Save it from what?

Vita launched at the same time as the Wii U in Japan, but it launched four months later in the west. Here, I made a chart!

It compares the months of each system's first full year. Feb. includes the Vita's launch in the West. You can interpret it in many different ways. Definitely saying Vita is tracking worse by a significant amount isn't the best interpretation.

Anyway since this is going off topic, I'll bring it back to just the Vita. It had an ok first year. Lots of great games came out and the data shows it. That bump for June was the result of Gravity Rush and Resistance. In the west this past year however it didn't have any of those games. Let's compare USA and Europe yoy change per month.

It's down a lot in Europe and a ton in America. September was the only month it had a big game release (Killzone) and that shows. Tearaway is mixed in with the holiday so it would be hard to tell how it affected sales.

Basically (shocker) games are needed. The sales respond when a game is released. Over in Japan it's starting to get a lot of support and look at what that's doing.

WOAH!!!!!!!!!!!!! Japan seems good to go. Heck even this year it was almost enough to offset the drops in the west.

Pokemon exclusive

Oh... this again?

No one game can save either the Wii U or the Vita.

What can save the Wii U and the Vita is a stream of great titles. You have that, you have a sucessful console. Unless you screwed up over the years too many times and dont have consumers trust (SEGA with the dreamcast).

I'll never really understand what "save" means in this context. All I can think of is that it implies that the Vita will be discontinued, which isn't going to happen, so it's already saved.

Therefore, I'm going to approach this as if the question were, "what can help the Vita perform better?"

Many things would fit that criteria, to differing degrees. In Japan, it's on the right course. Sony stopped assuming developers would simply jump to support the Vita and started working closely with them instead. Several "partnership" games have been released with more on the way. Most of these will contribute to a soft rise in Vita sales.

I don't see anything that would automatically result in a sharp spike on the horizon, however. KanColle has the potential but it's going to depend on the game itself. Nothing is known yet. Monster Hunter would but, obviously, no announcements. I'm pretty sure the Vita will get a Monster Hunter game eventually, though, even if it's a couple of years away.

In Europe, I think the Vita will do okay. A Gran Turismo game would help a lot.

In North America, it would have to have more games aimed at children, of which we've seen no signs. This is probably Sony's biggest failing with the Vita. They should have had several kid-friendly IP ready to go from the start.

Some big western IP would help in general but it looks like the principle publishers over here have dropped Vita support before it's even begun. They're pouring all their resources into the XO and PS4. I think it's never going to do nice numbers in North America.

So, really, it will do moderately well in Japan, okay in Europe, and bad everywhere else. I don't see much to change that, honestly. Still, Japan was always going to be its best market. It can be a success based on that alone. With the alliances Sony has formed, and what has already been announced, I'm positive about the Vita going forward. It's going to get Japanese developed games, a few of which will have a nice impact.

On a personal level, I like Japanese handheld games, so I'm happy.

it's getting a lot of support from japanese developers. maybe some bigger titles will help but i think it will do well from this year on in japan.

it needs maybe better western support, cant say i'd care for it and i believe as long as the games from japan get localized and the releases keep steady like they seem to be lately the audience interested in those will gravitate towards the system.

the sales in EU seem decent enough for it to survive, it's only the US that seems to be uninterested in the system.

i cant say games will help because it already has so many, maybe better advertising. so many games are digital only and it feels like the retailers arent pushing the system because of it.

there are many good bundles already, which include 16gb cards nowadays so i dont think the price of the cards is a big problem for the general public. only serious gamers will feel the need for bigger cards.

maybe the slim model will seem more aproachable by the general public.

seriously dont know what else can be done, it's already a perfect system.

also, overdone topic perhaps and the OP isnt exactly a good intentioned poster when it comes to the Vita, trying to take some subtle jabs at it? maybe you should worry about the Wii U more.

Gamez... Not Indies, Not Ports, Not games from ps1/psp, but pure and original big budget games that is exclusive to the Vita... That is what will save it, and a price cut on memory cards wouldn't hurt either

Of course, it can continue to do what its doing and continue to get small sales but if it wants to get massive sales, thats what I think it really needs

Something like Crisis Core or Monster Hunter or a really good Cod to bring in the US people as well as a big budget Uncharted and etc

I think Sony needs to try and launch a Vita model that supports mobile networks. I have two pockets with me anywhere I go, all year round. In those pockets are my phone and my wallet. There is just no room for the Vita. Give me a Vita that can be used in place of my phone, and I would have the time to spend with it and be much more invested. As it is I usually get 40 min to 1 hour a day of play time away from home, and until Vita can replace my phone, that time will be spent on the phone.

Things that will already help the Vita are PS Now, and improved networking. The ability to play a catalog of PS3 and PS4 games anywhere, with proper controls should help the system at least hold steady sales wise.

Other things Vita needs.

Sales, an increase in would do great for gaining 3rd party games.
Big first party franchises. Sony can take care of this with contracted developers, while letting in house teams focus on PS4 were better talent is needed.

The spark would be GTA Vita, then it would explode in the west.

As for the East... It used to be monster hunter, now I'm not so sure what it would be. Doesn't seem like Vita will ever get the type of Monster Hunter game it needed.

Gamers or AAA Devs