Sony Explains Why the Vita Isn’t Selling So Well

The PlayStation Vita just isn’t flying off the shelves like Sony hoped it would. Is it a lack of exclusive software that’s keeping consumers from latching on to the powerful handheld system? Or could it be tough economic times that have led to a soft sales period for the Vita? There are likely plenty of unique variables contributing to the problem, but Sony UK managing director Fergal Gara told VG247 that he believes the more complex market is what people should point to when discussing the sales of the mobile device.

"In all honesty, higher sales would have been what we had hoped for," Gara said. "The market Vita entered was more complicated than it was when the console was originally thought about and designed. Games on tablets and phones have changed the marketplace and people can't carry too many things around at one time.

"The truth is that the number of people that want the core experience [that Vita offers] is not as big as the number that simply want any sort of game available on the move and, because the likes of a tablet and smartphone are so multifunctional in their use, they will always be very appealing.”

There are more and more indie games coming to the Vita, and the allure of PlayStation Plus has made the hardware much more appealing than when it first launched. However, that might not be enough for people to put down their phones and play with a more dedicated gaming system.