UK PlayStation Vita launch sales stand at 45K - report
UPDATE: Analyst claims figure is 61K, says source is 'reliable'
Update
Analyst Nick Parker has claimed the UK launch sales figures for Vita were higher than those reported.
"The PS Vita sold through to UK consumers 61k units in the four days of last week, not the 45k which has been in the press," he tweeted.
He wouldn't reveal his source, only adding that it was "reliable."
Sony Computer Entertainment Europe has yet to release official figures for UK unit sales.
Original story
UK launch sales for the PlayStation Vita have fallen below expectations, only managing around 45,000 units, according to a new report.
The figure was reported to PocketGamer by an industry source, suggesting sales were "just over half" those of the 3DS launch, which stood at 89,000 units.
Yesterday Sony released an official statement that it had sold 1.2 million units worldwide, a figure that takes into account both the Japanese and recent European and American sales. It also confirmed that software sales for the device were now over 2 million.
In November Sony told Eurogamer that it was confident it would beat the PSP's record of 185,000 units sold at UK launch.
"We're planning for a condition of success," SCEE president Jim Ryan said at the time.
"Launch quantities will sell out - I think that's looking pretty certain".
If the 45k are true it would be a shame for such a good piece of hardware to sell so low.
In Japan the PSP is no doubt seen as much more successful than over here, where its enduring image will be a promising system inadequately supported by publishers. Hopefully first- and third-party support for the Vita will be much better, and initial impressions point to a much more humble SCE who won't assume its success. Here's hoping for its sustained and continued success.
There is massive overlap between Nintendo systems and every other platform. The only difference was Nintendo ALSO hit broader audiences, but now with Kinect fighting for that field as well there isn't even that division. These people are direct competitors, and their performance in comparison to one another will absolutely affect where games are made and where future sales and support comes from.
Edited 1 times. Last edit by Nicholas Pantazis on 1st March 2012 3:26am
Werner, yep. I had to create a US account to do it. I did it before though with NHL Gamcenter, so knew it'd work. Create a US account, log in, you get the US store. Download Netflix, log out, log in with your regular PSN account, and bingo, you're on. It's a bit different with the Vita, what with system activation etc, but if you google it the steps are easy enough to follow.
There is some overlap between 3ds and vita but I see the target audience different for both altough less dfferent than what was the case between DS amd PSP.
How you choose to upweight or massage after the fact is up to the individual, but the figures speak for themselves. People can choose to upweight them by 10-20% to take into account the fact that Chart-Track covers "80-90% of the market" (their words, today), but even then, you're only talking 55k. I'm not sure where you get 61k from (the untracked indies are a tiny proportion these days, and adding 20% is too generous - talk to any major publisher and they'd tell you the same).
Even if we assume it is 61k, that's about ONE THIRD of the PSP sales, after Sony's UK MD, Jim Ryan, confidently stated: "We will beat that with Vita." 'That' being the 185k.
Edited 4 times. Last edit by Kristan Reed on 1st March 2012 1:33pm
The Vita is a wonderful machine but its price point is tough, especially with the hidden cost of memory cards.
Success or failure though, will ultimately come down to software. The 3DS had a slowish opening due to a lack of games and a price point that was judged by the people to be a little high, throw in a price drop and sales pick up, release quality titles and the sales ramped up.
The Vita has some very good launch titles (though arguably no true must have exclusive 'vita seller' yet), but it is entering a different market to the original psp and it will need continued strong software support at all price point levels to really build a momentum.
The opening week(s) were always going to be about the sony fans and committed gadget fans. Sales performance in weeks 8,9,10 etc will help show its impact to general players