January console sales in Japan, so far...
by Nick Doerr 
{ Jan 17th 2007 at 9:30AM }
The numbers are astounding, but the actual rankings of the consoles shouldn't be. Ignore the 1-50 question mark game sales -- we're not interested in what DS titles sold well over the first week or so of January. Scroll down, scroll down... there! That smaller chart will do. You should see something like this:- Nintendo DS Lite: 344,878
- Nintendo Wii: 195,331
- PSP: 118,186
- PS3: 69,944
- PS2: 52,037
- XBox360: 18,235
- Game Boy Micro: 3,311
- Game Boy Advance SP: 2,364
- Nintendo GameCube: 1,258
- Nintendo DS: 75
- Game Boy Advance: 57
Geez. Japan really, really, really, really, really likes their handhelds. It is interesting to see how quickly the DS Phat was phased out of existence with the introduction of the DS Lite, yet older Game Boy incarnations are outselling the old DS. But whatever, we're not Nintendo Handheld Fanboy. Sony consoles stick together! The PSP is selling rather well, but nowhere near the level of Nintendo's plethora of handheld devices. Take from this chart what you will, but the PS3 is still moving around a bit, despite the January lull.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Antonio @ Jan 17th 2007 10:15AM
I have to admit I'm a little surprised about how well the Wii is doing worldwide. As someone who had all three units last generation I wasn't looking forward to the Wii (to me Gamecube was OK - not great). I have a 360 and I'm looking forward to picking up a PS3 (gasp - it's true - I know PS3 will have great games too), but if a lot of developer support goes to Wii I may have to pick up that too. Damm, I told myself I would not pick up the three systems this gen (bad Antonio!).
Regrezz @ Jan 17th 2007 11:50AM
I hate to beat a dead horse, but this is a PS3 Fanboy comment page. If the PS3 was a mistake by Sony, how do you explain the 3.5 to 1 selling rate as compared to the 360?
I love my PS3....
Nick @ Jan 17th 2007 12:25PM
3.5:1 selling rate IN JAPAN. Considering that it's still a relatively new console it should be doing a hell of a lot better than that in Japan, and worldwide as well.
Ted Nemeth @ Jan 17th 2007 12:30PM
I would like to see sales of the PS3 really pick up in Japan. These figures are heart warming but still underwhelming.
I am surprised because all the polls in Japan showed strong consumer interest for PS3. So what's the turn-off? It's gotta be the price(reason for strong Wii sales) combined with the fact that so many good games are still coming out for the PS2.
Woose @ Jan 17th 2007 12:51PM
Xbox 360 still performing above 15,000? Microsoft can only go up from here
fda @ Jan 17th 2007 5:41PM
i wonder what the pickup rate of ps2 games to ps3's are. Since the continuation of stellar ps2 titles, its hard to give a good attach rate of ps2/ps3 games to each ps3. Especially since they didnt fuck over everyone with only a hand full of BC games and gave you 98% of the entire library, even with a few temporary graphical glitches, thats pretty impressive.
Inspired @ Jan 17th 2007 3:26PM
Um ... those numbers for PS3 in Japan are ridiculously low. Sony announced they shipped 1 million of these bad boys. Anyway you slice this ain't good. If it is lower for last weeks sales, Sony is in trouble in its homeland, for sure.
Michel @ Jan 17th 2007 3:27PM
>how do you explain the 3.5 to 1 selling rate as compared to the 360?
You explain it by the fact that these are numbers for Japan. Japanese don't like foreign products. So the fact that 360 is selling as 'well' as it is - is worth noting as an accomplishment by Microsoft.
>I am surprised because all the polls in Japan showed strong consumer interest for PS3. So what's the turn-off?
My guess is that it has not much to do with the price and EVERYTHING to do with lack of games. Heck - lack of games is the #1 reason I'm still holding off picking up a PS3 (thorughly enjoying my PSP for now)
I think what will be REALLY interesting is to see US numbers for January. There are still practically no games to speak of for the PS3 - but the systems themselves are for the most part readily available ('for the most part' because in my view one can not proclaim widespread availability until I can go to amazon.com, newegg.com, buy.com and so on and order one).
I think January US sales numbers will be indicative of things to come until there is a greater game availability. I have no concerns for PS3 in the long run. Once awesome games start coming out - ppl will start buying the systems in great numbers. But I think we'll see January US ranking order hold true until there are more games for PS3.
For 360 fanboys reading this - it's pretty funny that the last get PS2 STILL outsells 360 in every territory... I'm willing to bet that once more games come out for PS3 - these 2 SONY systems will simply swap places and 360 will remain in the 3rd spot... behind Wee (did I just say Wee?) and a SONY console.
Michael
Ted Nemeth @ Jan 17th 2007 5:45PM
So why is the Wii selling so well? I think the Japanese love a funky interface. The DS with touch sensitive screen and Wii with its physically demanding controller. It's not like there are a ton of games out for it, or even super hot games. Is it just riding on the coat tails of the DS? Even though I dont own a Wii I love it that Nintendo is doing so well. I hated seeing them at #3 when they are such an original and creative company. I do own a DS and really like it alot.
I am sure once the games start rolling out, Sony will be back at number one.
Michel @ Jan 17th 2007 8:47PM
>So why is the Wii selling so well?
I think that Wii is so cheap - for a lot of people it's an impulse buy. While PS3 is the console I really want - if I saw a Wii at Target - I'd probalby buy it. Knowing full well that Wii sports is the only thing I'd play on it for now and that graphics are a joke and would look silly on my plasma. Perhaps more fun gmes will come out for the gestrue based inteface - perhaps not. But for $250 - I'd buy it just for how different it is... Woulnd't be surprised if a lot of people out there feel the same way and so Wiis keep selling out.
Michael
Tom @ Jan 17th 2007 10:31PM
PS3 sucks and will continue to suck until Final Fantasy XIII and Gran Turismo 5 come out, at which point I will most likely buy one. For right now, however, it sucks.
GAMER GOD @ Jan 18th 2007 2:00AM
wii sucks donkey dick.
MrJekyel @ Jan 18th 2007 8:28AM
Looks like "next-gen" started when Nintendo said "GO!"
Sony is like the gimped, almost dog food, horse that is limping around the track
Szu @ Jan 18th 2007 10:48AM
Hey, at least the PS3 is finally outselling the PS2.
Szu @ Jan 18th 2007 11:22AM
Well, at least the PSP is finally outselling the PS3.
Szu @ Jan 18th 2007 11:25AM
Sorry, got confused by the numbers.
Ciaran @ Jan 18th 2007 3:23PM
Xbox 360 isn't doing too badly in Japan (below PS3 anyway). PS3 has only better sales because of brand loyalty and trust.
PS1 and PS2 were great. PS1 was definitely king of the hill back in the day. PS2 was king of the hill, even with the Xbox which was technically better and could do a lot more than the playstation, yet because of a crap controller, crap price, little games at launch and crappy looking, the PS2 kept its spot. This time around, it looks like the Nintendo Wii is at the top, closely followed by the Xbox 360 and later followed by the PS3. This is the way it seems to be going but I could be wrong. This time around, it seems that there are better consoles (eg. Ninty Wii).
It seems that many Japanese have been resistant to Microsoft simply because they see Nintendo and Sony as the companies which are part of their culture, tradition and national identity. They are Japanese companies who have operated in the games industry far longer than Microsoft.
And that's why regardless of which console is better, the PS3 still will sell more. However, I must congratulate all those Japanese who didn't follow the rest of the pack, opened their eyes and realised that PS3 has crap games too.
Frankie @ Jan 18th 2007 3:29PM
Newer numbers are in and the expected downturn in sales everywhere is in full swing. Numbers are units sold for that week(January 8-14):
DS 114,250
Wii 99,500
PSP 46,750
PS3 34,750
PS2 25,000
X360 9,500