As of April 11, total sales stood at 5,001,598 units, according to figures from Famitsu publisher Enterbrain.
PS3 launched in the country almost three and a half years ago on November 11, 2006, but its bestselling games are all relatively recent releases.
Final Fantasy XIII tops the pile with 1,883,828 units sold, Metal Gear Solid 4 places second with 706,461 units, and March 2010 release Yakuza 4 third with 526,093 units.
Enterbrain said in early March that Japanese Wii sales stood at 10,009,736 units, compared to 1,235,049 Xbox 360 sales.
How wll the Xbox crack the Japanese market I wonder? Natal? Alan Wake? Xbox Slim? Any ideas guys?
No chance. Xbox 360 will never reach 2 million, let alone 5 million.
I love your optimism Wildhook, its so refreshing.
Anyhoos, good number for Sony and especially Nintendo, one positive for MS is that the 360 has sold more than the original xbox in a shorter space of time.
I'm still sat on the fence regarding Natal, but you never know - it could potentially do rather well in Japan.
The only thing going against Natal in the East is the fact that most homes over there can be a little cramped - though that never stopped the Wii selling shedloads.
Natal is the catalyst for MS's future. It has to succeed.
I agree with Mark - On my calculations with the current rate at which the consoles are selling is that the PS3 will catch the xbox up in around 70-80 weeks. so Natal must do well
The PS Move should help provide more of an uplift for the PS3 as it would at that point effectively be a HD Wii, with a better hard core games library (and unfortunately without the great Nintendo games).
As for the topic swapper... I don't see Natal doing anything at all for the XBox 360 in Japan. I think the Japanese are more likely to migrate from the Nintendo Wii to the PS3 + PS Move when that hits, if they migrate at all. Keep in mind, we're talking about a territory where they find out an "exclusive" X360 game *is* coming out on the PS3 and snap their DVD copy in half. If you think Natal is going to do anything to help the X360 in Japan, you're only deluding yourself.
I don't see Natal doing anything at all for the XBox 360 in Japan. I think the Japanese are more likely to migrate from the Nintendo Wii to the PS3 + PS Move when that hits, if they migrate at all.
Keep in mind, we're talking about a territory where they find out an "exclusive" X360 game *is* coming out on the PS3 and snap their DVD copy in half. If you think Natal is going to do anything to help the X360 in Japan, you're only deluding yourself.
I love your optimism Wildhook, its so refreshing.
... But it's realistic!
Im not oging to speak for a whole Nation on something that I dont know anything about (Natal), the one thing I do know about the Japanese is that they like there gadgets and to dismiss Natal like you are Lord is a little shortsighted.
Im not oging to speak for a whole Nation on something that I dont know anything about (Natal), the one thing I do know about the Japanese is that they like there gadgets and to dismiss Natal like you are Lord is a little shortsighted.
Lets wait and see.
Well if you want to start name calling - I think you're being shortsighted.
Microsoft is not a trendy company, despite your constant wailing. If Microsoft wants to succeed in Japan, Microsoft needs to become Japanese or become trendy.
Lord Von...im sure Natal will boost sales in Japan, as the Japenese love anything New and exciting. So It WILL boost sales of the 360...enough to dent the PS3 sales....i very much doubt it...any way..Alan Wake in 5 weeks!!! Happy days
Lord Von...im sure Natal will boost sales in Japan, as the Japenese love anything New and exciting. So It WILL boost sales of the 360...enough to dent the PS3 sales....i very much doubt it...any way..Alan Wake in 5 weeks!!! Happy days
Week 1 sales for Natal will no doubt look alright. The real question is how Natal unit sales compare with Natal + XBox 360 bundle sales. I can see XBox 360 owners going out and buying Natal, but I don't envisage many bundles being sold compared to Sony's PS3 + PS Move offering (and the Wii of course).
I think the Japanese like clever, sleek design. The 360 is a great console (as are the PS3 and wii), but sleek, quiet and well built it is not.
Perhaps the rumoured slim will make more of an impact if it actually exists.
I'm not sure Natal will make THAT much difference in Japan. And it will have Move to compete against, which will probably be awash with mental Smoothmove type Japanese mini games. Bisi Bashi would be perfect too!
Im not oging to speak for a whole Nation on something that I dont know anything about (Natal), the one thing I do know about the Japanese is that they like there gadgets and to dismiss Natal like you are Lord is a little shortsighted.
Lets wait and see.
Well if you want to start name calling - I think you're being shortsighted.
Microsoft is not a trendy company, despite your constant wailing. If Microsoft wants to succeed in Japan, Microsoft needs to become Japanese or become trendy.
Im not saying that Natal is going to be a major success just like im not saying its going to be a complete failure either. Unlike the Wii and Move we have seen nothing other than some Tech demos for Natal, so like ive said about 389,451 times on this site, I will wait until all software has been shown and real hands on time has been conducted before saying Yay or Nay to Natal. Wouldnt that be the sensible thing to do?
what makes anyone think that natal will improve its success over there - when they have 2 homegrown, infinitely more respected companies with motion control also?!
MS don't have the install base over there, so sony is going to benefit from motion control 5-fold from the off.
360 and japan... never gonna happen. common sense.
Im not oging to speak for a whole Nation on something that I dont know anything about (Natal), the one thing I do know about the Japanese is that they like there gadgets and to dismiss Natal like you are Lord is a little shortsighted.
Lets wait and see.
Well if you want to start name calling - I think you're being shortsighted.
Microsoft is not a trendy company, despite your constant wailing. If Microsoft wants to succeed in Japan, Microsoft needs to become Japanese or become trendy.
Im not saying that Natal is going to be a major success just like im not saying its going to be a complete failure either. Unlike the Wii and Move we have seen nothing other than some Tech demos for Natal, so like ive said about 389,451 times on this site, I will wait until all software has been shown and real hands on time has been conducted before saying Yay or Nay to Natal. Wouldnt that be the sensible thing to do?
If that were really your standpoint, the sensible thing to do would be to ignore posts similar to the one you originally replied to. You cannot help a Charmander evolve, a Charmander will do this by himself. Of course, if you're open minded enough to see yourself as a Charmander, you'll recognize you still have some way to go buddy...
I really don't care what you say about Natal - any more than you care what I say. If you respond to my post with bullsh*t, I will respond to your post with bullsh*t and together we will create a lot more bullsh*t. The topic is about PS3 selling 5M+ units in Japan. Nothing you say about Natal is any more worthy of any of the comments here, so if we're going to talk about Natal here - now, I'm saying it's a piece of sh*t. So, can you deal with it?
P.S. If you don't get the reference... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CugguiCVfPw
Anyhoos, good number for Sony and especially Nintendo, one positive for MS is that the 360 has sold more than the original xbox in a shorter space of time.
All 3 will be kind of happy with these results?
There's absolutely no way anyone can spin the 360s showing in Japan as anything other than a failure! Sure it sold better than the original console but that's hardly a great mile stone. Microsoft pumped hundreds of millions of dollars into the Japan market and got nothing.
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