Japan may still be considered something of a gaming mecca among some, but its importance in the console space is slowly declining. With many of the region’s biggest developers struggling to adapt to the PlayStation 3 era, and handhelds currently ruling the roost, it’s not exactly a surprise to see the recently released PlayStation 4 languishing near to the bottom of the nation’s hardware sales charts. But it may not be the worst selling system for much longer.
Reports coming out of the Land of the Rising Sun suggest that the Xbox One managed to sell an abysmal 23,562 units during its first four days on sale overseas – an atrocious number when you consider that the PS4 disappointed with its comparably colossal 322,000 units over two days. The real disappointment for Microsoft is that this tally is less than the Xbox 360, which opened with 60,000 units across two days.
Of course, it’s no real surprise, as the Redmond-based manufacturer has really failed to make an impact in the East over the 12 or so years that it’s been in the gaming market. However, with the Wii U also failing to set the world on fire, this does hint at a frightening decline for home formats in the territory. All hopes are now pinned on Dragon Quest: Heroes, Final Fantasy XV, and Kingdom Hearts III – they all need to hit hard.
[source vg247.com]
Comments 12
And with major games exclusively on PS4 its not going to get any better for xbox in Japan. Just out of curiosity, any news on when the PS4 / Vita will in China?
I think Summer Lesson will save console gaming in Japan.....
Well the biggest reason to me why the PS4 doesn't sell much in Japan is because pretty much all of its games are cross platform with PS3 versions so why upgrade.
Wow, the 3DS will probably be higher on Media Create this week than Xbox One even though it's the One's first week there.
@CrazyOtto Yeah, it definitely will be.
Kingdom hearts 3 will save the day...come on Sora! Wooo.
They're wasting money bothering to release it at all in Japan right now. Oh well. As long as PS throw out consistently good games for PS plus on vita why would they bother buying any home console.
@CrazyOtto Especially if you combine 3DS and 3DS XL sales.
Im more interested in the MS spin than the sctual number as in all likelihood X1 will still outsell PS4 and Wii U this week in their home country of Japan. I think they released there for that 1 week win. And it will also outsell Vita and Vita TV. Nothing outsells 3DS in japan right now BUT w/ the new model coming out in Nov sales may slack off quite a bit between now and then so maybe PS4 could catch it. Or Wii U if SSB ever releases.
Japan is a lost cause for both Sony and MS, hell even the Wii U (12K-15K a week is nothing special) isn't tearing it up though a discussion with a Nintendo fanboy would have you believe otherwise. We know MS is going to make a huge push in China, Sony should as well. Lots of potential new consumers and who knows, if consoles take off there maybe we'll find out about some talented developers we had no clue existed.
@Gamer83 Sony will make a push in China but when their selling incredibly well across most territories it's quite difficult to get the stock they would need.
Yeah the home console market there seems to be declining. Nintendo combined their home and portable console markets once the Wii U was released right? That makes me think/want to believe that their next console will be a portable/home console combo. Which would be pretty cool. Their recent announcement of the new 3ds makes me believe this even more as it extends the life of the 3DS enough to where the Wii U and new 3DS' lifespans could end around the same time which would be perfect to release a combo console. Could be a decent solution for the issue that seems to be happening over there
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