Final Fantasy XIII: The Ultimate PS3 Seller In Japan
When one examines the statistics correctly, one can't help but be blown away by Japan's collective interest in the recently released Final Fantasy XIII.
Early reports indicated that Square-Enix had shipped anywhere between 1.6 and 2 million copies of the hotly anticipated RPG when it launched last week. Reports soon followed that over 1 million copies had already been sold, but we finally have a more official confirmation from Japanese sales tracker, Enterbrain. According to PC World citing Enterbrain, FFXIII has now sold over 1.5 million copies in Japan and Square-Enix fully expects them to hit the 2 million mark very soon. Now, there are a few things to remember: firstly, the game has only been available for four days. Secondly, it's only available for the PlayStation 3 in Japan (the Xbox 360 version doesn't exist there) and the installed PS3 user base in that country stands around 4 million. This being the case, it means that nearly 40% of all PS3 owners in Japan already own FFXIII and it could very well be half before the month is out. To add one final bit of perspective, the best-selling PS3 exclusive in Japan before FFXIII was Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots, which has only sold around 700,000 units in total since it released over a year and a half ago.
But here's the thing: we're only talking about the existing PS3 user base. If FFXIII is this popular; if apparently the whole of Japan wants this thing, they need to own a PS3. Therefore, don't be surprised to see a huge spike in PS3 sales in the Land of the Rising Sun and...well, it has already begun. Enterbrain says sales of Sony's machine have already topped 250,000, which is about 100,000 more than when the system hit another high point after the big price drop in September. In short, FFXIII is the biggest PS3 title by a long shot in Japan and for one final compare-and-contrast piece, FFXII sold 2 million copies all told. And that was on the raging PS2. Sony ought to be happy with FFXIII, yes?
Related Game(s): Final Fantasy XIII
12/21/2009 10:22:14 AM Ben Dutka
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Comments (71 posts)
Jalex
Monday, December 21, 2009 @ 11:02:06 AM
Geobaldi
Monday, December 21, 2009 @ 1:27:50 PM
Ultimadream
Monday, December 21, 2009 @ 10:52:14 AM
Reply
Deleted User
Monday, December 21, 2009 @ 10:56:40 AM
Jawknee
Monday, December 21, 2009 @ 2:00:08 PM
Ultimadream
Monday, December 21, 2009 @ 2:17:11 PM
Jawknee
Monday, December 21, 2009 @ 2:26:11 PM
LimitedVertigo
Monday, December 21, 2009 @ 3:24:57 PM
Ultimadream
Tuesday, December 22, 2009 @ 10:44:34 AM
Linseed
Monday, December 21, 2009 @ 10:57:56 AM
Reply
All games for the 360 combined in Japan sold less than 1 million copies. That means that the PS3 beat the 360 in Japan in a day.
I was really excited about FFXIII, but then I heard that it was some sort of RPG-Action game hybrid. And linear as Uncharted 2 (don't get me wrong, I really loved that game).
I guess I'll have to see for myself. Go FFXIII!
EDIT: They really ought to make this site more PS3 browser friendly. I check it 90% of the time on my PS3 and I have to copy-pate the articles so I can read them, given how the adds cover up the text in the articles.
And another thing, every time I post a comment on the PS3, it's posted twice for some reason. I have to delete one of them.
Anyway, go FFXIII (again)!
Last edited by Linseed on 12/21/2009 11:03:11 AM
Jawknee
Monday, December 21, 2009 @ 11:23:59 AM
frylock25
Monday, December 21, 2009 @ 11:51:48 AM
in your browser, press triangle, go to tools, go to resolution and turn it up til your page displays better
Highlander
Monday, December 21, 2009 @ 11:54:15 AM
As Ben (or Arnold?) recently pointed out - using Mass Effect as an example, RPGs with an open world experience are lazy games because rather than work on story and character, the developer presents the gamer with an open world and expects them to make their own story. There are only so many steal object, kill target, escort target, deliver object, protect target missions you can do before it becomes pretty repetitive.
@Frylock and Linseed
Indeed, adjusting the browser makes a difference, you also want tom make sure that your java scripting is turned on.
Last edited by Highlander on 12/21/2009 11:55:18 AM
Jawknee
Monday, December 21, 2009 @ 12:02:51 PM
Jawknee
Monday, December 21, 2009 @ 12:14:04 PM
Last edited by Jawknee on 12/21/2009 12:14:32 PM
Linseed
Monday, December 21, 2009 @ 8:59:55 PM
By the way, what I meant to say in my first comment was "All games for the 360 combined in Japan sold less than 1 million copies this year.". I forgot to add 'this year'. Sorry bout that :P
Last edited by Linseed on 12/21/2009 9:01:22 PM
Kevadu
Tuesday, December 22, 2009 @ 12:22:57 AM
I think most of the people bitching about the linearity haven't actually gotten very far in the game yet.
As for the combat, it's definitely more action-oriented, but not devoid of strategy. Actually using the optima change system is essential for doing well in combat and a number of people have said the fights can be quite challenging. I was a bit skeptical about the get-healed-after-every-fight business but it worked for Dragon Age and it does let the developer ramp up the difficulty of individual encounters without worrying about trapping the player in an unwinnable situation.
Kevadu
Tuesday, December 22, 2009 @ 12:26:29 AM
FFXII is a completely different story, but then a whole lot of fans reacted negatively to that. The reason they made FFXIII more linear is because that's what people *wanted*. It is not a technical issue.
NeoHumpty
Tuesday, December 22, 2009 @ 11:09:05 AM
Troy Powers
Monday, December 21, 2009 @ 10:59:44 AM
Reply
Deleted User
Monday, December 21, 2009 @ 11:18:57 AM
Troy Powers
Monday, December 21, 2009 @ 11:26:10 AM
convergecrew
Monday, December 21, 2009 @ 12:44:27 PM
BikerSaint
Monday, December 21, 2009 @ 7:19:34 PM
WorldEndsWithMe
Monday, December 21, 2009 @ 11:35:54 AM
Reply
Highlander
Monday, December 21, 2009 @ 11:57:02 AM
Reply
Somehow, I can't see that happening.
Next up in Japan is Gran Turismo - another big PlayStation name.
What a nice time to own a PS3 in Japan.
Last edited by Highlander on 12/21/2009 11:58:12 AM
Snaaaake
Monday, December 21, 2009 @ 7:32:20 PM
"Halo Reach will be the biggest game in 2010, Gran Turismo 5 won't even come close to it"
"We're confident the Xbox 360 will sell 100 million units"
"The PS3 sale is hemmoarging(I forgot how to spell this word)"
"We're converting PS gamers into Xbox gamers"
"The Xbox 360 versioon of FFXIII will definitely sell more"
Yea you know........all his prediction and analysis are messed up.
WorldEndsWithMe
Monday, December 21, 2009 @ 12:04:37 PM
Reply
Highlander
Monday, December 21, 2009 @ 12:13:58 PM
Linear doesn't mean no side quests, or a totally closed, on the rails story. But totally open makes story telling much, much harder because if a world is totally open the player could take actions that break the story. The point of an RPG is that it's story and character driven like a novel. How many novels do you or anyone else know that allow you to start on page one, skip from page 10 to 53, then 98, then back to 47, on up to 212, a quick dip to 73, and then a run through pages 15-27 before returning to the 'story' on page 11?
The linear nature of story telling is why RPGs have a relatively linear form.
Jawknee
Monday, December 21, 2009 @ 12:15:51 PM
Geobaldi
Monday, December 21, 2009 @ 1:40:34 PM
WorldEndsWithMe
Monday, December 21, 2009 @ 3:32:26 PM
Fane1024
Monday, December 21, 2009 @ 5:44:09 PM
I would argue that the point of an RPG is role-playing, which (if it is to have any meaning as distinct from how we play roles in all games) must include a greater degree of player choice in identity and action.
What you're describing are adventure games...and most JRPGs are excellent adventure games.
Last edited by Fane1024 on 12/21/2009 5:44:36 PM
Sol
Monday, December 21, 2009 @ 12:42:30 PM
Reply
MysteriousMagus
Thursday, December 24, 2009 @ 8:46:34 PM
It's sad. At least I got the Limited Edition one which you can't get anymore.
As for this game, (FFXIII). I hoping that it will sell good enough on PS3 or more inUS and rest of the world. Just to shut the XBOTs mouths.
convergecrew
Monday, December 21, 2009 @ 12:48:40 PM
Reply
nogoat23
Monday, December 21, 2009 @ 1:21:21 PM
Jawknee
Monday, December 21, 2009 @ 1:54:16 PM
Fane1024
Tuesday, December 22, 2009 @ 4:31:38 PM
SnipeySnake
Monday, December 21, 2009 @ 12:50:51 PM
Reply
Oxvial
Monday, December 21, 2009 @ 1:48:18 PM
still the Ps3 is going to be the better version overall even if 360 got some kind of bonus.
Last edited by Oxvial on 12/21/2009 1:48:41 PM
Jawknee
Monday, December 21, 2009 @ 1:56:59 PM
Fane1024
Monday, December 21, 2009 @ 5:47:29 PM
rell
Monday, December 21, 2009 @ 2:25:57 PM
Reply
Last edited by rell on 12/21/2009 2:26:50 PM
just2skillf00l
Monday, December 21, 2009 @ 5:10:46 PM
Reply
Jawknee
Monday, December 21, 2009 @ 5:41:47 PM
;)
Last edited by Jawknee on 12/21/2009 5:43:42 PM
Banky A
Monday, December 21, 2009 @ 9:37:34 PM
He missed out on RPG's.
And the thought of starting the RPG genre for the first time on an Xbox 360..
Ewww, FFXIII will be a long journey so when will his 360 get RROD during his first play-through? And he might've forgotten to save for ages haha.
/end of intended fanboyism
Banky A
Monday, December 21, 2009 @ 9:39:00 PM
Kiryu
Monday, December 21, 2009 @ 11:25:48 PM
johnld
Monday, December 21, 2009 @ 8:40:49 PM
Reply
http://www.gamenews.org.uk/999519-could-final-fantasy-13-be-the-last-chance-for-the-playstation-3
I was just browsing on google about ps3 and i found this article. It is clear that the guy had no idea what he was talking about when he wrote it. The thing that stood out for me the most is that hes betting heavily on NATAL for 360 and a price cut for the wii. All he said about the ps3 was that the ps3 motion sensor sucks and sony is "lacking" for next year. I guess thats what i get for browsing on google in my spare time.
Highlander
Monday, December 21, 2009 @ 10:00:05 PM
Dismissing Sony's motion capture/controls is kinda stupid since as much is known about it as is known about Natal, and saying Sony is mysteriously lacking next year, despite God of War III, Gran Turismo 5 and Final Fantasy XIII all coming out? Whatever, these MS biased journalists get worse with each passing milestone.
___________
Tuesday, December 22, 2009 @ 12:32:40 AM
that stories been exploding off N4G.
anyway, i just hope sony do not make their motion controller compulsory for any games.
i heard infamous 2 might be the first game to use the "gem" control and i screamed NNNNNNNNNNNNNNOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
please sucker punch, infamous is my favorite game, PLEASE DO NOT DO THIS TO IT!
please dont fu** up whats a already perfect game
Jawknee
Tuesday, December 22, 2009 @ 2:09:13 AM
___________
Tuesday, December 22, 2009 @ 12:28:11 AM
Reply
BigBoss4ever
Tuesday, December 22, 2009 @ 2:16:38 PM
Reply
Laiquelleion
Tuesday, December 22, 2009 @ 3:50:27 PM
Reply
You guys I have a question for you as you seem to keep track of most things about the game. A few months ago I am sure I saw several articles where it stated that the PS3 version of the game (outside of japan) would have both dubbed audio and the original japanese one. With subtitles if wanted. Now I am unable to find even one of these anylonger and hence wonder if any of you know where I can find them ? Or just in general confirm/deny wether or not that was the case ?
Thanks
I am Classic
Thursday, December 24, 2009 @ 1:15:42 PM
Reply

Final Fantasy XIII









telly
Reply
Monday, December 21, 2009 @ 10:42:11 AM
I am really, really looking forward to this game!