Sony is actively seeking out indie developers to boost its reputation and games catalog on the PlayStation 3, PlayStation Vita and upcoming PlayStation 4 systems.
The company ramped up its efforts last month when it announced a dedicated section for indie games in the PlayStation 3′s digital marketplace. That category is now also available on the PlayStation Vita, giving additional exposure to titles such as Hotline Miami – a smash hit PC title originally launched on Steam – LIMBO, Thomas Was Alone and Guacamelee.
The shift points to a wider move from Sony to push indie titles for its various gaming platforms. It makes sense given the rise of indie development both on PC and mobile, which has allowed experiences such as Minecraft and Angry Birds to break through without a traditional publisher.
By giving developers a dedicated place to showcase their games in the storefront, the effect is threefold; developers have a greater incentive to publish on these systems, because there is a higher chance of them being seen and downloaded; more players will be interested in Sony consoles, because the breadth of games is radically improved; Sony then sells more PlayStation Vita units, improving its reputation among gamers in the process, at least that is their hope.
“We’re proud to support indie development, and our unrestrictive policies make it easier than ever for developers to launch games on PS Vita,” Don Mesa, Director, Product Planning & Platform Software Innovation for Sony Computer Entertainment America (SCEA) said.
“We recognize that the unique perspective that indie developers deliver contributes to the success and future of the gaming industry. And we’ve learned as much from working with talented indie developers over the last several years as (we hope) they have learned from us.”
