Support NeoGAF

[Hydrogen Bluebird]

Today, confirmation of Vita’s huge sales in Japan have come by way of Gematsu, which translated Japanese sales figures from February 25th to March 3rd.

In that time, sales didn’t only quadruple. They’re up nearly six times pre-price cut numbers.

Vita sold 62,543 units in that time in Japan, up from 11,456 units the week before. This comes at the same time as a new, significant release for the PS Vita – Phantasy Star Online 2 – launched, selling 61,227 at retail alone (Sony doesn’t release digital sales numbers).

Source: IGN

Hope the numbers can be sustained or at least increase sales relatively in the long term. Also, I hope Sony cuts the price for the Vita in other regions as well.

 

[gcubed]

they'll stay "higher" for one more week with Soul Sacrifice, then back into a battle with WiiU for scraps

 

[Alchemy]

People buying game hardware for games? What madness is this?

 

[noobasuar]

Nice numbers that won't last more than a week or two.

Vitas dead, you guys just need to let go.

 

[joe2187]

Now price drop in NA and EU and watch the sales increase

 

[Ghazi]

Nice numbers that won't last more than a week or two.

Vitas dead, you guys just need to let go.

Except that now it has a much larger user base, which can be sold more games on the Vita.

 

[btkadams]

i hope the sales continue. it's great news. i'm curious to see how soul sacrifice does. the game interests me a lot, so i hope to hear some japan-gaf impressions.

 

[Keslord]

I hope it lasts, but it likely won't.

What could Sony pull out in Japan that could save the thing for at least a while? Nintendo had NSMB2 along with their price cut. Maybe Soul Sacrifice will do better than anticipated?

 

[ShockingAlberto]

 

[BadWolf]

Unfortunately there is little chance of them sustaining any kind of momentum unless they make new software announcements soon.

 

[Necrovex]

I am pessimistic about the Vita's sale sustaining, but I want it to succeed so bloody much!

 

[Heshinsi]

Software sells hardware, who would have fucking thought? The guys at Sony who have been running the Vita show, are some of the most incompetent hacks I have ever seen. Not locking down Monster Hunter when it single handedly saved the PSP in Japan, is the height of said incompetence.

 

[Celine]

"massive spike" eh...

 

[Keslord]

Except that now it has a much larger user base, which can be sold more games on the Vita.

It's 50k more than they would have
That is not "much larger"

 

[RedNumberFive]

After working in Excel all morning this gave me a much needed laugh. I will be printing this out and hanging it in my cube.

 

[Canis lupus]

they'll stay "higher" for one more week with Soul Sacrifice, then back into a battle with WiiU for scraps

Vita's baseline will be much higher than the usual 10k-ish sales for weeks to come.

 

[XiaNaphryz]

Except that now it has a much larger user base, which can be sold more games on the Vita.

Uhhh...

 

[prwxv3]

doubt they will stay that way. Though it can sell if there are games on it. At least in Japan.

 

[Kyou]

Fantastic.

 

[Johnbig]

Glad to see it's doing better. Now if only the Wii U would pick up

Spoiler

lol

 

[madmackem]

Good drop that shit over here and pso2 and i will jump back in.

 

[prwxv3]

Good drop that shit over here and pso2 and i will jump back in.

lol Sega has been dodgy about the PC western release.

 

[Abandond]

Eh...what good reasons are there again to develop for Vita instead of 3DS ?

Why did people develop for the 360/PS3 over Wii? Why do people develop for PC at all?

 

[fvng]

Nice numbers that won't last more than a week or two.

Vitas dead, you guys just need to let go.

Dead eh? Should we secure a plot of land next to Wii U for it then?

 

[DR2K]

they'll stay "higher" for one more week with Soul Sacrifice, then back into a battle with WiiU for scraps

Yeah Japan is tired of portable gaming.

 

[metalslimer]

Yeah Japan is tired of portable gaming.

That's exactly what he said.

 

[Father_Brain]

Decent, though not great, bump. But if this doesn't turn into a sustained and significant increase in the weekly baseline, I think it may ironically prove responsible for shortening Vita's lifespan.

 

[rdrr gnr]

Nice numbers that won't last more than a week or two.

Vitas dead, you guys just need to let go.

But Vita plays used games, noobasuar.

 

[Father_Brain]

Vita's baseline will be much higher than the usual 10k-ish sales for weeks to come.

If you literally mean "weeks," as in "more than one week," then possibly! But by the second post-SS and third post-price-cut week, I expect it to be below 15K.

 

[Sammy Samusu]

"huge sales"

Ok?

 

[Takamura-San]

Nice numbers that won't last more than a week or two.

Vitas dead, you guys just need to let go.

What do I need to "let go"?

 

[cw_sasuke]

Are they ashamed to mention the best selling Vita title for this week ?

 

[Taurus]

Vita's baseline will be much higher than the usual 10k-ish sales for weeks to come.

You keep telling yourself that.

 

[Blueblur1]

Are they ashamed to mention the best selling Vita title for this week ?

I'll take that as a cue to post the gif from the Media Create thread:

It had to be done.

 

[erpg]

Enters a positive Vita news thread.

Sees first reply.

 

[7Th]

BOOB NINJA MAGIC

 

[gkryhewy]

Except that now it has a much larger user base, which can be sold more games on the Vita.

I think you're off by a couple of orders of magnitude.

 

[Freedom = $1.05]

Wait, PSO2 isn't f2p in Japan? Or is it just not f2p on the vita?

 

[liger05]

The headline makes it sound way better than it is.

 

[SniperHunter]

Sony needs a software plan, releasing two games and then forgetting about the system won't help

 

[CosmicQueso]

Holy crap that's fantastic. Add me to the list of Excel slogs using that today.

 

[Psycho_Mantis]

Nice numbers that won't last more than a week or two.

Vitas dead, you guys just need to let go.

No you need to get over the FACT that vita is not dead. If you said dying I could understand but dead. As if it has no releases in the future or is being discontinued.

Stop being a drama queen.

BOOB NINJA MAGIC

 

[KalBalboa]

Enters a positive Vita news thread.

Sees first reply.

Pretty much.

 

[Nekki]

Let's hope the system at least goes into a more positive direction.

 

[Shaanyboi]

That's good, but it doesn't mean anything really unless they can sustain this momentum. The next couple weeks of sales will be the real indicator of any change in direction for the Vita's future.


Also, those WiiU numbers.... gahhhhhhhhh.... games, peeps, GAMES.

 

[thetrin]

LOL, and someone said "I guess PSO2 bombed" when he hadn't heard anything about it in several months.

Sounds like PSO2 will help Soul Sacrifice build a community. Awesome.

 

[Napalm_Frank]

I don't know if GAF can survive Vita being alive at least a whole week.

 

[DR2K]

That's exactly what he said.

They'd have to be for it to be going to where the WiiU is headed.

 

[GavinGT]

I don't know if GAF can survive Vita being alive at least a whole week.

Vita must die in order for us to live.

 

[Brad Grenz]

Wait, PSO2 isn't f2p in Japan? Or is it just not f2p on the vita?

It is which is why it is crazy the retail version sold so much. Anyone can download the client for free.