Ben-DutkaHow will the PlayStation Vita fare in North America and Europe? Well, don't look at the Japanese launch for the answer.
The reason is simply because the markets are so very different. Sony Europe boss Jim Ryan told MCV that it's "dangerous" to make predictions about a hardware launch in other regions when only using Japan as a measuring stick.
"One of the things we have learnt over a long period of time, is that whether it is PS1, PS2, PSP or PS3, it is dangerous to the point of impossible to take any experience from the Japanese market and try and extrapolate it, and propose upon what will happen in Europe or North America.
Not withstanding the fact that it is just way too early to make any conclusions. The markets are now just so different, I actually think they are diverging to a greater extent than they were different in the past – if that’s even possible."
So he says he has no idea what's going to happen when the Vita releases in Europe, but he admits that it may not be the best region for Sony's new portable. Because although the PSP sold 75 million units worldwide (a definite success in the eyes of many), it only managed to sell a mere 4 million units in the UK. As for the Vita, Sony just announced that it had crossed the 500,000 sold mark in Japan, but sales have slipped significantly since the launch in mid-December.
Here's hoping the gamers respond when it releases here – and in Europe – on February 22. Hey, did anyone notice Europe gets more launch titles? 33 as compared to our 25. Just a note.