On Monday, Square Enix announced I Am Setsuna for PlayStation 4 and PC in the West, but left out any mention of the PlayStation Vita version, which was released in Japan.
In an interview at the Game Developers Conference this week, USGamer mentioned to Game Director Atsushi Hashimoto how some fans were disappointed about the lack of a Vita version. After saying that I Am Setsuna was developed with the big screen in mind, he said fan demand could still make it happen:
Of course, there is a large Vita market in Japan. If there is a swell of demand in North America [for the Vita version], though, we will consider it.
Hashimoto also spoke with Polygon, explaining that, in addition to wanting the world on a bigger screen, the Vita’s install base played a part in Square Enix and Tokyo RPG Factory’s decision to not release a Vita version:
I think the focus was leaning more toward that sense of immersion, being able to jump into the world on a larger screen. That’s one of the bigger elements that sort of drove that decision for the no Vita plan.
Of course, there is the technical market aspect as well. Unfortunately the Vita market isn’t as large as the console and the PC-based [market]… that’s the sort of direction the team decided that they wanted to take for the US release, was to rely on the players that are on the Steam platform as well.
After acknowledging that they see the passionate Vita fans, Hashimoto said, “We do feel it’s a viable sort of platform,” but it’s a matter of scale. “We don’t mean to give you the impression that we feel that the Vita market is weak or anything; by no means do we want to make it seem like it’s any sort of inferior platform,” he continued. “It is a platform where there are very passionate fans that love the games that are on that platform.”
When I Am Setsuna does release in the West this summer, it won’t feature any major changes, but Square Enix is looking into adding an extra item or weapon.
Do you want I Am Setsuna on PS Vita?
[Source: USGamer, Polygon, I Am Setsuna]
