Although 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:
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?
Finally! The land of technology knows it's gadgets, and here's the proof!!!
Yes, it is nice to these those numbers PANICinc 🙂
Q!
"i am home"
kick ass PSP & PS3.
Yes but it is important to say that very recently the Wii was selling A LOT even w/o any software. This new trend could be suggesting two things:
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.
Wasn't DQ IX gonna be for DS?
i reckon that your nr# 2 reason is the best. the wii may have hit its saturation point in japan. it's not selling too well because everyone has one.
@World,
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.
It's been 5 weeks in a row in Japan. Yeah, maybe the new releases for the Wii will bring it back on top but not for long once the next deluge of PS3 software arrives.
"bowing to the PlayStation 3" in Japan, Ben you are a silly goose.
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
I dont know about US, but in Japan looks like the PS3 and PSP will dominate in the next year.
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.
I posted some Japan sale figures from vgchartz a few days ago. I was meant to say at that time that PSX used to post weekly sales figures? or have I been missing them when PSX has done?
That's how it's done!
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.
I like the fact that ps3 outsold the 360 4:1, pretty impressive.
I like how EVERYTHING outsold the 360 😀 MEGA LOLZ
360 is a kids toy in Japan (as strange as that sounds). I've seen it with my own eyes. It will never succeed there. Japanese people don't want FPS, and neither do I. I don't really want JRPG's these days either actually though.
what do you want Mr. Teletubby?
I always said this was going to happen it was just a matter of time
PSN ID Biggest_GMoney
It's a great feeling watching 360 in last place wish that it could happen in the US in that order.
Wish it was like that here 360's are way to popular in the states.
Americans don't research, that's the problem, we just buy the cheapest. But we aren't stupid, with all the lawsuits against MS and angry RROD and E74 victims, I think the tide is shifting.
Earth shifts, tides turn.
😉
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 TheHighlander on 4/6/2009 12:20:48 PM
LOL torture porn FTW!
You can say that again. While I think that PS3 should excel, Wii deserves a chance, but XBOX 360 is a Microsoft product and deserves to fail spectacularly (that is if they consoles don't start exploding eventually).
Now the PS3 has a couple of JRPG's coming out they'll sky rocket in Japan, A little more and they'll Dominate Japan
FFXIII releasing this year in Japan will be the final nail in 360s cardboard coffin over there.
@WorldEndsWithME
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.
Like John Rambo the ps3 kills then go's back to its home in the Utah country side.
I agree that software sells the machine (look at PC over Mac for me). But I agree more with the Wii saturation in Japan. Everybody that it really appeals to has one. The people that got it for its novelty have lost it's charm. This could be a great thing for used sales with cheaper Wiis available, but the new Wii hardware market will tank.