Vita Japan launch sell-through 65% - Media Create

By Wesley Yin-Poole Published 21 December, 2011

"We would like to have seen it sell a bit more."

The PlayStation Vita sold an estimated 65 per cent of the units shipped by Sony to shops for the console's Japanese launch, sales tracking firm Media Create said.

Media Create said (via Andriasang) Vita sold 325,000 units over launch weekend (17th and 18th December) - 4000 more than the figure quoted by Enterbrain.

Media Create's 65 per cent sell through estimate is based on Sony's confirmed shipment of 500,000 units - a figure reportedly boosted to 700,000 last minute.

Vita's opening two-day sales failed to beat the Nintendo 3DS' opening two-day sales tally.

Media Create boss Atsushi Hosokawa blamed the relatively slow start on Vita's price, which, when you include a game and the required accessories (a memory card is required to play most games), means the system costs 40,000 yen (£328). He added a lack of a system seller at launch hampered its appeal.

"The shipment was abundant," he said. "So it seems that there were hardly any reports of inability to buy due to shortages. Regarding sold units, to be honest we would like to have seen it sell a bit more, but you can say that it reached a certain level of success."

Hosokawa added that the continued success of the PlayStation Portable, which sold 60,000 units in Japan this week, could be holding back Vita.

Vita launches in Europe on 22nd February 2012.

Picture of Wesley.

About Wesley Yin-Poole

Wesley is Eurogamer's news editor. He likes news, interviews, and more news. He also likes Street Fighter more than anyone can get him to shut up about it.

Read more articles from Wesley by visiting the Wesley Yin-Poole archive page.

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Comments (29) Latest comment 2 months ago

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  • sol1du5snak3 #1 2 months ago

    I don't think thats a bad start considering the price. Although from other articles on the net I feel like alot of people WANT Vita to fail :/

  • bluetoothion #2 2 months ago

    It is a weird period to launch something new even in Japan... I think they should welcome sales as high as that instead of asking for more.

  • jonno394 #3 2 months ago

    Just like the 3DS with the original DS line, it looks like the continued success of the Vitas predecessor will hold it back for a while. The 3DS also had its initial sales hampered by the lack of quality software after launch that only seems to be alleviating now around 10 months later (i sold my 3DS after 2 months due to this) so i'm hoping the Vita does not suffer the same lull in new quality software.

    I for one cannot wait to get my hands on one of these whether it be me buying one at launch or trying one in store I am not too sure yet. Looks like a fantastic piece of kit, though the 2012 lineup for the 3D looks stellar so i'm torn between which handheld to pick up right now.

  • abigsmurf #4 2 months ago

    The key thing is whether or not they can get sustained sales.

    3DS sales dropped like a stone just weeks after launch, it's only Monster Hunter and Mario that have caused them to get back on track recently.

  • Tiel #5 2 months ago

    The key for me is game pricing, and I get the impression it will be too high for me. As I've got older i have learnt the value of patience in gaming. Wait 2 years, get an improved model, cheaper and pick up all the aaa games from year one for about a tenner. If aaa games were 19.99 at launchj i'd jump in, but no handheld game is worth as much as it's console/pc counterpart. What vita game will have seen the development input of Skyrim, Uncharted 3, or even Little Big Planet 2. The hanheld versions are good--but not truly the same, and the price i will pay reflects that!

  • Serebii #6 2 months ago

    @abigsmurf To be fair, they were on track before Mario and Monster Hunter came out...they're just back to amazing now

  • abigsmurf #7 2 months ago

    @Serebii

    I'd disagree with that, Nintendo were in full on panic stations mode. Drastically reducing the price early after launch and getting a 2nd party developer in so they can quickly finish a core franchise (Retro with Mario Kart 7) kinda indicates that they were in full panic stations mode.

  • ChocNut #8 2 months ago

    Euro launch is the one to watch.

    I bet there a quite a few serious PSP fans like myself who decided not to import from Japan this time.

  • MoGamer2006 #9 2 months ago

    @Chocnut

    The Euro launch is the one to watch? You mean, the place where the PSP sales are low, as opposed to the those in the one territory in the world where Sony's handhelds do well?

    I think Vita will do well eventually, but no amount of spin or wishful thinking can paint this launch as anything other than mildly disappointing.

    Let's put it this way, you can bet Sony's execs aren't running around right now, high-fiving each other.
    Edited by 1 at 21/12/11 @ 10:10

  • General-Apathy #10 2 months ago

    Anyone else get the feeling that interest in handhelds is dying off?

  • TonyHarrison #11 2 months ago

    @abigsmurf The 3DS has been topping the Japanese charts every week since the price cut. That revitalised it. The Mario Land, Mario Kart, and Monster Hunter combo sent it into the stratosphere.

  • Subquest #12 2 months ago

    Game prices are what will really hurt Vita. Sony had an opportunity to change their approach, to acknowledge the worldwide downturn and at least recognise the iphone/android threat. Instead they're still pushing £40ish RRPs. I think it's poor judgement and downright arrogance, and in my opinion it'll be their undoing - just like it has been for Nintendo 3DS so far.

  • suhawk75 #13 2 months ago

    @ Mogamer

    Why is the launch considered mildly dissapointing? Do we expect every launch to break sales records?

    A console with a higher pricepoint that the 3DS launch price sells marginally less than the 3DS (the most successful console launch in history) but significantly more than it's predecessor.

    In other news Jaffa Oranges are outselling Apple iPads by more than 50:1. Apple execs wouldn't comment on this so we must assume that they are in the depths of despair.

    I do think the PSV has begun to look less appealing over the last few weeks. Price point is a little high and the memory sticks are too expensive to truly be a digital download device.

    Sony appear to have learnt some of the lessons of the PSP but not all of them.

    Still Wipeout and Motorstorm look good.

  • slowbots #14 2 months ago

    Vita as we know it is doomed, DOOMED I tells“ya :)

  • NotSoSlim #15 2 months ago

    So sell 50k less than sequel to most successful handheld ever and its a disappointment?

    Sony has a issue now MH4 is 3ds exclusive

  • suhawk75 #16 2 months ago

    @JAGUARCD32x

    Well I didn't actually make any statement about the tech behind the consoles just the pricepoints at launch.

    I'm afraid that I agree with Marc Kermode (on R5 film reviews) regarding 3D. I just don't believe it to be the next big thing. I certainly don't think it's as big a deal as HD was.

    Hopefully the next gen will make 1080p 60fps standard.

  • Sid-Nice #17 2 months ago

    Only selling 321k was a total flop but 325k is a fantastic launch. I need a Vita for the Dolphin emulator.

  • ChocNut #18 2 months ago

    @MoGamer2006 It seems counter-intuitive but look out for my comments in February when it launches here.

    I'd put a tenner on the euro launch being decent.

  • Sid-Nice #19 2 months ago

    324.859 is a good start.

  • crisotunity #20 2 months ago

    @suhawk75
    I have given up on Mr Kermode because his views on 3D sound very similar to this sort of rant against talkies back in the day:
    "Most of the American pictures shown are absolute rubbish, and an insult to one's intelligence, while the harsh, low-class voices and accent are a continual strain on one's nerves ... Patrons would welcome occasional silent films, which are most restful". :rolleyes:
    http://www.historycooperative.org/journals/ahr/ 112.2/damousi.html

    Eventually, 3D will develop its own grammar (like talkies, colour film and yes, even music in stereo!) and proper tech which does not force you to wear daft looking glasses.
    But I agree: 1080p, 60fps and decent AA (and cool/quiet hardware) should certainly be nailed on priorities for the next gen.

  • darc #21 2 months ago

    I do want one, but wow, 328 pounds is a lot of money. I can't help but expect a price cut (at the least a bundle w/ a freebie memory card) and having taken the day 1 retail plunge on a 3DS, I'm not in a hurry to get burned again.

  • darc #22 2 months ago

    "I'm afraid that I agree with Marc Kermode (on R5 film reviews) regarding 3D. I just don't believe it to be the next big thing. I certainly don't think it's as big a deal as HD was."

    I happen to be a proponent of 3D gaming - I think it's amazing in *some* contexts. Unfortunately for the 3DS, a small screen, on a handheld device that requires a consistent viewing angle, make for relatively poor context.

  • Rodster #23 2 months ago

    @jonno394 "Just like the 3DS with the original DS line, it looks like the continued success of the Vitas predecessor will hold it back for a while. The 3DS also had its initial sales hampered by the lack of quality software after launch that only seems to be alleviating now around 10 months later (i sold my 3DS after 2 months due to this) so i'm hoping the Vita does not suffer the same lull in new quality software."

    You actually believe that spin? How about iOS and Android holding back the Vita? Sorry but punters have more and far less expensive options to play portable games in 2011 than they did in 2005.
    Edited by 1 at 21/12/11 @ 17:10

  • callum9999 #24 2 months ago

    @darc Everything in Japan is a lot of money. It will cost less than that here. Though because of the ridiculous memory cards - still too much for me. Before that news broke I was planning to buy it on launch.

    Hopefully a cheap microSD adapter can be created at some point (though I'd imagine it would be tricky because of the DRM).

  • Snake_2011 #25 2 months ago

    2 days sales seems like a sad way to see if it is doing well tell me at the end of January.
    Edited by 1 at 22/12/11 @ 03:16

  • Lunatic4ever #26 2 months ago

    let's state the obvious...it's way too expensive at this time. I won't be the fool to buy this on day one because it's not a groundbreaking experience that I need to have right now. I 'll come back to this one later.

  • natureboy #27 2 months ago

    Good year for handhelds in general

  • suhawk75 #28 2 months ago

    @crisotunity

    Not quite in the same mould but I take the point. I've yet to see a film in 3D that made me enjoy the film more than the 2D version.

    I've not done much 3D gaming beyond a quick go on the 3DS so my opinion of 3D gaming is, admittedly, extrapolated.

    After the initial wow factor has faded I'm always more bothered by the slight feeling of visual discomfort (because your brain sort of knows it's being tricked I guess) and wearing the glasses than any additional enjoyment I get out of the 3D effects.

    Bah!

    I don't like these new fangled round wheels or that new fire stuff either ;)

  • wez_316 #29 2 months ago

    @suhawk75

    The most recent active shutter glasses from many companies are really comfortable to be fair and I'm someone who wears glasses under them too. I wouldn't say 3D is like the most amazing thing ever but it's definitely pretty cool.

    Prices are very affordable now too. Just got a 50 inch Panasonic ST31B for £675 with 2 pairs of glasses. Pretty amazing TV for a pretty cheap price. I think adoption rate for 3D is going to get pretty big soon especially now that the best TVs for viewing 2D content nearly all have 3D built in now anyway.