The PlayStation Vita is a handheld game console developed and released by Sony Computer Entertainment. The successor to the PlayStation Portable, it was designed to meld the experience of dedicated video game platforms with mobile gaming. Released between 2011 and 2012, the system was successful on launch; however, sales faltered in later years, precipitating a shift from big budget games to indie developers and mid-level Japanese companies. The system, which has seen several variations, primarily competes with the Nintendo 3DS as part of the eighth generation of video game consoles.Photograph: Evan Amos