Sony Computer Entertainment America president Jack Tretton has stated that the PlayStation Vita’s sales are “acceptable”. Chatting with GamesIndustry.biz, the jovial executive admitted that he feels more comfortable about the console now than he did four months ago.
“In this industry, you can't get too high or too low, because it moves very quickly,” he explained. “I think there are an acceptable number - and [the number] we've sold: that's acceptable. If it was triple that, I'd be happier. If it was one-third, I'd be disappointed.”
Tretton noted that the PlayStation 3 also got off to worrisome start, but the platform’s selling extremely well now. "Anything with great rewards is going to come with great challenges," he continued. "We felt if the tech was there, and the game support was there, then the audience would be there.”
The Vita and PSP sold just 1.4 million units during Sony's previous quarter. By comparison, the PSP shifted 1.8 million units on its own the year prior. The platform holder expects to sell 12 million handheld consoles by 31st March 2013. It’ll be counting on the success of third-party titles such as Assassin’s Creed III: Liberation and Call of Duty: Black Ops Declassified to achieve that lofty target.
[source gamesindustry.biz]
Comments 13
"We felt if the tech was there, and the game support was there, then the audience would be there.”
Darn peanut butter! So how's about some game support, eh?
@Stuffgamer1 To be fair, I know it's been quite dry the last couple of months, but it did have a ridiculous launch line-up. I sometimes wonder if Sony would have been better having half the games at launch, and then rolling out one game a fortnight from there.
I still plan to get a Vita, I just pushed it off till when games like LBP and Ragnarok came out I can see myself buying a vita by october
The Vita is about as a success so far as the 3DS was in the same amount of time. Give the system a chance, it hasn't even been out for a year, and people will see soon enough the 3DS purchase was premature and that the Vita will have the "must have" games very soon cough call of duty cough
Also, Sony fans are more for the big screen HD graphics, so alot of there fans won't see a reason to buy a portable
vita need ff series and mh series...
Lol this guy is BSing. Vita sales are abysmal.
@get2sammyb: At launch, it had (that I want): Uncharted: Golden Abyss. Ridiculously lame launch, IMO.
The 3DS was flailing after launch and possibly would have died except they cut price from $249 down to a drastically reduced $179. Then every store in the US was selling it with a $50 gift card over the holidays when the Mario games hit the shelves. There's also a 2GB SD card in the box. (The new 3DS XL is selling with a 4GB card.)
If he thinks the Vita will miraculously save itself on its own hes mistaken. Plus I foresee 7" tablet wars on the holiday horizon. And the WiiU. There's only so much money in people's pockets these days.
I think the nexus 7 is going to be a big problem for vita
@Malic I don't. I have one but it is by far an ideal gaming device. It scrolls lower benchmarks than my phone and doesn't offer anything more than a big screen (it's my reddit device). Phone gamers will be phone gamers. People who want to play 'real' games on the go will buy a psp, vita, or 3ds/dsi.
@nathanuc1988 Lol real gamers aren't buying a ps vita that's for sure. I think you may need to check out some of the games coming out for t3 and tell me Im wrong some of the games look just as good as xbox 360 or ps3 not to mention i can play any nes snes n64 ps1 gba games on it all to go with a controller. The nexus 7 is perfect for gaming on the go regardless of what type of games you like "real" games or into phone games. It does way more than what vita can do for a cheaper price at that. And how can you say its not ideal for gaming when it was specifically built for gaming
"Anything with great rewards is going to come with great challenges"
That's probably one of the best lines I've ever heard come from Jack Tretton, and it's one with a lot of wisdom behind it.
@hydeks "3DS purchase was premature"
Really? That's about the same as saying that Vita has no games outside of Uncharted! The 3DS catalog is growing very nicely!
@Malic The Nexus 7 is a fantastic piece of hardware, well, actually it's more like "flippin' awesome" piece of hardware, but it also has its issues. You'll never see the Nexus 7 being labeled as a "gaming console," because it's a tablet, and there's so many of the things dropping on the market that like the games on the iOS/Android markets, get washed downstream very quickly. While I don't think the Nexus 7 will do that very quickly, it's not a dedicated gaming device and Vita/3DS owners are primarily buying for their gaming needs. If Nexus 7 fits your gaming desires, that's great!
Personally, I think tablets/phones will find their hands full when Ouya lands on the market — which I'm absolutely stoked about! iOS/Android developers are having to constantly fit their games to newer devices, which I'm sure you can figure how big of a royal pain that is, when they could be working on new stuff instead. Also, very few of these developers are making much money. The ones I know just make enough money to stay afloat, and many developers are showing excitement about a dedicated Android box to sell their games on.
@Slappy: Right, there's Gravity Rush, also. Two games worth having. Whoop-de-freaking-do.
I remember when the suits at Sony were saying similar stuff when PS3 struggled out of the gate and people laughed them off. The system never climbed out of third place but it has been a successful platform and performed much better at retail than N64, Gamecube or the Xbox so there's still time for Sony to turn this around. They do need to start securing some big third party stuff though. Not sure they're in a position to offer Capcom what they would need to to get an exclusive Monster Hunter but that would help big time in Japan. Also have to get Resident Evil in some form (even just a port of Revelations with a few extras would be nice). Final Fantasy and Metal Gear Solid games made specifically for Vita would be great additions as well. The MGS HD Collection is nice but pales in comparison to getting an exclusive like Peace Walker was at the time of its release.
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