Sony announces “Cross Buy,” a consumerist incentive designed to further enhance the compatibility between the PlayStation 3 and the PlayStation Vita. One of the first games to take advantage of this feature is the company’s Smash Bros-like mascot brawler, PlayStation All-Stars: Battle Royale. If gamers purchase the PS3 copy of the game, they will receive the Vita copy for free. Other future games to utilize the Cross Buy feature will be Sly Cooper: Thieves in Time and Ratchet and Clank: Full Frontal Assault (known as Ratchet & Clank: Q-Force in Europe).
Since its launch in early 2012, sales of the Vita have been underwhelming. The handheld’s existing Cross Play technology allows players to resume their games from their PS3 on their Vita, but currently only a few titles take advantage of this. The reception of Cross Buy will most likely be well met by consumers who currently own both gaming platforms, and Sony hopes to broaden the reach of the Vita by encouraging buyers with more Cross Play potential.
Cross Buy and its supported games are expected to launch this holiday season for both the PlayStation 3 and the PlayStation Vita.
Gamer, Writer, Cynic, and not necessarily in that order, Mike is an avid enthusiast of this beloved medium and an out-spoken critic. He values tightly-narrated stories and a sense of belonging in a game, but more than that he appreciates integrity – the dedication of the studio behind the game, no matter the outcome.
