Can You Play Fortnite on a PS Vita?
No, unfortunately it is not possible to play Fortnite on a PlayStation Vita. Sony‘s PS Vita handheld console simply does not have the required hardware capabilities or performance to run modern graphically-intensive games designed for platforms like PCs, PS4s, and Xbox Ones.
Why You Can‘t Play Fortnite on a PS Vita
Here are the key technical limitations holding back the PS Vita from supporting games like Fortnite:
- Weak CPU/GPU: The PS Vita‘s quad-core ARM Cortex-A9 CPU and quad-core SGX543MP4+ GPU deliver less than 10% of the performance of the Jaguar CPU and 1.84 TFLOP AMD GPU found in the PS4.
- Limited RAM: The PS Vita only has 512MB of system RAM available to games. In comparison, the PS4 has 8GB of shared GDDR5 memory. Fortnite recommends PC configs with at least 8GB RAM.
- Small game file sizes: Vita game cards can only hold up to 4GB, while digital downloads are capped at 3.2GB. Fortnite requires at least 14GB of storage space.
- Last-gen operating system: The Vita‘s OS is over a decade old now and lacks support for current graphics APIs like Vulkan and modern system architectures.
As you can see, the gulf in specifications between the 2011-era PS Vita and platforms Fortnite supports like the 2013 PS4/Xbox One is just far too large to ever make a Vita port feasible.
Fortnite‘s Extreme Hardware Demands
Epic Games intentionally designed Fortnite to push boundaries and leverage the most advanced GPUs to enable stunning visuals and fast-paced 100 player battles.
Just look at the minimum and recommended system requirements for Fortnite on PC:
| Component | Minimum | Recommended |
|---|---|---|
| OS | Windows 7/8/10 64-bit | Windows 10 64-bit |
| CPU | Core i3 2.4Ghz | Core i5 2.8Ghz |
| GPU | Intel HD 4000 | Nvidia GTX 660 or AMD Radeon HD 7870 |
| RAM | 4GB | 8GB |
| Storage | 14 GB | 14 GB+ |
The PS Vita‘s mobile hardware simply cannot keep up despite being powerful relative to other handhelds at its launch over a decade ago.
Why Sony Should Make a New Handheld
As a long-time PlayStation fan, I‘m extremely disappointed by Sony‘s decision to exit the handheld market and leave Nintendo in an effective monopoly position with the Switch.
I believe there is still a place for cutting-edge premium handhelds catering to core gamers who want PS5-quality games on-the-go.
Look at these sales trends in Japan indicating enduring demand for dedicated mobile consoles:
| Year | Nintendo Switch Sales | PS Vita Sales |
|---|---|---|
| 2017 | 3.2 million | 0.1 million |
| 2018 | 3.0 million | 0.1 million |
| 2019 | 4.1 million | 0.1 million |
| 2020 | 5.7 million | 0.04 million |
Sony could leverage its advanced hardware and software capabilities to develop a Switch Pro/Steam Deck competitor capable of delivering scaled-back yet still impressive versions of marquee PS5 titles.
There are rumors suggesting Sony may be working on a next-gen Vita successor internally. I truly hope these rumors come to fruition in the next couple of years!
A portable powerhouse with custom Sony silicon enabling PS5-quality gaming would thrill core gamers like myself who love both cutting-edge home console and mobile gaming experiences.
The Bottom Line
While I wish the PS Vita could somehow run Fortnite and the latest games, its dated technical capabilities prevent that dream from ever being realized. We can only hope Sony re-enters the mobile console market sooner rather than later!
