The PS Vita's sales in Japan grow increasingly more worrisome as time goes on.
Since the Vita’s decent launch in Japan in Decembe
r of 2011, the handheld console’s sales have been steadily declining on a week-to-week basis.
When the Vita was announced at E3 2012, it was revealed that Sony was selling the Vita at a loss, hoping that an overwhelming volume would be moved so that it didn’t matter. Sony also touted an attractive starting lineup of consisting of Uncharted: Golden Abyss and Wipeout: 2048. Unfortunately, such a lineup largely appeals to North American and European audiences and not so much with Japanese audiences.
The Vita’s repeatedly been in the news for declining sales. This week, the PS Vita’s sales are down to 8,250 units, according to Andriasang, only edging out the Wii, which sat at 6,837 units. Not a good sign, considering the Wii’s a six year old console at the end of its lifeline.
On the flipside, the 3DS sits at the top of the hardware sales charts at 63,796 units sold. The 3DS, which had a lukewarm launch and was met by naysayers that deemed the handheld doomed. One price drop later, the 3DS has been performing consistently well.
Perhaps Sony can learn and benefit from Nintendo’s example. One can only hope that the Vita will see better days.
I'd buy it if it wasn't for the fact that it's locked and uses proprietary memory that is extremely expensive.
I do not worry! AT ALL!
I'd buy it if it wasn't for the fact that it's locked and uses proprietary memory that is extremely expensive.
I do not worry! AT ALL!
Correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't it $300? My CPU in my desktop cost me $390... and that's just the cpu; and the cpu in the psvita is the most powerful of its class, quad core. The psvita should really cost more.
Angry Birds is not a replacement for any game that requires buttons to play. Phone games are time wasters for when there is time to waste. Until phones have proper controls, they will be irrelevant to anyone who wants to play real games.
Why get a PS Vita if I am happy with my iPhone games?
Then you don't know how to buy technology. Even hardcore enthusiasts have a hard time recommending anything higher than a 2500K, and that runs for $200. Unless you're stupid, you're boosting.
You're also comparing mobile to desktop. $300 for hardware (with memory) is a serious chunk of change to have gaming on the go. It's a dangerous territory because the masses seem to be content with their phone, and why bother carrying extra devices around?
I like Sony stuff, but they're playing with fire. For the sake of technology I hope the Vita prevails though.
$300 plus $40 PER GAME (!) is a huge amount of money for a toy you are only going to be using when you are bored on the bus/train, etc.
Especially if you also have a smartphone with games costing practically nothing.
Add to that the small game library, low battery life and relatively large size (nothing you can keep in your pocket) and you have a device that nobody wants.
no, they are subsidizing the cost of the handheld through memory.
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all that said, in japan gaming is seen as a kids toy, not like it is seen in america, and the only reason people run out to get a hand held is because of killer software, something the psp struggled with and the vita is also struggling with.
from what i can see, the vita has no Japanese killer app.
Stuff this thing with 24hrs-2days gaming batterylife, plus a $5 for every AAA game. then u'll the sales goes up again.