Japan console wars – PS3 catching Wii?

Mike Bantick
Friday, 04 July 2008 05:51

Your IT - Entertainment

On the back of some Metal Gear Solid 4 love, the PlayStation 3 has spiked in Japanese sales.  Though the eye catching headline ‘PS3 catching Wii’ could be sexing it up for Sony somewhat.

Entering the Japanese sales charts with a whopping 465,000 units sold (that’s 427,000 ahead the number 2 Mario Kart Wii), Metal Gear Solid 4 is obviously having the desired affect on PS3 hardware sales.

Unlike the mild bump in hardware sales for PS3 and Xbox 360 on release of the phenomenal Grand Theft Auto IV, it seems the PS3 exclusive MGS4 is the one that those poised to purchase a gaming console have been waiting for.

At least in Japan, Sales figures out from Enterbrain and published by Reuters show the PS3 139,494 units for the five weeks ending June 29th – Including one week were the PS3 had a 566 percent increase in sales topping out at 75,311 units to the Nintendo Wii’s 64,674 units for the same week.

However, for the five week totals reported by Enterbrain, the Nintendo Wii still pipped the PS3 by almost 1.7 to 1 – shipping 235,990 units.

Pretty impressive by Nintendo, but given the Wii has been outselling the PS3 by around 6 units for every one up til now, it is also impressive by Sony.

On the hand held gaming front, The PSP (PlayStation Portable) is hitting its stride at 274,131 units shifted, having overtaken the Nintendo DS at 195,714 units sold.

But what about the Microsoft Xbox 360, with the entire Xbox line doing much worse in Japan that Sony or Nintendo? Funnily enough, there's a sliver of good news... please read on to page 2!