PS4 Quietly Crosses Four Million Units Milestone in Japan

The 6 year old 3DS number seems a bit useless at this point, how many of those are upgrades to the New or downgrades to the 2DS or collectors who like limited editions? Wouldn't mind seeing comparisons to the PS, PS2, and PS3 after 3 years. (Really only 34 months as it launched in February in Japan but I'm not that picky.)

@get2sammyb I know the point, an expensive home console isn't going to sell as well as a cheaper handheld in only half the time, but what's the point of the point? We all knew that already. Here's a few better points. 😀

The "poorly selling" Vita has over 5 million sales in Japan. That's 1 million more than the "red hot" PS4. I think that says more about PS4 than comparing it to the 3DS family of consoles.

PS3 has 10 million lifetime sales in Japan in 10 years, PS4 has 4 million in only 3 years, so it's on a better pace. Not sure it can catch it, but I think it has legs if PSVR catches on and gets cheaper this gen.

Last week, PS4 sold 90% to Pro's 10%, (90k to 10k) so obviously the Japanese aren't sold on Pro. Could be price, could be lack of 4k TVs, but for whatever reason they aren't buying.

So I get what you were getting at, but there was so much more interesting stuff in there, the PS4 vs 3DS comparison didn't really tell us anything we didn't already know.

I thought you were on vacation this week, go enjoy yourself, nobody cares about Japan anyway. 😉

@rjejr If it's a 2DS, it's an upgrade

The 3DS family has also suffered a massive loss, compared to the DS family which sold over 30 million in Japan. 3DS is on its last legs, but PS4 still has plenty of time to sell more. It's just that Final Fantasy 13 really killed the brand recognition of that series, so it's a tall order to ask FF15 (which started as an FF13 game) to achieve sales like in the PS2 era before FF13 ruined the reputation of the FF series.

@Mahe Yeah, yeah, I remember. But I still can't get over the mono sound. But then again I have a 5.0 surround sound in my bedroom. Wife forbid the bass.

Well that, and the whole point of the system was 3D, but they took it out, so thats a downgrade, just is. And no New 2DS so it's missing some games and NFC support. If they ever make a New 2DS w/ NFC and stereo I'll give it it's due, I like the form factor, and the price, but don't mind no 3D.

Guess we're never getting a Wii U Mini w/ no Gamepad, always thought that would come. Though w/ all it's probable ports Switch could be a 1 screen at a time Wii U2.

@rjejr Obviously 3D is not any point at all for the system when so many people turn it off and many prefer playing on the 2DS altogether. NFC support is there with an adaptor and the "New 3DS exclusives" are a joke - half a dozen games that are better played elsewhere.

What's more, 2DS actually has better sound than 3DS does, whether from speaker or headphones. And if you want stereo, you should be using headphones anyway.

Don't forget, 2DS actually comes with a charger so that's yet another strike against 3DS models compared to 2DS.

@get2sammyb @rjejr Hardware sales a great, but software sales are were it's at. Don't want to downplay the 3DS' success in any way, but rjejr is right, how many of those 60 million 3DS sales are people just upgrading or getting a new colour or different size? VGChartz has 314 million software sales tracked for the PS4 and "only" 263 million software sales for the 3DS. Can't find any Japan specific numbers and although I doubt the PS4 has sold more software, I can imagine that the tie-ratio is much higher for the PS4.

@Octane VGChartz is a fake site. Don't believe their lies.

@Mahe "comes with a charger"

I still can't believe they get away w/ that. No company should be able to sell any electronic device w/o a charger. Almost all non-Apple phones use the same USB port these days but I've still never bought a phone w/o one, and I buy cheap disposable $5 phones occasionally.

@get2sammyb I know you hate me for always going off topic it, but admit it, things are more interesting when I'm around. And you're the one who went off topic, twice, 3DS and Switch. I ignored the Switch comment, even I don't want to get that far off topic into "what if" territory.

@Octane Who hoo I was right!!

@rjejr In the UK at least a PS4 costs more or less the same or even less on a deal than a 3DS XL. Not particularly expensive at this point really.

@Bad-MuthaAdebisi PS4 Pro is $399, 2DS is $79. 3DS "Family" includes a lot of price options. I think Japan lowered the prices on the old models when the new models launched, only thing that explains how many of those old models they kept selling/buying over there for awhile. Not now, but for awhile. 2DS sold 50,000 in Japan last week.

I agree on prices in the west, Wii U is $299, PS4 is $249 w/ $30 gift cards, yeah that makes sense, but $79 2DS is still far cheaper. I haven't seen a 3D anything in any store in awhile. But at the end of the day we got an NES Mini, that's all that really matters.

Suddenly, The Switch actually makes sense to me....(in Japan).

In America, I still think it will struggle to put up even Wii U numbers.

Outside of Japan people want a real console, Switch will bomb.

Where's the JP numbers this week...

@GamerDad66
Bomb? No... it won't bomb. It might not be the next Wii but, it won't bomb. I mean, Switch is going to be the go-to system for Nintendo games. So all the 3DS gamers will upgrade since it will launch at same price 3DS launched at, only it offers way more than 3DS ever did. And 3DS hasn't bombed in the west. Then you add in the Wii U owners who are going to upgrade as well...

That alone is enough to ensure it outperforms 3DS, which is far from tanking. But if it catches on with PS4/X1 gamers who want an affordable option to play console quality games anywhere, then it could actually do Wii numbers. Just depends how many PS4/X1 gamers they can pull in, which if the price is $250 I think it will do considerably well.

Better solution for Nintendo would be to focus 100% on iOS and Android, and fully support Bluetooth controllers like the Nimbus SteelSeries (while not requiring controllers). There really isn't much of a 3rd party lineup coming for Switch - just like Wii and Wii U - but the first party IP is phenomenal. Imaging Mario 3D, Zelda Breath of Time etc. on phones. Japan (and the rest of the world) would eat it up.

@rjejr Uh, why do you buy disposable phones? Are you a drug dealer?

@Mahe "Are you a drug dealer?"

Depends who asking. You a cop?

@rjejr Yes. I mean... no? Am I supposed to answer truthfully when asked? I forget.