Ben-DutkaThe PlayStation Vita is about where Sony expected it to be at this point in time.
Sony CEO Kaz Hirai told Reuters that unit sales for the company's new portable were tracking close to internal expectations. He did add that it might be "trending behind in certain territories," although he didn't specify which territories.
The Vita has sold 2.2 million units worldwide since its launch and Sony hasn't provided an estimated sales goal for the fiscal year (as they sometimes did with the PS3). Gamers have often complained about the price, as the Wi-Fi unit sits at $250 and the 3G model costs $300, but Sony has said in the past that it's still too early for a price drop. As for the games, the launch was great but we need more and thankfully, it appears they're coming.
Leading the charge will be titles like Assassin's Creed III: Liberation , Killzone: Mercenary , LittleBigPlanet , Call of Duty: Black Ops Declassified and Tearaway . We need that software; all game hardware requires top titles to sell, regardless of all the extra bells and whistles.
… Unfortunately the third party developers don't seem to agree.
Some third parties disagree. Some seem to have forgotten that it is the content that draws consumers to devices, so the chicken and egg situation applies. In this case, the chicken has to hatch from the egg. Vita requires software to sell well, if there is software Vita sells well and more software is the result.
That 2.2 million number is actually a fairly old number now, it's been tossed around for a couple of months at least. We have to wait for the quarterly numbers from Sony to know more though.
Last edited by TheHighlander on 8/30/2012 11:49:20 AM
What pisses me off are devs not putting games on Vita because its not selling super well. How can a piece of hardware sell well if 3rd party companies invest a little. That's just good business. Help grow that installed base. Just don't rely on Sony. Though they have proved capable.
Yeah it's a very difficult situation. Extremely.
Once we start seeing the true figures after the PS1 firmware patch and LBP. We will start seeing more and more 3rd party support. Monster Hunter won't be far behind either. I am this close to buying MHFU to try it out. Never played MH and want to know what all the great praise is about. Already have 30 hours in P3P. I am shocked I didn't buy the PSP since I am having so much fun with the Vita.
@Crusader,
Once people actually use one of these things it's like it was with PSP, they love it. I agree that there are certain heavy hitting titles that will make a large difference. Monster Hunter, LBP and CoD for example.
@Beamboom, it is a very difficult situation, and quite typical of the way in which Sony is rewarded for their investments in gaming devices. Nintedo can put any old crappy hardware out there and as long as it's got Mario and Zelda Nintendo fans lap it up like Mana from heaven. It often seems that Sony is always having to 'swim uphill' despite having a device that is light years better than the competition, and a far more varied software library.
@Highlander
Yeah, I agree, it's the intimacy I love! Plus being able to have such rewarding experiences anywhere. The number one thing for me so far is the Always On tech! This alone has me proposing to the Vita!! 🙂
Last edited by CrusaderForever on 8/30/2012 12:35:11 PM
I'm waiting to get one of the bundles this fall I believe. Save a little here and there. Also hope that by then all my PSOne titles from PSN will transfer over.
I think by then I'll have enough Vita titles to buy on the cheap (Uncharted, Gravity Rush, Escape Plan, and maybe Wipeout/Hotshots Golf)
You won't be disappointed as all of the games you listed are excellent!
Hotshots is great….
Ragnorak for Vita looks like it will be good as well.
@Highlander
RO really has my attention. Looks very action oriented. Wish they would give us a release date.
Thumbs up for Gravity Rush, I really enjoyed that game. Rayman is a blast too.
Half of the news junkies are eager to watch Sony fail and admit so in spectacular fashion. First, PR teams aren't designed to admit failure and point out problems and satisfy the haters. Secondly, Sony's analysts probably do make short term projections that are fairly accurate even if those projections are disappointing to the top brass and the product development teams.
Thirty party support isn't that bad. Some of my most anticipated titles are third party: Persona 4 Golden, Orgarhythm, DJMax Technika Tune, and New King Story.
first it was selling as expected, and now its selling close to expected.
so which one is it $ony?
sigh, gotta love how no $ony employee can ever agree with each other!
you ask 20 $ony employees what color the sky is and you will get 20 different answers!
as for which territory its lagging behind expectations the most it does not take a brain surgeon to figure out its JP.
its $onys home country, the PSP sold really well there.
hell, still does!
hell its outselling the vita for crying out loud!!!!!!!!!
so sorry $ony but i dont believe this BS for a microsecond!
Pure PR spin BS, it wasn't that long ago when they said they expected to sell 10M units in the first year. I enjoy my Vita but Sony keeps shitting to bed.
I miss the aggressive pre-2004 Sony.