Sony’s PlayStation Vita continues to have a rough go of it on the world stage. For the week ending 4/28/12, the system only managed to move 65,925 units, which is fewer than any other system save the original DS. Over the same week, Nintendo managed to sell 172,920 3DS systems, almost tripling Vita‘s numbers and leading all platforms in units sold.
Of course, 3DS wasn’t always the juggernaut that it is now. The early days of the system were marked by lackluster sales which were attributed both to the 3DS’s initial price and a dearth of truly compelling software. That’s largely the same situation Vita finds itself in now, at least in the opinion of Nintendo’s Shigeru Miyamoto.
Despite a diverse lineup of launch titles and an ever-expanding library, no Vita game has managed to truly break though and drive sales in the way that, for instance, Mario Kart 7 has on 3DS. Speaking with Edge, Miyamoto emphasizes the importance of “key software” to a system’s success.
“When we launched the 3DS hardware we didn’t have Super Mario 3D Land, we didn’t have Mario Kart 7, we didn’t have Kid Icarus: Uprising.”
“We were kind of hoping that people would, nevertheless, buy into the product, find 3DS hardware promising, but looking back we have to say we realise the key software was missing when we launched the hardware.”
Though it lacks an obvious gimmick like 3DS’s glasses-free 3D, Sony‘s Vita is nevertheless an impressively designed, robust piece of technology. Unfortunately, all that processing power and sleek design haven’t been enough to establish Vita as an unquestioned success. Miyamoto, apparently, is not surprised.
“I don’t really see the combination of software and hardware that really makes a very strong product.”
If Sony has yet to find the right “combination,” it’s not for lack of trying. The company’s signature franchise, Uncharted, has been available on Vita since day one, along with such notable first-party games as WipEout 2048 and ModNation Racers: Road Trip. Later this month, the long-anticipated Resistance: Burning Skies will finally be released — despite the failure of Resistance 3 to reach a wide audience last Fall, the new game, which includes online multiplayer, is still one of the bright spots on the Vita’s horizon.
It may simply be that the stable of Sony exclusives work best on the big screen at home. The company has been criticized in the past for delivering portable games that play too much like console titles and aren’t well suited to gaming on the go –Nathan Drake, after all, is not exactly Mario. On the other hand, Nintendo hasn’t had much trouble selling ports of its N64 titles (Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time 3D, Star Fox 64 3D), so perhaps that point is no longer valid.
Finally, there is still the matter of price. Yes, the 3DS was bolstered by the release of “key titles” like Super Mario 3D Land and Monster Hunter 3G, but it also benefited immeasurably from a price drop that left Nintendo selling the system at a loss. Each Vita reportedly costs $160 to make, leaving Sony some room to adjust the hardware’s price. Will that happen at E3 2012? What do you think?
Ranters, what will it take to make PlayStation Vita a success: a lower price, better software, or both? Leave your thoughts in the comments below.
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“Ranters, what will it take to make PlayStation Vita a success: a lower price, better software, or both?”
Maybe both. Don’t know really. I placed my hands on a VITA for the first time last week at a Target. While the design is impressive and ergonomically comfortable, I just can’t muster up any interest in it or any other handheld device…
Price and free backwards compatibility. Also, SD cards need a price drop.
Those three things will see units getting sold. I promise.
Ill stick with my laptop. I never really liked handhelds in the first place.
How is this comment even the least bit constructive to the question?
better games! wtf 2 online multiplayer games? no backwards capability? no REMOTE PS3 GAMES LIKE THEY PROMISED WTF.
2 online multiplayers? Do you even own a vita? Unit 13, UMVC3, Blazeblue extend, MLB the Show, Mortal Kombat 9, and wipeout dungeon hunter alliance all have online multiplayer and co-op. Do your research buddy
1) As mentioned, The 3ds had ucky sales to start, so much so, they had to price drop it ti increase sales. Stop talking Miyamoto. And release the Zelda collection disk we should’ve gotten instead of that music BS.
2) Vita memeory price = ripoff. I’d gladly by a Vita is 4gb of memory didn’t cost $30. Either the Vita sticks need to drop in price, or someone needs to make an MicroSD to Vita adapter just like they made the MicroSD to Duo adapter of the PSP. Either of those happen, and i’ll give Sony my money.
there is your problem right there 4gb memory card costs $20 not $30. also it is closer to microsd not sd size.
now again since we have no idea the speed we can’t say what price they are. (since high class speed cards costs on par with the ps vita memory card prices.)
If you would buy the launch bundle they have going for 300 you wouldn’t have to worry about a 4gb mem card because it comes with an 8gb one.
I was deffinatly looking forward to the ps3 compatability on the go. They boasted to much about it when there isn’t much of it in sight.
Cut the price by a bunch
Bring it out some original titles (Gravity Daze looks amazing) and old vangaurds (Call of Duty and GTA)
Focus on some specific portability features like quick wifi battles or something
And the system will sell like Gangbangers
i totally agree! although im not a fan of the call of duty franchise, i do know how well it does and if they would make a black ops 2 release on the vita, im sure it would boost sales massivly.
i think sony would do well to concentrate on pushing for more MULTIPLAYER in general.
Sony should just jailbreak the piece of garbage themselves. That would increase sales and allow some hackers to give it a phone call function as well. A sad little joke of a handheld as it stands now. Wait, may I please pay more for your pos memory modules…call them memory stick pro duo plus!
guys why dont u all research a bit… theres so much good games coming out for it anyways, gravity daze, gta vice city nights, monster hunter portable “3″ and all psp games are backward compatitable with the ps vita ( how do i know? i own one lol) and they’re is some ps3 streamable games like killzone. apps on it are great skype is one. u can even call people on skype and then ur vita functions as a phone too lol. the only thing u should troll about the vita is the youtube… WAI SONY NO MAKE YOUTUBE APP! and thats about it. oh ya and the memory cards gotta go down… freakin £40 for 16gb card o.O and £12 for 4gb lol