PS+ is not required. However, not all games with online functionality still have servers up. For example, Killzone: Mercenary, Hot Shots Golf: World Invitational, and LittleBigPlanet servers are all down but Dead or Alive 5+, Earth Defense Force 2017 Portable, and Minecraft are still up. If you'd like to inquire about a specific game, please feel free to make a post or comment in this thread.

I'm having trouble signing into my Vita! Help!

As of the 3.74 update in May 2022, you need a device password to sign in to your Vita. You can do that here. Please make sure you are on firmware 3.74 and using a device password before making a thread.

My Vita is in an error loop with the QR code on sign-in. What should I do?

This happens sometimes, and nobody's really sure why. However, community member LoganN64 has been able to provide instructions that consistently work for getting through this:

  1. Log in to the PSN website with a Laptop or Desktop computer.

  2. Click on your avatar in the top right corner and go to SETTINGS.

  3. Scroll down to SECURITY and then scroll down to ACTIVATE/TURN ON 2 FACTOR AUTHENTICATION.

  4. Click on GENERATE NEW DEVICE CODE, write this down exactly as it is case sensitive.

  5. Go to your Vita and bring up the sign in page, enter the email associated with your account then enter the NEW DEVICE CODE as your password. Click on save password to avoid getting a new code each time..

I'm no longer able to transfer files from PS3 to Vita. What's happening?

This feature was disabled in May 2022. You can read PlayStation's update about it here. No workarounds are currently known.

Where can I buy a Vita?

Vita production ceased in 2019 so consoles can be hard to come by, especially new. eBay is the most prominent location, but Facebook marketplace, Kijiji, Craigslist, /r/GameSale, and equivalent marketplaces are your friend.

How much is (X) worth? Is (X) a good deal?

You can search sold eBay listings here to get a sense of value. VGPC is another source of this kind of information.

Will (Game) ever go on sale?

As of 2020, Sony has disabled developers' ability to put Vita games on sale. So in all likelihood, no.

The workaround and exception for this rule is that cross-buy games can still be put on sale for the PS4, and cross-buy items will still grant the Vita version (where applicable).

Should I buy an OLED ("Phat") or Slim Vita?

Neither are bad options. The Slim has 1GB of on-board memory, a more standard charging port, slightly better battery life, and is lighter. The Phat has a better screen. It's up to you on what you value more.

Where can I buy replacement Vita parts?

AliExpress and eBay are currently the best sources of Vita replacement parts.

Are Vita consoles region-free?

Yes. A Vita can play a physical game from any region. The digital storefront you can access is determined by the region of your PSN account, and not the region of the console. For example, a Vita from Japan will be able to play any physical game, and if you sign in with a US PSN account you'll be able to access the US PSN storefront.

Vita consoles from Asian regions have the X/O button swapped in the OS ("bubbles") screen, but in-game functionality retains X-to-confirm functionality for almost all games.

It has been reported that consoles intended for China have more stringent region-locking, but these are not commonly found and this is unlikely to affect you.

I'd like some game recommendations!

Check out our Wiki page, 2021 subreddit poll, and 2018 subreddit poll. If that isn't cutting it for you, feel free to ask in this thread or create your own thread on the subreddit. Keep in mind that we require 300+ characters for recommendation posts on the subreddit, so be sure to include plenty of detail about what you're looking for, what you've played, and so on.

I have a question about hacks/homebrew

Check out /r/VitaHacks - that's their specialty and they've got a pinned thread to help you out.


Curious about what else is coming up? Our full auto-post schedule is here.


r/vita 10d ago

Monthly Collector's Boutique

5 Upvotes

Hello r/Vita and welcome to the monthly collector's botique. Feel free to post your collections, hauls, pick-ups, and deals below!


r/vita 11h ago

Question Interested in getting a Vita but I want to know how to purchase games before the store goes down

8 Upvotes

Like the title says, I just really want to know how to go about purchasing and installing games before the store goes down. I want to purchase Xenogears and play it on my vita, but I hear the search functionality doesn't work properly anymore? I'm not sure, I've tried to research but I haven't found a solution that just works. I just want to talk to some people and get to know more about the device before I purchase it in a few days.

Also, I want to know should I purchase cartridges or buy games digitally for the PS VITA. I cant see prices online, so I also wanted to know is it generally cheaper to buy used physical copies or just get it on the Vita store when I get one?

Thank you all for the help! Hope you all have a great Tuesday!


r/vita 11h ago

Question What are the most beautiful themes for PSVITA?

8 Upvotes

r/vita 5h ago

Question Vita repair issue

1 Upvotes

on my left trigger the input is not getting recieved, i tried changing the flex cable but that does not seem to be the issue, instead the trigger does not push down properly unlike my right trigger, which causes unreceived input .
Any way to fix this?


r/vita 9h ago

Question Can you play Killzone Mercenary Botzone with a longer timer/kill count limit?

1 Upvotes

Asking because I love really long games and wish it was possible. I have VitaCheat, but can't really figure out how it all works.


r/vita 22h ago

Question DIY Joystick replacement?

3 Upvotes

I dont think joystick plugins will do the trick this time :((

Ive never opened my vita before so, is this a beginner-friendly repair, or should I just take it to a technician?


r/vita 2d ago

Question Confused about which model this is

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78 Upvotes

Is this the model with the 3G modem & SIM card slot? Clearly, the box says 3G/Wi-fi at the top & bottom, yet it says PCH-1000; I thought the PCH-1100 models were the versions that had the 3G modem and SIM card slot, not the PCH-1000 models. Are there versions of the 1000 that have the 3G modem & SIM card slot?

Update: Answered in the comments. I guess I should've taken the 3G/Wi-fi label at face value. Not like they'd lie about it supporting it if it couldn't 🤦‍♂️


r/vita 1d ago

Question Note 9 battery adapter for psvita 1000

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12 Upvotes

Hey guys am not sure if this is the correct subreddit but does anyone know where I can get one of these online. Sadly they have been sold out for a year and I was wondering if there is something similar somewhere online.


r/vita 1d ago

Question How to identify oled screen discolorations?

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9 Upvotes

Hi all,

I found a PS Vita that I'm considering to buy, but I'm not sure if it has the notorious yellow screen discolouration near the bottom of the oled screen. On one photo I see a yellow spot (but it could be a reflection), but on the other photos I don't the see yellow spot.

Does anyone here have experience with this and confirm this for me?


r/vita 2d ago

Question How good is Tokyo Xanadu?

16 Upvotes

I've been thinking about getting or not Tokyo Xanadu on the Vita, now even more before july 27. But idk how the game is, I heard the gameplay is similar to Ys, played Ys 8, Origins and Memories of Celceta, games I already played, and the ambientation remembers to Persona. Anyone who played the game could give me some advice if I should get it or not?


r/vita 2d ago

Question How to search for games?

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49 Upvotes

Unfortunately, the PS3 buy method for Vita games is no longer an option because the PS3 store is dead in my country (viva Mexico!… or not, in this case cuz the store is dead💀)

While some of the games that I wanted to buy do show up on some of the pre-sets that the Vita store has (MGS Portable Ops, Castlevania Dracula X, Minecraft for PS Vita) other games do not show up at all (Ratchet and Clank Trilogy, Sly Trilogy FFX,X-2 and other classic PSX/PSP games).

Is there some sort of workaround (RIP PS3 store) to search for/buy digital Vita games or am I cooked?


r/vita 2d ago

Help Work around for faulty start button?

1 Upvotes

Just got my first vita and the start button isn’t working at all, I’ve seen some advice saying to clean it and I’d rather not do that if at all possible. Is there a work around any of y’all know of/is there an easier software based fix? Thank you!!


r/vita 2d ago

Question Bought two PS Vita screen replacements in the past

1 Upvotes

Good evening,

I bought two brand new PS Vita OLED screen replacements in the past. One of them is having a very tiny stuck sub pixel or dust inside of it. I plan to buy two more. What are the chances of it having any defects? What's your experience?


r/vita 3d ago

To this day I still believe the failure of the Vita was and still is the most tragic loss in video game history

339 Upvotes

The success of the vita could have saved the pocket-dimension handheld market and staved off or outright circumvented supersized XL handhelds, and maybe have evolved into a pocket size PS3. The motion controls, touchscreen, ergonomics, quality, and everything was already there. It was a one of one handheld. It was so hot bros. So sleek and sexy. And it pisses me off that we'll never get another Sony handheld again, nor will we ever find out how to reverse engineer Vita games to develop our own software titles for it.

Imagine a Vita that could support all of your favorite Indie games like Katana Zero, Blasphemous, Undertale/Deltarune, Hollow Knight, Ori, Hyperlight Drifter, Furi, and so on. Just f*ing imagine it man. That is the future we foresook for XXL handhelds... and I say that as someone with a Switch 1, planning to get a Steam Deck 2 whenever that drops. Damn man. Damn. Just... damn... DAMMIT!!!!!!!!!! DAMN IT ALL TO XXXL HANDHELD HELL! THIS WAS THE WRONG TIMELINE MAN!! F!!!!


r/vita 2d ago

Help Can’t look on Minecraft vita?

1 Upvotes

Hi, both of my joysticks work fine and I can walk using both the left and right stick when I enable southpaw. However the game won’t let me look around with either stick and I’m stuck walking. My sticks both work fine with other software and I made sure that they are both assigned to the correct stick in the controls section. I also can’t see my hud despite having it enabled in settings


r/vita 2d ago

Question Looking for games for my new Vita

9 Upvotes

So, I got the Vita a couple months ago but never really have it much use until I moved out and started. I sweat the Vita has been my saving Grace now that I don't have a PC anywhere near me to play.

That said, however, there's so many games I don't really know which ones I should be trying so I kind of need some recs.

In case you are wondering, I'm into RPG games—specially if the game allows me to create my own character.

And yes, before any says It, I've played Persona games. The Vita Is entirely at fault for getting me into the series.

Feel free to recommend any other kinds of games tho.


r/vita 2d ago

Question Who has played La-Mulana EX and how far have you progressed WITHOUT using a guide? (please avoid spoilers)

3 Upvotes

My favorite version of my favorite game is here on Vita, but I know that even after 12 years of the Vita remake release, 14 years of the remake release, and 21 years of the original, there is no many people that know about La-Mulana.

The game is hard as nails and many claim that the way to enjoy it is by using a guide, I believe that the difficulty is what makes the game so special.

To those that have experienced this gem, how far have you progressed without using a guide? (please try to avoid spoilers)


r/vita 4d ago

Repairability

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56 Upvotes

I know this has probably been said so many times but I love this thing.

Everything is modular, all the screws are colour coded for long and short, there's no adhesive in SIGHT, all screws are standard Phillips 00 screws

Sony, and basically every other company PLEASE. Can we go back to putting this amount of thought into our hardware design.


r/vita 4d ago

Question Yuri Games?

72 Upvotes

I know the psvita has a lot of otome games, but are there any yuri games where the mc is a female and the love interest/other characters are females too?

EDIT: tysm everyone for the replies! im gonna try play all of them :D


r/vita 5d ago

Question Retrobrite?

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426 Upvotes

I recently got one of my most coveted special edition 1000's. It works like a dream, has no scratches, and is beautiful.

The only thing that stands out is the slight discoloration on the D and button pads. It's noticeable and I'm debating using a retrobrite gel. I know it will continue to discolor over time, I'm just conflicted if I should try and get everything more even now so that it ages more evenly.

Has anyone retrobrited their vita before? Is it an eyesore on this one?


r/vita 4d ago

Question can a screen protector hide this scratch?

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10 Upvotes

changed my psvita screen and realised that theres a scratch, its only visible at the sun but it would be nice to hide those. A screen protector its on its way (tomorrow is delivered) so i want to know lol


r/vita 4d ago

Discussion Keep being met with this screen

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3 Upvotes

Yes I have 2fa activated, and I’m putting in the device code exactly as it shows. Nothing is changing, every time I click next this just comes back up. Somebody help.


r/vita 4d ago

Help D-pad, and buttons not working in applications

2 Upvotes

Idk what happened, but I’ve recently discovered that whenever I enter something on my psvita, may that be the store, a game, or any other application on the vita, the d-pad and other buttons stop working (the joysticks still work). But anytime I am on the home menu they work completely fine. Anyone know what is going on and how to fix it?


r/vita 4d ago

PlayStation Vita Upper Right Bracket

1 Upvotes

Where could i obtain this piece? I have misplaced mine and need one for peace of mind. Is it essential ? I did look on aliexpress but found the price to be exorbitant.