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Regular readers will know all too well that we don't tend to cover Japanese sales charts these days because Nintendo is just so utterly dominant that it barely counts as PlayStation-related news. But today, things are different.
The latest Japanese hardware charts are in, and, shockingly, the PS5 actually managed to outsell the Nintendo Switch last week. Not by much, but it did happen.
Famitsu has the PS5 at 38,866 units, while the Switch moved 38,634 units. Again, we're talking a marginal victory here — but a victory for Sony all the same.
So how is this possible? Well, as we've seen elsewhere in the world, a huge increase to PS5 stock has bolstered sales numbers across the board — and it'll be a similar story in Japan.
That's not to say that Sony's current-gen console will top the Switch every week from this point on, however. There's speculation that Switch stock has declined in recent times, as Nintendo stockpiles its hardware in preparation for the launch of the new Pokémon games. It's hard to say how much truth there is to these claims, though.
Did you ever see this coming? Give us a shocked expression in the comments section below.
Thanks Elijah for the tip!
[source gematsu.com]
Comments 58
Well that’s pretty crazy. Genuinely didn’t think we’d see this at all.
Switches supply constraints. Lol.
First time PS5 buyers outnumbering second time Switch buyers 😂
That was cruel, but in honesty it must be to do with market saturation and supply chains. Still, fair play Sony.
Definitely feels like PS5 stock is stabilizing.
The switch must of had stock issues but will be back on top over the next few weeks when the pokemon oled model releases and the new pokemon games come out.
It’s was top in USA and Europe as well last week.
It’s all about supply. The UK had good supply but it’s getting very low again.
Probably will more consoles with the GOWR console bundle coming Wednesday.
That picture is hilarious!
Sometimes I feel its a little unfair to compare between genuine dedicated to home consoles like PS5 and SeriesX/S when the Switch is more of a handheld device than it is a dedicated home console. Now if the Switch was just a home console only then it would be more fair to compare but with how huge Nintendo handhelds usually sell I don't think it's always such a fair comparison. I'm genuinely not hating on the Switch it's just a thought. I actually think the Switch hybrid idea is one of the greatest ideas in gaming and its obviously done super well for itself. Even if it was already dated tech in the middle of PS4 and XONE gen. Its going to be super interesting to see what Nintendo do with a Switch 2 or something similar but named differently maybe?
Even if it's a one shot, it's nice to see PS5 outsell switch. I wonder how much PS5 would be selling without supply issue
@KaijuKaiser
Absolutely, about time they took real advantage of the PS5.
I think Spider-Man 2 is PS5 only?
But I wouldn’t be shocked if that changed to PS4/PS5 but I hope not.
@Beerheadgamer82
I think Nintendo will go hybrid again and Switch 2 type device. They have a very good market to themselves with the hybrid console and would be crazy to go away from that.
The only other option for them is handheld only.
I love Pokemon, but Switch already had Lets go, Sword/Shield and Arceus so its like the fourth instalment (Pokken Tournament is total different) on a single generation. Ofc it will sell crazy numbers at first weeks but not like Splatoon/Animal Crossing/Smash bros. That aside hope PS5 get some market share in home country
@Dezzy70 yh my thoughts exactly. To not do another hybrid console might not end up as successful. But you never know with Nintendo they've always done things their own ways regardless of trends and I've always respected that a lot. If Nintendo improved their online and had their own versions of trophies/achievements I'll be back on board with Nintendo straight away
PS5 stock is getting much, much better now.
It's language like this that fuels console wars: "Again, we're talking a marginal victory here — but a victory all the same."
It's great that all these systems are selling so well, we should rejoice in that and not fan the flames of toxic nerd competition.
Very healthy numbers from Sony. More consoles out there means more incentive for developers to start releasing PS5 gen only games.
Probably got a boost from the God of War ad. 😄
Been a while since we heard about Xbox sales in Japan 👀
@Beerheadgamer82
Had every Nintendo console since day one apart from the NES. Had some great gaming with them.
But they definitely don’t want to be to stubborn and do a Wii U again. Even though I had one.
People keep saying Jim Ryan needs be fired but I can admit he is doing a decent job right now. Jim not perfect by any means but he could be worse he could be Phil Spencer lol 😂.
@Korgon 😂 the end of the advert was funny
I got a switch free with my mobile about a year ago, and honestly have bearly touched it played a few hrs of animal crossing and got bored, bought zelda and played about 2hrs and got bored. And also the games are never on sale. Think i might just sell it as i honestly dont use it, the only fame i want to play now is luigi mansion but scared of buying it just in case i dont like it. Will wait till after black friday see if i can get some games for it cheap, it is a great handheld to be fair its just the two games i got i just havent enjoyed. Any recomendations for games on it.
@Daleaf other than exclusives that can only be played on the switch i don’t see a reason . maybe just look up exclusives
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@4kgk2 I prefer Phil to Jim honestly, or perhaps Don Mattrick really was just that toxic to the Xbox brand. The games on PlayStation have always been what attracts me but Phil’s put in the work to make Xbox enticing. Meanwhile, Jim seems to be a walking PR disaster.
Must be evidence that Nintendo is abandoning the Japanese market.
Even with Playstation not being as popular over there, I don't expect this to be a one-off occurrence. There's still obviously suppressed demand in Japan, combined with increasing market saturation issues for Switch. At some point, Switch demand will drop off sharply, and demand for Playstation consoles will rise enough that PS5 will consistently outsell it. Whether that's this year or further down the road remains to be seen.
@Daleaf Switch physical game prices stay high enough that you should be to make most of your money back on games if you sell them online.
Good. PlayStations deserve to outsell Nintendo Switches. The only place better to play than PS5 is PC.
I really didn’t see that coming. Kinda nice to see actually.
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The ps5 has consistently sold out whatever stock is available in Japan hasn't it? (like everywhere else)
It seems a bit odd to assume low sales means low popularity when that continues happening. Its been impossible to gauge ps5's true potential sales.
The news here is not one of demand, but one of supply and that Sony finally bothered to allocate decent stock to its home country.
Huh, who would have thought that Japanese GOW Ragnarok ad worked...
@Ralizah I agree with most of what you said, but I don’t know if the Switch will ever have a sharp drop in demand because it’s become the de facto first system for kids. There’s no way I’m buying a child a PS5, but a cartridge based handheld system seems like a safe bet.
The Japanese people finally realising the Switch is actually quite rubbish. Better? 👌
@ItsBritneyB_tch yes, don’t use foul language, heaven forbid lol
@GagaOooLaLa waaaa
I play what i want to play, will continue to do so
I was trying to leave a a shocked expression but four emojis weren't enough. So here:
⚡️☠️💥🏨
@ItsBritneyB_tch who knew Push Square was run by a bunch of Clucking Fussies? Everyone I think lol
Au Revoir Pitches ✌️
@Amnesiac Most kids I know primarily game on mobile and PC, lol. The few squeakers with a taste for console games often mained PS4s for CoD.
Which isn't to say properties like Pokemon and Splatoon aren't obviously popular with children, but I don't know that this is the primary growth demographic, either.
@GagaOooLaLa Goodbye my friend. I know you're gone, you said you're gone. But I can still feel you here. It's not the end. Gotta keep it strong before the pain turns into fear. So glad we made it. Time will never change it, no no no. No no no no 😥
@ItsBritneyB_tch haha love Spice Girls. Girl Power ✊
@Ralizah You’re right and I’m really showing my age because mobile gaming never even came to mind. Still, I’d wager that every day, some kiddo somewhere is playing their first Mario game and loving every minute of it. And then in a few years they’ll probably be getting their first headshot and using their first slurs online in COD. They grow up so fast…
The solution is simple "build more PS5s" build more and they will come. Also, that means that the shortage and the price increases won't last forever and will go down eventually.
It's a little surprising but not as much as people are acting like. PlayStation is a global brand, despite its main market being the West, and PS4 did sell 10 mil or so units in Japan so it's not like there's no market there.
Beyond that, as much as I like the Switch the hardware is ancient. That along with the fact so many people have already bought it means Nintendo should be looking to get a next-gen Switch out sooner rather than later.
@Dezzy70 I used to have them all along side every PS console but when WiiU came out I wasn't on board anymore for whatever reason. And with the PS4 having such a good start and trophies being a new huge part of my gaming I just seemed to end up skipping Nintendo consoles, the 3DS being my last purchased Nintendo. Not long after Breathe of the Wild released for the Switch I was very close to coming back. My soft spot for Nintendo will always exist, its just waiting on the improvements I want for me to come back like it's own trophy system and better online and then I'll be there no hesitations. Can you imagine going for Nintendo versions of a platinum on games like Metriod, a new Super Mario or new Zelda. I'll most likely never 100% a Metriod plat but I'd sure love to give it a try and find out
I guess we'll have to expect the extreme Nintendo fanboys to storm Famitsu a la Jan 6th and demand a recount.
@SweetSummerShunv I'll burn a PS5 in effigy, then put the video on youtube for those sweet outrage clicks from people who still don't have one.
@ItsBritneyB_tch LOL, I'd worry more about PS5's mediocrity after 2 years than claiming Switch is bad. Projection. 😂
@Beerheadgamer82
Yes there is always a soft spot for Nintendo and some of their top games, they are so well executed.
I always wanted a Nintendo system that has the power of the PS5. Imagine the worlds they could create for Zelda, Metriod and Mario and how they would look and play. They would just pull you into that environment. Alas that will never happen for many reasons at Nintendo HQ.
Yes a trophy type system and better online would go along way for Nintendo.
Haha, the PS5 getting some good momentum in Japan and people in the comments just want to talk about the Switch 🤣
@DiggleDog Every time I hear him talk I see a twofaced liar Phil full of bull he spins everything so he can act like the good guy.
@Ralizah Yeah the Nintendo fanbase is so reasonable they outrage about everything.
I'm glad the PS5 has outsold the Switch. Nintendo lazily shovelling Wii U ports onto it at full price (games I've owned for years) while conversely not offering a full GameCube Virtual Console library for me to buy really hacks me off. Big part of why I sold mine.
Although I don't approve of a lot of current PlayStation profiteering and gouging fans, at least the PS5 has truly next gen looking games. As much as I didn't want to believe the hype and it's crossgen, Ragnarok looks amazing, Returnal is already a highlight of this generation and Demon's Souls is one of the best remake/remasters of all time.
Having said that though, I'd still take Series X over all of them 🤭
Surely everyone in Japan has a Nintendo Switch by now....?
@GagaOooLaLa seems like a moderator here is also jim ryan’s guardian angel 🤣🤣🤣
@4kgk2 Really stupid comment. Grow up.
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