[Guide] Where and how to buy a PS Vita in 2022?

Despite its discreet popularity, the PS Vita is still the envy of 2022. It must be said, Sony's portable console is more than worth the comparison against the Nintendo Switch, which was released several years later. Unfortunately, the PS Vita has not been manufactured since the end of 2019, thus creating a relative scarcity of new models and yet a second-hand market that remains very accessible. How to buy a new PS Vita in 2022? Should we turn to the occasion? What are the elements to check before any purchase? What pitfalls to avoid?

So many questions that we will answer in this complete file.

Guide published on 01/24/2021 and updated on 01/05/2022.

Finding and buying a new PS Vita

If you're the type who absolutely wants a new PS Vita, you'll have to be brave. And above all be ready to put your hand in the wallet in most cases.

Where to buy a new PS Vita?

To start, nothing prevents you from going for a walk in the local supermarket, to see if it has a video game department, or go to a specialized store (such as Micromania). With a lot of luck, a new PS Vita pack may be lost at the back of a display case. Do not hesitate to ask a salesperson or a department manager.

Once this step is over, we will quickly realize that it may already be too late to get our hands on the famous new portable console. Indeed, stores never really promoted the PS Vita and did not prefer to take the risk of stocking up on consoles that few players were looking for.

There is then still the internet, but here too it is almost mission impossible. Except import. Low stocks are still available in Asia and it is therefore to foreign online store sites that you must turn. The advantage is undoubtedly to be able to get your hands on models and colors never released in the West. The downside is that you have to be ready to crack the wallet

So head to reliable sites like Play-Asia or even Amazon Japan. For more information on buying abroad, you can find all our advice in our import guide.

Finding and buying a used PS Vita

Slightly easier than finding a new model, a used PS Vita can easily do the trick. But there are some precautions to take to avoid being trapped. We will see it all together.

Where to buy a used PS Vita?

For the occasion, greater possibilities are offered to us. Second-hand stores such as Cash Converters, Easy Cash, etc. are a very good alternative. Especially since you can see the beast with your own eyes to check its condition. Sometimes these brands add a warranty of a few months and offer to send the console to your home if you can't move.

On the Internet, you will easily find what you are looking for on sites like Vinted, Le Bon Coin or even Ebay. To give you an idea, plan a budget of around 80 Euros for a single used console.

What are the precautions to take and the pitfalls to avoid?

Either way, make it as much as possible to see the PS Vita for yourself. For what ? This will allow you to check its condition (scratches, wear). If you are planning a hand-delivery with your salesperson, offer him the opportunity to test the machine quickly with him. If he accepts, turn on the machine and look at the software version in the settings (“system” section then “system information”). If it indicates, for example, 3.60 followed by a text, it is a hacked console. Only buy it if you know what you are doing, otherwise avoid these versions.

Take the opportunity to look at the status of the screen as well as the rear touchpad. Test the touch functionality of these with a game if possible, or via the welcome area. The same goes for the joysticks, which must respond well to your requests. The battery is also a sensitive point, but it is difficult to know its wear in the state. In the worst case, rest assured, it is very easy to change it for a new one.

Many ads offer games included on the memory card. We recommend that you be very vigilant since normally, digital games are linked to a PlayStation Network account. The goal is to put your own account on the PS Vita, the games will be lost because they are not yours. Never buy digital games this way! In addition, it may also be illegally downloaded games on a hacked console. It is perfectly illegal.

This is the type of ad to be wary of.

If you have no other solution than to order a second-hand PS Vita remotely on a website, read the description carefully and do not hesitate to ask the seller about the points raised above.

Very good, and the memory card?

Perfect, you have found your PS Vita console. But it's not over, since the sinews of war is memory! Indeed, the memory card of the PS Vita is, frankly, the big weak point of the machine.

If you had a PSP, you will remember the Memory Stick, a proprietary format widely used on Sony devices and other brands at the time, thus allowing for affordable prices. Here there is nothing for the PS Vita memory card which is still a proprietary format, but only used on this portable console.

Often sold at prohibitive prices, it takes more than a hundred euros for a 64GB memory card, which is the highest capacity. Other sizes are however available: 4GB, 8GB, 16GB and 32GB. Needless to say that we strongly advise you to go in search of a 32 or 64 GB memory card just to be quiet afterwards.

Note that other unofficial alternatives exist but we will not discuss them here.

But why do you absolutely need a memory card?

Be aware first that the PS Vita slim embeds 1GB of memory directly in the console. That might sound like a good start, but with the various game saves and updates, you'll quickly realize that that unfortunate gigabyte is far too little. Indeed, even with a cartridge game, updates can sometimes reach 3GB (Minecraft, Darkest Dungeon etc…). So imagine with a few titles in cartridge, or worse, in digital format! The memory card is therefore essential.

New or used memory card?

Difficult to answer this question. If we know that flash type memories can sometimes fail in rare cases after several years, the second-hand market is also a very good alternative.

It is always interesting to favor new, but looking at the price of PS Vita memory cards, which are almost exclusively found on import sites now, the choice seems quickly made!

For a second-hand memory card, as for the console, choose second-hand sites and shops: Vinted, Le Bon Coin, but also Cash Converters, Game Cash, Cash Express, Easy Cash and why not independent shops.

What to do once the PS Vita is in our hands?

Congratulations! You have finally found your precious Playstation Vita! In order to get off to a good start, we recommend that you follow these quick tips.

Resetting PS Vita

Important step on a used console, unless you know what you are doing, we recommend completely resetting the console. This allows you to completely remove the settings and other hacks left by the previous owner and start on a clean basis.

The easiest way is to go through safe mode: radical and effective.

How to add your PlayStation Network account on the PS Vita?

Next, you will be optionally asked to add your PlayStation Network account. We strongly recommend that you do so. This allows you to find your profile that you may already be using on PS3, PS4 or PS5, to synchronize your trophies, to use cloud saves and PlayStation Plus titles or to find previously purchased games (in cross-buy for example, or even on PSP).

To identify yourself with your PlayStation Network account on PS Vita, simply enter your username and password. If an error message appears (NW-2304-9 or NP-2244-2 for example), you will need to generate an application password.

To do so, go to your PSN account settings from a computer or mobile. Log in from the PlayStation Store then click on your profile icon at the top right and "account settings".

On the new page, click on “security”. Next, head down to “device password setup”.

Then generate a unique password that you can then use on your PS Vita instead of your usual password. It will not be necessary to remember it since thereafter, only your classic profile password will be requested.

There you go! Now you can enjoy your new PlayStation Vita. If you need some gaming advice, head over to our guide to essential titles to get you started, or our section dedicated to PS Vita game reviews.

We hope we have been able to give you some leads for your research and your first hours of play. Do not hesitate to join us on Discord, we have a section dedicated to classified ads where we very often share good deals 😉