Sony said it sold 1.2 million units of its new Vita handheld game console worldwide as of Sunday, after a boost from the device's launch in the U.S. and Europe last week.





The company says sales have “exceeded expectations,” and adds that global software sales have surpassed two million units, including both retail purchases and software downloaded via the company’s PlayStation Network.





"PS Vita was designed to deliver the ultimate portable entertainment experience, and we couldn't be more thrilled with the reaction we're seeing from consumers and the pace at which PS Vita is selling," said Andrew House, President of Sony Computer Entertainment. "The market has responded and there is clear demand for a mobile device capable of providing a revolutionary combination of rich gaming and social connectivity within a real world context."

The Vita is Sony's largest launch in recent history, the latest addition to its storied PlayStation franchise, in a rare product category where the company has few direct competitors being the most important Nintendo. Games for tablets and smartphones are however an increasing threat. In Japan, sales also started extremely strong after the Dec. 17 launch date, then weakened significantly in the following weeks.





The Vita packs impressive hardware, including a bright five-inch OLED (organic light-emitting diode) screen, front and rear touch control, and a four-core processor. It also has a custom-built operating system, making it a rare device for Sony in that the company has complete control of both hardware and software.



