Both the PlayStation Portable and the Nintendo 3DS managed to sell more copies than the Vita on their launch weeks.
According to a number of reports and sources, Sony have a bit of a problem on their hands as the PlayStation Vita sold well below the figures its predecessor, the PlayStation Portable, and its closest competitor, the Nintendo 3DS, managed to post in their
opening weeks in the region.
To put things into perspective the PlayStation Portable managed to sell around 185,000 units in its first week when it launched in the United Kingdom while Nintendo’s 3DS only sold 89,000 units in the first seven days.
The Vita, however, could only manage “just over half” of what the 3DS managed to sell. This should send alarm bells ringing at Sony, especially if they were to consider how Nintendo needed a major price cut and a reforecast of their sales estimates in order
to get the console back on track.
Sony seems to be heading down a similar path despite what the executives at the consumer electronics company might have said otherwise.
The fact that the Vita sold only 44,500 units during its launch week, when hype for the console was at its highest, paints a bleak future for the console.
One source explained how the Vita needed more software (games) in order to attract the masses that are more than happy to spend less than a dollar on games and apps for their Smartphones.
“Realistically, I think a lot of people can see it’s technically a great system, but people just don’t have the cash to shell out for the same game twice.”
It continued, “A lot will be waiting for a true system seller before taking the plunge, or, more likely, be happier continuing to pay 69p for dozens of mobile games. The market has changed.”
Sony though are set to stick to their plan and not implement a price cut as they ‘expected’ such figures and are hoping for things to even out in the long run.
The company has made no secret of the fact that they have content lined-up for the console until 2013, with new titles from third-party and first-party developers on their way.
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