Reuters: PlayStation 3 catching up to Wii in Japan; Us: not really

by Christopher Grant { Jul 3rd 2008 at 9:29AM }

While elsewhere in the world, the Wii has little trouble outpacing its competition – with nearly 25 million units sold worldwide, nearly double the PS3's 13 million and a solid 25% lead on the Xbox 360's 20 million in sales – in Japan, it's a two console race (sorry, Xbox). In a piece headlined "Sony PS3 catching up to Wii in Japanese sales," Reuters' Tokyo branch covers the horse race, writing that the Wii "once again outsold Sony Corp's PlayStation 3 in Japan in June, but its lead is fading." While technically accurate if referring to monthly sales – the Wii only outsold the PS3 by a margin of 1.7 to 1 last month, a dip from the 6 to 1 margin of the previous month – the bigger picture isn't so clear.

So, spurred on by sales of Metal Gear Solid 4, the PS3 did better last month, okay (you already know that, of course, from reading our Japanese hardware sales series). But with nearly 6 million Wii units sold in Japan, versus just 2 million PlayStation 3 units sold (source: Wii, PS3), it looks to us like the PlayStation 3 still has a lot of "catching up" to do and no more Metal Gear Solids.

Tags: Enterbrain, Japan, Sales

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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)

FOXHOUND @ Jul 3rd 2008 9:38AM

LoL does that guy have to be so close up on the kid?

Anyway, despite the crazy stats(real or otherwise)to follow in this comment thread; it's good to see competition still alive and well... because this industry definitely can't last long being stagnant.

Poisoned Al @ Jul 3rd 2008 9:39AM

While it's true that there's no more Metal Gear Solids, the PS3 just needs some more cretinous JRPGs and Sony will be laughing!

mr mobius @ Jul 3rd 2008 9:41AM

I'm getting deja vu here. I think this was up last month as well.

Just because the PS3 has decreased the gap in number of consoles sold, the Wii still outsold the PS3 and by quite a margin still, so it is still increasing it's gap in total number of sales compared to the PS3.

This report is very misleading (and I think you've noticed that yourself according to your title). Reuters seem to want some hostile fanboyism.

Kenology @ Jul 3rd 2008 10:19AM

Yeah, this article's title was written with the expressed purpose of fueling fanboy flamefests. Clearly the PS3 had one of its biggest releases and wasn't outsold by as big a margin as usual. But to report the the PS3 is closing the gap is misleading and pretty dumb. It would mean that the PS3 would have a sustained boost, which it hasn't. It's already dropped like a rock after the OMGS4 spike. Rueter's sucks for this one...

Cyro @ Jul 3rd 2008 10:21AM

I was thinking about that also. How can the PS3 be catching up when it is still being out sold ?

It make no sense...

t_m @ Jul 3rd 2008 1:12PM

its not falling behind so quickly...

born2kill @ Jul 3rd 2008 1:23PM

The article didnt say the PS3 outsold wii, it says its "catching up" in monthly sales. Thats all. Dont make it seem like its bias, fanboy crap. Its just a statement of fact that the gap has narrowed this month, but its still a gap and we all know this.

BananaBoat @ Jul 3rd 2008 2:20PM

The gap has narrowed for the month because of Metal Gear Solid 4, but the gap overall actually increased this month (and, let's face it, every month). In other words, the PS3 didn't get outsold by as high a margin this month, but it's still being outsold by a gigantic degree.

It's understandable really. For all of Metal Gear Solid 4's awesomeness (it really is damn good) it can't hope to compete with...well...Wii Sports. Throw in Wii Fit (which I still can't find in any stores, despite my desire to play that ski jump game) and you've got an unbeatable combination.

On that note, I haven't touched my Wii since I finished Mario Galaxy, and I'm desperate for another Zelda or Mario...or Star Fox...anything....please Nintendo.

Night Elve @ Jul 3rd 2008 9:53AM

I really can't understand why the Wii is having so much success, at least in my very personal opinion Xbox 360 & PS3 have so much more to offer with better video games than the Wii.

samfish @ Jul 3rd 2008 10:14AM

And I can't understand why the PS3 and 360 aren't failing harder.

Perspectives, and all that.

4MyFriends @ Jul 3rd 2008 10:20AM

The Wii easily has more and better games out(keyword) right now than the PS3. Not everyone liked Metal Gear Solid and Final Fantasy, without interest in those the PS3's library is not as appealing as the 360's.

mr mobius @ Jul 3rd 2008 10:28AM

Price
Innovation (IR moreso that the waggle but both for all intensive purposes)
Free game with purchase which appeals to wider demographic
Many franchises which are best sellers for two decades appear as Wii games.
Many franchises which were best sellers two decades ago appear on Virtual console - and lets face it a lot of NES and SNES have now kicked the bucket so it offers a cheap way to regain childhood memories.
Many casual games which appeal to the casual gamer - a large demographic.
WiiWare - has good games coming for it (not really a winner over XBLA though but can fight the PSN, and has picked up many titles which XBLA lost due to their strictness).
Wii Fit - major appeal for casuals.
DS connectivity - it connects with the handheld of choice and allows demos as well as other things.
Brand recognition - Nintendo is known for generations, along with Mario, and the DS is the best selling game console of this generation (out of home and portable) and the Wii gets the brand recognition of Nintendo from the DS.

Vidikron (FU) @ Jul 3rd 2008 10:46AM

Nostalgia, causals, brain washing, etc...

Vidikron (FU) @ Jul 3rd 2008 10:46AM

*casuals

Dan @ Jul 3rd 2008 11:16AM

@4myfriends

You should be shot...

Better games, are you serious?? You have mario games, and zelda. Which zelda played better on the gamecube with the controller anyway. And the last huge title the wii had was smash bros.. which sucks for online play.

The PS3 and 360 have way better games, the only thing that sold the wii was its od low price, which won't last soon with the 360 and ps3 eventually dropping in price later on. Its like a lot of developers are saying, the wii is selling cuz it looked nice and cool at someones house, but when you get its like eeeh...

Nightvortez @ Jul 3rd 2008 11:28AM

The Wii has more and better games out? Where? It only has 18 games on gamerankings that are over 80%, they come really far in between and mostly consist of Nintendo's key franchises. The 360 (88) and the PS3 (44) both have loads more games out and releasing, the Wii is more popular because of how it's been integrated into pop culture. Games barely boost hardware sales and I don't really see anything which either Microsoft or Sony can release to ever catch up with the Wii in the US.

Co @ Jul 3rd 2008 12:01PM

Dan,

You should be shot for incenuating the Gamecube version of Twilight Princess controls better than the Wii version.

Slap yoself.

deaftly @ Jul 3rd 2008 12:15PM

Co, yo better checkity check yoself befo` yo wreck yoself

Dan @ Jul 3rd 2008 12:22PM

Oh sure...I love playing a game with one hand holding a white chopstick with holding its ball attached to a string on the other.... that was the most incomfortable game I ever played on the wii.

But nice try though,, I like how tried to defend that idea.....not..

4MyFriends @ Jul 3rd 2008 12:25PM

"You should be shot..."
I stopped reading here. If you can't open without an ad hominem, your comment isn't worth my time. And yes the PS3's library does pale in comparison to Wii's right now, which is fucking sad.

Fatass of Rebuttalness @ Jul 3rd 2008 12:49PM

"And yes the PS3's library does pale in comparison to Wii's right now"

Uh, no it doesn't.

At this point, though, arguments like these are just as fucking dumb as current PSP vs. DS arguments, because as much as you can bash either system, at this point, each system has games that make the system worth owning.

Dan @ Jul 3rd 2008 12:59PM

LOL you know you read it all...

But dont worry I'm sure all the kiddy games will keep you busy for now until Soul Calibur 4 comes out......oooh wait.... yea sorry wii is not invited..

)':

MariosInferno @ Jul 3rd 2008 1:02PM

Uhhh...you know...because they nailed the market as it currently stands and they're being rewarded for it.

This stuff happens when you give people what they want....crazy sh*t.

Lars @ Jul 3rd 2008 1:18PM

Well, let me add my 2c...

I bought the Wii expecting it to be the most fun console. I've been primarily a PC gamer my whole life, because consoles have never had a rich enough feature set to really draw me in until now. And the Wii is a slight departure from the norm, promising a unique experience all it's own. I was a bit annoyed by standard console shenanigans (required to buy expensive proprietary controllers, yet another special controller required for VC games, and so on) with the Wii. Well, then I heard about a game coming to the PS3/360 that I was really interested in, and I heard that the PS3 was very open, allowing keyboard & mouse and other standard PC hardware, plus with cheap adapters the old PS1 and PS2 controllers work on it. All said and done, I wound up paying less for the PS3 than the Wii... which is cool, since I didn't expect to get too much use out of the PS3. So imagine my surprise when a few months later I found myself using the PS3 way more than my Wii. The games are so much more compelling that at this time I haven't even touched my Wii in probably 3 months. That's totally not how I expected things to go.

Oh and these worldwide numbers are much closer than I thought. Clearly, no console is losing.

Evan @ Jul 3rd 2008 2:32PM

Which has more and better games? For me it's the Wii, but I can see how kids, who feel mature and cool by playing realistic looking violent games, may prefer the PS3 over the fun, gameplay-oriented, social games on the Wii.

Co @ Jul 3rd 2008 3:19PM

"Which has more and better games? For me it's the Wii, but I can see how kids, who feel mature and cool by playing realistic looking violent games, may prefer the PS3 over the fun, gameplay-oriented, social games on the Wii."

LOL.... so true Evan.

Vidikron (FU) @ Jul 3rd 2008 3:51PM

Vidikron (FU) @ Jul 3rd 2008 3:54PM

*sigh*

*retarded

Anyway, it has nothing to do with trying to "look cool". It's purely a preference for what type of games you want to play.

Ocho @ Jul 3rd 2008 10:03AM

I wonder if the current economic slump in the US keeps the PS3 from being a real competitor here. Weak dollar, decreased consumer confidence, and so forth.

On the other hand, with people driving less and attempting to find more entertainment at or close to home, you'd think that might help the industry in general.

MarioX @ Jul 3rd 2008 10:02AM

The Wii may be the biggest single winner this gen so far, but overall the PS3 and 360 are winning.

When total Wii sales equal total PS3+360 sales, I think more software will be sold on the PS3+360 than the Wii. When the PS1 and PS2 dominated, it dominated both software and hardware sales. It's a big difference, especially to developers.

Kenology @ Jul 3rd 2008 10:20AM

Give it another year...

LaughingTarget @ Jul 3rd 2008 10:28AM

Wii third party sales have outsold the combined total software sales of the PS3 and 360. Add the Nintendo stuff and twice as many pieces of software were sold on the Wii than both HD systems combined. What we aren't seeing are third party mega blockbusters, but when a Wii dev only has to sink 15% of the money it would take to make that blockbuster, not matching COD4 isn't an issue.

T @ Jul 3rd 2008 10:55AM

Wait...so now one can't "win" unless they outsell the *combined* sales of their competitors vs. just being the #1 seller?

And I see you've also made sure to give yourself a back door by adding a caveat that it's really the software sales that matter.

What will it be after that? Will the Wii have to also be leading in metacritic scores to be the winner?

In the words of Abe Simpson: "I used to be with it. Then they changed what it was."

Mr Khan @ Jul 3rd 2008 2:12PM

LaughingTarget just explained the beauty and the bane of Wii third party development

The good news: Developers don't have to waste a lot of money on a risky, niche, but awesome venture
The bad news: developers won't waste a lot of money on a piss-poor effort

arrrgh @ Jul 3rd 2008 10:05AM

hmmm wonder what "incentives" they had to publish this article

juju187 @ Jul 3rd 2008 10:55AM

uh-oh i know your not putting joystiq on the "SPOT"

Jody Anthony (gamertag and psn: JodyAnthony) @ Jul 3rd 2008 10:08AM

hopefully this leads to more good ps3 games. While hardware wise, the PS3 is my favorite this gen, it gets the least amount of my playtime (except for that week of awesome that was MGS4)

BIGGEN (LIVE-PSN: BIGGEN1103) @ Jul 3rd 2008 12:59PM

hey, do you play lost planet demo on ps3? could have sworn you were on there last night. may have you mixed up with someone else.

Jody Anthony (gamertag and psn: JodyAnthony) @ Jul 3rd 2008 1:00PM

I've played it, but not for quite a while

SonofaGunner @ Jul 3rd 2008 10:16AM

Couldn't care what happens to Wii. It doesn't cater to me as a game. Mine is sitting in my living room waiting for something exciting to happen.

4MyFriends @ Jul 3rd 2008 10:22AM

If you can't honestly find something to play on the system, even in the future, I don't know what to say to you.

Vidikron (FU) @ Jul 3rd 2008 10:50AM

Same here. Mine sits around unused most of the time and half the games I do have are unfinshed. They just all seem to get boring quickly. My last two games were MK Wii and Boom Blox. Both are decent and I played them for a couple of weeks. But now it's back to sitting around doing nothing. I did turn it on to update to the 3.3 firmware... yay!

mr nimblewick @ Jul 3rd 2008 11:06AM

So let me get this straight... You are some kind of uncaring video game?

tmacairjordan87 @ Jul 3rd 2008 12:27PM

4myfriends not everyone enjoys nothing but kiddy games, shovelware or uninspired rehashes with the occassional solid 3rd party game that comes out once or twice a year. You can write it off as trolling all you want, but you see more and more people saying the same thing every month.

BIGGEN (LIVE-PSN: BIGGEN1103) @ Jul 3rd 2008 1:02PM

@tmac
yeah, i said that back in january, february, and march. but not in april cause i sold the mofo on ebay for twice what i paid for it. thanks wii ;D

samfish @ Jul 3rd 2008 1:43PM

Just because more trolls like you come to bitch on message boards doesn't make it true, tmac.

TwEE @ Jul 3rd 2008 2:24PM

tmacairjordan87 you're an intolerable tit of a troll.

You constantly whine and berate people for enjoying the wii, games that differ from your very dull narrow tastes, or Nintendo franchices (franchices, by the way which leave anything sony could make in the dust. Sorry you know this is true), but yet never offer up any alternatives.

What games live up to your standards tmacairjordan87?.. Really you should make a list, Im very curious.