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Vita sales sink to all-time low in Japan, outsold by PSP 3 to 1

3DS sales up 53 per cent

Vita sales sink to all-time low in Japan, outsold by PSP 3 to 1
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The PlayStation Vita hit a new low in Japan, as its weekly sales fell below 5,000 for the first time since its launch almost one year ago.

For the week of October 29th to November 4, Media Create reported that sales of the PS Vita dropped 16 per cent from 5,806 to 4,842 units sold. By contrast, Sony managed to sell nearly three times as many PlayStation Portables, with 13,868 PSPs being sold during the same time period.

The PSP claimed two spots in the best-selling software top ten, with World Soccer Winning Eleven 2013 and The Idolmaster: Shiny Festa taking the #4 and #8 positions, respectively.

Big N stands strong

On the Nintendo side of the handheld gaming market, sales of the 3DS jumped 53 per cent from 61,542 to 93,989 units sold. This surge in sales came as a result of a new color model and Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate 3DS XL bundle becoming available on November 1st.

Nintendo also claimed two spots in the best-selling software top ten, with New Super Mario Bros. 2 and Bravely Default Flying Fairy taking the #5 and #6 positions, respectively.

While the Vita certainly has a strong holiday line-up of games planned, the sagging sales in Japan are likely not the sort of pre-holiday portent that western Vita owners were hoping for.

Matthew Diener
Matthew Diener
Representing the former colonies, Matt keeps the Pocket Gamer news feed updated when sleepy Europeans are sleeping. As a frustrated journalist, diehard gamer and recovering MMO addict, this is pretty much his dream job.