It's been said about a million times by now, but we'll say it again: the PlayStation 3 is one of the main reasons why the PlayStation 4 is unable to keep a solid foothold in the Japanese market. While Sony's last-gen console has almost tumbled out of existence here in the West, the Japanese are still buying most of their software on the older machine, which poses something of a problem when it comes to unique selling points for the new-gen alternative.
Titles that are available on both consoles always tend to sell better on PS3, and end up staying in the charts longer, too. This is the case once again with new hack and slash release Sengoku Basara 4: Sumeragi, which sold through 58.889 copies on PS3 while shifting 35,161 copies on PS4. With no exclusive software to back it up, Sony's newest system slipped from the top of the charts, selling just 17,656 units.
Of course, it's all Sony sales at the end of the day, but it's a trend that's always going to hang around as long as new titles are coming to both platforms. It's an awkward situation, but how do you think it should be handled? Should Sony try to phase out the last-gen system in its native Japan, or is it a problem that'll eventually fix itself? Become an armchair analyst in the comments section below.
Hardware sales
- New 3DS LL – 21,028 (19,432)
- PlayStation 4 – 17,656 (24,266)
- PlayStation Vita – 13,843 (13,190)
- Wii U – 11,257 (11,028)
- New 3DS – 5,753 (5,437)
- PlayStation 3 – 2,956 (2,947)
- 3DS – 1,286 (1,376)
- 3DS LL – 807 (726)
- PlayStation Vita TV – 642 (618)
- Xbox One – 211 (242)
Software sales
- [3DS] Yo-kai Watch Busters: Red Cat Team / White Dog Squad (Nintendo, 07/11/15) – 95,369 (1,009,905)
- [PS3] Sengoku Basara 4: Sumeragi (Capcom, 07/23/15) – 58,889 (New)
- [PS4] Sengoku Basara 4: Sumeragi (Capcom, 07/23/15) – 35,161 (New)
- [Wii U] Splatoon (Nintendo, 05/28/15) – 24,289 (455,158)
- [PSV] Makai Shin Trillion (Compile Heart, 07/23/15) – 18,506 (New)
- [3DS] Rhythm Heaven: The Best+ (Nintendo, 06/11/15) – 16,110 (359,603)
- [PS3] TV Anime The Idolmaster: Cinderella Girls G4U! Pack Vol. 3 (Bandai Namco, 07/23/15) – 15,060 (New)
- [3DS] Fire Emblem Fates: Birthright / Conquest (Nintendo, 06/25/15) – 14,023 (377,775)
- [PS4] Batman: Arkham Knight (Warner Bros., 07/16/15) – 12,273 (61,076)
- [Wii U] Yoshi's Woolly World (Nintendo, 07/16/15) – 11,733 (42,891)
- [PSV] Minecraft: PlayStation Vita Edition (SCE, 03/19/15) – 10,180 (263,487)
- [3DS] The Great Ace Attorney (Capcom, 07/09/15) – 9,554 (169,161)
- [3DS] Langrisser Re:Incarnation Tensei (Masaya Games, 07/23/15) – 9,300 (New)
- [PSV] Taiko Drum Master: V Version (Bandai Namco, 07/09/15) – 8,277 (66,959)
- [Wii U] Mario Kart 8 (Nintendo, 05/29/14) – 7,076 (1,074,513)
- [3DS] Chou Tousouchuu Atsumare! Saikyou no Tousou Monotachi (Bandai Namco, 07/09/15) – 6,757 (25,277)
- [3DS] Pokemon Omega Ruby / Alpha Sapphire (Pokemon, 11/21/14) – 5,414 (2,668,433)
- [3DS] Animal Crossing: New Leaf (Nintendo, 11/08/12) – 5,343 (4,007,043)
- [PSV] Vamwolf Cross (D3 Publisher, 07/23/15) – 3,369 (New)
- [3DS] Girls Mode 3: Kira Kira Code (Nintendo, 04/16/15) – 2,966 (170,116)
[source 4gamer.net, via gematsu.com]
Comments 17
Goodbye Witcher 3 - you're finally gone from the top 20.
In three weeks, Yokai Watch has another million seller in Japan.
Japan is so lame these days.
When dragon quest XI goes on sale, watch the PS4 sales skyrocket in japan.
I believe that if the PS4 had the modern day equivalent of the Cell processor the PS3 had, we wouldn't see this problem. The difference between PS3 and PS4 just isn't big enough to make Japanese, who are leaning more towards mobile anyway, upgrade. Whenever typical "Japanese" games launch its clear there is still a demand, but the culture of adopting the latest console early is gone. So if those games happen to come on a PS3 too and both versions are more or less the same, why would anyone buy a PS4?
If the PS4 was a powerhouse which made huge changes possible I'm sure the tech loving Japanese could be persuaded in buying it, now it seems like they're waiting for a ps5, although I firmly believe VR cán succeed in Japan.
I imported Sengoku Basara 4 Sumergi and it's FANTASTIC!
EDIT: So good that I made a gif that sums up the game.
It seems the west is happy to buy a console and wait for the software, the Japanese console sales are almost entirely linked to software releases. Release more PS4 games, eventually the ratio will change as the install base increases.
@NathanUC Great series, I've heard really good things about this new one from people who have imported it.
They really need to stop making games for both ps3 and ps4 and just make them for ps4 so the console will get more sales. I agree that when final fantasy xv and Dragon quest xi come out the system will sale like crazy.
Japan really likes games that us westerners wouldn't care much for
When the top game in japan is a choice between red cat team and white dog squad a nation needs help.
Japan used to be cool.
Boo hoo, Japan doesn't like the same games we do. THANK BLUBBLING GOD! Not everyone is gonna spread their legs for Batman, deal with it. I much rather play Yo-kai watch.
@Riririn
I always liked Nightwing myself.
Japanese game taste is weird.
@NathanUC This is from Sengoku Basara 4 actually. I mean, this scene is in sumeragi also, but there is no difference from the same scene from Sengoku Basara 4. Sumeragi is mostly DLC which you can buy only on disk with Sengoku Basara 4. Anyway, glad that you like it, Sengoku Basara 4 is the best "Warriors" game till date =).
@NathanUC Im getting my Copy soon, cannot wait to play it on my PS4! LETS PARTYYYY!
@Gemuarto yep! I never imported SB4 on PS3 because I had always hoped it would eventually be localized. It worked out anyways because now Sumergi is all new to me and it's on PS4 It is easily my favorite "Warriors" game though no contest
Yeah, I keep saying this as you may have noticed. They need to bite the bullet and not release a "safety net" PS3 version of everything. They could even do a somewhat loss leader strategy and declare "Bring in your old working PS3s and get [a lot of money] off a new PS4!" which would simultaneously lower the amount of PS3s out there and raise the amount of PS4s.
@Riririn I like Japanese games too, but Yokai Watch is just a merchandising thing to take advantage of kids. Churned out crap to feed a self-created fad. It's like a Japanese person looking over and the West and saying "To hell with Dragon Quest, I prefer Western greats like Skylanders".
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