PS4 Sells Over 1 Million Units in Japan in 2015

Could be worse

by Robert Ramsey Thu 7th Jan 2016

Okay, okay, we get that the Japanese console market is in decline - we just posted a story about it, in fact - but Sony will at least feel that something positive has been achieved with the PlayStation 4 in 2015. The company's newest system sold 1.2 million units in Japan last year according to Famitsu's annual hardware and software report, which certainly isn't too bad considering current trends.

The PS4 enjoyed a touch more success last year compared to how it fared in 2014, where it failed to break the one million mark - but not by much. This will be partly down to the fact that the PS3 is finally being pushed aside in favour of fresh hardware; the last-gen machine shifted 188,207 units in 2015, whereas in 2014, it hit total sales of 450,034 units.

Meanwhile, on the handheld front, the Vita saw a year-on-year decline in sales. Admittedly, the drop was far from harsh - it went from selling 1,147,936 units in 2014 to selling 959,342 units in 2015 - but it's a fall nonetheless.

And finally, on the software side of things, not a single PS4 or Vita title made it into the top ten best selling games of 2015. Just like back in 2014, the top ten was utterly dominated by Nintendo exclusive titles.

Japan's total hardware sales for 2015

1. Nintendo 3DS (including 3DS, 3DS LL, New 3DS, New 3DS LL) - 2,189,900
2. PS4 - 1,205,163
3. PS Vita (including Vita TV) - 959,342
4. Wii U - 820,304
5. PS3 - 188,207
6. Xbox One - 18,093

Japan's top ten best selling software for 2015

1. Monster Hunter X (Capcom) 3DS - 2,441,977
2. Yo-Kai Watch Busters: Akaneko-dan / Shiroinu-tai (Level 5) 3DS - 1,965,202
3. Animal Crossing: Happy Home Designer (Nintendo) 3DS - 1,282,880
4. Splatoon (Nintendo) Wii U - 1,064,897
5. Dragon Quest VIII: Journey of the Cursed King (Square Enix) 3DS - 864,865
6. Super Mario Maker (Nintendo) Wii U - 674,194
7. Monster Strike (Mixi) 3DS - 636,709
8. Yokai Watch 2: Shinuchi (Level 5) - 3DS - 625,223
9. Rhythm Heaven: The Best+ (Nintendo) 3DS - 607,343
10. Fire Emblem Fates: White Kingdom/Black Kingdom (Birthright / Conquest) (Nintendo) 3DS - 538,669

[source vg247.com, via gamesindustry.biz]

1
rjejr
Thu 7th Jan 2016

Well it's 2016 so I guess the PS3 can finally be dead now and I'll stop complaining about it's lack of inclusion in articles. OK maybe after Star Ocean releases, if the PS3 version actually comes west, which I have my doubts.

At least there are enough PS4 games this year to my liking that even I can stop caring about the PS3 as an ongoing gaming platform. It's still my streaming device of choice for Amazon, Hulu, Netflix, Crackle - I need my CiCGC - and HBO Go though. Even after I get a PS4 in the living room my PS3 will still be hooked up in the bedroom, I don't game much in there anyway.

RIP PS3 2006-2016 10 years of gaming goodness

2
AyanamiReign
Thu 7th Jan 2016

I'm amazed the 3DS is still selling that well, doesn't everyone have one already? The 'New' 3DS didn't feel like enough of an upgrade for me to get one maybe others felt differently.

3
Gamer83
Thu 7th Jan 2016

Assuming PS4 can keep up this pace, which I doubt, you're looking at Japanese sales just a shade of 6 mil over the course of 5 years. Pretty pathetic. I agree with those who say NX is the last shot. Otherwise, it might be a mobile only future if you love Japanese games the way they're meant to be. I'm sure some companies will still bring stuff to the west, but they will 'westernize' the hell out of their games which to me isn't a good thing. Capcom did that with a lot of their franchises to cash in on the 360's early success. Look how well that worked out for them. Now relegated to mostly re-releases with a few new budget titles like RE Revelations 2 and taking handouts from the big 3 to get anything else done and gaming is not better off because of it.

The one bit of good news is while not reaching the success of its predecessor, the 3DS is still pretty healthy. As long as Nintendo keeps putting out portable systems dedicated to actual games then I'm ok with that because it means there's still a possibility of getting some games from Japanese developers that are worth a sh*t.