PSP
Jan 04, 2012 - 1:56 pm

PS Vita: The Vita Needs Stronger Launch Titles

Things are not looking good in Japan for the new Sony handheld, the PlayStation Vita. On its second week of sales, the Vita sold fewer units than the PSP. This is quite a disappointment considering that Vita is armed with a whole lot more features. There may be lots of reasons behind the poor performance. However, we can cite a weak launch title lineup in Japan. After all, why would a gamer buy a product that can only play games that he is not really interested in?

In the case of Japan, Hot Shots Golf 6 is the best selling PS Vita game. Not really the number one title we were waiting for. While we may get excited over Uncharted – Golden Abyss over here, the franchise is not really that popular in Japan. Japanese gamers would still prefer Final Fantasy, Mario or Metal Gear Solid over Uncharted any time. Uncharted manages to play second to Hot Shots Golf 6 but Japanese gamers are still hesitant to invest in the new handheld. The rest of the Vita lineup are not really appetizing. Just think of the opposite happening to Nintendo 3DS. It comes with games such as Mario Kart 7 and Super Mario 3D Land, titles that are popular in Japan. As a result, the 3DS is doing better than the Vita.

PS Vita

PS Vita: A new generation of handheld consoles (Credit: Sony)

So the Vita should launch with titles that are popular in the region. In the same way, the handheld should also launch in the West with titles that are popular in that region. Uncharted may just be able to make it do better in North America as the Vita launches there on February 22nd.

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Comments

  • Lunias

    This entire idea is a joke. The Vita has plenty of strong launch titles. There might not be any Metal Gear Solids or Monster Hunters, but there’s no denying that there are plenty of great launch titles available. Really. Your biggest point of evidence that the Vita needs launch titles is that the best one is less popular in Japan than it is in the US. That’s silly.

  • xX-MrPacMan-Xx

    thats really ashame im really lookin forward 2 da vita maybe if the vita made remakes of ps2 games instead of ps1 i really would like 2 play san andreas and bully anywhere i want

  • gaza

    negative negative comments thats all i read give it a chance this device needs a price cut to compete with nintendo 3ds no doubt about it that will come i reckon if and when this happens ps vita will sell and with game developers promising software guranteed till 2014 there will be good games in pipeline and obviously thats what gamers want i will be buying this feb 22 as i love gaming and look forward to playing unchatered golden abyss

  • Facelord

    The Vita has the best launch lineup of any game console in history. What it needs is SD card support and the ability to let users have more than one account per system, until it gets that I’m holding out- so are the ten-plus friends I had previously convinced to buy the thing.