14 DAY TRIAL // An interesting tidbit of information about the upcoming PlayStation Vita and its relationship to the current PlayStation Portable has surfaced, confirming that cross-platform multiplayer is possible between the two handheld consoles.
Quite a lot of details about the PlayStation Vita have appeared in the last couple of weeks, as Sony presented the whole list of technical features for the new portable console, as well as some of the 100 games that will be available at the launch of the device, on December 17, in Japan, and in early 2012 in the rest of the world.
One of the biggest pieces of information was the fact that the Vita is backwards compatible with almost all the games made for the current PlayStation Portable, as owners of the new device can visit the PlayStation Store and download almost all the existing PSP titles.
Now, thanks to CVG, it seems that there's also an added incentive to try out the older titles, as players will be able to engage in some ad-hoc multiplayer sessions with friends who have the games on their PSP.
Basically, if a friend of your only has a PSP and has gotten you interested in a game for that platform, you can visit the PlayStation Store with your Vita and buy the title. Once it's installed, you only need to turn on the wireless connections on your devices and engage in multiplayer matches, provided the game has such a mode.
This should certainly help existing PSP owners make the jump to the Vita, as they can pass on the older device to a friend and enjoy some great multiplayer interactions with them through the two devices.
Expect more details about this compatibility between handhelds to appear in the near future, as we approach the release date of the Vita in its native Japan or in territories like Europe or North America.