Ben-DutkaWhile Nintendo maintains its stranglehold on Japan in terms of overall sales of their Wii and DS platforms, they should probably be aware of the Sony surge, which doesn't appear to be slowing down. Ever since the start of 2008, sales have been on the upswing for both the PS3 and PSP in all territories, and now, the past week has provided more good news for Sony.
According to GamesIndustry.biz and Media Create, the PS3 has passed the 2 million sales mark in Japan, while the PSP sold 121,000 units the week ending April 6. The sleek handheld benefited from the continued success of Monster Hunter Portable 2nd G , a title that wouldn't make nearly as big a splash in the US. Nevertheless, the Japanese gamers love it, and in turn, they're lovin' the PSP right along with it. In comparison, the DS managed to sell only about 55,000 units while the Wii fell to third at 44,600. We told you all about this in our sales update a few days ago, but we're just now hearing that the PS3 has reached the significant 2 million plateau. The PS3 continues to labor without any titles that would force Japanese gamers into a purchase, but with Metal Gear Solid 4 in June, those days will soon be over.
While the PS3 has enjoyed greater success in the US and Europe, one must always remember that Japanese gamers have different tastes when it comes to this industry. In other words, games like MGS4 will likely be more popular in Japan than GTAIV, which is reflected in sales figures. Hence, it may take a while for Sony to really start selling loads of systems in Japan.
