GameSpot may receive revenue from affiliate and advertising partnerships for sharing this content and from purchases through links.

Sony Steps in to Help With PlayStation Vita Port of The Banner Saga

More news in 2016.

By on

17 Comments

Sony has announced it will help publisher Versus Evil bring the PlayStation Vita version of The Banner Saga to market, just days after developer Stoic announced that the game had been put on the back burner due to some serious production issues.

PlayStation's Gio Corsi, who appeared on stage at PlayStation Experience earlier this month to make a string of PS Vita announcements, confirmed the news on Twitter today. No release date for The Banner Saga's PS Vita edition was announced, but more details will be revealed next year.

So what happened with the PS Vita version of The Banner Saga that required Sony to step in? Just last week, Stoic technical director John Watson explained in a forum post that the unspecified developer tasked with porting the game to PS Vita (and Xbox One and PlayStation 4) folded, and there was no way to recover expenses. Thankfully, a replacement developer was quickly found and the console versions are being readied for release in January. The PS Vita version, however, was put on the back burner as a result.

"I have been excited about the Vita port since day one, and I would love to see the Banner Saga running on my own Vita," he said at the time. "The realities, however, of a very small team and a limited budget, put an immutable check on the speed of our progress. Stoic is composed of only four full time internal team members, all of which are currently working 100% on Banner Saga 2."

It's unclear exactly what level of involvement Sony hasn't with The Banner Saga's PS Vita port. We have followed up with the company in an attempt to find out.

The Banner Saga scored a 7 in GameSpot's review, which said it's a beautiful game filled with interesting ideas and enjoyable battles, but its story gets entangled within its own winding web.

Got a news tip or want to contact us directly? Email news@gamespot.com

The Banner Saga
PlayStation Vita
Join the conversation
There are 17 comments about this story
17 Comments  RefreshSorted By 
GameSpot has a zero tolerance policy when it comes to toxic conduct in comments. Any abusive, racist, sexist, threatening, bullying, vulgar, and otherwise objectionable behavior will result in moderation and/or account termination. Please keep your discussion civil.

Avatar image for jenovaschilld
jenovaschilld

8027

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

Edited By jenovaschilld

This is some great news for this game and developers - if anyone could use a break it is them. From getting sued by Kings games because their name sounds close to candy crush saga to the messy business with them getting appropriate royalties from IOS and android and of course above when the white developers hired to port folded.

If any small time developer deserves some luck it is them, and the fact that the Banner Saga is such a thoughtful fine game ..... is just the berries. Poor Stoic, what a rough time they have had, glad Sony will be able to help.

Upvote • 
Avatar image for razik
Razik

965

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 1

User Lists: 1

Razik

A beautiful system gamers ignore, Why ?

Upvote • 
Avatar image for Megavideogamer
Megavideogamer

6554

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 12

User Lists: 0

Megavideogamer

Seems that Sony has at least noticed there is some interest in the PlayStation Vita. Even if it is a bit late. The PSvita has only managed to sell a dismal 12.9 Million since December 17th 2011. 4 years and 7 days later Sony has noticed that there is still a small fanbase of the Handheld system that Sony has more or less abandoned. PSvita is still active in Japan and Asia region. It may have been selling better there, Just enough for Sony to take notice. Handheld gaming was always stronger and more popular in Japan. PSvita may be getting some late than never support. Even from Sony.

2 • 
Avatar image for 02050muh
02050muh

802

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 4

User Lists: 0

02050muh

bring monster hunter on vita and more rpg like persona series pls

Upvote • 
Avatar image for deactivated-578f2053b4a13
deactivated-578f2053b4a13

1671

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 10

User Lists: 0

Edited By deactivated-578f2053b4a13

Well, at least Sony is giving its neglected system a small bit of love. Very small, mind you, but it's something. I'm waiting for The Last Blade 2.

Upvote • 
Avatar image for hystavito
hystavito

4755

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

hystavito

This, is for the players.

:) Kidding aside I doubt Sony sees much growth potential for the Vita, at least not from a move like this, so it seems like kind of a "nice" move rather than something they thing will bring any substantial money. Cool.

2 • 
Avatar image for jb34304
jb34304

103

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

jb34304

Check grammar

It's unclear exactly what level of involvement Sony hasn't with The Banner Saga's PS Vita port.

^:hasn't

has :)

Upvote • 
Avatar image for lukey52
lukey52

183

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 2

User Lists: 0

lukey52

Yes Sony, you're right people DO care about the ps vita still. Now how about you do some more to help to get games onto the Vita even if you're not producing your own AAA titles.

2 • 
Avatar image for sladakrobot
sladakrobot

11910

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

sladakrobot

Hey,its a round based combat game so it fits to be on a handheld.
Hope for a physical release

4 • 
Avatar image for adsparky
adsparky

2880

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 40

User Lists: 0

adsparky

Wait, What!? Sony helping the Vita, without a "No" between those words, strange but welcome.

4 • 
Avatar image for barcaazul
BarcaAzul

3084

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

BarcaAzul

@adsparky:

About time they showed it some love.

2 • 
Avatar image for stage4saiyan
stage4saiyan

711

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 0

stage4saiyan

This is on the iPhone

Upvote • 
Avatar image for penkowalski
PenKowalski

619

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 5

PenKowalski

You sound as idiotic as the pc master race people.

@stage4saiyan:

Upvote • 
Avatar image for gotrekfabian
gotrekfabian

6471

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 66

User Lists: 0

gotrekfabian

Good for you Sony, it's always great to help out these 'lesser studios' which obviously have talent but just need a nudge in the right direction.

Maybe even Sony Computer Entertainment are susceptible to the Christmas spirit!

5 • 
Avatar image for LPDisturbedHU
LPDisturbedHU

2063

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 0

User Lists: 1

Edited By LPDisturbedHU

@gotrekfabian: Even though it is just Sony helping the studio release the game for their own platform, it is nice to see them at least helping them in some form. I hope we see more support like this in the future. We have seen some from each of the big three, but more occurrences would really (hopefully) brighten up the fanboy community to something more than plastic box wars.

Upvote • 
Avatar image for gotrekfabian
gotrekfabian

6471

Forum Posts

0

Wiki Points

0

Followers

Reviews: 66

User Lists: 0

gotrekfabian

@LPDisturbedHU: Me too. The giants of the industry almost have duty to help where they can in order to push the foundations of gaming into the future. Their (Sony) position in gaming is not a guaranteed one but, with more acts like this, they can certainly help its longevity.

Upvote •