Sony’s newest portable console, the PS Vita, has apparently had a bit of a bumpy launch this week, as the console hit the Japanese market ahead of its international release early next year.

 

According to the BBC, some users reported technical issues with the device, including an unresponsive touchscreen, and occasional crashes. Sony was quick to respond though, releasing a firmware update as well as posting a statement on its Japanese site offering a list of solutions for those experiencing problems.

 

Console gamers are certainly no strangers to early glitches at launch. The original Xbox 360  was plagued by the debilitating and console ending Red Ring of Death for quite some time after it was released.

 

 

Despite this, the Vita garnered a considerable 321 400 sales in its first two days. This however, is still almost 50 000 units behind that of Nintendo’s 3DS, which sold 371 000 units by comparison.

 

The BBC quoted David Wilson, head of PR, UK at Sony Computer Entertainment Europe, as stating that the company was “incredibly pleased with the success of the Japanese launch of PlayStation Vita in which all pre-orders were sold”. The company is apparently also confident that it would continue to accelerate the momentum as it approached the European launch in February.

 

Sony also appears mindful of the main problem which plagued the 3DS – not enough compelling titles at launch. In its favour, the Vita already has a substantial library of more than two dozen games, which is expected to grow to 33 titles by the time we get our hands on it in the third week of February.

 

Even more promising, some early game reviews – most notably of the standout Uncharted: Golden Abyss – have gushed over the game on the platform, singling it out at “the reason to own a PlayStation Vita.” Equally as heartening is that Sony has planned out its Vita game release schedule running into 2013, which points to a healthy continuity of (hopefully high quality) titles.

 

 

This, we suspect, will ultimately decide the Vita’s fate, whether it will become another hit, as did the long-running PS2, or a casualty of gamers increasingly accustomed to playing games on their tablets or smartphones.