Sony: PS Vita sales nearly in line with expectations

The PlayStation Vita has sold 2.2 million units worldwide since its launch in February, which--according to Sony CEO Kaz Hirai--is roughly in line with expectations. Speaking to Reuters in an interview published today, the executive said the new portable is performing up to par in most territories.

"Worldwide, the Vita is pretty much along where we would expect it to be; maybe trending behind in certain territories," Hirai said, declining to specify where sales of the PS Vita were coming up short.

The PS Vita, which went on sale in February at $250, will have to perform better if it wants to draw even with Nintendo's 3DS. That system, which went on sale about a year before the PS Vita, has sold 19 million units worldwide.

One of the criticisms of the PS Vita is that there are simply not enough compelling games available for it. Nintendo designer Shigeru Miyamoto said in May that, "It's obviously a very hi-spec machine, and you can do lots of things with it, but I don't really see the combination of software and hardware that really makes a very strong product."

Big-name games that have yet to release for the PS Vita include Assassin's Creed III: Liberation, Call of Duty: Black Ops Declassified, Little Big Planet, Killzone: Mercenary, Lego Lord of the Rings, and PlayStation All-Stars Battle Royale.

Sony Worldwide Studios boss Shuhei Yoshida said earlier this month that it is "too early" to implement a price cut for the PS Vita this year. Instead, he said he hopes software bundles like those for Little Big Planet and Call of Duty: Black Ops Declassified will steer prospective buyers toward purchases.