In a recent interview with LePoint.fr, a leading French publication, the CEO of PlayStation France discussed Sony’s Playstation Vita launch in Japan. Philippe Cardon acknowledged that the modest sales of around 500,000 units were not that reassuring ahead of the Western launch of the Vita, but that there was a tangible explanation for this.
Cardon simply put it down to the game titles, or lack thereof specific titles, that were on offer at the launch in Japan – a very different market to the Western one. The French CEO narrowed the reason down to the non-availability of Monster Hunter being the overwhelming reason for the modest sales. Monster Hunter is a more suited to the Japanese market, and is only scheduled for release in the coming months.
“Had he been there right out in Japan, the story would have been different. The adequacy game console at launch will be the European better than it was for Japan,” explains Cardon.
When asked if not launching the PS Vita in Europe and the United States around the Festive Season had been a miscalculation, Cardon explained that Sony wanted to focus on Japan first, and the supply of units to furnish Western markets may have been impossible.
