Sony: Not everyone's ready for a digital-only console

SCE Europe boss Jim Ryan and Worldwide Studios head Shuhei Yoshida have said the world isn't ready for a universal, digital only console.

"We believe, for some consumers, the time is [right], but for other consumers, the time is still not [right],” Yoshida told EDGE, discussing the Vita's hybrid capacities.

“So we believe the time is still not right to go download-only as a platform."

Ryan's clarification was more straight forward:

“There are consumers in parts of the world – this is a global device – where the digital model has not yet fully been embraced,” he said.

"Some PS Vita titles, like Uncharted: Golden Abyss, will be close to 4GB in size, which could be too large to download for consumers 
who do not have a fast broadband connection," Yoshida added.

"Also, some consumers like shopping in retail stores, talking to knowledgeable store clerks, buying and playing games on the spot. We do not want to remove that capability from consumers.”

The Vita will offer day-and-date digital and physical releases on first party games, using a proprietary memory format. It debuts in Japan in December and is expected internationally in early 2012.