PlayStation Vita Edition

PlayStation Vita Edition

Author(s)	Mojang Studios 4J Studios Sony Interactive Entertainment
Platform(s)	PlayStation Vita
Written in	C++
Latest version	1.84
Release date	Digital (PSN) October 14, 2014 (NA) October 15, 2014 (Europe) Retail November 11, 2014 (NA) November 19, 2014 (Europe) November 21, 2014 (UK and Ireland)
Rating(s)	ESRB: E10+ PEGI: 7 ACB: PG DEJUS: 10
Size	164 MB
License	Proprietary
Source available	N/A
Links	Website

Minecraft: PlayStation Vita Edition is the Legacy Console Edition of Minecraft for the handheld console PlayStation Vita in development by 4J Studios for and alongside Mojang Studios. A hidden teaser was hinted by 4J Studios on Twitter in April 2014 where a PlayStation Vita displaying Minecraft in the background of the main focus of the image could be seen, and a screenshot published a month later along with them confirming the edition was being developed. Following the announcement, Jens Bergensten (Jeb) also added that it was based on PlayStation 3 Edition.

PlayStation 3 Edition also has some level of connectivity with PlayStation Vita Edition; the game at the PlayStation Store incorporates the so-called Cross-Buy feature, which makes players get one of the two editions for free when purchasing either one of them. Saved worlds were also transferable between the consoles.

PlayStation Vita Edition also uses ad hoc networking for "on the go" and online multiplayer, but instead of 8 players in one game, it supports up to 4 players.

PlayStation Vita Edition became available for purchase on the PlayStation Network on October 14 in North America and on October 15 in Europe. It had a retail release in stores on November 11 (North America), November 19 (Europe) and November 21 (United Kingdom and Ireland). It was originally announced that Minecraft: PlayStation Vita Edition would no longer be available for digital purchase due to the PlayStation Store closing on the platform on August 27, 2021, however this statement was later retracted.

As of 1.84, PlayStation Vita Edition has not received new feature updates, including Village & Pillage, Buzzy Bees, and the Nether Update that other editions of Minecraft received.

PlayStation Vita Edition's final feature update is the Update Aquatic.

Update 1.84 removed the ability to transfer saves from PlayStation Vita and PS3 systems to PS4, and fixed some bugs.[1]

Gameplay

Main article: Legacy Console Edition § Gameplay

Cross compatibility with PS3

Through Sony's "Cross Buy" initiative, owners of PlayStation 3 Edition are able to download PlayStation Vita Edition at no additional cost. Since the PSVita Edition is based on the PlayStation 3 Edition, saves on the PlayStation 3 Edition are compatible with PS Vita Edition and vice versa via an online upload to PlayStation Network.

This does not apply to PlayStation 4 Edition. It was only possible to do a one-way save transfer from PS3 to PS4. As of April 15, 2020, it is no longer possible to transfer saves from PS3 to PS Vita and vice versa. There was also a major discount for previous owners of the PlayStation 3 edition, however, since February 25, 2016, there is no longer such a discount on PS4 Edition for owners of the PS3 Edition.

Trivia

• As production of PlayStation Vita cartridges have been discontinued, the only way to purchase the PlayStation Vita Edition is to buy the game digitally via the PlayStation Store. Another option is to order a physical copy from re-sellers from websites like eBay and Amazon, but buying a digital copy may be more viable.
• The popularity of this version of Minecraft in Japan produced a bundle with a Minecraft-themed backplate on the PlayStation Vita console, along with a downloadable Minecraft voucher, and a Minecraft-themed carrying case for the Vita.