• Hey, guest user. Hope you're enjoying NeoGAF! Have you considered registering for an account? Come join us and add your take to the daily discourse.

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

Status
Not open for further replies.

Bodomism

Banned
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.

001-1.jpg


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.

PlayStation 4 Sales Japan


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.

 

Zenaku

Member
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.
 

Enzo88

Member
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.
 
S

SLoWMoTIoN

Unconfirmed Member
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)
 
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

Member
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.
 

Heimdall_Xtreme

Jim Ryan Fanclub's #1 Member
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.
 

Heimdall_Xtreme

Jim Ryan Fanclub's #1 Member
I don't understand this obsession with japan. Who gives a fuck?

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

EqZIXgpXAAMPQCT


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.
 
Last edited:

ZehDon

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

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

EqZIXgpXAAMPQCT


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?

Member
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.
 

Airbus Jr

Banned
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
 
Last edited:

ReBurn

Gold Member
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.
 

Bodomism

Banned
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

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

rolandss

Member
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?
 
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

Member
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.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Top Bottom