Sony Dismisses Lackluster Vita Sales in Japan, Believes it’s “a Good Start”
While many are quick to assume the worst, Sony is maintaining a positive outlook on their new handheld despite the less-than-stellar sales of the PlayStation Vita in Japan.
While the handheld’s initial start was quite promising, sales have dipped considerably in the weeks that followed, leaving many to wonder how well the system will do when it launches internationally. According to Sony however, the Vita is doing just fine and the company remains confident in the portable’s future success.
Sony’s chief financial officer Masaru Kato said during their financial call:
Now the company has not publicly announced the units of shipping and sales, [but] at the appropriate time, we would do so. But as far as sell-through, three weeks have passed and our sell-through is 500,000. This was announced on the 10th of January. So as a start, I think we had a very – a good start.
Including software and hardware, we are carrying out the sales promotions and we do it to boost the sales, and we do not think we have any problems.
Of course, Sony doesn’t have any other choice but to remain optimistic in the future of its device. Let’s just hope the gaming public recognizes the technical prowess and incredible value that the PlayStation Vita offers. Look for the Vita in stores starting February 22nd.
[Via]
16 Responses to “Sony Dismisses Lackluster Vita Sales in Japan, Believes it’s “a Good Start””
I don’t know why people pay so much attention to how a console performs, especially in other regions. Did the weak launch PS3 sales keep you from wanting/buying one? You could present valid reasons as price, lack of software etc, but who cares if the PS3 was doing bad all over the world (REALLY bad). We know Sony stands behind their products and supports them for many years, even the PSP didn’t do too well in the USA and they kept supporting it, and Sony already said they will support the Vita even more and it’s showing with the launch lineup. So no worries at all.
Say whatever you want. It is hard to say this is a good start for the Vita. The financial dude is just trying to influence public’s opinion with this statement… and honestly, he cannot do anything more.
right, because we all know call of duty sells mega ton millions in Japan as it does here in the western region. Why can’t people understand that not every region is the same and should not be heavily focused/compared
Right on Mule, could not have said it better myself. Sony has great support of the way, I find it hilarious there’s 360 diehards saying the Vita will die with no exclusives and the handheld has more exclusives coming to it within 2 months after launch than the 360 has all year(Halo 4 *snickers*), and the 3DS diehards have come down with a severe case of amnesia an forgot about their precious handhelds lackluster launch last year.
Haters are gonna hate, i’ll be playing on a revolutionary handheld while they QQ
The thing is , if a console does not sale , even if 1st party supports the console , 3rd party will just ignore because the install base is not enough to make a profit compared to other platforms. That is why i worry about these things and why i worry about vita since i already preordered one. This kinda happened with psp where came few games and most of the better games were first party like god of war. I dont want the same to happen to vita.
Software, software, software….if there is something great enough that you want to play it you have to do what? Buy the hardware. From what I gather the Japanese don’t really play the games that were launched so that’s probably why it hasn’t sold well there. When there is a new GOW, Call of Duty, AC, Mass Effect, Bioshock and Arkham just for the vita I’m sure sales will be great. I may hold off for a bit though myself. I really want to play Uncharted Golden Abyss but it’s basically the only thing I want to play on it right now so there’s no real rush since I have a ton of content still for the PS3 from the fall.
I would like to know who is behind Sony’s marketing strategy??? The ONLY advertisement for the Vita I have seen is a Taco Bell (I think) commercial! Shouldn’t Sony be lighting up the TV and every other media outlet with pre-order ads right now? I wouldn’t be surprised if it doesn’t sell well in the US just because no one will know about it outside of those of us who frequent gaming sites.
Yeah, I’ve seen more marketing for Resident Evil 6 than the Vita
BRING MARCUS BACK!!!
If there’s a department that seriously needs improvement in Sony Corp it’s their marketing. Just like you the only place I’ve seen the Vita being advertised is at Taco Bell. Kaz needs to do something about that.
The xbox360 is doing terrible in japan, so does that mean they are also doing terrible in america? We cant base the american market of the japanese one, otherwise the psp would have been doing a lot better in USA. Its been proven that one game will boost sales, in japan its monster hunter, in america its CoD.
Ill wait for the world wide release, then ill pick mine up, then ill enjoy it regardless how it sells.
Vita should do much better in the states because it has a much better lineup for launch than Japan did, and the PSP is pretty much dead in US. People are ready to move on and they have a huge incentive to.
Sony needs to put an old school sega marketing hell storm on nintendos ass, seriously…push the hell out of the fact it’s a handheld for the ‘hardcore’ gamer, oh and who better than Marcus the PSP kid. They really need to consider this approach, really sony’s big issue as people before have said is marketing. I’d like to see upcoming commercials where Marcus is owning KB’s Unit 13 leaderboard score an having them indirectly mock the 3DS. Time to start getting aggressive Kaz!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mTi5EaocGaY
The good old days.
lmfao! Good times, good times…
I agree with Sony that the Playstation Vita has gotten off to a good start and with more titles coming to the Playstation Vita soon I know for a fact that the Playstation Vita will sell even better.