More than a year after introducing the PlayStation Vita, Sony will cut the price of both versions of its struggling handheld game system at the end of the month.
[aditude-amp id="flyingcarpet" targeting='{"env":"staging","page_type":"article","post_id":623808,"post_type":"story","post_chan":"none","tags":null,"ai":false,"category":"none","all_categories":"games,","session":"D"}']During the past year, Sony has sold about 4 million PlayStation Vitas on a worldwide basis. This rate appears sluggish when compared to sales of the Apple iPhone, which is selling at a rate of 48 million a quarter, and the iPad, which is selling 23 million a quarter. Sony is selling perhaps 10,000 units a week in Japan, but Nintendo’s 3DS, which has sold 29 million units, is beating Sony in the games segment.
Starting on Feb. 28, the Wi-Fi and 3G models of the Vita will both cost ¥19,980 ($215). The Wi-Fi model previously cost ¥25,000, and the 3G model previously cost ¥30,000. No price drops for Europe or North America were announced, but Sony has scheduled a press event on Feb. 20 in New York.