PS3 News: Yakuza 3 Powers PS3 To #1 In Japan - PS3 News

Members Login: Register | Why sign up? | Forgot Password?

Yakuza 3 Powers PS3 To #1 In Japan

You know, regardless of price, regardless of bad economies, regardless of any added bells and whistles...the #1 primary driver of hardware sales has always been and will continue to be: software.

When you've got a game out there that resonates with the public, they're gonna buy the system they need to play it. Yakuza 3 has been selling like hotcakes ever since its debut in Japan last week, and as a direct result, the PlayStation 3 has managed to outsell every video game console on the planet in that region. Is it any real coincidence that the same thing happened when Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots launched last year? Yakuza 3 has already sold 372,000 copies, and let's not forget that Japanese consumers also have the option of picking up that white, Yakuza-themed PS3 (the dragon tattooed on Kazuma's back is emblazoned on the system), so that helps, too. Here are the weekly hardware numbers for Japan (source- Kotaku:

  • PlayStation 3 - 36,513
  • Nintendo DSi - 35,827
  • PSP - 35,588
  • Wii - 17,876
  • Xbox 360 - 11,795
  • Nintendo DS Lite - 11,774
  • PlayStation 2 - 5,099

Even the Godlike DSi couldn't beat the PS3 this past week. And perhaps no one has noticed, but the PSP continues to be a worthy competitor in the handheld market; something few predicted when the DS was outselling the PSP by a 4:1 ratio in Japan a little over a year ago. The simple bottom line is that when a piece of software releases that everyone seems to want, the corresponding piece of hardware moves quickly off shelves. It's a rule.

3/6/2009 Ben Dutka

Put this on your webpage or blog:
Email this to a friend
Follow PSX Extreme on Twitter

Share on Twitter Share on Facebook Share on Google Share on MySpace Share on Delicious Share on Digg Share on Google Buzz Share via E-Mail Share via Tumblr Share via Posterous

Comments (37 posts)

ps92117
Friday, March 06, 2009 @ 10:38:50 AM
Reply

RE5 sales 4:1 in favor of ps3.

Agree with this comment 0 up, 0 down Disagree with this comment

Ben Dutka PSXE [Administrator]
Friday, March 06, 2009 @ 10:45:38 AM

That's just because there are four times as many PS3s than 360s in Japan. Not so much to do with current PS3 sales, me-thinks. ;)

Agree with this comment 1 up, 0 down Disagree with this comment

ps92117
Friday, March 06, 2009 @ 12:28:13 PM

lol there 3 times more ps3 than 360.

Agree with this comment 1 up, 0 down Disagree with this comment

Random_Steve
Friday, March 06, 2009 @ 10:42:06 AM
Reply

nice,when does this release in UK

Agree with this comment 0 up, 0 down Disagree with this comment

Kangasfwa
Friday, March 06, 2009 @ 10:45:56 AM
Reply

I bought my PS3 for Ratchet and Clank. Uncharted was a fantastic find though...

Agree with this comment 1 up, 0 down Disagree with this comment

Xplicit
Friday, March 06, 2009 @ 10:48:22 AM
Reply

LOL the PS3 owns all, if we see a $100 drop in price in the US and whatever in Europe we could see similar figures from Japan around the world, THIS IS THE PS3's YEAR and nothing can take that away from it, just look at the AWESOME line up of exclusives.

Agree with this comment 0 up, 0 down Disagree with this comment

Sir Shak
Friday, March 06, 2009 @ 10:50:02 AM
Reply

What genre is Yakuza 3 ?

Agree with this comment 0 up, 0 down Disagree with this comment

Xplicit
Friday, March 06, 2009 @ 10:50:53 AM

Action/Adventure i think

Agree with this comment 0 up, 0 down Disagree with this comment

Ben Dutka PSXE [Administrator]
Friday, March 06, 2009 @ 11:06:32 AM

Yeah, it's basically Action or Action/Adventure. It's like a brawler mixed with a little GTA.

Agree with this comment 1 up, 0 down Disagree with this comment

Robochic
Friday, March 06, 2009 @ 10:52:39 AM
Reply

Wow the DSI is doing so so, not sure how that will due when out in NA. Not surprised that the PS3 is outselling look at all the exclusives coming out this year it's PS3's year for sure.

Agree with this comment 3 up, 0 down Disagree with this comment

AceTatsujin
Friday, March 06, 2009 @ 10:52:59 AM
Reply

I love Japan. <3

Agree with this comment 3 up, 0 down Disagree with this comment

MetalHead09
Friday, March 06, 2009 @ 4:34:35 PM

japan rocks. i hope to go there someday.

Agree with this comment 1 up, 0 down Disagree with this comment

Alienange
Friday, March 06, 2009 @ 10:09:55 PM

I hope to go to Japan one day too.

Agree with this comment 0 up, 0 down Disagree with this comment

migabyte
Friday, March 06, 2009 @ 11:28:48 PM

I've been there 3 or 4 times, going again next week for a few days. It's a cool place, but gaming isn't as big as I thought it would be. They love their digital casinos though.

Agree with this comment 0 up, 0 down Disagree with this comment

Troy Powers
Friday, March 06, 2009 @ 10:54:40 AM
Reply

I looked at the list of top selling games in Japan, and KZ2 wasn't even in the top 30. I know traditionally, the Japanese haven't gone for the FPS, but...was this game even released in Japan? Or did Yakuza 3 simply overshadow it?

Agree with this comment 0 up, 0 down Disagree with this comment

Deleted User
Friday, March 06, 2009 @ 11:04:26 AM

Killzone 2 has only been released in North America, Europe and Australia so far.

I've seen people show off their copies of Yakuza 3 that they imported and some even bought the LE PS3 bundle, which is very sexy I might add. I hope this game does come to North America but if it doesn't, I will import it.

Agree with this comment 1 up, 0 down Disagree with this comment

vicious54
Friday, March 06, 2009 @ 11:53:43 AM

@brighat1971

Isn't the game all in Japanese?

Agree with this comment 0 up, 0 down Disagree with this comment

Troy Powers
Friday, March 06, 2009 @ 12:41:08 PM

I guess that makes sense. They wouldn't want one competing with the other. I'd like to get a crack at this Yakuza game.

Agree with this comment 0 up, 0 down Disagree with this comment

Cpt_Geez
Friday, March 06, 2009 @ 11:01:23 AM
Reply

What's the U.S. release date for yakuza 3?
Last edited by Cpt_Geez on 3/6/2009 11:01:51 AM

Agree with this comment 0 up, 0 down Disagree with this comment

Ben Dutka PSXE [Administrator]
Friday, March 06, 2009 @ 11:06:03 AM
Reply

Anyone asking about Yakuza 3 for North America or Europe, don't hold your breaths. We assume the game will eventually come to these regions, but Sega hasn't announced anything yet.

Agree with this comment 1 up, 0 down Disagree with this comment

Fenrir
Monday, March 09, 2009 @ 9:15:48 AM

Didnīt they say 'No'. I asked my japanese friend and she said it is all in japanese, no english subtitles so far.
It would take quite a time to translate it all and furthermore they donīt exspect big sales in America or Europe. Think of Valkyria Chronicles - we have begged them for months and finally the did it, but it was no really sale success. And finally this game involves nudity and extrem brutality, which makes it difficult to get a clearance for sale outside Japan.

Agree with this comment 0 up, 0 down Disagree with this comment

photo K
Friday, March 06, 2009 @ 11:23:08 AM
Reply

yeah that Yakuza ps3 sounds really sexy, I'd really like a crack at this game, sounds like GTA yakuza style fun!

Agree with this comment 0 up, 0 down Disagree with this comment

PSNclaw18
Friday, March 06, 2009 @ 5:41:51 PM

If you happen to have.. say.. o i dunno.. a jap psn account, you can dl the demo. :)

Btw, it's pretty cool. Sort of reminds of Streets of Rage but in 3D!

Agree with this comment 0 up, 0 down Disagree with this comment

Arvis
Friday, March 06, 2009 @ 12:55:14 PM
Reply

Hmm, so much for Star Ocean. Maybe SE will take a note and... oh, I don't know... PUT THEIR GAMES ON THE PS3! Idiots.

-Arvis

Agree with this comment 4 up, 0 down Disagree with this comment

rell
Friday, March 06, 2009 @ 1:09:07 PM

@Arvis I totally agree with u. Sony will have to work really hard in NA to take the throne back.

Agree with this comment 0 up, 0 down Disagree with this comment

ps92117
Friday, March 06, 2009 @ 1:39:36 PM

bu bu but Wada said they wanted to expand.

Agree with this comment 0 up, 0 down Disagree with this comment

Fabi
Friday, March 06, 2009 @ 1:25:44 PM
Reply

So is it safe to say that the Yakuza franchise is sorta their version of GTA?

Agree with this comment 0 up, 0 down Disagree with this comment

ps92117
Friday, March 06, 2009 @ 1:41:10 PM
Reply

If I am not mistaking ps3 also outsold 360 in europe though not sure if it was the week or the month.

Agree with this comment 0 up, 0 down Disagree with this comment

Orvisman
Friday, March 06, 2009 @ 2:46:58 PM
Reply

The interesting thing to note is if you've been watching Japanese console sales over the past few months, Wii sales keep sliding.

Maybe the Wii has finally reached its saturation point. I'm expecting to see Wii sales slow down globally this year.

The Wii does not have the legs, too gimicky, to surpass PS2 lifetime sales.

Agree with this comment 0 up, 0 down Disagree with this comment

WorldEndsWithMe
Friday, March 06, 2009 @ 3:46:21 PM
Reply

Gimme some predictions! What game will power PS3 to #1 in NA? KZ2 I hope goes a long way, and some are still iffy on Uncharted 2 because they haven't played the original, FFXIII went the way of the schizophrenic derelict so I'm gonna bet GoWIII will put the nail in the coffin because the exclusives that release before it will help close that small gap in sales.

Agree with this comment 0 up, 0 down Disagree with this comment

smileys_007
Friday, March 06, 2009 @ 4:00:15 PM
Reply

GOWIII, GT5, Uncharted 2.. These games will surely uplift the ps3. And if sony will lower the price of the ps3 upon the release of this games, jeezz.. God help the competition!!!

Agree with this comment 0 up, 0 down Disagree with this comment

kidgrid
Friday, March 06, 2009 @ 4:21:16 PM
Reply

Keep holding strong PSP. I love mine depite what the haters say.

Agree with this comment 0 up, 0 down Disagree with this comment

TEG3SH
Friday, March 06, 2009 @ 5:41:36 PM
Reply

for anyone asking about yakuza 3 , go log on to the japanese store and download the demo.cheers

Agree with this comment 0 up, 0 down Disagree with this comment

SpinningBeat
Friday, March 06, 2009 @ 7:36:41 PM
Reply

Haha, ::holds breath:: PLEASE SEGA!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Agree with this comment 0 up, 0 down Disagree with this comment

Zaben
Friday, March 06, 2009 @ 9:33:28 PM
Reply

Dang. That is awesome.
I'm still waiting for the PSPhone though.

Agree with this comment 0 up, 0 down Disagree with this comment

Alienange
Friday, March 06, 2009 @ 10:06:49 PM
Reply

A perfect example of how a game can sell a system. The games are what is important, and Sony's got the best of the best on their side. Now SEGA, bring this mammoth to NA!

Agree with this comment 0 up, 0 down Disagree with this comment

Acehiroku
Saturday, March 07, 2009 @ 3:58:42 AM
Reply

I've downloaded the demo from my Japan PSN acount.From scale 1 to 10, the graphic is at 8 maybe. The gameplay is really fun, not only the combat, when you're exploring the city, it's so crowded sometimes I just wish all these people would just go away, really, it's crowded like a real busy city on monday afternoon. The boss battle is what really won me over, simply amazing, looking forward for the US version, already finished Yakuza and Yakuza 2 so I'm quite familiar with the characters.
Last edited by Acehiroku on 3/7/2009 3:59:04 AM

Agree with this comment 0 up, 0 down Disagree with this comment

Leave a Comment

Please login or register to leave a comment.

Popular Cheats

Recent Reviews

Recent Previews

Sponsor

Our Poll

Do you plan to buy a PlayStation Vita this year?
Yes, I'll definitely get one in 2013.
No, but I'll get one eventually.
No, I have no intention of buying the Vita.
No, I've already got one.

Previous Poll Results