PlayStation TV News & Updates: Why Is Sony Pulling Out PlayStation TV in Japan?

It seems as though the PlayStation TV (AKA PlayStation Vita TV) will soon become extinct. Sony has recently announced that it would discontinue selling the PlayStation TV to Japan.

Sony made the announcement by updating the PlayStation TV's Japanese product page to reveal that the company will stop shipping the PlayStation Vita TV to Japan at the end of February (yesterday), as reported by Kotaku.

Sony stops shipping PlayStation TV in Japan: https://t.co/adBK4gQGgz #gaming

— RetroPlayers (@RetroPlayersUK) February 29, 2016

According to AV Watch, Sony claims that the reason behind the decision is that the PlayStation TV has lost its need in the market anymore. The PlayStation Vita TV was designed for people who got away from the console but wanted to rekindle the life of playing games easily on television.

Now that the PlayStation 4 and the PlayStation Vita are doing well, there's nowhere for the PlayStation TV to position itself. Perhaps the move is done in smaller phases and areas, with Sony rumored to no longer push any PlayStation TV campaigns outside of the country.

PlayStation TV Discontinued in Japan. Other Regions to Follow? https://t.co/8lgKkyXo4F pic.twitter.com/44SbEXL4wY — Gadgets 360 (@Gadgets360) February 29, 2016

As it turns out, killing off the PlayStation TV might prove to be a better move for Sony in the long run. With its low consumer reception, and limited game variety, the company would definitely have difficulty keeping the PlayStation TV on the market if it's not selling so well.

"It can only play some Vita games (which aren't hugely popular as it is), downloadable PS1 titles and Remote Play, and it's hard to justify as a media hub when other set-tops in its price range are better suited to the job," wrote Jon Fingas of Engadget.

"Steep price cuts early in its history suggest that few people were enamored with it from the start, for that matter," continued Fingas. "Given that Sony is doing everything it can to improve its bank balance, the PSTV seems like a logical candidate for the chopping block."