Sony PlayStation Vita is not selling as well as the electronics company had expected, but Sony Corporation CEO Kaz Hirai is not concerned just yet.
"I would say [PS Vita sales figures are] on the low end of what we expected," Hirai said after Sony's 2013 Consumer Electronic Show conference, according to the Wall Street Journal.
Hirai explained that it could take 5-10 years to know if a product has been successful and he said that similar questions were asked about Sony's PlayStation 3 early in the home consoles life cycle, but he now sees the PS3 as a success.
The PlayStation 3's sales figures were slightly sluggish when the system launched with many complaining about the system's high price tag. But back in November, Sony announced that the PS3 has reached 70 million units in sales.
Hirai said, "Long term is what is important."
The PlayStation Vita sold well in the United States during the week of Black Friday, between Nov. 18 and Nov. 24. The Vita sold 160,000 units during that time period and Sony noted that online retailer Amazon sold out of "specially priced" Vitas in only a five-hour period on the special shopping day.
Back in August 2012, video game website Joystiq reported that the Vita has sold 2.2 million units worldwide. Three months earlier in May, Sony announced the system had sold 1.8 million, which means that the system is selling about 200,000 units a month.
The Vita currently comes in two models, a Wi-Fi capable version and a Wi-Fi/ 3G version. The Wi-Fi model retails for $249.99 and comes in various bundle packs. The 3G model currently retails for $299.99 and comes with a one year subscription of PlayStation Plus. But Sony continues to avoid a price cut on the handheld system.
What do you think can help Sony to boost sales of the Vita? Would you purshace the handheld if there was a price cut? Let us know what you think in the comment section below...
