PS3 firmware to enable Vita Remote Play for all games

By Wesley Yin-Poole Published 24 November, 2011

PSP resolution for existing games. 480p mode for future games.

A future PlayStation 3 firmware update will enable Vita Remote Play on all games, Eurogamer has learnt.

However, this will be only at the PlayStation Portable 480x272 resolution, which will be upscaled to fill the screen.

For future games, developers will be able to include Vita specific 480p modes, Eurogamer understands.

Vita's OLED display is actually capable of displaying games at 960×544 pixel resolution.

Vita Remote Play is how Sony's new handheld interacts with the PS3.

In a Tokyo Game Show demonstration Sony's Shuhei Yoshida played a brief section of Killzone 3 streamed into the device from a PlayStation 3 unit, noting how a few of the Dual Shock buttons missing on the Vita are mapped to the touchscreen.

Vita can also be used in co-operative play with PS3 games. While a colleague played through a specially constructed LittleBigPlanet 2 level with a Dual Shock controller, Yoshida controlled an aeroplane via the Vita's touch screen, helping Sackboy reach his goal by altering the environment.

Sony declined to comment when contacted by Eurogamer.

Picture of Wesley.

About Wesley Yin-Poole

Wesley is Eurogamer's news editor. He likes news, interviews, and more news. He also likes Street Fighter more than anyone can get him to shut up about it.

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Comments (49) Latest comment 19 hours ago

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  • A_Nonny #1 2 days ago

    So if Sony declined to comment, how did you find this out? Is there any source? Like, at all?

  • elephant_stone #2 2 days ago

    Wow - this is what I'm interested in when it comes to PS Vita!

  • DSR3 #3 2 days ago

    One more reason to get a Vita!

  • LR100 #4 2 days ago

    Sounds sort of like the Wii-U! Either way, it's a good idea!

  • Eldritch #5 2 days ago

    Sounds like a makeshift solution to me. Why don't they support Vita's full resolution? Next thing they'll be announcing an extra thumb stick...

  • JackHyland #6 2 days ago

    @A_Nonny Just another example of EG failing to source content. They're famous for it.

  • orangpelupa #7 2 days ago

    maybe wesley got tired and forgot the source link.

    seems he keep releaseing a lot of news daily in EG

  • Jmog #8 2 days ago

    @Eldritch

    We are missing some details in the article but this is my guess:
    -We know that not all ps3 games presently work with remote play. The game developer has to code it into the game.
    -Sony's new firmware will be able to bypass the games lacking this piece of code and "force it". Not being optimized specifically for each game, they have to make do with psp resolution for it to work properly.

    This would also mean that all it would take for an older game to work with the full Vita res over remote play is a patch for the game.

  • mr_bez #9 2 days ago

    @A_Nonny, JackHyland

    Obviously they do have a source - presumably a developer or an internal source at Sony - who they trust but has given them the story on conditions of anonymity.
    Sony refused to give any official comment. Is it that hard to comprehend?

    (Well, either that or Eurogamer are engaged in phone hacking - it is rather de rigeur at the moment.)

  • grayn #10 2 days ago

    What with Vita remote play, 3D TV, Move et al, I'm kind of worried about the amount of things developers are being asked to support on top creating a game. They only have so many resources, after all.

  • IonOnion #11 2 days ago

    @Eldritch
    It might be because the Remote Play to PSP is already built-in to all PS3 games or the SDK itself. There was a PS3 hack that enabled PSP remote play to all PS3 that are not supported officially. Obviously there are PS3 games the you can't play on the PSP since it lacks a right analog so leaving them without remote play support is not a surprise. The new firmware might be just an extension to what used to be PSP exclusive remote play to Vita. Even if they update the SDK now its too late to update the older PS3 games to support higher resolutions without a patch for each.

  • Flying_Pig #12 2 days ago

    Hang on - so if I'm reading this right - I'll be able to play any of my PS3 games remotely on Vita? That's potentially awesome!

    Essential that the resolution and input doesn't make it unplayable, but otherwise brilliant!

  • betonos #13 2 days ago

    If they find enoug horsepower on the system core to grab the buffer, downscale, compress & stream - then deal-done. It is technically possible to do this. One additional reason they did not on PSP was controls lacking (buttons, analog stick etc.). AFAIK Vita doesn't have L2/R2/L3/R3...?

  • danhese007 #14 2 days ago

    Here's the dang thing actually working. They are taking it even further by allowing developers to use Vita as a second helper controller / screen for PS3 games so you can do coop play with a friend using a dual shock while you interact with the games running on PS3 using Vita's built-in touchscreen/pad, gyros and buttons. Still some lag issues but that can be easily fixed.

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M8ovS3_tylE&hd;=1

    Edited by 2 at 24/11/11 @ 12:57

  • Eldritch #15 2 days ago

    @IonOnion & Jmog
    Yes, I see all that, and I don't expect them to deliver PSP games in Vita's native resolution. But is it really too much to ask to be able to play NEW games in Vita's native resolution? To me this looks like a can't-be-arsed offering, which boils down to players having to play with upscaled graphics - which usually look shite. Just try playing a DS game on the 3DS.

  • Olemak #16 2 days ago

    Wait wait wait.....!

    So - the worst case scenario is:
    My wife wants to watch Desperate Housewives on the big screen, but I can continue playing the same PS3 game I was playing, but on the Vita, and at a 480x272 resolution? Unless they make a patch for that specific game, which I am sure they will for Skyrim, Uncharted 3 and Batman: AC, in with case the resolution will be 960×544?

    You mean I won't even have to shift my arse off the sofa to continue playing?

    And this is the bad news?

  • GamesProgrammer Games Team Programmer, Eutechnyx Ltd. #17 2 days ago

    Fantastic news if true, Was the Wii U feature i was most interested in, i can carry on playing while the soaps are on for the MRs.

    :D

    Verified

  • EvilAspirin #18 2 days ago

    @Eldritch "For future games, developers will be able to include Vita specific 480p modes, Eurogamer understands."

    It won't be quite as good as the Vita's native resolution (960x544) but 480p is roughly 854x480 in 16:9 format which is much better than the PSP's 480x272, a bit over 3 times the resolution.

  • Eldritch #19 2 days ago

    @EvilAspirin I'll keep my fingers crossed, but reminds me of the PS3 and 360 boxes saying "1080p".

    As always, we'll see. I'll get a Vita anyway!

  • wyp100 #20 2 days ago

    @mr_bez Spot on there. Well, the first bit. Not the phone hacking bit ;)

  • richarddavies #21 2 days ago

    That's actually really got me interested in the Vita. I can keep playing my PS3 games while the missus is watching her Hollyoaks or the kids have Dora the feckin explorer on.

  • patch #22 2 days ago

    In theory, you could use your 4G phone as a wifi tether and remote play ps3 games on your way to work (if you're not driving that is!).

  • Zackv4861 #23 2 days ago

    Ok this is great news. Another reason to but the Vita. Loving Sony's idea's at the moment.

  • SG #24 2 days ago

    'Sackboy'

    /sniggers

  • Mister-Wario #25 2 days ago

    @Olemak It seems to be the case, yeah. Sort of what the Wii U could do with Wii games.

  • onyxbox #26 2 days ago

    This is a great feature.

    When Kirsty Althorp's perfect f'ing life is on TV I can carry on playing my game.

    Nice!

  • ballshock #27 2 days ago

    Why are people even complaining, this is awesome.

  • dsmx #28 2 days ago

    I can only think people are complaining out of annoyance that sony invented this tech first and not nintendo because it's a great thing that the psp does it's a shame that sony didn't push it a bit more on the psp but at least they seem to be trying more with the vita.

  • Murbal #29 2 days ago

    Does this mean I can play PS3 games on the Vita if Mrs is watching Come Dine With Me or am I an idiot? (just acquired a PS3)

  • evnewell #30 2 days ago

    @Eldritch clearly they had to cap the resolution because many of the PS3 games exceed vita's processing power - if they're going to make all games remote play - ones that were never intended for this - they have to go with some sort of common denominator for processing.

  • liam_monster #31 2 days ago

    @evnewell The processing will probably be done on the PS3 and not the vita - think onlive, or similar

  • Syrette #32 2 days ago

    Isn't this the Wii U's unique selling point?

  • SeesThroughAll #33 2 days ago

    @LR100

    "Sounds sort of like the Wii-U! Either way, it's a good idea!"

    No, it sounds like Remote Play, which has been around since the PS3 launched.

    You have to give it to Nintendo fanboys, though, now they even believe Sony copies Nintendo retroactively. :D

  • Mr.Spo #34 2 days ago

    Or sort of like the GBA-GC link, which was around in what... 2003, or 2004?? The idea of a handheld/home console combination was something Nintendo pushed during the GBA/GC, the completely wrong time to push it, rather than during the super successful (and very importantly, wireless) DS/Wii era. Credit to Sony for pushing it through PS3 and PSP, but the initial concept was something Nintendo started. Wii U is more likely an evolution of the GBA/GC efforts that in it is Nintendo observing Sony, and it's very likely Sony took at least a little inspiration from Nintendo's work when contemplating remote play. They just had the technology to implement it better.

    Besides, the Wii U's tablet pad is going to be the standard for home console gaming on the system--this is hardly the standard for PS3, simply a variant available for some users. Being able to switch between a controller screen and a television screen is a quality that I think many are under-estimating: it could very well be a quieter but ultimately longer lasting revolution than Wii's wand control, with tablet controls becoming standard when interacting with television based games.

  • customfirmware #35 2 days ago

    @betonos remember there is a back touch panel that could be mapped as L2/R2

  • SeesThroughAll #36 2 days ago

    @Mr.Spo

    Streaming content across devices is a concept older than the GBA/GC link, I really don't think consoles introduced it. Sony was more likely inspired by remote terminal access protocols than anything by Nintendo for this particular functionality (hence naming the feature "Remote"). Keep in mind that the feature was primarily designed to allow streaming media, rather than games. The poor support given by PS3 games is more than enough proof of that.

    Right now, they are just improving on it. Of course that the improvement is being motivated by Nintendo using a similar feature as a major selling point, but it is hardly a matter of borrowing ideas: the feature was already there.

    If anything, Nintendo is being inspired by Apple, and trying to get ahead of the game by offering the same experience one could get from an iPad with Air Play, but at a more affordable price. Which is a Good Thing IMHO.

    I just find it difficult to credit Nintendo for every single new aspect of gaming. Their reputation of innovators, while earned in the past, tends to be exaggerated nowadays.

    In fact, even the controller that can be played with on its own was not invented by Nintendo, but by SEGA (the Dreamcast controller).

  • atomicjuicer #37 1 day ago

    The fact that it's in PSP resolution should mean something to people here.

    No one? Mirroring via PSP?

    What's the lag gonna be like btw?

  • apoc_reg #38 1 day ago

    DEMON SOULS.... on the go!!!

  • TonyHarrison #39 1 day ago

    Nintendo have been trying to get connectivity between their handhelds and home consoles in some form since before Sony even entered into the gaming market, so that argument is rather silly.

    I'd argue that we're now finally in an era where the technology is available so it can be achieved well enough wirelessly and thus you'll get more and more companies trying it out in a similar timeframe.

  • AmethystSword #40 19 hours ago

    I am so glad they are actually pushing it with the Vita instead of letting it die in the water on the PSP -.-

    Edited by 1 at 25/11/11 @ 21:45