Sony ends production of physical Vita cards

Sony has confirmed that it's ending production for PS Vita games this year.

In a message to developers, obtained by Kotaku, Sony's European and American branches “plan to end all Vita GameCard production by close of fiscal year 2018,” and a Sony spokesperson later confirmed this to the outlet.

Developers have been given up until June 28 to submit product code requests, and until February 15, 2019 to place their final purchase orders before the company's fiscal year draws to a close on March 31.

The Vita made its UK debut back in 2011. Sales of the handheld slumped a year later, after Sony sold significantly less consoles than forecast.

In 2014, Sony switched out the OLED screens for LCD, defending the choice by saying that the difference was “relatively imperceptible”.

Despite its struggles, the Vita has been home to a number of gems, like Persona 4 Golden, one of the Vita’s most critically-acclaimed titles, Gravity Rush which got a PS4 remaster and sequel, and Sorcery Saga: Curse of the Great Curry God.

Sony has stated that digital distribution of games will continue for now, so the console's not completely dead just yet.