Apparently Sony have got their message a little mixed over the whole “how many PSN accounts can a Vita handle” issue lately. After ‘confirming’ only a few days ago that a factory reset would be required to switch accounts, Sony’s Crystal MacKenzie has told Wired that multiple accounts on Vita will be possible – if you’re willing to shell out for an extra memory card.
“Your PSN ID is bonded to your memory card and your memory card is bonded to your Vita,” says MacKenzie. If you want to use multiple accounts, but avoid the whole ‘reset’ rigmarole, you will be able to just insert another memory card – registered to that second account, and containing titles authorised for that second account. “You can also use [multiple cards] on the same PSN account…if you wanted to change different PSN users but use the same memory card, you would need to go factory reset,” she clarified.
Whilst it’s an improvement on the previous situation, the high cost of Sony’s Vita cards means it’s not really a perfect scenario for those looking to either import a Vita from Japan, where it launches later this year, or use games previously purchased on another account.
Source: Wired
ron_mcphatty
I said this a few days ago, I thought I was being a moron! Goes to show eh.
The Lone Steven
That is a bit crap. It will probably be a nightmare for gaming journalists who are reviewing Vita games as they tend to have mutliple accounts on a console.
IAmJacksMedullaOblongata
I think this approach is to stop piracy. Pure and simple. By “binding” the card to your account/PSV, it makes it hard for other PSVs to get at the game.
My take? It’s an inconvenience but you know what’s more inconvenient? The PSV following the same path as the PSP, getting pirated right up the Jack Sparrow and then publishers abandoning the platform.
I think people need to take a step back and look at the reasoning behind this. Publishers don’t do things such as this to intentionally hinder their customers’ experience with their products. They do things to protect their products. Would I like to have multiple accounts on my PSV? Yep! Am I okay with this approach if it means the platform is more secure? Absolutely.
colmshan1990
Yeah.
I’d rather a console that I’m going to be plowing €500 into in a few months wasn’t destroyed by pirates before it’s a year old, thank you very much.
MayContainEvil
Good news!
Ideal solution in my opinion, without considering the price of memory cards.
xdarkmagician
“Your PSN ID is bonded to your memory card and your memory card is bonded to your Vita,”
Sounds like a way for Sony to prevent 3rd party memory cards. Also WTF happens if your memory card gets damaged or lost? Is your PSN account gone forever?
Kennykazey
I don’t think your account will be lost, everything is synced to the interwebs these days.
SavageOranges
No, you probably have to buy a new one and re-sync your PSN account to that memory card.
freezebug2
Jeez, the cost just gets higher and higher. Wasn’t going to get the Vita on day 1 anyway but probably not on year 1 now!
colmshan1990
In other news, I’ve finally paid a deposit on a 3G Vita and received my bonus pack.
Roll on Febuary!!! :D