digital-game-preservation

The chapter examines the significant role of Sony's PSP in expanding the Metal Gear franchise through original titles like Metal Gear Acid, which introduced a strategic card-based gameplay diverging from the main stealth-action formula. It details the evolution of the series on PSP with innovative mechanics such as squad recruitment and cooperative multiplayer, while also reflecting on Konami's corporate shift away from gaming. Additionally, the chapter critiques Sony's digital strategy failures, including the PSP Go's commercial failure and the impact of digital store closures on game preservation and fan backlash.

The chapter explores the challenges of digital game preservation, focusing on the PSP's disappearing digital library and the emotional comfort these games provided, emphasizing the need for corporate responsibility in preservation efforts. It then reviews notable PSP titles like Crisis Core and Patapon, before detailing the rise and commercial struggles of the PlayStation Vita, highlighting hardware limitations, lack of killer apps, market competition, and Sony's strategic missteps. Despite official abandonment, the Vita maintained a loyal fanbase and influenced the indie physical game market, leaving a lasting legacy.