I'm sure that some of you will look at today's news of yet another sales dip for Sony's PlayStation Vita in Japan as a harbinger of doom for the young handheld, but let's not get ahead of ourselves. First, the facts...
Weekly hardware sales figures put the Vita at number four on the Japanese charts with 18,361 sold, which leaves it trailer behind its predecessor, the PlayStation Portable, with 22,538 units sold. The figures come from Media Create, via Andriasang.
Is the Vita a failing piece of hardware, as some might have you believe after looking at these numbers? It's really early to be asking a question like that, so the easy answer at this point is "no." It hasn't exactly been a blockbuster launch so far, but try to remember that the Vita is only available in a limited number of territories. More importantly, the selection of games available for it continues to be quite limited. Things are going to stay that way too until the wider global release happens next month.
Remember that the Vita launched at the tail end of a very crowded holiday season with a limited software lineup. There are some unquestionably solid launch titles, certainly better than what the 3DS launched with last year, but the cost of a Vita plus a few new games sets gamers back a lot more than 3DS and PSP titles for devices they already own. It's telling that the top-selling software title for last week was a PSP game (Super Robot Taise OG Saga Masou Kishin II, 'natch) and the four below it are all 3DS games. Not a single Vita release made the charts.
Time will tell. I've already seen for myself that Sony has a strong piece of hardware coming our way in February; read our PlayStation Vita import preview if you'd like to read more.
Source: Andriasang
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DJDataTec
people dont buy a 3ds and then go buy a ps vita for someone for christmas its one expensive gift not 2 and since mario is a household name and 1st out it was the first buy. also people think that vita will fall like 3ds so they are waiting for price drop unfortunately it wont happen by sonys hands!
AlvinKelsey
The problem with the Vita is shelf life. After a year or two on the market it will find is being obsolete. Smartphone's today are changing at an alarming rate. I don't understand how Sony wants their consumer base to pay so much for something when after year or two the average consumer will have no need for. I think on the lines of being portable it will find it self being to big. The repair cost alone for trying to take this thing around will be insane. I have four kids and watching how many times I've been given a ipod with craked screen was unbelievable. So if the Vita is aimed at kids then you have to take into consideration the repair cost as well. Aside from that how many adult gamers do you think will be happy to. take this luggage out in public with them? I think alot of people will by this just to satisfy their erge for eye candy or bragging ranks. I don't understand why Sony brought out Ericsson for whipping 1.5 Billion then turn around and not make a profit of cell phone technology. I think Sony's dropping the ball and their forgetting what makes Sony #1. Consumer's are down sizing and that means in order for Sony to see a profit in this day & time. They should be thinking how do we make an all in one device that does everything? Only time will tell what future if any that the Vita may bring. So far I am satisfied with owning an Xperia play!
realdt
I don't think we have to jump to conclusions. The proof is in the numbers. The unit is too costly, more expensive than the 3DS. I agree, it is a great piece of hardware, but it doesn't matter when people have too many portable devices. Sony is trying to play this up as a remote, but it isn't going to work. As long as people have iPhones, iPads and Droids, there won't be any room for a handheld gaming device that can "look up stuff or tweet."
applebook
Typical Sony...amazing hardware with tons of ridiculous restrictions.
Like the Apple of the electronics and PC world.
Haymaker710
How did I know DPsx72 was going to be all over this?
KTXtheGreat
the launch here in the US will be a fail to
hadlee73
One of the big things for me will be first person shooters/RPGs (which likely will appeal more to the Western market than Japan). The PS Vita could potentially be THE handheld for 1st person shooters/RPGs, but Sony actually need some developers to get some of those titles released first. I can't happily play 1st person shooters or RPGs on the PS Vita if their aren't any to buy!
As for Japan, well there probably aren't enough turn-based RPGs starring podgy fat-looking anime characters who look 5 years old for them to really care too much about the PS Vita yet.
WhatGuy
Sony needs to start advertising NOW, sure advertisments on websites(if any) help out a little, but if you want the Vita to be somewhat successful in the US you need to advertise, TV commercials, flyers, anything you can do. Most people I talk to don't even know what the Vita is or what it does.
lowkevmic
@DPsx72- What I meant when I mentioned tablets and smartphones is that the average consumer already have one of those devices. No it will never replace a gamiing handheld. But the first thing most people will question when things like Flixster and Netflix is being used as a selling point for the Vita is...I already have that on my phone or tablet, so why pay 250 for just another way to watch Netflix??
Sony has yet to show gamers what set their games apart on the Vita then from say an Ipad or Droid tablet. Besides the Uncharted demo at E3 I have yet to see anything about the Vita that makes me excited enough to buy one, especially for their 250 price tag. Just that gameplay demo alone shows that the graphics is blowing any other handheld platform out the water, so if they just keep giving the people that, maybe people's opinion would change about picking one up.
srvk331
Heres the thing. I want the ps Vita
but im not ging to pay $250 + on it , once the Vita goes down in price i will get one
and i feel like that has something to do with it,
if sony Cuts its price, then it will do better,
you could buy a ps3 or an Xbox 360 for less,
a hand held gaming device should be more then its consol counterpart
TheDystrexMaggot
I'm not gonna lie, I really want this. My only problem with Sony right now is that they are supporters of SOPA, which I am so not okay with. I planned on getting this on release, but if they remain in support of the bill then I will not be purchasing from them anytime soon. I would rather not give them more money to give to the congressmen.
lowkevmic
In a market dominated by tablets, smartphones, and of course Nintendo Handhelds I have a hard time thinking that the Vita will make much of an impact even once it's released in the states. I think Sony's approach with the Vita is all wrong. They're so focused on selling the Vita as an all-inclusive handheld that they aren't getting consumers excited about the one reason why anyone should by it, For The GAMES!!!
I used to be a Sony fanboy back during the days of PS1 and PS2, I was even one of the first to pick up a PSP during it's launch. But they have gotten too far away from what made them great. The Vita is just another example of that.
L_Cypher
I strongly agree with DPsx72... Couldnt have said it better myself.... especially if they wanna catch up with 3DS they need to lower that price..... Specs dont make a system... the games , UI, and accessablitly is whats important....
Metalhead980
Why would anyone buy a Vita? Sony hardly supported the PSP.
That handheld literally had maybe five worthy games on it when it could have been soo much better.
Now this thing isn't selling, so no one will support it and its going to be another Niche Japan import machine, no thanks!
pingerdinger
You know what made the handhelds great to begin with? It was the games, we don't care about the fancy gizmos.
KingGainerXan
I live only for Super Robot Taisen. I'm always happy to see it as the top selling game, on any system. I just wish they'd stick to consoles instead of portables.
vaajtswv
I would have love to say that lower sales were due to proprietary storage media, but it's not. Before smartphones and app stores came around, Gameboys and PSP were the only form or portable electronic gaming. Now that they're not, lower sales should be expected. This is a market that will eventually fall into a niche, the high end portable gaming. Casual gamers will be playing with their poker games, Farmvilles, and Angry Birds on their smartphone, games that can be played for 5 minutes then can be turned off. They no longer need to resort to a pure portable gaming device.
Avalanche33
Its cuz everyone is waiting for the xbox portable.
ImpurestCrowd
I'm glad it's not selling well, this means Sony will have to lower the price and that's when I get a bargain. I can see it now probably within the next few months. $249 - $199 and then to $169 to compete with the 3DS
Reaper00
"Remember that the Vita launched at the tail end of a very crowded holiday season with a limited software lineup."
Yeah it was release on holiday you know when no one buys gifts and a new portable shouldve sound like a great gift, and still on xmas it sold so bad. If it didnt sell that well on xmas were u really waiting for the vita to pick up later?
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