The PS Vita’s sales continue to disappoint across the globe, despite Christmas being just around the corner. In Japan last week, the console sold just 4,021 units, compared to around 6,000 units the week before. Both figures are quite bad, especially when compared to the Nintendo 3DS. Sony really need to get the Vita going, and even more so at such a critical time for sales.
Sony has revealed two PS Vita bundles for Japan to add value to the console, both scheduled to be released in November. The Starter Pack includes a 3G PS Vita console, a 4GB memory card and a copy of Everybody’s Golf 6. The Starter Pack will be available from November 22nd and will retail for ¥29,980 (approximately $380).
First announced at the Tokyo Game Show last month, the PS Vita’s Reader app has received a new Japanese trailer showing the features of the app. Reader will hit PS Vita in Japan sometime this month with over 3000 mangas ready for purchase, which can be read in both portrait and landscape mode, supporting touch screen and button support.
Less than a year since release, the PlayStation Vita has passed the one million units sold mark in Japan. The portable console shifted less than 8,000 units between October 1st and October 10th 2012 – one of the worst selling weeks in Japan – but managed to creep past the one million mark in the process.
Free-to-play RPG, Picotto Knights, on the PS Vita will be releasing in Japan later this month. The game combines sidescroll fighting with RPG mechanics, and local and online co-op modes, and is being developed by NHN Hangame and Game Arts. Although the publisher hasn’t mentioned a Western release, a trademark filed by GungHo Entertainment suggests otherwise.
Japanese RPG Atelier Totori: The Adventurer of Arland will be heading to the PS Vita by the end of the year, according to the game’s developers Gust. The game, which was first released back in June 2010 in Japan on the PS3, will be called “Atelier Totori Plus” and will feature exclusive bonus content and DLC.
Andriasang is reporting that a Japanese government agency is investigating cases of PlayStation Vita systems burning up while charging. According to Sony, there have been a total of 31 incidents since the Vita was launched last December. 23 of the cases were in Japan alone, while the other 8 occurred in North America, the UK and Australia.
Earth Defence Force 2017, a third-person shooter developed by Sandlot and published by D3 Publisher, for the Xbox 360, is coming to the PS Vita in Japan in September. The title, which was released back in 2007, will be ported to the PS Vita and retitled as “Earth Defense Force 3 Portable”.
A few popular games in Japan have the boosted the PS Vita’s sales in Japan. The Metal Gear Solid Collection and Kidou Senshi Gundam Seed: Battle Destiny have both helped the console sell almost twice the units compared to last week. Lets hope Vita sales continue to climb as new titles are released.
