Vita first week sales (UK): 1/4 of PSP debut, 1/2 of 3DS debut (~60k)

Sales of Sony's PS Vita console got off to a "disappointing" start in the UK, it has been confirmed.

Week one Chart-Track figures reveal that Sony's new handheld device sold "around one quarter" of the number of the 185,000 PSP units shifted in the UK during its first week on sale back in September 2005.

Half-hearted

Although exact data has not been publicly announced by either Chart-Track or Sony, industry sources have confirmed that the figure is "just over half" of the 89,000* sold by the Nintendo 3DS in its first week almost a year ago.

With pre-orders of Vita reportedly around the 70,000 mark, Sony will be hoping that the generally positive critical reception to its new device will coax cash-strapped consumers into shelling out for its next generation handheld.

The news comes hours afterSony elected to publish a global figure for Vita sales to date of 1.2 million.

With total Japanese sales confirmed as being 578,812 on February 19th, the remaining 600,000 will have been split between the remaining worldwide territories.

Figures from other Western territories have yet to emerge.

'We all saw it coming'

Meanwhile, one senior source felt that the low UK sales should not come as a surprise.

"It's disappointing, sure, but we all saw it coming," saidthe source.

"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. 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," the source concluded.

PocketGamer

http://www.pocketgamer.biz/r/PG.Biz/PlayStation+Vita/news.asp?c=38346

*3DS actually sold 113,000 in its first week.

Oh btw, VGChartz said the Vita launched at 125k in the UK, and the real number is closer to 50~70k. So that's over 100% off. Hopefully that shuts up the "better than nothing" crowd.

"better than nothing" crowd.Eponique

Hopefully people will wait for official figures and shut the hell up with "Random chart blah blah says this many were sold!"

Why do you always sound so aggressive against the Vita?

[QUOTE="Eponique"] "better than nothing" crowd.shadowchronicle

[QUOTE="shadowchronicle"][QUOTE="Eponique"] "better than nothing" crowd.Eponique

I hope people realise that if the Vita fails there is going to be a lot of pressure on Nintendo from investors to not release a dedicated handheld after the 3DS.

I think anyone with a brain saw this coming a mile away.

The entire handheld industry has just changed so much since the original DS launched. The PS Vita isn't competing with just the 3DS, but also smartphones, and tablets.

It's going to be a pretty tough battle getting the PS Vita to sell well. I imagine after the first week is over sales will drop pretty fast without any killer software on the horizon.

Understandable, brits always get ripped off with Sony's pricing which doesn't exactly follow the exchange rate very well.

So the Vita has only sold 1.2 million units worldwide?

Another thread? really? :lol:

*3DS actually sold 113,000 in its first week.

Eponique

..... It did? I remember alot of "The 3DS is doomed xD" threads but I dont remember those numbers popping up. I couldve sworn it sold quite alot more.
Regarding the PSVita, Sony needs to pull a Nintendo and offer a price drop. I dont see it selling much better throughout the year without one.

What's the price of the Vita in the UK? This is one reason I don't miss living there, as the retail prices were just downright ridiculous.

Unexpected sales from Vita indeed.

I hope people realise that if the Vita fails there is going to be a lot of pressure on Nintendo from investors to not release a dedicated handheld after the 3DS.

JLF1MarkII

That does not make any sense whatsoever, if the 3DS sold well, why would a competitor failing mean that Nintendo should not launch a successor to the 3DS? That would be like Apple not launching another iPod because the Zune failed, or Apple not launching another iPhone if the Andriod market failed. :|

Another thread? really? :lol:

Zaibach

I was thinking some reports would show up but not this quickly.

It would be more amusing to us if the defense force would try to spin this news instead of attacking the OP.

[QUOTE="Zaibach"]

Another thread? really? :lol:

TheEroica

lol, yeah, this :lol: is the universal smiley for 'butthurt :D

please stop stalking me, its creepy :P

What's the price of the Vita in the UK? This is one reason I don't miss living there, as the retail prices were just downright ridiculous.

lundy86_4

[QUOTE="Zaibach"]

Another thread? really? :lol:

TheEroica

[QUOTE="Zaibach"]

Another thread? really? :lol:

TheEroica

[QUOTE="Eponique"]

*3DS actually sold 113,000 in its first week.

Shirokishi_

..... It did? I remember alot of "The 3DS is doomed xD" threads but I dont remember those numbers popping up. I couldve sworn it sold quite alot more.
Regarding the PSVita, Sony needs to pull a Nintendo and offer a price drop. I dont see it selling much better throughout the year without one.

Sounds plausible given the global tie ratio of around ~1.6/1.7 and calculated minimum UK launch software sales of ~80K.

[QUOTE="TheEroica"][QUOTE="Zaibach"]

Another thread? really? :lol:

SolidSnake35

:lol::P

This guy....

[QUOTE="lundy86_4"]

What's the price of the Vita in the UK? This is one reason I don't miss living there, as the retail prices were just downright ridiculous.

JLF1MarkII

Yep, yep. Straight conversions never work as they fail to take into account a multitude of influences (i've worked in banking for around 5 years lol).

It really does suck that it is priced so high. I remember earning minimum wage as a teenager serving food in my local pub, and buying systems was incredibly difficult (minimum wage was around 3 pounds 50 when I was growing up, IIRC).

[QUOTE="JLF1MarkII"]

I hope people realise that if the Vita fails there is going to be a lot of pressure on Nintendo from investors to not release a dedicated handheld after the 3DS.

DarkGamer007

That does not make any sense whatsoever, if the 3DS sold well, why would a competitor failing mean that Nintendo should not launch a successor to the 3DS? That would be like Apple not launching another iPod because the Zune failed, or Apple not launching another iPhone if the Andriod market failed. :|

I'm strictly talking about pressure from investors here.

Nintendo as a whole will not be able to carry the dedicated handheld market. Third party devs will have to move to tablets and smart-phones.

[QUOTE="SolidSnake35"][QUOTE="TheEroica"] you sound butthurt... tonitorsi

:lol::P

This guy....

he is quite the clown isnt he? :P

[QUOTE="TheEroica"][QUOTE="Zaibach"]

Another thread? really? :lol:

Zaibach

lol, yeah, this :lol: is the universal smiley for 'butthurt :D

please stop stalking me, its creepy :P

Sounds plausible given the global tie ratio of around ~1.6/1.7 and calculated minimum UK launch software sales of ~80K.

shinrabanshou

Well done.

Yep, yep. Straight conversions never work as they fail to take into account a multitude of influences (i've worked in banking for around 5 years lol).

It really does suck that it is priced so high. I remember earning minimum wage as a teenager serving food in my local pub, and buying systems was incredibly difficult (minimum wage was around 3 pounds 50 when I was growing up, IIRC).

lundy86_4

Understandable, brits always get ripped off with Sony's pricing which doesn't exactly follow the exchange rate very well.

RavenLoud

[QUOTE="DarkGamer007"]

[QUOTE="JLF1MarkII"]

I hope people realise that if the Vita fails there is going to be a lot of pressure on Nintendo from investors to not release a dedicated handheld after the 3DS.

JLF1MarkII

That does not make any sense whatsoever, if the 3DS sold well, why would a competitor failing mean that Nintendo should not launch a successor to the 3DS? That would be like Apple not launching another iPod because the Zune failed, or Apple not launching another iPhone if the Andriod market failed. :|

I'm strictly talking about pressure from investors here.

Nintendo as a whole will not be able to carry the dedicated handheld market. Third party devs will have to move to tablets and smart-phones.

Yeah, it's priced far too high. As was the 3DS at launch. I would have bought it at now if it was 150£ or something. When I can buy a 360 for the same amount of money with a huge and by now cheap back-catalogue it's clear that Sony have to make some tough decisions.

JLF1MarkII

I hope they do reduce it. I would actually love to get a Vita.

Hopefully, they can afford to give a price cut.

Yep, the 360 definitely has the library in place, and at super cheap prices for the most part.

[QUOTE="shinrabanshou"]

Sounds plausible given the global tie ratio of around ~1.6/1.7 and calculated minimum UK launch software sales of ~80K.

SuperFlakeman

Well done.

[QUOTE="Zaibach"]

[QUOTE="TheEroica"] you sound butthurt... TheEroica

lol, yeah, this :lol: is the universal smiley for 'butthurt :D

please stop stalking me, its creepy :P

hmm, could work, you could make it 'a thing' :)

[QUOTE="TheEroica"][QUOTE="Zaibach"]

lol, yeah, this :lol: is the universal smiley for 'butthurt :D

please stop stalking me, its creepy :P

Zaibach

hmm, could work, you could make it 'a thing' :)

PCs didn't kill console gaming did it? What with tons of F2P, MMOs, PC exclusive games, etc. Is it that hard to imagine dedicated handhelds "coexisting" with smartphones and tablets?

lordlors

I think dedicated handhelds will co-exist with smart-phones for the next 10 years or so until everything is DD so it doesn't matter anymore. If Sony kills the Vita though Nintendo will have to carry it be themselves at that point. If that happens the dedicated handheld is screwed. Third party devs will have no reason to go with the system that comes after the 3DS.

[QUOTE="SuperFlakeman"]

[QUOTE="shinrabanshou"]

Sounds plausible given the global tie ratio of around ~1.6/1.7 and calculated minimum UK launch software sales of ~80K.

shinrabanshou

Well done.

That's a great argument.

[QUOTE="lordlors"]

PCs didn't kill console gaming did it? What with tons of F2P, MMOs, PC exclusive games, etc. Is it that hard to imagine dedicated handhelds "coexisting" with smartphones and tablets?

JLF1MarkII

I think dedicated handhelds will co-exist with smart-phones for the next 10 years or so until everything is DD so it doesn't matter anymore. If Sony kills the Vita though Nintendo will have to carry it be themselves at that point. If that happens the dedicated handheld is screwed. Third party devs will have no reason to go with the system that comes after the 3DS.

[QUOTE="JLF1MarkII"]

[QUOTE="lordlors"]

PCs didn't kill console gaming did it? What with tons of F2P, MMOs, PC exclusive games, etc. Is it that hard to imagine dedicated handhelds "coexisting" with smartphones and tablets?

Bigboi500

I think dedicated handhelds will co-exist with smart-phones for the next 10 years or so until everything is DD so it doesn't matter anymore. If Sony kills the Vita though Nintendo will have to carry it be themselves at that point. If that happens the dedicated handheld is screwed. Third party devs will have no reason to go with the system that comes after the 3DS.

Additionally there will always be pressure from other portable devices nowadays.

[QUOTE="Zaibach"]

[QUOTE="TheEroica"] hahaha... it is weird... everytime I look in a thread I see your post... Can we make a universal sign for butthurt? how about 8=> CC TheEroica

hmm, could work, you could make it 'a thing' :)

Guy, I dont even own one :P

I think dedicated handhelds will co-exist with smart-phones for the next 10 years or so until everything is DD so it doesn't matter anymore. If Sony kills the Vita though Nintendo will have to carry it be themselves at that point. If that happens the dedicated handheld is screwed. Third party devs will have no reason to go with the system that comes after the 3DS.

JLF1MarkII

What 3rd parties?

3DS will be the only megaton seller video game system in Japan next gen. All Japanese devs will flock to it, especially as they keep failing on the home console front.