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Poor Vita performance dragging down Sony's entire gaming unit

SmokedMeat

SmokedMeat

Gamer™
http://arstechnica.com/gaming/2012/...ations-for-vita-after-weak-sales-performance/

While Nintendo has been having difficulty in the home console arena lately, competitor Sony is having similar troubles trying to make a dent in the portable console market following the recent launch of the PlayStation Vita.

In a newly released earnings report [PDF] for the quarter ending in June, Sony revealed that the PSP and Vita combined for just 1.4 million sales worldwide. That's less than the 1.8 million units the aging PSP sold by itself a year ago at this time, and less than the 1.86 million 3DS systems Nintendo sold in the same quarter this year.

Sony didn't split out precisely how many sales each portable console had, but even with the PlayStation Portable zeroed out, this isn't an inspiring sales performance for the newer system. A lack of compelling software might be to blame: While the Vita launched with one of the largest game lineups ever, the stream of software has slowed down significantly since then, with only 11 new games released in North America from April to June. The release schedule will pick up a bit heading into the holidays, but it's hard to see any of the home console ports and classic re-releases that dominate the list acting as the major killer app that really drives significant system sales.

The poor portable performance is dragging down Sony's entire gaming unit, which lost 3.5 billion yen (approx. $45 million) for the quarter, compared to a 4.1 billion yen ($52.4 million) profit a year ago. Slow portable sales for the quarter also led Sony to lower its full-year expectations for the full gaming unit and for Vita sales, from 16 million in May to 12 million now.


As a Vita owner that LOVES the system, I'm praying this is their big wakeup call that they really need to do something. I mean, 1.4 million sales worldwide and that INCLUDES PSP sales?!! Fuck Sony, ya think it's time you started throwing some real weight behind your handheld?!!
 
Maybe if Sony made half an effort to let people know the vita even exists, they would sell more.
 
Also they had a huge increase in mobile sold this quater. 7.4 million i guess last quater. make me wonder if they priortize playstation mobile over vita. They have already increased their target at 30 million for their mobile ph for FY and decreased Vita to 12.
 
I had a Vita myself and the tech is awesome and games looked amazing but there is just a lack of appealing games (IMO) atm. Plus iOS/Android are where I and a lot of other people now play mobile games anyway. I only play mobile games on the bus or toilet in spurts anyway and most of my core gaming is on PC so...
 
The problem is also that PS3 sales fell flat on its face as well. Everything outside of the 3DS is falling flat on its face right now, and the 3DS isn't really getting anywhere outside of Japan. New home consoles is probably required for the PS360 to get back up to speed throughout the world, but I'm not sure how Sony can turn the Vita around now that the 3DS has cemented itself as the successor to both the DS and the PSP in Japan.
 
Delusibeta said:
The problem is also that PS3 sales fell flat on its face as well. Everything outside of the 3DS is falling flat on its face right now, and the 3DS isn't really getting anywhere outside of Japan. New home consoles is probably required for the PS360 to get back up to speed throughout the world, but I'm not sure how Sony can turn the Vita around now that the 3DS has cemented itself as the successor to both the DS and the PSP in Japan.
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Ehh ? PS3 is doing well WW. Disappointing on NA though
 
I have no idea what Sony's roadmap is for Vita. They seem more clueless with it than I've ever seen them. Marketing is invisible, future lineup isnt mentioned, even BIG DEALS like COD Vita aren't being crammed into eyeballs at every given opportunity, indeed it remains unshown.

Theyre going to have to launch a near nuclear offensive at Gamescom and TGS.
 
It seems kind of strange to say that Nintendo "has been having difficulty in the home console arena" considering they basically intentionally discontinued their previous console and are in preparation for the new one arriving in a few months.

Also, the "promoted comment" by the editor sounds a lot like a line we've all heard before:

Clearly the market for ninety-nine cent games is much, much larger than the market for forty dollar games.
Click to expand...

I'm no Sony-expert, but it seems to me that the company has a lot more issues than just the Vita.
 
Smiles and Cries said:
if they stopped production of PSPs would this help Vita?
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It should but they will lose money since it's quite profitable for them. Either they can drop Vita's price and let users migrate naturally or cease production of PSP altogether. Price drop is a better alternative I guess.
 
I really don't understand how vita can do so bad, one thing is sure, you deserve it when at the most important gaming event of the year you give more time to that shittybook than to your new handled that is in difficulty.
 
Vita needs games, a price drop, Mario, Monster Hunter, a bundle with a memory card, actual games that shift units and free $50 PSN card with every bundle.
 
It's bad news and hopefully it's the shake Sony needed to get their shit together and show some real support for the Vita.
Still I'd prefer Vita over 3DS big time.
 
If Sony actually made any sort of effort to market the Vita, and actually tried to secure some hard-hitting, mainstream appealing exclusives, maybe this wouldn't be the case.
 
12 million vita sales...there is no ways in hell without a giant price cut and a flood of third and first party exclusives till march which is not going to happen

2+2=5 said:
I really don't understand how vita can do so bad, one thing is sure, you deserve it when at the most important gaming event of the year you give more time to that shittybook than to your new handled that is in difficulty.
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This x10000000
 
Smiles and Cries said:
if they stopped production of PSPs would this help Vita?
Click to expand...

I don't think it would. Sony has to be making money on PSP units sold, and developers still seem to be supporting it in Japan. Killing PSP would probably do more harm than good as I doubt publishers and consumers are just going to move on to Vita if PSP is out of the picture.
 
Shouldve made a Vita series of smartphones and tablets with the bubble OS.

Sony go with the flow man, its not too late to bring Vita phones/tablets that will play Vita games. That way you dont have to kill Vita handheld since they all would play Vita games.
 
TurkishEmperor said:
Shouldve made a Vita series of smartphones and tablets with the bubble OS.

Sony go with the flow man, its not too late to bring Vita phones/tablets that will play Vita games. That way you dont have to kill Vita handheld since they all would play Vita games.
Click to expand...

Then who would buy the vita?
 
Delusibeta said:
AFAIK 360 sales is 48% down this year or something equally as daft. Sony's probably seeing similar figures on the PS3. As I said, everyone's falling flat on their faces.
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PS3 YoY is quite less as compared to 360. I dont think 360 is 48% down lol

Your only looking at NPD.
 
Vita needs to live for the good of this industry.

If sony is out that would mean less competition and more smartphone power, which sucks :(
 
They could start by asking Capcom to make a Monster Hunter for them, just to establish a foothold on the Japanese market. I'm constantly baffled by the lack of any progress towards this. Have Nintendo secured exclusivity rights or something?
 
Opus Angelorum said:
It is, I posted this is the 'Sony Q1 Results:$312 Million' Loss thread:
Click to expand...

That seems about right if sony especially scea continues to ignore it and don't have more exclusives announced,just curious what are the lifetime to date figures of the 3ds?


Airan said:
They could start by asking Capcom to make a Monster Hunter for them, just to establish a foothold on the Japanese market. I'm constantly baffled by the lack of any progress towards this. Have Nintendo secured exclusivity rights or something?
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I think so
 
Given that they won't have to market an Uncharted this Xmas, they should split the big marketing budget between Vita, PSAS and Wonderbook IMO. Give them a lot of coverage.
 
Smiles and Cries said:
if they stopped production of PSPs would this help Vita?
Click to expand...
In the long run, probably, but they'd take a hit in the short run - and with the way Sony is in financial trouble as is right now, good luck explaining such a move to the shareholders. There's also no guarantee it'll help out more in the long term than they'll lose in the short term.

So yeah, probably not the wisest choice.
 
I'm sure the PSV will iron itself out within the year.
Sure i'm not expecting some act of god where it selld gangbusters, but im sure it's going to be pushing a good amount of units this holiday and the future of the handheld should be bright. 3DS had the same rocky start and while it does have Mario and Monster Hunter, things picked up for that as well.
 
Vita still hasnt had it first holiday season in western markets and i would be shocked if AC and CoD cant move some systems this fall. Sales are low but its a price handheld in a difficult environment, i doubt Sony expected much better sales.
 
2+2=5 said:
I really don't understand how vita can do so bad, one thing is sure, you deserve it when at the most important gaming event of the year you give more time to that shittybook than to your new handled that is in difficulty.
Click to expand...

Yeah, if someone told me that Sony was going to feature some Move enabled book over Vita I would've laughed in their face. Unreal.
 
I really like my Vita and believe in it's potential, but I'm increasingly dismayed by Sony's apparent indifference towards success. They've been in this business for too long to be dropping the ball this badly, at least in the U.S.

I'm not even talking about the games, of which there will be a variety of quality titles by the end of the year for prospective and current owners - just the terrible marketing and consumer outreach. E3 was like a punch to the stomach, it's like they expect this thing to just work out for them without any effort.
 
Don't worry, there'll be an international vita-gaming-heaven two weeks before the release of assassins creed with following announcements:

- pricecut at AC-release
- MHP3rdG releasing this winter
- MH4 release date for first quarter next year, so that everyone knows its coming at the same date as the 3DS-version
- bigger FF spin-off (or FFVII-remake )
- GTA spin-off
- RE spin-off
- GT Vita
- GoW Vita

And a big marketing push for the 3rd-party key titles.

Vita saved.
 
Probably the best move now is change drastically the perception of mass costumer to psp vita... not like a console portable (a market pratically dead) but more something between iphone or ipad... 299€ isn't it that expensive at the end, but I don't know who sony can does that... maybe more/better multimedia support, better browser internet & support, lean more to applications like what's up, flash game... needs to work in this way in my opinion. He can promote something like a premium subscription with internet connection at 30 € monthly or less with all online function, leave to pay the whole price of the hardware in this subscription... could be a start to me...
 
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