Sony announces PlayStation Suite Android gaming store for Gingerbread devices

by Samuel Gibbs on January 27, 2011 at 03:15 AM

At an event in Tokyo, Sony has just unveiled its plans to introduce an Android gaming store called PlayStation Suite. More than just a store for an Android-based PlayStation Phone, or the newly announced PSP2, the PS Suite will be 'hardware-neutral' and offer games for any Android phones or tablets running at least Android 2.3 Gingerbread. Of course your average Android device doesn't come packing dual sticks, a D-pad, and shoulder buttons, but the PS Suite looks to be able to provide emulated touchscreen controls instead.

First out the gate will be a PS1 classics emulator, but Sony is promising an Android game store later this year. The Japanese powerhouse is taking a more traditional game publishing route too, with a licensing and quality-assurance scheme called PlayStation Certified, and will sell games through its own store. Sony is hoping to attract big name game developers to the platform, and of course, take its cut of the game sales.

Considering Apple's currently winning the mobile gaming war with a plethora of top-tier and time waster titles on the App Store, something big like this was the only way to balance the playing field. Whether this will actually work, and work well, time will tell. Mobile World Congress next month is certainly going to be interesting, but in the mean time, head on over to our sister blog Engadget, for the full skinny and press release. Tags: Android, cellphones, gaming, PlayStation, PlayStation Phone, PlayStation Suite, PlaystationPhone, PlaystationSuite, Sony