For all those forlorn Xperia Play owners who just don’t think there’s enough real PlayStation-certified stuff on the Market (ahem, Play Store), you’re in luck. Along with the arc, Tablet S and upcoming Xperia S, the Play will be a member of a team of devices for which developers can optimize existing games or create new ones using the extensive PlayStation Suite SDK.
The free public beta will be released in April with a full version going on sale later in the year for $99 annually, and will allow developers to create apps tailored specifically to the hardware in various devices, with Sony’s blessing. Sony Android products already ship with a PlayStation portal, and it will only expand as the company expands its brand presence on Android, and further separates itself from the Sony Ericsson moniker. ‘PlayStation’ has a lot of brand power, even with smartphone users.
What may be most interesting is that with the SDK, developers will assumedly be able to create “lighter” games for the PS Vita and easily and safely port them to existing Android hardware with Sony’s blessing. This will only improve the quality of games made available to those devices. These titles will be coming to Canada later this year. Check the full PR after the break.
Sony Computer Entertainment to Expand PlayStation Suite by Further Strengthening Support for Content Development
Open Beta Version of SDK to be Released in April, Official Version to be Released Later This YearTOKYO, March 7, 2012 /PRNewswire/ — Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. (SCE) today announced that it will release the open beta version of PlayStation®Suite SDK*(1) to content developers in April 2012 and the official version later this year. Through the introduction of these SDKs, SCE will offer a more streamlined content development environment for content developers – from large game development companies to small, independent shops – and further expand the world of PlayStation® to open operating system based portable devices.
In November 2011, SCE released the closed beta version of PlayStation Suite SDK to limited content developers in Japan, United States and the United Kingdom. The upcoming open beta version incorporates their feedback and will dramatically enhance convenience and efficiency of the content development environment. The phased rollout of the open beta version will start in April 2012 free of charge and expand target countries beyond Japan, United States and the United Kingdom. Developers will also be able to conduct performance verification of their content developed with the open beta version on PlayStation Vita.
SCE will also release the official version of PlayStation Suite SDK at $99 US annually later this year, allowing content developers to have their content distributed through the PlayStation Store on a commercial basis. Through the official version, content developers will also be able to seamlessly continue to develop content which was created with the open beta or the closed beta versions.
Furthermore, SCE will be adding content for PlayStation Suite in Japan, United States, Canada, United Kingdom, France, Italy, Germany, Spain, and Australia. The phased rollout of the update will start later this year. The phased rollout will include improving the PlayStation Suite presence on PlayStation Store for users who want to enjoy a variety of content with ease and convenience on their PlayStation Certified devices. SCE will also deliver content created through the official version of PlayStation Suite SDK after the necessary procedure is completed.
As of March 7, 2012, the line-up of PlayStation Certified devices includes Xperia arc, Xperia acro, Xperia PLAY, Xperia acro HD, Xperia S, Xperia ion from Sony Mobile Communications AB, and “Sony Tablet” S and “Sony Tablet” P from Sony Corporation. SCE will continue to further accelerate the expansion of PlayStation Certified devices.
Through PlayStation Suite, SCE will deploy various measures to support content developers in their business, and expand the PlayStation entertainment experience on an open operating system.
