Sony targeting Android gamers with PlayStation Suite

Sony Computer Entertainment introduced PlayStation Suite, an initiative bringing PlayStation gaming experiences to devices running Google's (NASDAQ:GOOG) Android mobile operating system. Citing the rapid growth of consumers playing videogames on smartphones and tablet units, Sony said it will introduce Android 2.3-optimized editions of signature PlayStation properties throughout 2011, beginning with titles dating back to the 1994 release of the PS1 console--Sony said it will make PlayStation Store content directly available to Android devices, but did not supply additional marketing and distribution details.

In tandem with the PlayStation Suite launch, Sony will provide a new game development environment to accelerate the creation of new PS Suite content, promising programmers and publishers opportunities to further expand their efforts across a host of portable devices. In addition, Sony will roll out a PlayStation Certified license program for hardware manufacturers, promising software development support and logo licensing to guarantee quality gameplay experiences across the Android device ecosystem.

Sony stated that newly developed titles supporting PlayStation Suite will also be available across the NGP, the electronics giant's new portable entertainment device. Slated to hit retail at the end of 2011, the touchscreen NGP unit features a multi-player environment dubbed LiveArea as well as Near, a location-based application that identifies fellow gamers within a user's immediate vicinity.

Sony's current console, PlayStation 3, has sold over 41.6 million units worldwide as of September 2010--sales of its handheld counterpart the PlayStation Portable topped 60 million units worldwide in March 2010.

Close to 23 percent of all U.S. mobile subscribers played a game on their phone in November 2010, according to digital research firm comScore. Android devices now make up 26.0 percent of the U.S. smartphone market, comScore adds, ahead of Apple's (NASDAQ:AAPL) iOS at 25.0 percent and trailing only Research In Motion's (NASDAQ:RIMM) BlackBerry at 33.5 percent.

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