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[Lognor]

I didn't say Japan hates home consoles. I said as a country they have moved on to portables and mobile gaming. It's really not that complicated.

In your really narrow world view maybe.

You seem infatuated with this idea that people need to be criticising Sony the way you do. Just look at this thread. Nope, I can critically analyse the situation and see it for what it is. Meanwhile you're here talking about fetishes and clowns, showing everybody that you're about 14 years old. Or worse, an adult with the mental age of a 14 year-old.

Japanese people are not a monolith. No, they did not move on. Sony has just been unable to deliver a compelling product. And don't forget, the ps4 launched several months later in Japan vs the rest of the world. That was a huge slap in the face. No wonder most people in Japan don't care about ps anymore. Sony needs to reevaluate their strategy.

 

[Deerock71]

Update Software 1-30....has this ever happened before???


Software Sales (followed by lifetime sales)

1. [NSW] Pokemon Brilliant Diamond / Shining Pearl (The Pokemon Company, 11/19/21) – 130,772 (2,046,040)
2. [NSW] Mario Party Superstars (Nintendo, 10/29/21) – 53,824 (459,001)
3. [NSW] Big Brain Academy: Brain vs. Brain (Nintendo, 12/03/21) – 33,092 (70,020)
4. [NSW] Minecraft (Microsoft, 06/21/18) – 26,256 (2,336,145)
5. [NSW] Animal Crossing: New Horizons (Nintendo, 03/20/20) – 23,786 (7,010,861)
6. [NSW] Mario Kart 8 Deluxe (Nintendo, 04/28/17) – 21,819 (4,191,268)
7. [NSW] Super Smash Bros. Ultimate (Nintendo, 12/07/18) – 20,364 (4,552,841)
8. [NSW] Momotaro Dentetsu: Showa, Heisei, Reiwa mo Teiban! (Konami, 11/19/20) – 14,709 (2,448,283)
9. [NSW] Ring Fit Adventure (Nintendo, 10/18/19) – 13,765 (2,956,485)
10. [NSW] Pokemon Sword / Shield (The Pokemon Company, 11/15/19) – 12,825 (4,227,847)
11. [NSW] Super Mario 3D World + Bowser’s Fury (Nintendo, 02/12/21) – 9,281 (941,162)
12. [NSW] Clubhouse Games: 51 Worldwide Classics (Nintendo, 06/05/20) – 7,082 (844,288)
13. [NSW] Disney Magical World 2: Enchanted Edition (Bandai Namco, 12/02/21) – 6,937 (20,285)
14. [NSW] Eiga Sumikko Gurashi: Aoi Tsukiyo no Mahou no Ko – Game de Asobo! Eiga no Sekai (Nippon Columbia, 12/02/21) – 6,364 (14,581)
15. [NSW] Minecraft Dungeons Ultimate Edition (Microsoft, 10/26/21) – 5,683 (18,286)
16. [NSW] Super Mario Maker 2 (Nintendo, 06/28/19) – 5,390 (1,155,240)
17. [NSW] Fortnite Minty Legends Pack (Epic Games, 11/02/21) – 4,911 (30,299)
18. [NSW] Taiko no Tatsujin: Drum ‘n’ Fun (Bandai Namco, 07/19/18) – 4,888 (652,329)
19. [NSW] Splatoon 2 + Octo Expansion (Nintendo, 10/08/21) – 4,635 (24,391)
20. [NSW] Ace Angler: Nintendo Switch Version (Bandai Namco, 07/25/19) – 4,291 (640,087)
21. [NSW] Splatoon 2 (Nintendo, 07/21/17) – 4,288 (3,977,241)
22. [NSW] Game Builder Garage (Nintendo, 06/11/21) – 4,204 (261,211)
23. [NSW] WarioWare: Get It Together! (Nintendo, 09/10/21) – 4,132 (174,192)
24. [NSW] Super Mario Odyssey (Nintendo, 10/27/17) – 4,091 (2,285,091)
25. [NSW] Shin Megami Tensei V (Atlus, 11/11/21) – 3,970 (184,388)
26. [NSW] New Pokemon Snap (The Pokemon Company, 04/30/21) – 3,957 (302,710)
27. [NSW] Super Mario Party (Nintendo, 10/05/18) – 3,857 (2,022,352)
28. [NSW] The Battle Cats Unite! (Ponos, 12/03/20) – 3,762 (86,017)
29. [NSW] FIFA 2022 Legacy Edition (Electronic Arts, 10/01/21) – 3,679 (40,643)
30. [NSW] Miitopia (Nintendo, 05/21/21) – 3,589 (264,015)

A couple times. By the Switch. It was in the summer, but to have it happen this time of year is utterly bonkers.

 

[reksveks]

Update Software 1-30....has this ever happened before???

Might happen again next week but won't happen the week afterwards

 

[Zok310]

Happened way before that... basically with PS4 they were already western centric.
PS4 was the fist console from Sony not designed exclusively in Japan.
Even the launch dates Japan was not priority... it become tier 3.

Rightfully so. Gone are the days where Sony would have to make a game specifically for Japan.
No, continue to do what is successful in the states and Europe. If the Japanese gamers don’t want literally what everybody else wants then oh well. One worldwide strategy, take it or leave it.

 

[Kerotan]

I remember that PSP was often featured in anime and manga.

Maybe Sony should really make a new portable console.

They are literally making the most profit they've ever made and developing another portable will just waste resources and money.

Same would happen nintendo if they developed a beast like the PS5. There's a reason each are staying in their lanes.

 

[Bernd Lauert]

Rightfully so. Gone are the days where Sony would have to make a game specifically for Japan.
No, continue to do what is successful in the states and Europe. If the Japanese gamers don’t want literally what everybody else wants then oh well. One worldwide strategy, take it or leave it.

Nintendo manages to appeal worldwide without exceptions. Playstation was like that too not long ago.

 

[kingfey]

No one here never denied that the consoles, Switch included, are supply limited. It was fairly obvious from the NPD and Famitsu data.

What the users of this thread have been arguing is that doing 1400 sales this week, 1800 sales last week is nothing. Thats not being supply limited, thats just being ignored. Sony made the clear and counciouss decision that, the 10 k that they certainly could have sent to Japan to have some kind of presence and to send a message to japanese devs that "We still care about Japan", NA and Europe markets are more important to them, and its more important that Sony sells 550k during november there and what seems like 5 k here in japan, instead of doing 500k in the US and 50k in Japan, because Im fairly sure that any stock sent to Japan would be cleared out.

And that sends a clear message that Japan is way, way back in Sony mind. And thats the bulk of our argument here. Some people who dont like how Sony is doing in Japan right now comes up with a myriad of excuses, so the discussion gets dilluted, but thats the essence of what we have been saying.

Nintendo is winning software not because the Switch is also portable(Switch is a hybrid console) but rather because not only is a far more attractive piece of hardware, because it is a hybrid console(so two for the price of one. If handheld was so much more important, the Lite sales would have been much higher than the OG model), but because the software appeals much more to them. Nintendo first party titles are unrivaled, and alot of japanese focused games are flocking to the Switch, either being multiplat or just straight up exclusives, like Momotaro(the train game by Konami). So its not just because of the hardware.

And thats where the frustration with Sony in Japan comes from. Sony has been moving away from Japan since the PS3. And sales have shown that. More and more of their first party titles are not japanese centric. Third party games and the deals that Sony did offset this trend up to a point, but we reached a point that Sony simply bled way too much, and addind to that a Nintendo that didnt screw up this time like they did with the Wii U, and you get the situation we jave with Sony in Japan nowadays.

Was the decision to focus on the west better for Sony? Hell yeah. But there were consequences, and losing Japan was one of them.

Sony this gen is a business model, not a gaming model.

They are comfortably above xbox, and have more wider content in their system. To them as of now, Japan isn't really big Market for them.

Like you said, switch has more softwares, due to 2 to 1 console, Japanese 1st party game, and being a Japanese company 1st. Sony can't compete that. Nintendo isn't xbox, which is a western company. They are a Japanese company, with Japanese soul. No way Sony can compete with that. So they are trying to leave that market slowly.

Cod, Fifa, and fortnite showed them huge amount of money. So they are catering more to the west, with western games.

As long as that games exist, Sony won't focus on Japanese market.

 

[kingfey]

They are literally making the most profit they've ever made and developing another portable will just waste resources and money.

Same would happen nintendo if they developed a beast like the PS5. There's a reason each are staying in their lanes.

Ps5 has ps4 hype.
Look at ps5 game prices 1st, and tell me people would invest in that console, if it weren't for ps4 hype.

 

[leo-j]

Sony this gen is a business model, not a gaming model.

They are comfortably above xbox, and have more wider content in their system. To them as of now, Japan isn't really big Market for them.

Like you said, switch has more softwares, due to 2 to 1 console, Japanese 1st party game, and being a Japanese company 1st. Sony can't compete that. Nintendo isn't xbox, which is a western company. They are a Japanese company, with Japanese soul. No way Sony can compete with that. So they are trying to leave that market slowly.

Cod, Fifa, and fortnite showed them huge amount of money. So they are catering more to the west, with western games.

As long as that games exist, Sony won't focus on Japanese market.

I think they are looking at themselves and trying to beat ps4 numbers more so than looking at just Xbox. Tbh, they just can’t produce the consoles. They are barely selling holiday numbers anywhere not just Japan.

 

[Neo_GAF]

in germany people still buy playstation over xbox just because of the brand. yes the xbox one was shit. but xbox one x was a monster and i have never seen a better system than the xbox series x.
the switch on the other hand. it roasts everything ever happened in the consolespace. unbelievable. nintendo will hold onto this as long as it will take. best they will do is bring out a super switch or something to extend the life of switch.

 

[kingfey]

I think they are looking at themselves and trying to beat ps4 numbers more so than looking at just Xbox. Tbh, they just can’t produce the consoles. They are barely selling holiday numbers anywhere not just Japan.

I doubt they can go anywhere near ps4. Ps4 got xbox one as a birthday gift. While ps5 got gamepass, and recent prime xbox as a gift.

Worst, the shortages makes its ps4 chances slip slowly, as that gives gamepass more content over the time.

They need to focus on xbox now, and try to stay a head of them. While Playstation games are very excellent, they need to expand their approach. Buy 3rd party studios, and try to get other genre. SP games won't sell your console for long. Offer gamers other contents.

 

[kingfey]

in germany people still buy playstation over xbox just because of the brand. yes the xbox one was shit. but xbox one x was a monster and i have never seen a better system than the xbox series x.
the switch on the other hand. it roasts everything ever happened in the consolespace. unbelievable. nintendo will hold onto this as long as it will take. best they will do is bring out a super switch or something to extend the life of switch.

Europe is still salty about xbox one launch.

X360 was the pinnacle in US/Europe market. Call of duty, battlefield, halo. It was MP heaven. Then xbox one happened, and people just left. Call of duty went to Playstation, and the rest is history.

 

[TheTony316]

Europe is still salty about xbox one launch.

X360 was the pinnacle in US/Europe market. Call of duty, battlefield, halo. It was MP heaven. Then xbox one happened, and people just left. Call of duty went to Playstation, and the rest is history.

Europe (minus the UK) never really cared for Xbox to begin with. The PS3 was selling at a faster rate since launch and outsold the 360 by early 2008, even at a higher price and no games.

 

[kingfey]

Europe (minus the UK) never really cared for Xbox to begin with. The PS3 was selling at a faster rate since launch and outsold the 360 by early 2008, even at a higher price and no games.

The PS3 has sold 87.4 million units and the Xbox 360 has sold 84 million units.Aug 5, 2021

X360 was weak in Europe. Ps3 had sold 31m, while x360 sold 11m.

Didn't know it was that bad. Guess Xbox has a long way to get the Europe market.

 

[TheTony316]

The PS3 has sold 87.4 million units and the Xbox 360 has sold 84 million units.Aug 5, 2021

X360 was weak in Europe. Ps3 had sold 31m, while x360 sold 11m.

Didn't know it was that bad. Guess Xbox has a long way to get the Europe market.

Yeah, the PS3 launched in march 2007 for 599€ and overtook the 360 (launched in december 2005 for 399€) in total sales by early 2008. Europe trully is Playstations stronghold. There's not a lot Xbox can do here, lol.

 

[Mozza]

That rushed lazy Pokemon remake is doing kind of o.k, what are all these people thinking, do they not read all those complaints on internet forums.

 

[Mozza]

Didn't think PS5 stock could get any worse

Yes that's what it must be, seems a long time since all that fighting over PS5 consoles in that Tokyo games stores.

 

[Rat Rage]

Software Sales (followed by lifetime sales)

1. [NSW] Pokemon Brilliant Diamond / Shining Pearl (The Pokemon Company, 11/19/21) – 130,772 (2,046,040)
2. [NSW] Mario Party Superstars (Nintendo, 10/29/21) – 53,824 (459,001)
3. [NSW] Big Brain Academy: Brain vs. Brain (Nintendo, 12/03/21) – 33,092 (70,020)
4. [NSW] Minecraft (Microsoft, 06/21/18) – 26,256 (2,336,145)
5. [NSW] Animal Crossing: New Horizons (Nintendo, 03/20/20) – 23,786 (7,010,861)
6. [NSW] Mario Kart 8 Deluxe (Nintendo, 04/28/17) – 21,819 (4,191,268)
7. [NSW] Super Smash Bros. Ultimate (Nintendo, 12/07/18) – 20,364 (4,552,841)
8. [NSW] Momotaro Dentetsu: Showa, Heisei, Reiwa mo Teiban! (Konami, 11/19/20) – 14,709 (2,448,283)
9. [NSW] Ring Fit Adventure (Nintendo, 10/18/19) – 13,765 (2,956,485)
10. [NSW] Pokemon Sword / Shield (The Pokemon Company, 11/15/19) – 12,825 (4,227,847)
11. [NSW] Super Mario 3D World + Bowser’s Fury (Nintendo, 02/12/21) – 9,281 (941,162)
12. [NSW] Clubhouse Games: 51 Worldwide Classics (Nintendo, 06/05/20) – 7,082 (844,288)
13. [NSW] Disney Magical World 2: Enchanted Edition (Bandai Namco, 12/02/21) – 6,937 (20,285)
14. [NSW] Eiga Sumikko Gurashi: Aoi Tsukiyo no Mahou no Ko – Game de Asobo! Eiga no Sekai (Nippon Columbia, 12/02/21) – 6,364 (14,581)
15. [NSW] Minecraft Dungeons Ultimate Edition (Microsoft, 10/26/21) – 5,683 (18,286)
16. [NSW] Super Mario Maker 2 (Nintendo, 06/28/19) – 5,390 (1,155,240)
17. [NSW] Fortnite Minty Legends Pack (Epic Games, 11/02/21) – 4,911 (30,299)
18. [NSW] Taiko no Tatsujin: Drum ‘n’ Fun (Bandai Namco, 07/19/18) – 4,888 (652,329)
19. [NSW] Splatoon 2 + Octo Expansion (Nintendo, 10/08/21) – 4,635 (24,391)
20. [NSW] Ace Angler: Nintendo Switch Version (Bandai Namco, 07/25/19) – 4,291 (640,087)
21. [NSW] Splatoon 2 (Nintendo, 07/21/17) – 4,288 (3,977,241)
22. [NSW] Game Builder Garage (Nintendo, 06/11/21) – 4,204 (261,211)
23. [NSW] WarioWare: Get It Together! (Nintendo, 09/10/21) – 4,132 (174,192)
24. [NSW] Super Mario Odyssey (Nintendo, 10/27/17) – 4,091 (2,285,091)
25. [NSW] Shin Megami Tensei V (Atlus, 11/11/21) – 3,970 (184,388)
26. [NSW] New Pokemon Snap (The Pokemon Company, 04/30/21) – 3,957 (302,710)
27. [NSW] Super Mario Party (Nintendo, 10/05/18) – 3,857 (2,022,352)
28. [NSW] The Battle Cats Unite! (Ponos, 12/03/20) – 3,762 (86,017)
29. [NSW] FIFA 2022 Legacy Edition (Electronic Arts, 10/01/21) – 3,679 (40,643)
30. [NSW] Miitopia (Nintendo, 05/21/21) – 3,589 (264,015)

Live feed from Sony Headquarters Japan

 

[ParaSeoul]

Yes that's what it must be, seems a long time since all that fighting over PS5 consoles in that Tokyo games stores.

People want to argue this

 

[nordique]

Nintendo is owning japan and has earned it with the switch. Perfect console for the Japanese market

but I don’t think Sony cares. They probably care more about making sure they can get ps5 supply in order

 

[Impotaku]

Don't think it matters if sony cares or not they don't have much choice in the matter now, they either let japan have a decent supply of consoles & some devs willing to make a load of games for it and not the token efforts or they let japanese gamers just ignore the system because there's nothing at all to bring them in. Ironically when people say nintendo muscled them out of japan they actually didn't do anything at all apart from doing what they always do, made sure they had an attractive systems with a mixed and interesting pile of games from both them & 3rd parties. The gamers are the ones buying the software & consoles, even the ps4 stuff still released comes out in the top of the charts then the next week it's either slid right the way down or not in the charts anymore.

 

[Mozza]

People want to argue this

So you are suggesting the PS5 would be dominating Japan if there was enough stock, totally with you on the shortages in the west, but surely Japan has moved away from home consoles for quite a while now.

 

[ParaSeoul]

So you are suggesting the PS5 would be dominating Japan if there was enough stock, totally with you on the shortages in the west, but surely Japan has moved away from home consoles for quite a while now.

No Japan is handheld territory,vita and 3ds dominated it before but the if the ps5 had more stock the difference would be a lot less stark. The demand is there even it isn't as high as Switch In Japan.

 

[Mozza]

No Japan is handheld territory,vita and 3ds dominated it before but the if the ps5 had more stock the difference would be a lot less stark. The demand is there even it isn't as high as Switch In Japan.

The Ps5 would indeed have more sales, as the the difference not being as stark, not so sure on that one, but until stock gets better everywhere we will not know for sure.

 

[Woopah]

So you are suggesting the PS5 would be dominating Japan if there was enough stock, totally with you on the shortages in the west, but surely Japan has moved away from home consoles for quite a while now.

No Japan is handheld territory,vita and 3ds dominated it before but the if the ps5 had more stock the difference would be a lot less stark. The demand is there even it isn't as high as Switch In Japan.

It all depends on software. The PS4 did better than Vita because it had more appealing software and the 3DS did better than PS4 because it had more appealing software. Now the Switch is going to do better then the 3DS.

Yes more supply will definitely help PS5, but it also needs the software situation to improve (2022 could be better than 2021 in that regard).

 

[Playcredit]

No Japan is handheld territory,vita and 3ds dominated it before but the if the ps5 had more stock the difference would be a lot less stark. The demand is there even it isn't as high as Switch In Japan.

Vita lol.
PS5 even with more supplies not going to make any difference. PS5 is basically a new PS Vita.

 

[ParaSeoul]

Vita lol.
PS5 even with more supplies not going to make any difference. PS5 is basically a new PS Vita.

You get a pity reply but put more effort in next time.

 

[Woopah]

Vita lol.
PS5 even with more supplies not going to make any difference. PS5 is basically a new PS Vita.

You get a pity reply but put more effort in next time.

PS5 will get more big releases than Vita but probably less of the small and medium releases. If it gets FFXVI, MHW2 and DQXII in 2023 then that should give it a big boost.

 

[remember_spinal]

PS5 will get more big releases than Vita but probably less of the small and medium releases. If it gets FFXVI, MHW2 and DQXII in 2023 then that should give it a big boost.

FF7 Remake episode 2, Kingdom Hearts 4, Persona 6, Tsushima sequel

 

[Woopah]

FF7 Remake episode 2, Kingdom Hearts 4, Persona 6, Tsushima sequel

Yes all those too, though I expect they will be 2024. PS5 should fare better in those years.

What will be interesting is seeing how the third party situation has changed by 2024. The games that come out then will be impacted by the sales figures today.

 

[Lognor]

FF7 Remake episode 2, Kingdom Hearts 4, Persona 6, Tsushima sequel

But all of these (maybe not GoT) will be available on PS4. Devs are not really giving gamers a reason to upgrade.

 

[Celine]

No Japan is handheld territory,vita and 3ds dominated it before but the if the ps5 had more stock the difference would be a lot less stark. The demand is there even it isn't as high as Switch In Japan.

You don't know what you are talking about.
PSV performance in Japan should clue people that focusing only on the form factor to explain the current situation is a mistake.

Total physical software sales in Japan at the end of 2020 (Media Create; coverage 99% of the physical software sales)

PSV: 23.68M
PS4: 53.59M
3DS: 119.12M
NSW: 62.20M

 

[arvfab]

But all of these (maybe not GoT) will be available on PS4. Devs are not really giving gamers a reason to upgrade.

If SE didn't even make the DLC of FF7R part 1 for PS4, what makes you think part 2 will come for PS4? 2022 will probably be the last year we will see cross gen releases of major titles.

 

[Lognor]

If SE didn't even make the DLC of FF7R part 1 for PS4, what makes you think part 2 will come for PS4? 2022 will probably be the last year we will see cross gen releases of major titles.

Was that Intergrade? If so, that was just the PS5 version of the game. There weren't many differences.

But a mainline FF game that SE wants to sell 5M+ copies of, I would expect them to put it on the PS4 because otherwise they won't get there with just the PS5.And if they're using the same engine there is really no reason why it wouldn't be on the PS4.

 

[Hardensoul]

You don't know what you are talking about.
PSV performance in Japan should clue people that focusing only on the form factor to explain the current situation is a mistake.

Total physical software sales in Japan at the end of 2020 (Media Create; coverage 99% of the physical software sales)

PSV: 23.68M
PS4: 53.59M
3DS: 119.12M
NSW: 62.20M

Do you know the WiiU software numbers too? Just curious how bad it was! For some reason I thought it was close to PS4 numbers?

Thanks for those data!

 

[arvfab]

Was that Intergrade? If so, that was just the PS5 version of the game. There weren't many differences.

But a mainline FF game that SE wants to sell 5M+ copies of, I would expect them to put it on the PS4 because otherwise they won't get there with just the PS5.And if they're using the same engine there is really no reason why it wouldn't be on the PS4.

No, there is a story DLC with Yuffie exclusive to PS5 (and PC now).

 

[lachesis]

So right now, Switch family (OG/Lite/OLED combined) is about 635k behind PS2's lifetime sales number decades ago. If this sales # keeps up (around 100-200k per week) - they could very well surpass PS2 number in few weeks.
It could even beat out 3DS by mid 2022 if they keep up with this pace.

That's quite impressive... even though, I do feel like that Nintendo has nowhere to run as they put all their eggs into one single basket now. (that there is no more clear distinction between portable/console for them..)
It's understandable why they are being so careful on planning their next move. I really think Nintendo's next console will have critical impact on the company's future.

 

[Lognor]

No, there is a story DLC with Yuffie exclusive to PS5 (and PC now).

Interesting. Didn't know that. I bet it will come to PS4 in 1-6 months. If it doesn't I will concede. FF7R2 is PS5 exclusive.

 

[TheTony316]

Was that Intergrade? If so, that was just the PS5 version of the game. There weren't many differences.

But a mainline FF game that SE wants to sell 5M+ copies of, I would expect them to put it on the PS4 because otherwise they won't get there with just the PS5.And if they're using the same engine there is really no reason why it wouldn't be on the PS4.

The Yuffie chapter (around 5 hours) is PS5 only. There's a good chance that part 2 is going to be PS5 only.

 

[KingGhidorah]

The Yuffie chapter (around 5 hours) is PS5 only. There's a good chance that part 2 is going to be PS5 only.

with PS5 install base so small, that's highly unlikely

 

[reksveks]

with PS5 install base so small, that's highly unlikely

It still might be. The real litmus test is ff16 imo.

 

[TheTony316]

with PS5 install base so small, that's highly unlikely

That shouldn't be a problem, at least not worldwide. PS5 versions outsell the PS4 versions most of the time anyway. Japan is a different story of course.

 

[Tams]

Looks like Switch is finally hitting saturation as numbers are down from last year. It is still selling incredibly well considering Japan's aging population. Something like 50% of the country is over the age of 60.
Microsoft should probably try to get more units in Japan, but with gamepass on PCs, and with gaming on PC becoming a far more popular platform than 4k consoles, thanks to the youtube/minecraft/apex legends/MMO generation of gamers in Japan, it maybe that MS knows what they are doing.
I know I am seeing more and more XBox gamepass cards for sale both online and in stores. Japan is traditionally cash based society and so people don't have credit cards, hence game download cards are immensely popular.

I don't think Sony has any idea of its identity at this point.

Only Nintendo making a home console only system could cause that to happen.

It's 2021, not 2007.

PCs are not popular in Japan. Sure, they are becoming more popular... from an almost non-existent base. Xbox is still a no-name; there's just no existence of it in the Japanese zeitgeist. And while cash is still more popular than elsewhere, especially since the pandemic, cashless payments have exploded. Credit cards are much more common (there adverts and people trying to sign you up for them all over the place) and debit cards are much more common now (with several web only banks all offering them as default (including Sony)).

Japanese gamers have moved onto mobile games. The Switch is mobile, so scratches that itch. It's also cheap (as are smartphone games in a roundabout way as people already have smartphones for other reasons).

 

[Fully engaged]

It's 2021, not 2007.

PCs are not popular in Japan. Sure, they are becoming more popular... from an almost non-existent base. Xbox is still a no-name; there's just no existence of it in the Japanese zeitgeist. And while cash is still more popular than elsewhere, especially since the pandemic, cashless payments have exploded. Credit cards are much more common (there adverts and people trying to sign you up for them all over the place) and debit cards are much more common now (with several web only banks all offering them as default (including Sony)).

Japanese gamers have moved onto mobile games. The Switch is mobile, so scratches that itch. It's also cheap (as are smartphone games in a roundabout way as people already have smartphones for other reasons

PC is certainly a booming industry as a short trip into any major electrical retailer in Japan would show you. We have steam cards for sale in every convenience store, we have large sections in Joshin dedicated to PC gaming. There are specialist PC gaming stores.
Credit cards are less popular than PAY PAY.

 

[Tams]

PC is certainly a booming industry as a short trip into any major electrical retailer in Japan would show you. We have steam cards for sale in every convenience store, we have large sections in Joshin dedicated to PC gaming. There are specialist PC gaming stores.
Credit cards are less popular than PAY PAY.

'Booming' is an overstatement. It's more popular than before and people know of PC gaming (unlike Xbox, lol), but it's still very niche. Gift cards being available in convenience stores isn't that much of a sign of much. The convenience stores like them mostly because they are high density and high value; it doesn't really cost them any space to have a rack of them.

Credits cards are everywhere. No useable everywhere, but many people have at least one. PayPay isn't cash (which was your argument), is often topped up using a credit card, and is only big because their salespeople made some very tempting offers to retailers.

 

[Papacheeks]

Of course, because MS is their One True Competitor.

As long as Sony manages to beat MS, they certainly must be happy with their sales in Japan.

The bigger issue is software. Though these charts are showing the consoles being sold, the issue which has been loosely reported is most of the console sales in Japan are being resold oversee's. A lot of buyers are resellers who are shipping these to other countries/territories where demand is even higher like China, Singapore.

Thats why a few months ago there was a sales chart showing software sales, PS5 has like a million sold in Japan, but hardly any software sales. Which Japan retailers have been saying no one has been picking up games, and physical over in Japan is still one of the main ways people buy games compared to digital. Speaking consoles of course.


Be nice if there was more info on exactly what is going on, and how many of these PS5's have actually been sold to consumers and how many are resold?

 

[Fully engaged]

'Booming' is an overstatement. It's more popular than before and people know of PC gaming (unlike Xbox, lol), but it's still very niche. Gift cards being available in convenience stores isn't that much of a sign of much. The convenience stores like them mostly because they are high density and high value; it doesn't really cost them any space to have a rack of them.

I don't get your need to shit on MS. Back in 2007 the XBOX was doing alright for a foreign console launching after the PS2. The Xbox one was death, but you are writing as if Japanese gamers are not aware of "gaming". This just is not true. Sure, there are a lot more casual gamers in the US who will buy a game console than casual gamers that will buy a PS5 in Japan... but there are a lot of well informed Japanese gamers who know a lot about all the different gaming options, and many of them are PC gamers.

 

[Tams]

I don't get your need to shit on MS. Back in 2007 the XBOX was doing alright for a foreign console launching after the PS2. The Xbox one was death, but you are writing as if Japanese gamers are not aware of "gaming". This just is not true. Sure, there are a lot more casual gamers in the US who will buy a game console than casual gamers that will buy a PS5 in Japan... but there are a lot of well informed Japanese gamers who know a lot about all the different gaming options, and many of them are PC gamers.

Mate, no Xbox has sold well in Japan, even after Microsoft spent a lot and tried very hard with the first one.

And people in Japan just aren't really aware of the Xbox brand.

Hell, globally, Xbox is very much a NA thing. A bit like how only NA has an obsession with iMessage. There's the UK as well, but nowadays even there it's no doing so hot.

 

[Lognor]

It still might be. The real litmus test is ff16 imo.

It looks like FF16 is still exclusive to PS5, or it was when it was announced. But a lot has changed since then. I think we see FF16 on PS4 and if so we definitely see FF7R2 on PS4. No need to lock it down to PS5 with so few units sold.

 

[reksveks]

It looks like FF16 is still exclusive to PS5, or it was when it was announced. But a lot has changed since then. I think we see FF16 on PS4 and if so we definitely see FF7R2 on PS4. No need to lock it down to PS5 with so few units sold.

FF7R in Japan: 703k first week, 839k first 3 weeks
PS5 sold in japan: ~1.2m

so yeah, its going to be:
- have a stupid attachment rate,
- only sell a fraction of ff7r
- get released on ps4 as well

but i do need to check the ww:jp ratio of SE games