PS3, Wii sales slow in Japan

Latest Media-Create figures show retail volume of new consoles is dwindling across the Pacific; Xbox 360 runs a distant third.

This week began with Sony announcing it had met its 2006 target of shipping 2 million PlayStation 3s...just over two weeks after the year ended. The company also boasted that it had shipped 1 million units of the sleek new console in Japan.

Help us Obi-Wii Kenobi! You're our only hope!

Now, though, it appears sales of Sony's new console have slowed across the Pacific. According to the latest numbers from Media-Create, only 25,531 PS3s were sold during the week that ended on January 14. That's the lowest amount sold since the console went on the market in the country on November 11, 2006, when more than 372,000 Wiis were sold in just 2 days. PS3 software sales were also sluggish, with the most popular game for the platform, Resistance: Fall of Man, coming in at number 40 on the console chart.

During the same week, the Wii, which hasn't suffered the same manufacturing problems as the PS3, sold 93,708 units. Ironically, that was a bad week for Nintendo's upstart console--the second worst since it went on sale in Japan on December 2, 2006, according to Media-Create. It was unclear if the drops in Wii and PS3 sales were due to supply constraints or declining consumer demand.

Though slowing PS3 and Wii sales will trouble Sony and Nintendo executives, respectively, it could have been worse. Despite heavy promotion from Microsoft following its 2005 launch, just 9,035 Xbox 360s were sold in Japan during the week, placing it in a distant third place. The figure was also a decline for the console, which had received a slight sales bump following its bundling with Hironobu Sakaguchi's Final Fantasy-esque, 360-exclusive role-playing-game, Blue Dragon, last fall.

392 Comments

  • Knightmare_King

    Posted May 14, 2007 5:27 am PT

    IN some ways it is personal for the japanese market...they have gotten use to the potential of the playstation and being that it was japanese developed adn does supply the largest RPG games so far and the 360 is making some JRPG games in the works it seems only likely that the japanese economy is pushing for something simple and fun like the Wii and something that appeals to the RPG Genre like the playstation.

    360 is last simply because it wasn't built in japan, purely american so there are some animosity being that there's not enough games that can appeal to the japanese market so unless Microsoft can produce alot of RPG games that appeal to their better nature the sales will still put them in last cause the japanese loves their RPG games that's the bread and butter there...why you think Square Enix produce alot of FF games within the last months...why do you think the majority of games on playstation is mostly appeals to a japanese gamer moreso than american gammers. So if i was Mr. Sakaguchi...i will continue to prospect on more J-RPG for the 360 and fast cause as much as Blue dragon looks REALLY good...microsoft needs some heavy hitting J-rpgs from mistwalker and namco bandai...and maybe Squareenix...but i doubt it from them they are kinda favortizing right now.

  • CaptainCrazy

    Posted Mar 16, 2007 7:39 pm PT

    There's just not enough reason yet for Japanese gamers to buy a 360.

  • greythreat0

    Posted Jan 24, 2007 6:28 am PT

    the 360's sales were only lowest because everyone that wants one either has one or is going to get it when halo 3 comes out..... plus it has been out a year longer than PS3..... im in australia and we can't even get PS3's yet....... thank god......

  • znte140

    Posted Jan 23, 2007 6:15 pm PT

    So when will the human size version of the Wii controller be out in the UK? )

    (P.S. Hope it comes with a secure strap)

  • anandsahota

    Posted Jan 23, 2007 4:00 pm PT

    I think all you have to do is look at the tables on the gamespot hompage. 4 of the top 10 are 360 games. Crackdowns no.1, Lost Plantets no.1 in the available now and Gears of War is the highest rated. So i think its purely personal that the japenes arent buying 360's. what does everyone else think?

  • MrSickVisionz

    Posted Jan 23, 2007 11:07 am PT

    Bad news for PS3. To me, its unrealistic for nintendo to keep selling a million units a month. They were having beast like sales and a drop was gonna happen eventually.

  • Murpheus007

    Posted Jan 23, 2007 7:40 am PT

    Gee I wonder if the decline in the hardware sales have anything at all to do with the lack of ANY software coming out for the PS3. I can't believe we haven't seen a single new title worth a hill of beans, and on top of that they keep pushing back all the good ones. I love my PS3, but seriously, where's the beef?

  • matrixman2k

    Posted Jan 23, 2007 2:24 am PT

    Oh well.

    Future looks bleak...

  • 9344891

    Posted Jan 23, 2007 12:39 am PT

    Its because there are no games they want for both sistems zelda is not as big in japan and ps3 line up is crap for japan as they dont like fps. Not surprising

  • illisium

    Posted Jan 22, 2007 11:35 pm PT

    Japanese developers can't keep ignoring Microsoft forever, and let's be honest here: that's what this is about. The success of the XBox360 hinges on the ability to seduce those developers, and the success of the PS3 depends on the ability to retain them. If games like FFXIII and MGS4 get ported to the 360 or the Wii, it'll be the end of the PS3. If they don't...well, Microsoft will probably just dump more money into the 360.

  • niteowl74

    Posted Jan 22, 2007 11:08 pm PT

    Nearly 10,000 sold in japan in one week. I guess thats as good as it can get for Microsoft. I hope Japanese developers are starting to realize the success they can have releasing a game for both systems over here since the 360 has sold so much better here. Look at the success Capcom has had with just its 360 excluisives

  • jknight5422

    Posted Jan 22, 2007 10:17 pm PT

    monsteronthego:
    CAN WE ALL JUST GET ALONG AND HOLD HANDS BECAUSE IN THE END IT DOSEN'T MATTER WHAT CONSOLE WE CHOOSE WE ALL WASTE MONEY

    You can sing kum bye yah all you want to & hold hands with your
    same-sex friends...but I'll still you call you an idiot. :-D

  • Floms

    Posted Jan 22, 2007 8:05 pm PT

    hahahahahaha lol

  • monsteronthego

    Posted Jan 22, 2007 5:09 pm PT

    sluffmochildeater spliintercell isn't an exclusive yet.. the 5th one i heard is the exclusive one get your info strait. anyways ps3 exclusives i can think about

    MGS4
    LAIR
    MOTORSTORM
    DMC
    TEKKEN
    GT5
    WARHAWK
    F1
    Eight Days and soo on...

    but now im not in the mood to argue i have a 360 aswell and i noticed you put some crappy games here is what i THINK (key word) is a better list
    for 360 exclusives
    MASS EFFECT
    Forza 2
    Fable 2
    Lost planet
    Alann Wake
    i guess Halo too and yet again soo on, later!!!!

    CAN WE ALL JUST GET ALONG AND HOLD HANDS BECAUSE IN THE END IT DOSEN'T MATTER WHAT CONSOLE WE CHOOSE WE ALL WASTE MONEY

  • Hell-Fire21

    Posted Jan 22, 2007 4:42 pm PT

    Man...the 360 all alone. I wouldn't worry if I were Nintendo, but Sony *coughomgcough*...

  • sluffmochildeater

    Posted Jan 22, 2007 4:18 pm PT

    @Gamer443 Please note the "2" at the end of Splinter Cell Double Agent 2. The sequel will be an xbox excusive. I didn't say the one now was an Xbox exclusive. M$ has said it multiple times. I think you can find it on their E3 announcement video and the link below. @Trinimom there is an un-named sequel in production. And I meant exclusive for consoles. It will be on PC too. Sorry if there was some confusion...
    http://www.gamespot.com/news/6158827.html?q=splinter%20cell

  • Trinimom

    Posted Jan 22, 2007 4:07 pm PT

    Splinter Cell Double Agent 2?
    their's a sequle?

  • Gamer443

    Posted Jan 22, 2007 3:50 pm PT

    also to the poster below me splinter cell double agent is not a xbox 360 exclusive it came out for all the consoles and coming out for the ps3 with more exclusive content

  • sluffmochildeater

    Posted Jan 22, 2007 2:40 pm PT

    @jackfatal I don't know how many times this has been said but Ninja Gaiden Sigma is just a ported version of Ninja Gaiden Black for the old XBox. You could buy a XBox/Xbox 360 right now and play it. You don't have to pay 600$ for a PS3 and wait... Ninja Gaiden Sigma is exclusive to PS3 because the true sequel to the XBox version is going to be an XBox 360 exclusive. Exclusive XBox 360 games:
    Blue Dragon
    Splinter Cell Double Agent 2
    Gears of War
    Dead Rising
    Halo

    That's off the top of my head. I will own a PS3 once FFXIII comes out so I'm not saying which is better. Just that you should research a little more before saying something like Ninja Gaiden is PS3 exclusive when all it's getting is a XBox port.

  • miiiguel

    Posted Jan 22, 2007 2:32 pm PT

    jackfatal: no worries m8, I was just messing around really, I'm still at work and bit (a lot ) p***ed, 'cos this damn "super-computer" don't want to "see" the freakin disks!!!!! I wanna go home!!! I want my couch + 360!!!

  • jackfatal

    Posted Jan 22, 2007 2:24 pm PT

    @miiiguel sorry for the that, i wanted to say cell can divide it self in to many sub-CPU's or sub-parts that each take a different tast! my latest info is that only the cell has that architecture, am not sure but that might reserve the right to make something like their architecture! and all other CPU's do one task at a time but due to its speed they devide the work to multitasts so that it apears to do things at the same time!

  • jackfatal

    Posted Jan 22, 2007 2:23 pm PT

    @miiiguel sorry for the that, i wanted to say cell can divide it self in to many sub-CPU's or sub-parts that each take a different tast! my latest info is that only the cell has that architecture, am not sure but that might reserve the right to make something like their architecture! and all other CPU's do one task at a time but due to its speed they devide the work to multitasts so that it apears to do things at the same time!

  • jackfatal

    Posted Jan 22, 2007 2:08 pm PT

    its all about gaming!! the ones has more and better games it will win in the end! no matter what is the price! power not equal to winning but gaming is!! and i think or hope that now that it looks there is a compitition i hope there will be some new creative amazing games!! we all want to see some new and nice games! new=new idea! good stories, gameplay, graphics! i like sony only because their products are so good and they provided realy nice games in ps1 and ps2!! thats y i like sony!!! y does any body like xbox or x360? is it because of halo? or gears of war? is that enough? and i dont want to hear other BS games i mean the real good games!! i forgot ninja gaiden, but now it seems to be ps3 exclusive!! if xbox convince me with there games then i might switch other than that its impossible!! and am waiting for a price drop before i pick up a ps3!!

  • jaefrmbk2k

    Posted Jan 22, 2007 2:08 pm PT

    you call this news? gitOFF me! don't touch me.

  • miiiguel

    Posted Jan 22, 2007 2:07 pm PT

    "because the cell is like million cell processors inside it plus ps3 have 7 of those cells!! so 7*millions of cells"
    Your statement claims that PS3 as infinite number of cpu's,if 7 cells have millions of cells, those millions of cells would have another millions of cells, that would have some cazillion number of cells, wich would have...
    It's a cpu mine, after all!

  • Symphonycometh

    Posted Jan 22, 2007 2:07 pm PT

    The Japanese are not being patriotic. They can tell which product is better by looking at it. Simple as that. If the 360 actually had the games they wanted and was stronger than the PS3, then it wouldn't be so slow. Patriotic kissing up is 10.2 million 360's sold thus far...with sales hiting mainly in U.S. And to diss the PS3 for something other than the price *That or you don't like RPG's and action.* Would be showing blind xbox/Nintedo love. The only real thing that the PS3 doesn't have to Xbox is an affordable Christmas price and a Halo. Speaking of which: Why would Americans buy a PS3 after going shopping for family and friends for Christmas? The last time I checked, people don't go buying 600$ things after Christams! Thus the slow sales I believe....though I could be wrong...

  • miiiguel

    Posted Jan 22, 2007 2:03 pm PT

    jackfatal: do you think that any architecture see the light of day in one year ?
    I have a window right by the side of this with a login in a computer with 32 CPU's an 16Gb of memmory. Am I having fun with it ? Heck no! I'd rather be home playing with my 360.

  • jknight5422

    Posted Jan 22, 2007 1:55 pm PT

    Never thought someone would attack console games from HPUX. I can't believe someone is bragging about working on one at a game forum.

    Here's another Sony tech that hasn't gone anywhere: SACD.

  • jackfatal

    Posted Jan 22, 2007 1:51 pm PT

    jknight5422 when the cell processor was released it was brand new tech, so how is it possible that the xbox360 has that tech 1 year before? and sharing the CPU's power isn't the same as cell processor!! (this tech is not new, which is that the task is shared by multiple processors)because the cell is like million cell processors inside it plus ps3 have 7 of those cells!! so 7*millions of cells!! so its not the same as xbox360 processor!!

  • miiiguel

    Posted Jan 22, 2007 1:32 pm PT

    So much BS, and japan's b*** kissing...!, And thought americans were patriots, and after all they keep bashing one of their most important companies.
    Oh well I like it!
    joe_some_thing: when you grow up and work in front of a computer 10 hours a day, I doubt you want to sit in front of an office desk in your ludic times.
    PC= work; Console=play!
    mciverizonguy: the best console on the market ? with what game ? I work winth 32 CPU's computers, but they don't have games for it, does it still means it's the best computer I can get ?!! Please tell me can I play Gears of War in a HP-UX ???, no!!!

  • not-e-n-e

    Posted Jan 22, 2007 12:38 pm PT

    ha, poor 360... oh well, slow sales are to be expected after everyone who wanted/could afford a new system got one.

  • mciverizonguy

    Posted Jan 22, 2007 12:34 pm PT

    I will buy only the best console on the market, Playstation 3 is the best console on the market. I will buy a Playstation 3.

  • Monstromo

    Posted Jan 22, 2007 12:32 pm PT

    The Japanese market is obviously saturated. Too many systems competing for the same consumers. After a while that is bound to backfire. I don't think it means that any system is not attractive. It is just that sales must have been driven by pent up demand that was released after the products no longer seem to be in short supply.

    Psychologically, the consumers are no longer feeling driven to get in on the action because the action was really just an idea that "you gotta have one now because otherwise you won't get one." But now the consumers are over that initially panic buying. And even more importantly the media is no longer pushing the systems for the big three.

    There is a cause and effect dynamic that is driven by the media depicting the market as being in a frenzy. When there is a frenzy reported, like constantly reportig that consumers must line up at all hours of the night to get a system people will go and do that.

    Now the media is saying, don't worry systems are available, in fact they are stacking up, results in consumers thinking that the product is no longer "hot."

    If a product ain't considered hot anymore people don't rush to buy them. Rather, they buy them according to their normal purchase habits.

    Only the most avid gamers buy impulsively after the market has been reported as "cooling off."

    So, I think, and this point is obvious that Sony, Microsoft and Nintendo are just victims of their own hype.

    I mean the story of unavailable Wii's and PS3's can be the headline for so long. Eventually, manufacturing and supply line issues have to resolve. Here they did and so did the excitement associated with lack of supply.

  • KenderDragon

    Posted Jan 22, 2007 12:31 pm PT

    Neeeeddddd, Bluuuuuueee Draaaagooon!!

  • cjnwo4life

    Posted Jan 22, 2007 12:05 pm PT

    All i know is that according to the article, sales are very slow for the ps3. This trend will increase in North America this year and after the european launch. The cost will keep casual consumers away until a big price cut hits both consoles. 360 sales will slow as well but you can expect a price cut as well that will put it close to the wii as far as pricing is concerned.

  • Zonelezz

    Posted Jan 22, 2007 11:40 am PT

    wow wonder whats up with the japanese market.. dosnt seem to be doing to well wit h the game consoles... wonder if there starting to give out on games.

  • jknight5422

    Posted Jan 22, 2007 11:22 am PT

    jackfatal
    jknight5422 i wonder from where did u bring ur news from when u said that x360 has a cell processor also??
    -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    I've done my research.

    It's not called a Cell but it's the same thing. It's a triple core
    powerPC cpu co-developed with IBM. The japanese companies
    co-developered a similar chip with IBM. The only thing anyone
    has said is that the PS3 is a little faster than the 360. The speed
    differential between them is pretty much negligible.

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xbox_360#Central_processing_unit
    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PlayStation_3#Hardware_summary

    What you are seeing is that M$ is cutting a little on the cost,
    saving a buck & making money for its stockholders as we
    speak. Sony keeps putting everything off to the future. This
    is counterproductive for the Sony stock investor. Why would
    they blow off the PC-based EverQuest gamers before the
    PS3 version is available? With World of Warcraft's 7 million users at $15/month, that makes WoW a billion dollar a year
    industry.

    It seems Sony is serious about controlling their customer
    base. They want to contain everyone in the PS3 world & for
    the sake of this, it's killing their business. Their MD mini-disc
    didn't make it in the States..was Betamax theirs as well? All
    the proprietary technology they make has proven time & time
    again to backfire. Blu-ray will probably be no different, my
    guess. Anyway, maybe they'll make the PS3 work for those
    who are currently using it as a paperweight, until the real
    PS3 games come out. Or those who are waiting until the
    PS3 price drops. Alternatively, you could use the PS2 games
    for the time being until the PS3 games are out.

    I did wait a year to see how the PS3 would fare before buying
    the 360. They'll really have to curry my favor to perculate interest in me making a purchase of it anytime in the next
    6-12 months.

  • Mkeegs79

    Posted Jan 22, 2007 10:29 am PT

    They all think they are superior, huh? EpidemicAHazard, that is stupid and that is sterotyping everyone in Japan. I have been to Japan many times. They are not as you or your teach perceive EVERYONE in Japan.

  • EpidemicAHazard

    Posted Jan 22, 2007 10:06 am PT

    lol if u heard what my global studies teacher said i guess it would make sense "Japanese people believe that they are superior then those from outside there land. They have developed there own culture and cultural diffusion was not impacted." Holy crap did i learn something in school that makes sense in life............................daaaaaaaaaaaaaamn

  • jackfatal

    Posted Jan 22, 2007 9:32 am PT

    jknight5422 i wonder from where did u bring ur news from when u said that x360 has a cell processor also?? please dont lie! or get the right info next time!!

  • malmeid2

    Posted Jan 22, 2007 9:26 am PT

    Obi-Wii Kenobi LOL

  • henry4th

    Posted Jan 22, 2007 9:22 am PT

    Sheesh.. after Christmas, I can't even afford a $50-$60 dollar game anymore. Sales figure for almost every thing (electronic wise) dropps after Christmas... What do they expect?

  • smackc

    Posted Jan 22, 2007 8:27 am PT

    at this time i own a wii and a 360, they are both great. the power of the 360, and the novelty of the wii's controls. they both serve the purpose of entertaining. the wii will survive because of the difference in controles and interactivity, though it's in the same market, it's still a different breed. the loser will eventually be the 360 or ps3, because they are both trying to capture the power, graphics, pimp daddy console market. with Bill Gates very deep pockets, and sony's loyal fan base this should be interesting to watch. who knows maybe all 3 players will last and we all may win. jmo

  • nu-animal

    Posted Jan 22, 2007 8:20 am PT

    It's the first month after Xmas!? The majority of people will be wary with their money.

  • diablo1000000

    Posted Jan 22, 2007 8:10 am PT

    It's January... the WORST time to afford to by a new console. At the moment I can barely eat thanks to the Christmas spend... so I certainly couldn't buy one of these consoles if I wanted to!

    Jan is always a slow consumer month anyway, especially for non-sale items.

  • jknight5422

    Posted Jan 22, 2007 8:07 am PT

    Here is something further comical about Sony. I was asking a guy
    about EverQuest online & he played it for a long time. He said that
    when Sony made some announcements about moving it to the PS3,
    that they lost a lot of customers. And then you can see that World of
    Warcraft's customer base swells to 7 million users. All so Sony can move its EverQuest to the PS3 in the coming future. And I
    seriously doubt it'll be a free online game. Yet more of the baffling
    Sony business strategy.

  • chrisdojo

    Posted Jan 22, 2007 7:37 am PT

    still good for the Wii.... as time passes and more games come out, sales will pick up again.

  • Bathyj

    Posted Jan 22, 2007 6:44 am PT

    joe_elwick There are alot of really good games that are console only. It depends what type of experience you're into. And you are the one who is misled if you think PS3 is more than twice the price of a 360.

  • joestierman

    Posted Jan 22, 2007 6:42 am PT

    lol 9000 360s. it was probly just all the americans that happen to be there.

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