Sony cites 'slow penetration' of Vita, cuts portable forecast

Amid weak Vita sales, Sony has cut its full year expectations on portable hardware sales from 10 million to 7 million. The company concedes that the Vita has seen "slow penetration" into the market, and hopes to change that by presenting a stronger software line-up for the system.

In an investor call, CFO Masaru Kato was frank about the Vita's prospects. "One thing is clear for us. In terms of profitibility we have to do a better job of promoting the Vita," he said. He did point out that the company didn't revise its forecasts on "mobile phones and home game devices," signaling more confidence in those areas of the games division.

According to GI.biz, the games division posted revenue of $2.86 billion, down 15% from last year. Vita received the most attention since it's the newest system on the market, but but sales of Sony hardware in general is in decline. Combined PlayStation 2 and PlayStation 3 sales were down to 6.8 million from 7.4 million last year. Portable sales actually increased from 2.4 million to 2.7 million, but that doesn't match the company's expectations.

Sony is expected to announce its next console at an event on February 20.