Japanese stores already slashing PlayStation Vita prices?
Following news that PlayStation Vita sales had dropped significantly in its second week, reports are surfacing that Japanese retailers are already cutting the price of the long awaited handheld console.
Gamesradar is reporting that some stores are cutting the price of the 3G PlayStation Vita model as much as 20 percent. The 3G model has seen less success than its Wi-Fi only counterpart, and so far there are no reports suggesting that model is having price cuts also.
The PlayStation Vita had a relatively successful initial launch -- selling around 320,000 units in the first week. By the second week of sales, however, that number had dropped to just over 70,000. Most new consoles can expect a drop in sales after launch, but rarely one as dramatic.
Many have already suggested that the rather expensive price of the console is a factor in lacklustre sales. The Nintendo 3DS also saw a drop in sales following its initial launch, leading to a significant price cut.
The Nintendo 3DS outsold the new console over Christmas, shifting around 482,000 units on the week of the Vita launch.
It is important to note, however, that at the moment there are still no indications of an official price cut from Sony.
At this stage it's too early to say whether or not the drop in sales will cause the company to re-think its pricing. Drops in sales were also attributed to some bugs and glitches in the first batch of consoles that may have put off buyers.
Previously, Sony has been adamant that there would be no need for a price-cut in the same vein as the Nintendo 3DS. After Nintendo's price cut, Sony announced it was "totally happy" with the price they had set, and that they, "didn't price Vita relative to 3DS or those other devices."
Although poor sales figures may have made retailers nervous, it's likely that Sony won't cut the price of the Vita until after the launch in the U.S. and Europe in February.
However, the company will be facing pressure to consider a price cut in time for the Western launch if sales continue to wither.
Image source: Flickr.
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