3DS price cut puts PlayStation Vita in a 'tough spot'
Nintendo's sudden and dramatic price drop on the 3DS will undoubtedly affect the PlayStation Vita, which now carries an $80 premium over the 3DS. Analysts offered their input on the situation, with many agreeing that it will be "tough."
Nintendo's sudden and dramatic price drop on the 3DS will undoubtedly affect Sony's upcoming handheld, the PlayStation Vita. While the system garnered a great deal of enthusiasm at E3 for its $250 price point, it now carries an $80 premium over the 3DS. Analysts offered their input on the situation, with many agreeing that it will be "tough."
"This price cut does put the Vita in a tough position," Jesse Divnich of EEDAR said.
"It is very unlike Nintendo to be willing to take such a loss. I think what it says is that they really feel the heat from the Sony Vita," David Cole of DFC Intelligence told Industry Gamers. Sony's high-tech successor to the PSP may not feature a 3D screen, but it sports a much higher-resolution screen, and graphics that are closer to the current generation of console hardware. Still, "the price difference is tough," Cole admitted.
While Sony will have to be smart about its messaging around the Vita, at least one analyst believes the price drop won't affect Vita's performance when it launches. "I am not sure whether Sony will find it necessary to lower the Vita price," RW Baird analyst Colin Sebastian said. Commenting on the current state of the 3DS library, Sebastian notes that "if game publishers had been able to make really compelling content for the 3DS with appeal to millions of gamers, then the story might have played out differently."
The 3DS has seen a number of high-profile delays and cancellations as of late. Most recently, Metal Gear Solid: Snake Eater 3D was pushed to 2012. Other noteworthy misses include Cave Story 3D, two Sega titles, and the cancelation of Mega Man Legends 3.
The community, for the most part, seems to think the Vita is still the better bargain at $250. Zondaro told us the "better online" functionality of the Vita and its multimedia capabilities makes it the leader. Via the GameFly app, bulldog4555 told us the Vita has a "game lineup that is for the real gaming fans."
Finally, baltmatrix reminds us that the battle is far larger than Vita versus 3DS, claiming the unannounced iPhone 5 will be the best deal of them all.
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replyAndrew Yoon posted a new article, 3DS price cut puts PlayStation Vita in a 'tough spot'.
Nintendo's sudden and dramatic price drop on the 3DS will undoubtedly affect the PlayStation Vita, which now carries an $80 premium over the 3DS. Analysts offered their input on the situation, with many agreeing that it will be "tough."-
It is an interesting change in dynamic. I wonder if Nintendo is now losing about the same amount Sony is on their respective handhelds.
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er no it doesnt. It going down in price wont make me buy one.
A better batterry, region free, original games and the ability to play DS games with at least as good an experience as an old DS..... that will make me buy one.
..... ohhh, ANALYSIST. SOrry i thought that was shack saying that... maybe if you didnt post stories by dudes who know nothing then there wouldnt be the confusion.... -
Nintendo should be scared considering the vita had better graphics then their current console on the market.
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Just wait for the first full 3D Pokemon game. It's like printing money.
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Some insightful commentary from bulldog4555 right here folks.
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I dont know about the vita's buttons man, the vita is the same size as the psp, and with the addition of the right analog stick the buttons have to be smaller, so if you look at the pictures they are really small
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The vita is clearly a high end product and you would expect it to have a price premium because you're getting a more powerful system.
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Doesn't Sony have "Premium System" copyrighted? I think it's filed right next to "Suck it down!" at the copyright office.
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They probably should add more value to the system on release like including free games, movie rentals, etc so it's not as big a hit.
And I'm certain they will probably push people to trade in their PSP's towards the purchase of a Vita, like get 10% more for the trade in. -
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It probably would keep them from getting hacked again
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