Sony’s suggested that it will not delay the PlayStation 5 in Japan like it did the PlayStation 4, but it’s clear that the company’s going to have its work cut out as it plans to introduce a new stationary home console in a region that’s clearly moving away from them. Case in point: the latest Japanese software sales charts, published and compiled by Famitsu, reveal a Top 20 dominated entirely by Nintendo Switch games. To reiterate: there’s no room for a single PlayStation 4 release.
As reported by VGC, you’d have to scroll down as far as 22nd position to find a non-Nintendo Switch title, with eFootball PES 2020 selling 6,394 units in the week ending 5th January. Obviously the PS4 should see its fortunes revived slightly in the region with the release of Final Fantasy VII Remake, Cyberpunk 2077, Ghost of Tsushima, and The Last of Us: Part II – but it’s fighting an uphill battle these days, and the circumstances don’t look likely to change.
Japanese Games Sales 30th December to 5th January
- [SW] Pokémon Sword & Shield – 196,925 (3,185,059)
- [SW] Luigi’s Mansion 3 – 52,434 (558,432)
- [SW] Mario Kart 8 Deluxe – 52,195 (2,711,204)
- [SW] Minecraft Switch – 46,963 (1,192,902)
- [SW] Mario & Sonic at Tokyo 2020 – 44,605 (239,733)
- [SW] Super Smash Bros. Ultimate – 43,274 (3,496,326)
- [SW] Dr. Kawashima’s Brain Training – 41,455 (76,151)
- [SW] Super Mario Party – 37,903 (1,301,613)
- [SW] Tsuri Spirits – 30,705 (367,700)
- [SW] Ring Fit Adventure – 30,432 (526,071)
- [SW] Splatoon 2 – 27,378 (827,882)
- [SW] Super Mario Maker 2 – 27,378 (827,882)
- [SW] Disney Tsum Tsum – 16,984 (142,482)
- [SW] Super Mario Bros. U Deluxe – 14,441 (762,030)
- [SW] Zelda: Breath of the Wild – 11,586 (1,492,935)
- [SW] Taiko no Tatsujin Drum ‘n’ Fun – 11,208 (431,790)
- [SW] Super Mario Odyssey – 10,045 (2,057,591)
- [SW] Yo-Kai Watch 4++ – 9,486 (56,382)
- [SW] Dragon Quest XI S – 7,973 (471,672)
- [SW] Kirby Star Allies – 7,696 (791,570)
[source famitsu.com, via videogameschronicle.com]
Comments 34
Nintendoes what Sony don't?.. I wouldn't worry too much, as Sony's main competitor is Microsoft.
Y'all missin out. Lol. Japan and Sony have always had an odd relationship. And they love their handhelds.
Final Fantasy, Tales of Arise, Persona 5 Scramble (although thats also on Switch) and Ghost of Tsushima will net Sony some decent sales in Japan. But it's no surprise that Switch is doing so well, and why vita continued to do good numbers years after the west drifted away.
The Japanese working culture is such that people dont have time for home consoles like they used to. The ability to game on the go provides opportunities to game that they otherwise wouldn't have. Its no wonder Switch is deservedly doing so well at the moment
Its also interesting to see pokemon listed as one entry. I swear they used to get reported as individual releases. Suggests 'Dexit' really has had an impact on sales this time around
Mario kart 8 deluxe is to the Switch what GTAV is to other consoles in the west.
PS4 and Switch. Mmmmm... perfect combination!
@Rob_230 even together they’ve sold 4 times as many as 2nd place.
From what I remember, Japan has represented only about 7% of PlayStation’s revenue anyway. I think Sony is much more concerned about succeeding in the West.
You have got to hand it to Nintendo, the Switch has really resonated with people.
It's a strong primary console (despite the lack of horsepower of the competition) and an absolutely amazing secondary console.
@YozenFroghurt There’s easily room for all 3 as they currently exist. Switch compliments PS4 and Xbox nicely. As for MS, they have just picked up a bunch of new studios. They are moving into areas Sony aren’t, but there is a good chance it’s setting them up for plenty of success in the future. They have mountains of cash behind them and they are playing a long game. They are not going anywhere. Sony are doing great right now, but they need to keep looking forward into 2030 and beyond, laying the groundwork, because the traditional console is on the way out and they could easily be stuck playing catch up.
I own most of these games without even owning a switch. Kawashima brain games are fun
@YozenFroghurt well, Xbox will one day just be a central hub that everyone logs in to via the cloud, just like PlayStation 😉
@thefirst It's just a different culture and a different market overall. There's obviously still a lot of overlap in places, but Japan's home console market has been shrinking for years.
There are a lot of factors as to why this is the case, but the bottom line is that portable gaming is the country's go-to method of playing games.
As for your question about age in Japan, it's more of a cultural thing. While I'm sure Nintendo games are certainly popular with younger people in Japan, you've also got to remember that this is a place where entertainment like anime caters to all ages. The perception of what's for kids and what's for adults is different to the West, although "nerd culture" certainly exists across both.
Oh....dear.
No GTA V? How is this possible?
Isn't Yakuza 7 out this week in Japan for PS4 - will be interesting to see if it makes a dent in those charts
I thought about getting a Switch once but in the end I just bought £280 worth of Maoams instead.
The only thing that this proves is that they lost their good taste in gaming just look at the first place one of the most disappointment games from last year that looks unfinished and I don't believe in the portable case since the Switch is huge with horrible controls
@kyleforrester87 Or as I like to call it, the PSwitch 4.
@Churchy I’m sure you can pick one of those up at any Chinese market
Japan is truly lost, against mobile gaming only handheld console can survive there.
Which means it's time for playstation portable 2
@thefirst nah, it's just different cultures liking different things
For example, in Japan the color pink and cutesy characters are not necessarily linked to young girls as they are in the West, so they tend to appear more often and in more varied situations.
As Robert rightly pointed out, in the West we tend to see animation as childish (for absolutely no reason), while in Japan they don't, hence the greater number of adult-oriented anime compared to Western adult cartoons.
That's why I personally get a bit angry when fanboys argue the same old "Nintendo kiddy/cartoons kiddy/colors kiddy": it's ignorant and restrictive to the medium they're talking about.
As long as people see cartoons as things for children, it'll be harder to produce cartoons that can appeal to adults and have success in such a "hostile" environment.
Luckily BoJack Horseman, Rick & Morty, Archer and the likes exist 🤩
@3MonthBeef yes, the numbers in parentheses are total lifetime sales.
Impressive how Pokémon basically trumps everything else in lifetime sales, considering it's the latest to come out.
@kyleforrester87 indeed! Until the PS5 comes out that is!
I would like to say it out loud: SONY NEEDS A FULL-BLOWN AAA 1ST PARTY JRPG. Guys, imagine a Legend of Dragoon remake made in collaboration by Bluepoint and Japan Studio, OR exclusive deal with Square for Chrono Cross remake (like FFVII), OR (best scenario of course) completly new IP!
Don't really see the PS5 fairing much better than PS4 in Japan.
Unless some of the rumours are true!
there is not one game i am interested in on that list.
@TheBuzz I know your post is bait but if you genuinely feel that way then you are badly missing out tbh some absolute gems in that list.
Through the last few months of ps4 releases drying up a bit I got a switch and personally while a lot of the games seem "kiddy" and its easy to roll your eyes when you think about them they've been the most fun I've had in years.
Expertly crafted, genuine fun games largely free from the bs Western devs love to put out these days (microtransactions, pointless dlc for a quick buck etc)
Whats not to like?
@Rob_230 But you need to consider that if you divide the sales by 2, it still is the most sold game. But i could understand why they put it under 1 name as it is basically the same game.
Some of the best games ever made on that top 20. What a time to be alive! 🥳
@kyleforrester87 I'll bring one back for you next time I'm over there.
People have no idea the impact that ff7 remake will make that will probably be square enix highest sold game of all time, I won't be surprised if it gets GTA numbers , ff7 will be hard to beat sales numbers in 2020 , the fan base is so massive that I see people buying PS4 if they don't have one for this one game alone
If the leaked demo I played is the game it will be epic , the combat the story ,the voice acting the graphics everything looks insane, and it plays soooo good . I love the combat, and special effects also it gets pretty hard it u try to hack your way through it lol, I learn that on my first time . It's truly something special unlike any other game and they say that demo is an old version so if it's even better oh man my hype meter sky 🚀
@solocapers no bait, i just dont like those catroon mario nintendo games.
Wow that’s pretty crazy. Would have expected a couple of PS4 games. Obviously Xbox doesn’t do well in Japan so it’s reasonable to not expect Xbox games.
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