14 DAY TRIAL // Video game hardware developer Sony has confirmed that the PlayStation Vita handheld will have a 20 MB file size download restriction when it launched in North America early during 2012.
The company has made it clear that the limit was introduced by the infrastructure limitations of AT&T, the company which offers the 3G service for the Vita, and that Sony would like to see it removed.
The Wi-Fi version of the new Sony handheld will have no download file size restrictions.
The same limit will also be in effect in Japan and a representative of the company suggested that it might be lifted some time after the official launch of the device.
Chris Norden, one of the developers working on the Vita, has also confirmed that all the PlayStation Vita video games that launch at retail will also be offered on the PlayStation Network at the same time.
Norden said, “you can just leave everything on the Vita -- it's a completely-self contained device. PSN is supported from day one, right out of the box at launch.”
The executive has also said that the some login information can be used as on the PlayStation 3 home console and that the interface will also be similar in order to make sure that players find it easy to navigate the store.
Norden also confirmed that the free-to-play model can be used on the handheld, saying, “You are free to explore whatever business model you want. You'll have to talk to your account manager, and say, 'Here's my idea, and here's what I wanna do,' but yes, you're allowed to do that.”
The Sony executive also talked about the challenges that the company faced in designing the handheld in order to be both powerful, as close to the PlayStation 3 as possible, while also making sure that it had enough battery life to satisfy mobile gamers.