PS3 Starting Chart-Topping Sales Trend In Japan?
See Full ImageAlthough the Wii isn't geared towards hardcore gamers, the age-old mantra still applies: without any new, must-have software, hardware sales falter. Perhaps this is the reason the formerly dominant Wii is now bowing to the PlayStation 3 on recent Japanese sales charts.
The previous week's hardware sales are in for Japan, and as The Console Battle points out, we may be seeing the start of an encouraging trend for Sony. It wasn't that long ago when the PS3 would barely move the meter, but as we've been saying, things have changed drastically. Take a look at the stats first:
- Nintendo DS: 65,809
- PlayStation Portable: 54,148
- PlayStation 3: 22,825
- Nintendo Wii: 17,276
- PlayStation 2: 5246
- Xbox 360: 4849
As usual, the handhelds dominate the Japanese marketplace, but it may also be interesting to note that the PSP continues to compete well with the DS. The Xbox 360 has never been able to gain a foothold in the Land of the Rising Sun - as indicated by the fact that the PS2 continues to outsell it - but the PS3 has once again topped the Wii by a significant margin. This has already happened a few times in the recent past, and we maintain that every video game system needs software. It seems inevitable that with all the great PS3 games out there, the system would rise. Isn't that a logical assumption?
4/5/2009 Ben Dutka
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Comments (28 posts)
Qubex
Sunday, April 05, 2009 @ 10:07:18 PM
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Q!
"i am home"
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raztad
Sunday, April 05, 2009 @ 10:30:10 PM
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1) A$$ kicking software from PS3 camp is just arriving, look at Yakuza and RE5, Advent Children Complete with FFXIII demo AND FFXIII release by year end.
2) Wii is beginning to fade away in Japan and probably Wii owners are buying PS3s.
With new releases on the horizon, Monster Hunter and DQ IX I expect the Wii to outsell the PS3 again, but not for long because the almighty FFXIII is coming.
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englishgolfer
Monday, April 06, 2009 @ 2:39:34 AM
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Orvisman
Monday, April 06, 2009 @ 10:43:16 AM
Yes.
And yes, the Wii has hit its saturation point in Japan. Now, I'm waiting for it to hit its saturation point in the U.S. too. It can't keep selling more than a half a million monthly. It can't. I'm guessing saturation will take a little longer here in the U.S. because the country is way bigger than Japan.
While Nintendo likes to point out the Wii is the fastest-selling console in history, there is no way the Wii surpasses the PS2's lifetime sales because it just doesn't have enough hardcore games in the pipe line. Now, that could change; but I doubt it.
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Deleted User
Sunday, April 05, 2009 @ 10:40:56 PM
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WorldEndsWithMe
Sunday, April 05, 2009 @ 10:53:45 PM
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You're definitely correct about the software, I also think (since I've never had a Sony product go kaflooey on me) the Japanese probably know their hardware too.
Last edited by WorldEndsWithMe on 4/5/2009 10:54:50 PM
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godsman
Sunday, April 05, 2009 @ 10:55:16 PM
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Wii are pretty steady in sales. PS3 fluctuates in sales because of new game releases, but there's nothing for the Wii for a long time. What you see is what you get, theres no catalyst to spike the sales.
As for DS, the DSi is the same price as the PSP, after E3, i am interested to see how the handhelds are.
Japan is reached the saturation of Wii sales already. US still havent, but if theres no spike in Wii sales in Japan for the next month or so, it means that reflection in the US sales is not far.
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bamf
Sunday, April 05, 2009 @ 11:12:18 PM
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Scarecrow
Monday, April 06, 2009 @ 1:37:43 AM
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The Wii's cool and has some cool games, you have to admit that.
But after Super Smash Bros. Brawl there hasn't been much to like for the Wii.
That and ps3 is THE real next-gen console this generation. So many great games coming out for it.
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yak4life85
Monday, April 06, 2009 @ 6:39:19 AM
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Robertson99
Monday, April 06, 2009 @ 8:04:25 AM
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migabyte
Monday, April 06, 2009 @ 8:19:04 AM
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isaya85
Monday, April 06, 2009 @ 8:49:42 AM
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PSN ID Biggest_GMoney
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HeXeN
Monday, April 06, 2009 @ 9:42:27 AM
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MadKatBebop
Monday, April 06, 2009 @ 9:54:54 AM
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WorldEndsWithMe
Monday, April 06, 2009 @ 10:55:18 AM
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Highlander
Monday, April 06, 2009 @ 12:15:14 PM
;-)
Wii is saturating it's target market. PS3 software is gradually making the PS3 THE choice in Japan. PS3 could make the same moves in Europe and the rest of the world as well, but the US and UK are so entranced by FPS, survival horror and torture porn that I don't know if they will ever be fertile ground for something other than casual gaming or Xbox360 gamers.
I wonder whether the PS2 price cut to $99.99 might be blunting a little of that Wii energy?
If you're buying a console for the kids, why pay $250 for a Wii, when you can spend $99.99 on a PS2 and buy a sack load of classic titles from Gamestop's used games bin for the $1540 difference in price. I know that if I were a parent in the market for a cheap console for my child's bedroom, I would have to think long and hard on this choice. No to mention that PS2 software is typically cheaper than Wii software.
Last edited by Highlander on 4/6/2009 12:20:48 PM
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twenty8nine
Wednesday, April 08, 2009 @ 2:01:24 AM
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NightHawk17
Monday, April 06, 2009 @ 1:03:39 PM
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WorldEndsWithMe
Monday, April 06, 2009 @ 2:39:25 PM
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smileys_007
Monday, April 06, 2009 @ 4:55:18 PM
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I gotta agree with you. Once FFXIII releases on Japan, ps3 WILL surpass all consoles sales and even handheld sales there. I predict a 1 million increase on the ps3 sales on Japan once FFXIII comes.
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BIG_E
Monday, April 06, 2009 @ 11:38:34 PM
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twenty8nine
Wednesday, April 08, 2009 @ 2:05:27 AM
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PANICinc
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Sunday, April 05, 2009 @ 8:57:53 PM