Update: Just as a quick update to this article, the new Famitsu sales data for the period spanning 22nd March to 28th March has now been published. PlayStation 5 continued its excellent sales streak, shifting another 62,295 units, putting its life-to-date total at 580,211 units. Once again the Nintendo Switch absolutely obliterated Sony's console, but the next-gen PlayStation remains difficult to find.
Original Story: There was concern at its launch that PlayStation 5 may outright flop in Japan, although with availability so low, this line of speculation always flirted with fantasy. It’s worth reporting, then, that the console is doing much better domestically now – even though it’s still extremely difficult to find. According to Famitsu sales data, the system has now sold 517,916 units in its home territory.
Crucially, the weekly numbers have been consistent of late. Between 8th March and 14th March, the next-gen system moved 37,851 units – and between 15th March and 21st March, it managed a further 34,657 units. This is much steadier performance overall, and while it’s still getting obliterated by the Nintendo Switch, it’s important to reiterate that stock remains restricted.
Social media had a lot of fun pointing out late last year that PS5 was selling worse than the Nintendo Wii U in Japan, and while it’s still tracking behind the failed format, it’s now quickly beginning to catch up launch aligned. The biggest concern at the moment is that PlayStation software is practically non-existent in the region, although Sony will no doubt be looking to Resident Evil: Village to see how that performs.
[source famitsu.com, via resetera.com]
Comments 41
I get that Spiderman is not what the Japanese market demands. But are the Souls games not hugely popular in Japan?
@Max_the_German Spider-Man actually did really well on PS4 in Japan! I don't know what the problem is with software... I guess it could just be that a lot of people in Japan are getting the PS5 and using their existing PS4 games on it, rather than picking up new titles.
More people may be going digital as well!
@Max_the_German don't forget with only around 35,000 consoles selling per week you would need a large percentage of those to pick up one game physically for it to chart. The Switch's user base is close to 20 million so it'll be a while before PS5 makes any noise on the gaming charts
@get2sammyb That's me lol, the only ps5 game that I've played is astro playroom and psplus / ps collection games, the others are all ps4 software that's patched to 60 fps.
@Max_the_German Spider-man actually sold quite well, also final fantasy, dragon quest, and monster hunter world. Console is still declining in there though, portables and mobile games rules japan.
@Max_the_German Spiderman is big in Japan. Spiderman films are some of the only superhero films that do consistently well in the Japanese box office, and there have been a lot of Japanese specific spiderman media.
Spiderman is Hideo Kojima's favourite superhero, and he says it's because Peter Parker has relatable fears and worries, similar to Japanese superheroes.
Final Fantasy 7 Integrade should help. As will Guilty Gear Strive and Scarlet Nexus. Hopefully we start to see alot more Japanese developed Software in the not too distant future too.
@ThomasHL Thank you, didn‘t know that. I had the wrong assumption that the game mechanics would not be what Japanese players want, and that they would prefer games with deeper and more complex mechanics, like „easy to learn, hard to master“.
@wiiware I can’t imagine owning my PS5 and not investing in the games for it. Seems like a complete waste. To each their own!
Wonder if it'll outsell the Vita in Japan?
Plus there are new Monster Hunter titles out for the Switch so there will be a lot of people picking that up instead of the few Western exclusives for the PS5.
Good news, though mobile gaming is big in Japan and the success of the Switch clearly shows Sony should never have bailed on the Vita.
Can't help feeling worried about Sony's dwindling ties to Japanese devs and gamers, which is understandable considering the limited market opportunities. Seeing the exodus from Sony's Japan studio is worrisome. I wouldn't want to see PlayStation becoming overly westernised.
Japanese studios have always provided a good chunk of PlayStation's best content.
@2cents Ps5 launch about 3-4 month later in my country so I don't want to buy ps5 games without discount lol. Beside, with the exception of demon's souls, nearly every ps5 games is just ps4 games with better graphics.
@Max_the_German Souls actually has a pretty sizable Japanese fanbase but I'd assume most of them came from the Dark Souls games. Demon's Souls was initially poised to sell poorly in that region on PS3 due to the negative reaction surrounding the pre-release demo's difficulty but it picked up steam significantly by the end of the year once positive word of mouth spread among the region, especially based on reviews from sites like Dengeki PlayStation
This data is actually out of date now, the latest weekly sales were just reported and PS5 sold another 62k. Basically however many PS5s are available are how many are sold still.
It’s tracking to overtake PS4 in launch adjusted sales very soon. The PS4 was selling under 10k a week at this point.
As for software, remember that PS plus has an 87% attachment rate for PS5 users.
@2cents Few exclusives and higher prices don't help. I don't have any PS5 games yet either. Waiting for a discount on Spiderman MM.
@Max_the_German so fighting games (easy to learn, hard to master).
Also, I wouldn't say Japanese prefer games with "deeper" and "complex" mechanics. I think it is the contrary; games like Monster Hunter, Pokemon, Zelda, etc sell well over there, and those games do not have "deeper" and "complex" mechanics at all.
Anyhow, good to see stocks increasing in Japan and that the PS5 is selling better every-time that happens. Calling a system with really limited stock a flop was nothing but premature and fear-mongering.
We'll see how things play out but in Japan PS3 sales were down from PS2 and PS4 sold worse than 3. I hope PS5 does much better than I'm expecting because I like Japanese games (prefer them to Western games not made by Insomniac or Sucker Punch) and better sales means more support. Too early to really judge anything, though. Need consistent stock to be available first.
Stock increase? Oh yeah, April Fool's Day.
Announce Persona 6! That will work
It's selling ok, but nowhere near enough for Sony to spend much time and money on courting Japanese gamers. They abandoned (or are abandoning) console gaming, not the other way around.
Obviously stock is a problem everywhere, but I don't think this will sell much better than the PS4 over there.
We got our PS5 a few weeks ago finally. We reserved it since last November 2020. We absolutely loved it.
so PS5 is close to end Switch dominance in japan and others countries?
@Grimwood People want to PLAY THOSE GAMES when they come out.
The real question is why there isn't a ps4 price drop.. it sells really low worldwide right now..that would be easy money for Sony.
Got my ps5 yesterday, not blown away so far. It's just a bit better in every way. There aren't any games I'm interested in yet but there will be I'm sure. Navigating the UI is tricky but that's just because I've got used to the simplicity of the ps4. The dualsense is the star of the show so far. I regretted getting ps4 pro but won't regret ps5
@UltimateOtaku91 a Monster Hunter game will also work to make PS5 sell well in japan.
@jrt87 i hear you..i have a base ps4 bought for 400e with 7 years of constant use..i guess money well spent. I'll get a ps5 as soon as i find one.
@Giancarlothomaz Not even close. With the new Monster Hunter titles and Japan moving ever forward to portable gaming, the Switch now has no rival in Japan (thanks, Sony)
@Fyz306903 If you sell out what you bring out is that a failure? I think some people want it too fail. If i have 100 console and they sell out is it a failure or is there a shortage. I think the doomsday thing is a little early with massive chipshortages.
@sanderson72 Yeah the massive failure that was Monsterhunter World stop talking nonsense. 🤪
@Grimwood Returnal is one reason for me Demon Souls, Control, Astro and quite a few games coming soon. On one hand im going too upgrade my PS4 Pro with a SSD untill the time i can upgrade but when i get the chance too get a PS5 without jumping through hoops im going too get it.
@tameshiyaku Which Japanstudio games sold really well in Japan? If not they probably would not make a difference if they did not sell really great.
@Gamer83. Totally disagreed.i like both western and Japanese games.but i like?western more.some of my top exclusive are western.word up son
@Flaming_Kaiser Eh? @Giancarlothomaz asked the question was "so PS5 is close to end Switch dominance in japan and others countries?"
Will the portable Switch get overtaken by PS5 in Japan? Not going to happen and the new Monster Hunter games recently released on the Switch reinforces that.
I agree that Monster Hunter World was a massive hit but as Rise is only on Switch (and eventually PC) then it'll just drive sales of the Switch higher in Japan.
I don't remember past generations being this difficult to bag. I was able to get a PS5 in December before Christmas, although it was a gift to me, but it took five open browsers with many refreshes, multiple attempts at getting to the checkout, then having to change retail locations until I finally got one...an hour away from where I live.
And ultimately, the upgrade from the PS4 Pro to the PS5 is relatively meh.
Yes, I have no PS5.
I can't buy anywhere in Japan.
No exception Amazon(JP) .
@sanderson72 Did Japanstudio sell good in Japan if they didnt then there really wasnt a reason too keep them around.
As much as i love their games if it makes no money whats the use esspecially when you hear that its expensive development with Japanstudio.
@Lukaaa640 True but how big is that market? If they dont sell consoles in Japan what is the issue then?
I have quite a few games but grabbing of little girls or women for that part is somewhat weird. Im not gonna play that with people around. Maybe its the age but im a little older now and it feels weird too play anyway. 😄
@Flaming_Kaiser I'm not sure how well their other titles did but it looks like we've lost one of Sony's most popular franchises in terms of Everybody's Golf which was a collaboration between Clap Hanz and Japan Studio over so many generations of PS.
Now I'd have to subscribe to an Apple subscription and buy an Apple device to play a newer version?
@sanderson72 Im not getting a subscription for that or a new Phone i have a Sony Andriod. Its a pitt because i played these games quite a lot on PSP and PSVita and PS3 i did not know about them on PS1. Its a pity but these games where brilliant on Playstation. ☹️
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