Nintendo DS trouncing PSP sales in Japan
by Vladimir Cole 
{ Oct 16th 2005 at 1:00PM }
As of the end of September of this year, the Nintendo DS has sold 3.2 million units while the Sony PSP has sold just 1.7 million units in Japan, according to sales figures provided by Japanese games site Dengeki Online. The culprit? Sony's just not coming out with games that Japanese gamers want to buy. The PSP's game lineup is a source of major dissatisfaction for Japanese gamers, with just 15.3 percent of them satisfied about the games available for the system. Compare that to nearly 50% of DS owners who are happy with the games available for the DS.
This isn't a shocker. We've been hearing from reader comments for a while now that the PSP's line-up is somewhat lackluster. The top-ranked PSP game to date is launch title Lumines, and that's kind of puzzling, considering how well Sony has done lining up developer support for the PlayStation consoles.
Maybe this is only a short-term problem. There are currently around 50 PSP games available, and Sony has promised that nearly 150 will be available by Spring 2006, but we still have to wonder whether Sony might have taken on more than it can handle in trying to launch the PS3 and support a brand new mobile console at the same time.
But as we all know, there are lies, damned lies, and statistics. Another way to look at these same figures is in terms of gross sales. At twice the price of a DS, the PSP only needs to sell half as many units to match gross sales. That's not too shabby for Sony's first-ever game console portable.
[Thanks, Christopher7xii]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
jimmy @ Dec 18th 2005 9:07PM
Its amazing how PSP is such a better looking more advanced system when you see them side by side.
Too bad Sony's portable software philosophy is off the mark and completly lackluster.
Andrew Hsieh @ Dec 18th 2005 9:07PM
#1: You're right. It does look better, doesn't it?
I really had no idea that the PSP had that many games out. That's kind of interesting, considering...
Badison @ Dec 18th 2005 9:07PM
Interesting stats, I agree with post #1, software support has been lacking. I would like to point out that PSP has done well, Nintendo had a monopoly (or vast majority) on the portable gaming market. The fact PSPs have penetrated the market at all is a good sign I think. A little more choice in the long run for the consumers (wait till 2nd and 3rd generation games come out for DS/PSP, things will probably be more interesting right?).
Marc @ Dec 18th 2005 9:07PM
They'll really big a big jump for Sony once they lower the price. I personally wont pay more than $100 for a handheld, one of the reasons I still haven't bought a DS (though I really do want one).
But what do I know, I do all my portable gaming on my N-Gage QD. *Let the flaming begin* =)
ervin @ Dec 18th 2005 9:07PM
sprint 2006? talk about a corporate take over there buying the seasons now.
mercatfat @ Dec 18th 2005 9:07PM
i think Sony could easily re-energize their game lineup by releasing a sequel to the sorely underrated Irritating Stick.
anyone agree?
sup909 @ Dec 18th 2005 9:07PM
#3. Perhaps, but dont forget about development costs. With the PS3 and Xbox on the market are there going to be companies that can afford to develop for the PS3, Xbox and the PSP? Turthfully only the Hardware owned subsidies and perhaps EA can actuall afford to spend the money on all this. There are not very many comapnies willing to spend Millions on the development of a handheld game and then see a smaller return on their effort.
I would assume that the 50 games are japanese releases. If you follow Nintendo at all you know that there are more games released in japan by a large margin then for the US. I would assume it is similar for Sony as well.
I just love in that picture how the micro is as large as the PSP's entire screen
the2bears @ Dec 18th 2005 9:07PM
I think most successful mobile games have something different about them. Hard to pinpoint this, but what I mean is that they're just slightly different than console games. Sony has yet to understand this... they're pushing "mobilized" home games. And so far it's not working as well as they thought.
Calibration263 @ Dec 18th 2005 9:07PM
it all comes down to gameplay... few of the games for the psp are really fun to play for hours on end. even if it has the graphics and the power, the games aren't fun or rewarding enough...
coded arms for example looks AMAZING and has a great arsenal, but its to repetive, same thing OVER and OVER again, and you dont just pick up a new gun from an enemy, you keep the same gun for the whole game trying to hold onto amo, and theres no story line
Not Impressed (Dmitri) @ Dec 18th 2005 9:07PM
This is news?
Hehe just kidding.
-runs off to play Castlevania on his DS-
Jeffler @ Dec 18th 2005 9:07PM
Good luck Sony, though its over. Woot. You seriously got what was coming to you.
Don't say "omg ds fanboy" because I was the BIGGEST PSP fanboy Joystiq/Engadget had ever seen until May where I saw I was backing a bullsh*t machine.
That gross sales thing is crap too, with the DS people don't buy it because its cheaper.
Oh, btw Mr. Cole, sprinT 2006? Typo :P
Nin10dude @ Dec 18th 2005 9:07PM
the2bears is right. Portable games are just more portable-friendly. You can start playing, and stop whenever you want, anywhere. All good portable RPGs allow you to save everywhere. And every portable game is easy to learn, play around with the game for 5 minutes, and you should be able to get the hang of it. They're just alot easier to play anywhere. Sony is just trying to allow you to take your PS2 everywhere.
Christopher7xii @ Dec 18th 2005 9:07PM
Actually there are way more than 50 jap PSP games. I'm pretty sure they were refering to american releases. I count 43 american releases so far, and it'll total out to about 51 by the end of October.
Jap games + European + US games probably total out to 130 games I'd say. Count them up on GameFaqs if you want to prove me wrong. I'd count myself but I'm too lazy to count again.
CapAmerica @ Dec 18th 2005 9:07PM
I think the big issues with games not being developed for the PSP is because developers look at the fact that for the same amount of money and time they can either develop a game for the PSP and sell 10,000 copies or release the same game on the PS2 and sell 1,000,000 copies. The PSP offers nothing new that the PS2 can't already do.
The DS on the other hand offers a ton of new features which allows developers to create new ideas that can not be done on the GBA or GameCube.
I think its very unlikely we'll see any shift in power in the handheld market, Sony screwed up and being Sony they will never admit it. The PSP will most likely go the same way as every other handheld that has went up against the GameBoy.
mo @ Dec 18th 2005 9:07PM
Sony just doesn't appear to understand the h/held market.
It's pretty telling to consider that Lumines (a Tetris knock-off) is considered to be the "best" PSP game so far. Which would be fine except that we're talking about a cutting-edge h/held system here that sports a 333Mhz CPU, and a 150Mhz graphics processor. Add to that, the huge losses Sony is incurring on each PSP sold and you appear to have a company that just didn't have a clear strategy in place except brute strength and the PS brand.
In-fact, I would go further: if Sony are at all serious about the h/held market, they need clear distinction between the Playstation brand and their h/held brand. In other words, SCE need to come up with a completely separate brand from the Playstation for their h/held system.
Also, I don't have figures for this but anecdotal evidence suggests that there's a certain degree of cannibalisation of the PS2 market. ie many casual gamers are REPLACING their aged PS2 with the PSP. Which must surely be a worrying prospect for Sony.
The Truth @ Dec 18th 2005 9:07PM
i got myself a PSP, but until there are better games out, then I will not be happy with my purchase
Self Conshus @ Dec 18th 2005 9:07PM
I own a PSP and I love it death, but theres definitely some obvious problems with it. For one, there's absolutely ZERO solid games for the damn thing besides Burnout and Lumines. The price point is also a problem. I think these issues are the main reasons that the DS is killing the PSP at the moment. I mean, the DS is just nothing great imo...none of the games it offers have caught my attention either. I always hear people complaining that PSP are nothing but portable PS2 games, but I haven't heard anybody talking about how DS games are nothing but SNES/N64 level games. I mean, I think both of the handhelds have their place, but the PSP is just far more advanced and can offer a much better gaming experience with right the software provided.
To sum this up, it all comes down to the software and price. Change that and it'd be a much closer race.
Night Walker @ Dec 18th 2005 9:07PM
That entire gross sales statement is technically true, it fully applies to Nintendo (and their smart business model), but I think it can't be made regarding the PSP (and their terrible one).
I mean each and every DS brings in a profit. Each and every PSP is sold at a loss, that gross sales concept is basically a moot point.
But it's Vlad, and I can tell you're just trying to be open minded and not enrage the fanboys, so I'll let that one pass.
In a similar note though the highest PSP game in Japan is around 300k in sales (and third party = small profit line), Nintendo have multiple first party titles selling by the production line (i.e. loads, with heaps of profit).
Sony are in serious trouble here, but Nintendo must be figuring out where to stuff the money next - every nook and cranny at N HQ must be stuffed.
The1 @ Dec 18th 2005 9:07PM
The PSP cost more to make than the DS, so I am not sure that SONY is making the profits that it wants to make.
Brandon @ Dec 18th 2005 9:07PM
The1 - "Another way to look at these same figures is in terms of gross sales." Gross sales is written, not gross profit.
Chance @ Dec 18th 2005 9:07PM
When I first heard about the PSP I thought: sweet! Now I'll be able to play all my favorite PS1 games again!
Now if they had made the console as powerful as the PS1, smaller screen, Sony might have been able to steam roll Nintendo with a 99$ system. However, Sony unveiled a hand held that seemed to have everything going for it EXCEPT games. When I saw the specs, I thought: what developer in their right mind is going to develop exclusive content for this system. Its a portable PS2!
As has been stated previously, it costs just as much to make a game for the PSP as the PS2. The diff is, Sony expects these developers to sell their wares for a "hand held price". When you do the math, this model does not add up.
Now as a developer you have two choices: develope for the PSP (modest market share, high dev cost) - or develope for the DS (larger market share, LOW dev cost). The truth is, more folks are developing original content for the DS because it is the emerging dominant platform - not because it is a creative or compelling system. Though I'm sure this helps.
The truth is, the market is not ready for the PSP. The tools that would have eased development are simply not in place.
So what is the difference between the PSP and previous *powerful and feature-rich* handhelds that tried to topple the mighty game boy? A: the PSP will probably linger a little longer before ultimately biting the dust. Though history has shown that one incredible game can make a system immortal (Pokemon, Nintendogs).
Jay @ Dec 18th 2005 9:07PM
not hard to understand. The way it seems is that the PSP's killer titles are Burnout and Lumines. Lumines being a Tetris rip off and Burnout being a million times better and more full featured on the bigger consoles.
whereas the DS has Advance Wars, Nintendogs, Castlevania, Kirby... the usual Nintendo line up. with Mario Kart, Metroid Hunters, new Mario, ASH, possible F-Zero games all one the way?
Maybe Japanese folk would rather play "Snes/N64 sequels" than watered down little brother's of games.
delerious @ Dec 18th 2005 9:07PM
No, I think Sony want's to make as much money as they can.
Nintendo uses quality parts too. They've got to pay up. 2 3in LCD screens, on touch screen too. One ARM9 and one ARM 7 processor. There is a bunch of stuff.
The PSP is made up of old parts they had lying around and just put it into a smaller form board and dubbed down the clock speed to help the battery life..... Nothing new for them, just made it easier for them.
No one is losing anymoney.
Both are making profits, Nintendo I am sure, makes profits on everything they sell. Sony makes profits on their PSP too. I bet that thing doesn't cost more than 100 dollars to make. And that is believable if you look at that 180 dollar non-value pack being sold in Japan.
Same to Nintendo.
The DS is a deticated gaming machine, that's why I like it. I don't want to be obscured with what movies I want to rebuy for it. Yes, I have considered buying a PSP, but at it's price..*leans*..you could buy an Xbox 360 Core System instead for just 50 dollars more(I'm getting the Value System).
The PSP won't sell many systems till Liberty City Stories comes out. THEN, it will be a very popular item. It'll be even more popular if Sony declares a price cut. I don't like any of the current games out right now, and I don't expect the PSP will roll out of my mind once WiFi connection, Mario Kart, AC:WW comes around.
Ninegauger @ Dec 18th 2005 9:07PM
We could be seeing how this not so age old battle is going in the U.S. if the PSP numbers weren't suspiciously missing from the September NPD data... which I found here: http://www.gamesarefun.com/news.php?newsid=5659
Jago @ Dec 18th 2005 9:07PM
Having a more advanced handheld system (or a more advanced game console) doesn't automatically mean you will have more fun games. Just look at the history of the handhelds. The Game Boy beat the Turbo Express Portable, the Game Gear, the Sega Nomad, the Neo Geo Pocket and the Lynx.
I own the PSP along with Burnout Legends, Wipeout Pure, Lumines, MLB and Ridge Racer. They're fun games and I LOOOOOOVE the Wipeout series...hell Wipeout XL was what made me buy the PS1...but it needs more variation in their games.
Burnout Legends btw is far from perfect either...there are some MAJOR collision issues with that game. When my car rams into a fual tanker truck at 100+ MPH, I shouldn't be spinning out of control UNDERNEATH the road where my Crashbreaker would have no effect on it. My car shouldn't go flying through mountains whn I get thrown off the road. Don't get me wrong it is a fun game no where near the quality of its console cousins.
jimmy @ Dec 18th 2005 9:07PM
20. I don't know specifics of PSP's build but it has to cost sony more than $100 to make it. That screen alone is probably pretty pricey. They may even be taking a loss on each one they sell at $250
Blaine @ Dec 18th 2005 9:07PM
Another problem with the "PSP costs twice as much as the DS so they only need to sell half as many" concept is-
Most consoles these days are based on the 'give them the razor and make money off the razor blades' school of sales.
A system with 3 million users will have a better chance of selling 1.5 million units of a game than a console with 1.7 million users.
And by extension it's about impossible to sell 2 million of a title.
Jago @ Dec 18th 2005 9:07PM
Sure GTS: Liberty Cities MIGHT push more PSP systems off the shelves but after people beat that game and get tired of it there won't really be any other games for it. The DS on the other hand has had constent flow of good games coming out for it recently and it isn't stopping.
ReyBrujo @ Dec 18th 2005 9:07PM
GTA:LCS may be what the US and European market need. They are hardcore gamers. Now, I don't really see the Japanese market as a hardcore one. Plus, GTA series have already its share of banning rules in Japan, so I don't think it will be as killer there as in other places.
UMD movies are substaining the PSP. It is what MPAA and Sony needed. Is that what the gamers needed? I hope the new iPod Video will diminish UMD sales, and force Sony to kick some game developers' butts and force them to make more games. I am almost sure the next or next-next Gameboy generation will come with 4:3 screen, and I don't want to recall PSP as the "portable 3DO".
SetupWeasel @ Dec 18th 2005 9:07PM
Considering that Sony in all their rhetoric and dick-waving leading up to the PSP said that they would kick the DS's ass, I would have to say that they are disappointed.
I think Sony had thought they would get a lot more ports to the PSP. Their non port line-up has ben horrible.
The reason why the DS does so well (and the GBA for that matter) is it provides a different experience than the consoles. The PSP is the PS2 junior. It is inferior to its big brother in everything except its size and the price of its games. The DS and the GBA offer games that can not or will not be offered on home consoles.
If you have two products that claim to do the same things and one is $100 more and less desireable in almost every fashion, it's not going to do that well. You are going to see the same problem when the 360 and PS3 come out. They are two consoles vying for the same space.
What is going to happen when the PSP isn't even close to the available home consoles? Will companies still spend the money to port games when they are not making PS2 games? Will consumers be attracted to a slightly more portable, crippled PS1.5 then?
Because the DS doesn't rely on the same things as the home consoles to sell it, the improvement of the home consoles won't affect it. This is the stragety that made them billions of dollars on the Game Boy line.
Jago @ Dec 18th 2005 9:07PM
Japan does not have hardcore gamers? Are you kidding me? Just b/c a western-centric game like GTA might not sell well in Japan doesn't mean they aren't hardcore gamers. It won't sell there b/c that type of game might not appeal to them...the same can be said for quirky japanese games.
Beau @ Dec 18th 2005 9:07PM
Totally agree about no games, but hopefully that will change in next two months, GTA, Katamari, Battlefront II, Burnout, and some others, in the mean time, I'll play some SNES and Genesis favs... hehe
kilo @ Dec 18th 2005 9:07PM
all Sony needs to do to get the PSP back on track is throw a ton of cash at Square and have Final Fantasy 7 released on it.
is this such a hard concept?
Chance @ Dec 18th 2005 9:07PM
I agree with #26. Japan is home to some nutsy hardcore gamers (half of the island is composed of rabid Dragon Warrior fans). Just because they don't like some of our genres does not mean that they are not hardcore.
The fact that PSP is not doing well in Japan does not bode well for the system as a whole. If the PSP loses interest among Japan's Domestic developers, the influx of quality games will diminish. Not to mention, Sony will likely pull the plug on it, even though it may be pulling it's weight in the US.
Jago @ Dec 18th 2005 9:07PM
"all Sony needs to do to get the PSP back on track is throw a ton of cash at Square and have Final Fantasy 7 released on it.
is this such a hard concept?"
One game won't make the system surpass the DS and keep it ahead for the entire life of the system...is that so hard to figure out?
Jago @ Dec 18th 2005 9:07PM
"all Sony needs to do to get the PSP back on track is throw a ton of cash at Square and have Final Fantasy 7 released on it.
is this such a hard concept?"
One game won't make the system surpass the DS and keep it ahead for the entire life of the system...is that so hard to figure out?
Infendo @ Dec 18th 2005 9:07PM
C'mon now. Gross Sales means jack. Units sold (if you're going for market share) and profit margin is all that matter's. I can appreciate the devil's advocate approach, but give us something that holds meaning.
Zoe the Jungle Bunny @ Dec 18th 2005 9:07PM
This is lame. So very lame. "Another way to look at these same figures is in terms of gross sales?" That's pretty fucking weak.
Sony could've priced the unit at, oh, say $4.5 million dollars, and all it would take would be one, rich zealot who wants the thing (and I'm sure there would be at least ONE crazy with that much to blow out there), and the same goal would have been achieved. Don't mean shit.
Oh, and the thing does look a tad superior to the DS in a side by side comparison. That is until you've owned both for a considerable amount of time. After a while, the thrill wears off and you're just left with the softwear (or shit mp3 player). That's where the two systems on the left take the show.
Kaiser @ Dec 18th 2005 9:07PM
If you only count the 2005 totoal, DS sold 1.8 million units and PSP sold 1.4 million units. That's not too big of a difference.
Not Impressed (Dmitri) @ Dec 18th 2005 9:07PM
Kaiser that would be dumb. Because the DS came out before 2005.
Niel @ Dec 18th 2005 9:07PM
I had my Psp (over priced clock) snatched on the trian I didn'it even care because i only played homebrew the Most popular thing about the Psp that Sony does not want. Isn't ironic that you brougth a Sony system to play Nintendo games. My favorite portable experience have been pokemon and Golden Sun (imagine a golden sun 3 on the DS). Sony's Marketing Scheme was Flawed they wanted to shove graphics down our throats which i could care less about on the go I just wanted something fun to occupy my time until i got where i was going.
Marc @ Dec 18th 2005 9:07PM
Sony PSP is a jack of all trades but master of none. It's a decent game machine, a mediocre web browser, a limited media player, half-hearted network connectivity. Sony wants us to use it for all kinds of things, but they insist on keeping it all closed (flash updates that intentionally break hacks, proprietary unwritable disc format, proprietary small memory sticks). PSP is like minidisc (is like Betamax, is like BluRay, is like...): awesome idea but embarassingly bad execution.
Nintendo DS, on the other hand, is almost exclusively a game machine. And it's backwards-compatible with its predecessors. And Nintendo has tremendous experience to draw on from their long history of handheld games (even before the original GameBoy).
Not Impressed (Dmitri) @ Dec 18th 2005 9:07PM
Its funny though. Because Sony was just expecting to knock Nintendo out of the handheld area.
You cannot kill a full armored king with a twig.
dracula @ Dec 18th 2005 9:07PM
i guess you psp guys are learning hardware only matters to a very limited extent!!!
Bob @ Dec 18th 2005 9:07PM
Three syllables.
1. Nin
2. Ten
3. Dogs
As a self-proclaimed PSP junkie, even I'm disappointed in the number (low) and originality (lower) of the first crop of PSP games. I mean, come on - is there anything like that plankton game on the PSP?
Like a lot of things, however, it is a marathon, not a sprint - I remain encouraged that the future is bright for the PSP, however disappointed I am with the start of the race.
Sienar @ Dec 18th 2005 9:07PM
Sony seems to be the victum of the wrong hardware at the wrong time....
Some people claim that GTA:LCS will be the systems savior, and that may be true. However, it could get buried under the 360's hype/marketing rush as all of the "halo hardcore" and their ilk devoir M$'s new system. Other's may instead be looking towards the PS3 and realizing that money could be a very big issue- and as far as I'm concerned, GTA's bread and butter is 12 year old's to college gamers, neither have alot of cash. Finally the PSP's multimedia functionality is now not much of a factor thanks to the ipod video, which, for the same price(after one buys a 512 PSPMS) can offer vastly superior movie and music with itunes, and of course there are style whoars who will buy one because it's "cool".
And there is the cost factor, both in development and to the end consumer. I read somewhere(maybe nextgenbiz), that PSP development cost is in the 800,000US range, or equal to the PS2. The GBA is 400,000 and the DS is 350,000-Nintendo somehow decreased average dev cost from one handheld generation to the next, which is simply amazing. Considering the fact that many handheld developers work on a relatively small budget, it's no wonder why there is a lack of games. Also, the PSP has more of a risk associated with it due to the higher dev cost and smaller install base, i.e. meaning fewer games are made, meaning fewer people buy it, install base deosn't increase so even fewer games are made, fewer people buy it, and so on in a never ending vicous circle. And of course, 250 is just to much for a handheld, as is the 50 price tag on games-except if the expericence matches or exceeds that of the console, which hasn't happened. And remaining on cost, Sony takes a hit on each PSP sold, possibly 30$ U.S if production cost hasn't changed since launch. But, the DS remains profitable even when bundeled with software.
As for games, Nintendo is developing a large and diverse library which caters especially well to the japanese market of quirky titles and rpg's. Sony doesn't have much in the way of hit japan only titles, instead it has madden and other sports minded games. Sales are decidedly in the DS's favor, with nintendog's still doing remarkably well and even beating madden, despite being out for several weeks.
Nintendo clearly knows how to make, market and support a successful handheld while sony seems to be stuck between a rock and a hard place. And given Sony's preocupation with the PS3 and gaining dev support for that console, it's hard to see if the PSP will ever live up to it's potential. If the PS3 turns out having trouble in the marketplace(as I beleive it will), the little handheld is dead.
PSP; unfortunate victum of circumstance and Sony's lack of experience in the handheld market.
Sanitarium @ Dec 18th 2005 9:07PM
Dear site editor,
Just a little correction, according to Sony, they've SHIPPED 1.7 million, ot sold, just shipped.
Glenn @ Dec 18th 2005 9:07PM
"nearly 150 will be available by Sprint 2006"
Is this some sort of phone event where Sony will make some big game annoucements?
semi @ Dec 18th 2005 9:07PM
i think sony is regretting not putting in a harddrive in the psp, it would've given psp a completely different angle, especially on music and movies.
Kaiser @ Dec 18th 2005 9:07PM
Last week DS sold 39137 units, PSP had 31089 units sold. I don't think DS trouncing PSP sales in Japan at all. You can't say Gameboy SP trouncing PSP sales because SP was released way earlier than PSP, even though the sales ratio is 5.5million to 1.8million. I think it's only fair if you compare weekly or yearly sales.