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[Bodomism]

The PlayStation brand has been called “in decisive decline” in Japan, as PS5 reportedly recorded “by far the lowest” launch sales of any Sony home console in the region.

Citing Famitsu sales data in an article published on GamesIndustry.biz Japan, Ace Economic Research Institute analyst Hideki Yasuda said PS5 sold some 240,000 units in Japan in its first six weeks of availability – less than every other PlayStation console during the same timeframe, barring PSP

Yasuda claimed that the figures showed that “Sony is not taking Japan seriously” and that the PlayStation brand “is in decisive decline” in the company’s home country.

“Total sales of 240,000 are by far the lowest in the history of PlayStation home consoles,” the analyst wrote. “If this were to continue, lifetime sales of PS5 would perhaps end up at less than half of PS4.”

He added: “Based on this graph, can one really sense that Sony (SIE) has plans for success in the Japanese market? ACE Economic Research Institute cannot see it.”

PS4 has sold fewer than 10 million units in Japan, according to Famitsu.

Citing Famitsu again, Yasuda explains how the Nintendo Switch and 3DS sales have dwarfed the PlayStation 4 in Japan; both selling over 5 million units in recent years. The fourth year has seen the Nintendo Switch surpass the 3DS’ sales in that same period, with no clue of when it will peak out.

Total Nintendo Switch sales have exceeded 17 million units in Japan, and are expected to exceed 25 million units. As of November 2020, the Nintendo Switch has sold over 68 million units globally. Ace Research and Yasuda predicts total lifecycle sales to exceed 150 million units.

Comparatively, the PlayStation 4 sold 9.5 million in total in Japan, lower than the PlayStation 3. It also never sold more than 2 million units per year. Unsurprisingly, Yasuda predicts the PlayStation 4 will sell less than half as many units as the Nintendo Switch.

More on the websites.

PlayStation brand ‘is in decisive decline in Japan’, research firm claims | VGC

Sony accused of “not taking Japan seriously” as PS5 reportedly records lowest launch sales…

www.videogameschronicle.com

Research Firm Claims Fall of PlayStation in Japan is “Definitive;” Blames Censorship and not Realizing Japan’s Potential

A market researcher has stated that it is “definitive” PlayStation will fall in Japan, due to censorship and not realizing the region’s potential.

nichegamer.com

 

[Enzo88]

Still can't get one here, calling bullshit for now.

 

[James Sawyer Ford]

Not even Sony cares if they’re in decline there

better to create a compelling system for the rest of the world than design a gimmick console that could be popular in Japan

 

[Jtibh]

Japan= not the rest of the world

 

[Heimdall_Xtreme]

i told you guys.

FUCK YOU SON OF A BITCH JIM RYAN

 

[Blue Spring]

less than every other PlayStation console during the same timeframe, barring PSP

Cool that means the PS5 is slated to sell more than 19 million the PSP sold in japan.

 

[Heimdall_Xtreme]

Japan= not the rest of the world

No... but is such huge important.... SUPER MEGA IMPORTANT.

 

[hemo memo]

Why focus on a country with very low sales? It make sense for Sony to not take Japan seriously.

 

[Blue Spring]

No... but is such huge important.... SUPER MEGA IMPORTANT.

The PS5 will still have the best japanese third party support.

 

[Iamborghini]

Maybe it’s because there is no console to buy?

 

[Batiman]

Time for MS to swoop in

 

[Gen X]

I'm sure that worldwide stock supplies and Covid doesn't have any effect on this whatsoever.

 

[Zenaku]

Still can't get one here, calling bullshit for now.

They're not saying that the lower numbers are because people aren't interested, they're saying that Sony isn't, hence why they shipped such a small number compared to previous launches.

Sonys outlook on a country - it's own country at that - is just as important as player interest.

 

[SLoWMoTIoN]

Sony doesn't need Japan.

The PS5 will still have the best japanese third party support.

So PC/Switch just stopped existing?

 

[hemo memo]

I'm sure that worldwide stock supplies and Covid doesn't have any effect on this whatsoever.

And missing out of publishing a clickbait article? Nah.

 

[Heimdall_Xtreme]

Sony doesn't need Japan.

So PC/Switch just stopped existing?

What a disaster, Sony doesnt need japan, when thanks to them they are the brand that exists today. What a painful comment

 

[Enzo88]

Not even Sony cares if they’re in decline there

better to create a compelling system for the rest of the world than design a gimmick console that could be popular in Japan

The only problem with a console that does too bad in Japan, is that despite it making no sense number wise, Japanese software house still think Japan first.

PS5 might get less support from them, especially smaller companies, but this is pure speculation for now.

They're not saying that the lower numbers are because people aren't interested, they're saying that Sony isn't, hence why they shipped such a small number compared to previous launches.

Sonys outlook on a country - it's own country at that - is just as important as player interest.

I am referring to the part where it states that the brand is in decisive decline already, way too early to say that.

 

[Blue Spring]

Sony doesn't need Japan.

So PC/Switch just stopped existing?

Since when does PC or Switch have the best japanese third party support?
PC gets late ports most of the time and Nintendo lost exclusivity to their biggest japanese third party games to the PS while the opposite has not happened.

 

[Barakov]

More doom and gloom? Whatever.

1. It's hard to get right now
2. There's hardly any games out for it

Maybe wait a year before saying the sky is falling. But yeah, clickbaiters gonna clickbait.

 

[Lionel Richie]

I see the defense force got in early and hard.

 

[SLoWMoTIoN]

What a disaster, Sony doesnt need japan, when thanks to them they are the brand that exists today. What a painful comment

I mean it IS true. Their biggest sellers aren't Japanese games, they remade a classic ps3 as a ps5 launch title with another non Japanese studio and Sony has shifted their focus to cinematic experiences. Time to move on. Asia is all about MOBILECHADS and the Switch either way so :shrug;

Since when does PC or Switch have the best japanese third party support?

Since Sony shifted focus. It isn't the mid Ps4 timeline anymore. Keep up, most Japanese devs are now moving to PC or Nintendo without fear of Sony fucking them over. The Ps5 will have the same number of ports than the Switch will when it comes to Japanese games (that aren't Western like aka Capcom/Squeenix)

 

[Unknown?]

i told you guys.

FUCK YOU SON OF A BITCH JIM RYAN

Yeah he convinced all of Japan to go mobile or handheld. Playstation is the only dedicated home console there now since Xbox is nearly nonexistent.

 

[James Sawyer Ford]

The only problem with a console that does too bad in Japan, is that despite it making no sense number wise, Japanese software house still think Japan first.

PS5 might get less support from them, especially smaller companies, but this is pure speculation for now.

I am referring to the part where it states that the brand is in decisive decline already, way too early to say that.

I don’t think that’s true any longer

square and capcom care far more about ex-Japanese markets where most of their revenue is from

 

[Graciaus]

This shouldn't really be surprising since many play games on handheld or mobile in Japan.

Now if this was about the rest of the world that would be worth mentioning.

 

[SLoWMoTIoN]

square and capcom care far more about ex-Japanese markets where most of their revenue is from

Their biggest market are westerners. So they became westerners.

 

[Heimdall_Xtreme]

I mean it IS true. Their biggest sellers aren't Japanese games, they remade a classic ps3 as a ps5 launch title with another non Japanese studio and Sony has shifted their focus to cinematic experiences. Time to move on. Asia is all about MOBILECHADS and the Switch either way so :shrug;


Since Sony shifted focus. It isn't the mid Ps4 timeline anymore. Keep up, most Japanese devs are now moving to PC or Nintendo without fear of Sony fucking them over. The Ps5 will have the same number of ports than the Switch will when it comes to Japanese games (that aren't Western like aka Capcom/Squeenix)

We can also say about America and the multiple ports that have been released on ps3 to ps5. So don't just say it's exclusive to the Japanese.

They have also released as all original games in concepts.

 

[brap]

That's what they get for pandering to the west.

 

[teezzy]

Hell yeah, looks like a W for #America

 

[MiyazakiHatesKojima]

That's what they get for pandering to the west.

What happened to you, bruv?

 

[Potato Chip PRO]

Time to release Vita 2 Sony... Only way to not lose foothold on the Japanese Market.

 

[brap]

What happened to you, bruv?

What the fuck are you talking about?

 

[THEAP99]

I don't understand this obsession with japan. Who gives a fuck?

This is literally what i see in regards to gamers with japan:

Nintendo owns the japan market. that's it. it's over. done. move on

 

[Unknown?]

That's what they get for pandering to the west.

By that you mean no longer making handheld gaming systems? Probably.

 

[MiyazakiHatesKojima]

What the fuck are you talking about?

 

[Heimdall_Xtreme]

I don't understand this obsession with japan. Who gives a fuck?

This is literally what i see in regards to gamers with japan:

Nintendo owns the japan market. that's it. it's over. done. move on

Japanese culture has made many positive contributions to society and the world, so please respect them.

 

[ZehDon]

I don't understand this obsession with japan. Who gives a fuck?

This is literally what i see in regards to gamers with japan:

Nintendo owns the japan market. that's it. it's over. done. move on

Well, there was a time when the big players were all Japanese. Sony, Nintendo, Sega; heck, for a generation of gamers, Japan was video games. The obsession with Japan comes from seeing the almost unbelievable decline in traditional gaming in stark contrast to what it once was. If you'd said that PlayStation in Japan would be all but dead by 2020 during the launch of the PS2, you'd have been committed.

 

[Unknown?]

Japanese culture has made many positive contributions to society and the world, so please respect them.

This article doesn't respect their culture and purposely misrepresents the gaming climate there.

 

[Unknown?]

Well, there was a time when the big players were all Japanese. Sony, Nintendo, Sega; heck, for a generation of gamers, Japan was video games. The obsession with Japan comes from seeing the almost unbelievable decline in traditional gaming in stark contrast to what it once was. If you'd said that home consoles in Japan would be all but dead by 2020 during the launch of the PS2, you'd have been committed.

Fixed that for you.

 

[Heimdall_Xtreme]

This article doesn't respect their culture and purposely misrepresents the gaming climate there.

So how dumb are they, if they criticize a country just for this fact and don't see the positive contributions they have given us.

 

[Airbus Jr]

Console shortage everywhere right now

Its not just a Japan thing

People need to stop putting pressure on Japan

Thats a country with 140 m population with declining population and shifting market into handheld

How about gaming journalist putting more focus on growing giant market like India, Africa, South America and Midle East

 

[The Lunch Legend]

 

[ReBurn]

Console shortage everywhere right now

Its not just a Japan thing

People need to stop putting pressure on Japan

Thats a country with 140 m population with declining population and shifting market into handheld

How about gaming journalist putting more focus on growing giant market like India, Africa, South America and Midle East

Sony touted this as their biggest launch ever. It's clear they didn't prioritize Japan in their record breaking launch. This doesn't have anything to do with shortages. They just knew they would make more money elsewhere.

 

[HerjansEagleFeeder]

Good for you, Japan. Now ditch Nintendo and fully embrace the PC platform

 

[Bodomism]

Console shortage everywhere right now

Its not just a Japan thing

People need to stop putting pressure on Japan

Thats a country with 140 m population with declining population and shifting market into handheld

How about gaming journalist putting more focus on growing giant market like India, Africa, South America and Midle East

Because Japan is second only to US in dedicated video game market sales.

 

[Furball]

Despite the decline . All JPRG company still make game for Sony more Switch exclusive pls like GBA,NDS and 3DS era

 

[DeadOblivion78]

Well, there was a time when the big players were all Japanese. Sony, Nintendo, Sega; heck, for a generation of gamers, Japan was video games. The obsession with Japan comes from seeing the almost unbelievable decline in traditional gaming in stark contrast to what it once was. If you'd said that PlayStation in Japan would be all but dead by 2020 during the launch of the PS2, you'd have been committed.

Well the people in this thread need a reality check and realize that Japan is not the center of the gaming universe. Gaming budgets have skyrocketed and for Sony to even claw back their dominance in Japan would require them changing their core beliefs and policies. For a company as big as Sony to do that would take probably half a decade. If you want Sony to succeed in Japan, they would need to become even more like Nintendo and that is terrifying.

 

[custardbun01]

I just read another website saying it’s in shortage of supply there and can’t meet demand so they’re increasing domestic production. Which one is?

 

[TheMay30thMan]

Aren’t they sold out everywhere, including Japan? What a nonsensical claim. Wait until they’re available for anyone to walk into a store and buy, then run the stats.

 

[Kumomeme]

they spend whole generation fostering their western studio output. hopefully they focused on japanese or asian side for this gen. their western side already nicely established.

 

[Trimesh]

Nobody seems to have worked out the real problem yet - which is the PS5 is too large to fit in 78% of Japanese homes!