Vita Sales Fall Again In Japan, PS3 And PSP Sell More

The PlayStation Vita shot out of the gates in its first week of availability in Japan but has since taken a dive in popularity.

The Media Create hardware sales for the final week of December have arrived and the Nintendo 3DS continues its dominance while the freshly released Vita falls again.

In its first week, Sony's new handheld sold 324,859 units; it fell to only 72,479 in the second week and in the third week, it fell further to 42,648. Both the PS3 and PSP topped it, although the Wii continued its downward spiral by selling only 33,208 units in that week. Here's the chart:

1. 3DS: 197,952 (482,200)
2. PS3: 67,199 (75,943)
3. PSP: 62,746 (101,121)
4. PSV: 42,648 (72,479)
5. Wii: 33,208 (91,176)
6. DSi LL: 3,356 (8,470)
7. X360: 2,453 (4,245)
8. DSi: 2,418 (5,894)
9. PS2: 1,659 (1,582)
10. DS Lite: 28 (32)

The Xbox 360 continues to be almost nonexistent but Sony might have to be worried about the Vita. At the same time, from a logical point of view, one could make the argument that all those excited about the new portable got theirs on launch day. Those lukewarm about it are going to wait, and they'll wait longer than a few weeks, so the drop-off might make sense when viewed in this light.

It remains to be seen how gamers will receive the Vita in other parts of the world. The US launch is set for February 22.

Tags: vita, playstation vita, vita sales, japanese sales

1/5/2012 12:03:31 PM Ben Dutka

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Comments (49 posts)

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bigbossluna
Thursday, January 05, 2012 @ 12:26:56 PM
Reply

oh god the trolls wont shut up about it.

3 up, 10 down

Aura7541
Thursday, January 05, 2012 @ 12:36:02 PM
Reply

I'm not so worried about the Vita. Its launch lineup is a lot more fit for European and North American audiences than the Japanese audience. That why I think why the Vita is struggling in Japan (along with quite a hefty price tag when you convert the Vita's Japanese price from Yen to USD). If the Vita gets a game that is immensely popular within the Japanese audience (e.g. Monster Hunter), then it will do well.

8 up, 0 down

Looking Glass
Thursday, January 05, 2012 @ 1:26:25 PM

I agree.

I think the Vita will do at least a little better in the west on account of the launch lineup being better suited to the west, with the inclusion of an Uncharted game of being of particular note.

1 up, 0 down

Axe99
Thursday, January 05, 2012 @ 3:23:32 PM

That's the ticket - after seeing the PSP struggle in the west, and particularly in the US, Sony's gone for a Western-centric launch line-up. Once the JRPGs and Monster Hunter launches for Vita, it'll do just fine over there.

2 up, 0 down

Dancemachine55
Thursday, January 05, 2012 @ 8:42:28 PM

As Sony always say, it's a marathon, not a sprint.

I have a feeling both 3DS and Vita will do very well in the long run. The Vita appears to have more support from developers this time round.

Here's hoping hackers and pirates don't ruin it for the rest of us. Why all the hate towards Sony this gen?

2 up, 0 down

bebestorm
Thursday, January 05, 2012 @ 12:36:19 PM
Reply

It will be interesting to compare sales when its released worldwide. I notice alot of gamers are saying they no longer plan to buy vita at launch. I don't understand why they are backing away. The price is fair and I think the line up is more appealing to the west.

Last edited by bebestorm on 1/5/2012 12:37:46 PM

3 up, 0 down

Dancemachine55
Thursday, January 05, 2012 @ 8:43:38 PM

I usually wait about a year after launch to pick up new hardware. Gives Sony time to work out the kinks and maybe have a small price drop or awesome bundle.

0 up, 0 down

bebestorm
Thursday, January 05, 2012 @ 8:59:14 PM

I can understand waiting. I wont be buying at launch I usually wait for that must have title. I bought a psp when ff7 crisis core released.

0 up, 0 down

Jakintosh
Sunday, January 08, 2012 @ 1:57:11 PM

Yeah, I recently cancelled my preorder. I'll pick it up when I see it on sale somewhere, which I'm hoping will be as early as the summer. I just don't have the time to play any games on it until then.

0 up, 0 down

I007spectre
Thursday, January 05, 2012 @ 12:40:07 PM
Reply

Im getting kind of tired of people making things so doom and gloom. Lets not forget that Japan is no longer at the forefront of video games.

8 up, 2 down

Douchebaguette
Saturday, January 07, 2012 @ 10:28:17 AM

Sad but true.

0 up, 0 down

THEVERDIN
Thursday, January 05, 2012 @ 12:44:58 PM
Reply

It's tough to justify a purchase like this with economy the way it is,let alone with the holiday's just getting over with. I think most people will wait for a price drop.

6 up, 5 down

Dancemachine55
Thursday, January 05, 2012 @ 8:45:03 PM

It took a price drop to make the 3DS fly out the door. There's only so much people are willing to spend on video games that they can spare.

0 up, 0 down

Neo_Aeon666
Thursday, January 05, 2012 @ 12:45:14 PM
Reply

Oh well doesn't matter. Vita is probably going to be a slow starter there. 3DS went the same path. Just wait till all the awesome games come out and the japanese people will go for it.

Still only 41 days till we can get our hands on it (first edition)!!! Can't waittttt

1 up, 0 down

Dancemachine55
Thursday, January 05, 2012 @ 8:47:27 PM

At least Vita has Uncharted at launch. 3DS is only becoming popular now with Mario Kart 7 and Super Mario 3D Land being released AND the big price drop.

I have a feeling Vita will do well after the first price drop and some more awesome games come out. Being second again does hurt Sony though. Really they should aim to release a few months before the competition.

0 up, 0 down

Underdog15
Thursday, January 05, 2012 @ 12:50:52 PM
Reply

When you consider the games out for PSP vs. PSV so far, it makes perfect sense to want a PSP at it's price point. I'm not getting PSV day one either, but someday I know I will.

1 up, 0 down

Excelsior1
Thursday, January 05, 2012 @ 12:52:37 PM
Reply

I am simply stunned by Japan's reaction to the Vita after it appeared to be off to a good start. Something's definitely wrong wheter it's the price point of the system itself or the expensive games/memory cards. The launch line up is obviously not strong enough to drive sustained sales.

Sony may need to step in and do something in an attempt to restore confidence in the brand even more quickly than Nintendo did with 3DS. I just hope this is not an example of something more serious. Something that my friend Beamboom alluded to the other day. Wrong product at the wrong time.

2 up, 1 down

jimmyhandsome
Thursday, January 05, 2012 @ 1:05:45 PM

It will be interesting to see how the Vita is received worldwide in a month or so. It costs the same as a PS3 right now and the casual buyer may not fully understand why they would pay that amount for a vita.

5 up, 0 down

Dancemachine55
Thursday, January 05, 2012 @ 8:49:24 PM

I think many Japanese consumers are either getting Monster Hunter on 3DS or they're waiting for Monster Hunter to release on Vita.

Hot Shots Golf appears to be more popular in Japan than Uncharted, so I guess many are just waiting for the right killer app to release with Japanese tastes.

1 up, 0 down

Fane1024
Friday, January 06, 2012 @ 1:37:36 AM

Also, as Ben said, the excited people bought it day one. Then, PSV dropped down to the same range as other systems. I found the quick drop-off surprising, but I don't think it's troubling yet.

0 up, 0 down

BikerSaint
Thursday, January 05, 2012 @ 12:55:38 PM
Reply

Hmmmm, I'm wondering if soon.....

"Price check....aisle 5"

0 up, 0 down

Bloodysilence19
Thursday, January 05, 2012 @ 1:01:26 PM
Reply

It sucks Vita isn't doing well right now. I think Sony is going to have to cut the price and take the hit. 3ds wasn't doing to good at the start until the price cut and everything started booming. Plus Sony needs games that cater towards Japanese market and they need to cut the price on the ridiculous overprice memory cards. Hopefully Europe and America have better sells cause if not Vita will be like the psp go.

2 up, 2 down

Highlander
Thursday, January 05, 2012 @ 1:18:00 PM
Reply

This seems to be following the same pattern as the PS3. Because the PSP (in Japan) is extremely popular and well served for games, it continues to grab buyers, especially with it's lower cost of entry. The PS2 did the same thing to the PS3 when PS3 first launched.

What will be interesting is how Sony handles discontinuing the PSP, or rather differentiating the Vita dn PSP to make Vita more desirable than the cheaper PSP. As was mentioned by several posters the game line up at launch does favor western titles or titles that appeal to western audiences. It would be interesting to see how things turn out once the kinds of game arriving on PSP start arriving on Vita instead. Remembering of course that for right now new PSP games that are downloadable are also new vita games...

This is the curse of backwards compatibility and not killing the older system when the new one arrives.

3 up, 3 down

D1g1tal5torm
Friday, January 06, 2012 @ 8:42:12 AM

I dont think they needed to kill the psp off, ps2 did and still does well - consistently selling.

The vita has strong competition from ohter handhelds and it's selling points above those others obviously aren't much of a incentive to those with disposable income judging by the sales. Factor in the leaps made by smartphones and it's a crowded market.

Their stance on pricing of their handhelds is what is preventing this unit from selling.

0 up, 1 down

Highlander
Friday, January 06, 2012 @ 10:00:57 AM

I don't agree. Apple can sell inferior products to the Vita for more than Sony are asking for the Vita. Price itself is not the main issue.

2 up, 1 down

Beamboom
Friday, January 06, 2012 @ 11:53:45 AM

I very much agree with you that price itself is not the main issue here Highlander, but you can't really compare the price of an iPhone either (I assume that's what you refer to when you mention Apple?) cause in reality all smartphones are sponsored by the phone companies and usually cost like two dollars or so plus a one year contract. And from *that* perspective price becomes an issue. But it's not the main issue, that I agree with.

0 up, 0 down

D1g1tal5torm
Friday, January 06, 2012 @ 1:47:29 PM

Maybe so, but the one important thing that apple does bundle with it's smartphone is the ability to make calls!

Now if the the vita could do that, then that would make a big difference.

0 up, 1 down

Fane1024
Friday, January 06, 2012 @ 6:31:43 PM

It *can* make calls...via skype.

Or, at least, it will be able to do so; I'm not sure whether the skype app is up and running for launch.

Last edited by Fane1024 on 1/6/2012 6:36:10 PM

0 up, 0 down

Xombito
Thursday, January 05, 2012 @ 1:37:12 PM
Reply

From the looks of the top ten. It doesn't look all that bad. Everybody is making too much of this. Like everything else.

3 up, 1 down

D1g1tal5torm
Thursday, January 05, 2012 @ 3:46:06 PM
Reply

Great tech
great games
bad price

4 up, 7 down

Dancemachine55
Thursday, January 05, 2012 @ 8:52:26 PM

I think the price is pretty good. I just don't think a Japanese killer app is yet available. Chances are the Vita will do well in Europe and the US with Uncharted being a killer app in those territories than compared to Japan.

Monster Hunter has been announced for Vita though, so give it some time and the Vita will fly off shelves later this year.

1 up, 0 down

D1g1tal5torm
Friday, January 06, 2012 @ 8:23:03 AM

Got no inclination to buy the vita until it comes down to a much more realistic price for a handheld.

2 up, 1 down

PHOENIXZERO
Thursday, January 05, 2012 @ 4:07:51 PM
Reply

What were the PSP's sales numbers at launch and the weeks that followed? That's where people should be doing the comparisons to.

Looking at the release of games for the Vita it's quite clear there wasn't enough to attract a lot of people in Japan. Especially when the 3DS over the last two months has had two Mario games and freaking Monster Hunter came out a week before the PSV's launch. Sony boneheaded in not having games for the market ready to go, especially foolish in not getting Capcom on board with a MH game that could have been ready at launch or close to it.

The price of the Wi-Fi model is fine, it's the memory card prices that suck.

3 up, 1 down

sawao_yamanaka
Thursday, January 05, 2012 @ 4:26:52 PM

Games not for the market? Katamari, umvc3, hot shots. Those are games that attract te Japanese market. So I'm unsure as to what you are speaking about.

1 up, 0 down

PHOENIXZERO
Thursday, January 05, 2012 @ 5:52:08 PM

Does Katamari sell systems? No, it doesn't and going by the sales of previous titles, it's not that popular even in Japan. Does UMVC3 sell systems, especially when it can be played elsewhere? Certainly not going by the retail sales of it at launch. Does Hot Shots Golf sell systems? It sold the best but that's not saying much as I doubt anyone specifically bought a PSV to play it. How many people in Japan are going to choose Touch My Katamari, a PSV version of UMvC3 or Hot Shots over a new Mario game or two or Monster Hunter? I think we already got that answer.

The three highest selling games at launch from retail were Hot Shots Golf, Uncharted and Dynasty Warriors, TMK was near the bottom and UMvC3 didn't even make the top 50. Obviously we have no idea how the games did on the PS Store but I doubt there was a huge shift in who bought what compared to retail. Not to say HS, DW or Uncharted aren't popular, obviously they are but again outside of maybe Uncharted which is the "star" game. I seriously doubt anyone in Japan bought a PSV strictly for Hot Shots Golf or Dynasty Warriors. I'd argue the hardware sold itself more at launch with its potential than any of the games did.

The point was there wasn't a huge *must have* game at launch for Japan that could come even close to rivaling what the 3DS recently has to offer, especially with MH coming out a week prior and Mario Kart the week before that.

Again, the proper comparison to how the PSV is performing would come from how the PSP performed in amount of time at launch and after.

Things will pick up when there's more quality titles released, just as they usually do.

3 up, 1 down

HazySun
Thursday, January 05, 2012 @ 5:52:31 PM
Reply

I was very much looking forward to the Vita but having looked into the price difference between the USA & UK wi-fi versions there is a $100 price difference & I'm sorry but until Sony start to support the UK market the way they support my American friends I've decided to hold off for a price drop.

2 up, 0 down

PHOENIXZERO
Thursday, January 05, 2012 @ 6:39:07 PM

There are several reasons for the price difference, you cannot compare with a straight up currency conversion. First, you guys have to pay 20% more right off the top thanks to the VAT, which is added right into your prices. We don't have a VAT in the U.S. We do have sales tax but that's not added until a sale is made. Your minimum wage is also over 20% higher than the US's federal minimum (there is variances from state to state but only one comes close to the UK's) and in turn your cost of living is too. Top it off with the fact that the U.S. has roughly five times the population which with some "fuzzy math" means there are five times as many potential customers which in turn means higher volume which lowers costs. When it comes to things like consoles or handhelds it also means there is a lot more money to be made from software and accessories to make up the lower price of the hardware, even with the US Dollar in the toilet.

3 up, 0 down

Highlander
Friday, January 06, 2012 @ 10:02:28 AM

That avatar picture is gonna have to change, you may not have noticed but there are words that do not appear within the PXS comments or articles, and your avatar image crosses the line...

2 up, 4 down

Fane1024
Friday, January 06, 2012 @ 6:38:24 PM

Highlander's right. As soon as Ben sees that, he'll ask you to change it.

1 up, 1 down

Dancemachine55
Thursday, January 05, 2012 @ 9:01:56 PM
Reply

I love the look of the Vita, but I think Sony have got their priorities wrong lately.

In this current economic climate, Sony should be focusing on creating an affordable gaming experience even if it means sacrificing some tech. If you never heard about the Vita containing a rear touch pad and gyroscope, would you miss it? Would you demand it? How about the front facing camera? Would that be a big loss?

All I'm saying is that people these days are looking for affordable entertainment, and with the 3DS' price drop, the Vita is no longer looking as desirable as it was at last year's E3. Add to that a staggered launch between Japan and the rest of the world, lower sales in Japan, no killer apps in Japan (let's face it, Uncharted is NOT a Japanese favourite), 3DS getting Monster Hunter, 3DS getting an emergency price drop AND reported touch screen and power glitch problems being overhyped by the media, and you got yourself a recipe for a bad reputation at launch.

Like with the PS3, I have no doubt Sony can turn the Vita around and make it successful, we just need to give it time. The handheld market is a strange and tricky market, but if Sony continue to aim at the hardcore gamers, I have no doubt they will succeed.

As for the mass casual gaming crowd, it's gonna take a lot of killer apps at cheap prices with a cheap machine to get them to buy into it. The iTunes app store has many games for around $3, so people will no doubt prefer the cheaper option.

0 up, 0 down

___________
Friday, January 06, 2012 @ 2:32:09 AM
Reply

quite obvious what has gone wrong!
far too expensive, far too many restrictions, feels outdated, not enough games for it, silly expensive requirements like the memory cards.
$ony is doing everything in there power to make this flop!
and sadly its working like a charm!
another thing i hate about the vita is you cant transfer things between it and a PC unless the PC is connected to WIFI.
i was going to take my laptop with me on my cruse so i could swap and change my psp games over to it, there goes that idea!
oh and another stupid restriction, you cant copy across demos if its not signed to your vitas account.
ps3 and psp you can, only paid content is locked.
the vita locks EVERYTHING!
and another problem, only a small handful of PSP games about 20 are accessible through the PS store on the vita.
i was going to re download a few PSP games i purchased, but for some reason on the vita i cant find them.
GOW is there, but resistance retribution and syphon filter logans shadow are not.
yup, as i said $ony is doing EVERYTHING in their power to make this flop!

0 up, 1 down

FullmetalX10
Friday, January 06, 2012 @ 7:22:58 AM
Reply

I'm just wondering if it has any internal memory at all(meaning more than a couple MB's).

1 up, 0 down

Highlander
Friday, January 06, 2012 @ 10:04:04 AM

None.

Sony really, really needs to put a 1GB or 2GB memory card in the box as standard. Paltry though it is, it makes the device viable from day 1. Otherwise the price of a brand new Vita has to include the cost of a memory card which increases the cost way past the nominal $249.99 entry price.

2 up, 0 down

gumbi
Friday, January 06, 2012 @ 2:39:11 PM

I pre-ordered my Vita today at Sony Style and it comes with a 4Gb card, the Little Deviants game, and a limited edition case.

So if you want a card right out of the box, pre-order your Vita from Sony!

0 up, 0 down

gumbi
Friday, January 06, 2012 @ 3:52:50 PM

Hmm, it looks like this pre-order bundle might only be for Sony Canada. Lucky us!

0 up, 0 down

gumbi
Friday, January 06, 2012 @ 2:42:36 PM
Reply

Well, I've done my part for the NA launch. Pre-ordered this morning.

Now, I wait...

0 up, 0 down

blakkternalx520
Saturday, January 07, 2012 @ 9:27:58 PM
Reply

I think that the Vita is doing fine. I mean I for 1 am getting a vita day 1 and will be enjoying it. i know that Japanese market will flock to it more when games start coming out thats appealing to that market. The only things that bugs me at the moment is the high price on memory cards, but it wont stop my purchase.

0 up, 0 down

cadpig
Sunday, January 08, 2012 @ 9:15:35 AM
Reply

I'm not too crazy about the vita's memory card price, but i can live with it for now. Not too worried about the japanese vita sales stumble. Very different market.
If sony can get the major western developers on board like EA,Activision, Ubisoft,Warner games and Rockstar. Producing games that show off the PS Vita's power of near ps3 graphics. The PS vita should do well here.

0 up, 0 down

placenta_yogurt
Sunday, January 08, 2012 @ 1:54:13 PM
Reply

It's two factors here.
1) the vita is just too expensive still... see what happened as soon as Nintendo lowered the price of the 3DS? Companies can't act like the world isn't in the middle of a recession. We are. Price accordingly or suffer the consequences.
2) The PSP is going strong in Japan because their are tons of Japanese games they love for the original, and it's relatively cheap compared to the vita.
I also don't think Sony figured in just how much people use their iphones and ipads for gaming, which I think is a bigger factor here in the states, especially since they released Onlive for both... US ipad owners especially... they can play the PC versions of most games, why get a handheld?... that's how many are thinking....
I'm still getting my vita on day one, but I game much more than the average person they are shooting for.
so they need to really lower that price, fast.

0 up, 0 down

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