Hell freezes over? Xbox 360 tops Wii/PS3 in Japan sales

[theNoid]

http://www.andriasang.com/e/articles/2008/09/17/xbox360_tops_wii/

With weeks of hardware shortages behind it, a lower price point, a new hardware package, and a major Square Enix release, the Xbox 360 surged to the top of the console race for the week covering September 8 through September 14.

Data provided by Enterbrain via Famitsu.com has the 360 at 28,681 units for the week.

The tracking period covers the September 11 release of a new 60 gigabyte 360 package. In addition to replacing the 20 gigabyte model, this new package drops the price down 5,000 yen to 29,800 yen. Microsoft simultaneously dropped the price of the Arcade and Elite systems to, respectively, 19,800 and 39,800 yen, and heavily promoted Square Enix's Infinite Undiscovery, released the same day.

Coinciding with the 360's surge, the Wii took somewhat of a downward turn, ending up with 27,057 units for the week. PS3 managed 8,050 units. All this worked to make the 360 the lead console platform for the first time since its launch.

:eek:

[TheCowOfNow]

hahahaha, f the wii

[erwos]

The question is always whether they can maintain those sales. Maybe the tide has turned, maybe it hasn't - it's going to take a little while to figure out.

[MrMike]

I agree with the article. A lot of this has to do with Infinite Undiscovery and Tales of Vesperia. JRPGs ftw.

[Technoob]

satan on ice skates!

[theNoid]

I agree with the article. A lot of this has to do with Infinite Undiscovery and Tales of Vesperia. JRPGs ftw.

Seriously though, this is the truth. The 360 has had spikes then leveled back down to 2-3k a week in sales. One thing to keep in mind is that The Last Remnant is coming Nov. 20, and Star Ocean 4 is coming in 2009. So there is now a reason for jRPG fans in Japan to Jump In.

Tokyo Game Show is coming, and I expect to hear more about Mystwalkers Cry On title as well, which should get the hype train going. Really though, its all about a spike and if MS can maintain 1/2 these sales, hell 1/4 these numbers on a weekly basis that would be a major improvement.

This is just 1 week sales figures, post Infinite Undiscovery and another price drop so I'm expecting sales to drop again. However for what its worth, I'm enjoying the success for what it is.

[Psychotext]

The question is always whether they can maintain those sales.
Of course it can't. But if it levels out at 6 - 7k a week it will be a big improvement for them.

[NeoGohan]

Of course it can't. But if it levels out at 6 - 7k a week it will be a big improvement for them.

Yeah, as long as it increases overall sales similar to PS3 then they will have done their job.

[pigpen]

That's cool. It's insanity to actually pay more money for a Wii than a 360. Would fanboys pay more for a Nintendo made Smart Car than a MS made Viper?

[Domingo]

Just curious, what's the adoption rate of HDTV's in Japan?
Somewhere I recall reading something about the Japanese not really buying into the graphics war.
Granted I think this is related to those 2 games, but maybe that has something to do with it?
I still can't fathom how serious gamers can be attached to the Wii.

[Psychotext]

Can't speak for what it is now... but Japan used to have higher HDTV penetration than any other country. (They've had HD channels for quite some time now)

[pothb]

Totally due to the new JRPGS coming out. I expected this when I heard about infinite discovery.

[MooMooCow]

Hardly suprising considering it's a Tales series coming onto the 360. If Microsoft managed to get Dragon Quest on the 360, you'll see the charts explode.

[Furystrike]

18 hours into tales of vesperia, i can see why the sales are spiking. Will it hold out? Not unless FFXIII ends up being released for the 360 over there

[MrMike]

http://www.play-asia.com/paOS-13-71-bq-77-7-49-en-15-vesperia-70-2u7t.html

[Astronomica]

Well i never expected to see this one, it's definitly interesting. I can see more JRPG's on the 360 coming out in the future if this trend persists.

[Lord Nassirbannipal]

I'd hardly call a one week spike a trend. The 360's sales next week will undoubtedly fall back to below those of the PS3. Even if the sales went to 6K/wk, it would just mean that they've gone from downright awful to goddamn terrible. If its sales were to sustain themselves at 20K/wk, then that would definitely something to get excited about, but until then, no.

[leo5111]

i have allways said the key for them in japan is get alot of rpg,s the japenses want to play if they can continue to do that they may start doing ok there

[Psychotext]

I'd hardly call a one week spike a trend. The 360's sales next week will undoubtedly fall back to below those of the PS3...
Oh dear...

Famitsu Sales Figures
DSL　63000
Wii　27000
PSP　26000
360　14000
PS3　8200
PS2　7300

[leo5111]

well japense love rpgs and that did it at least for short time

[Furystrike]

Jeeze, the PS3 is getting creamed in japan.

[NeoGohan]

Hahah how the hell is the ds lite still selling so goddamn much? If Nintendo ever starts to see any kind of downwards trend, all they have to do is release more colors. XD

I'm excited to see the 360 sell more than the PS3 for two weeks in a row. This means that something COULD happen. Could... this is huge for Microsoft.

[Psychotext]

I'm excited to see the 360 sell more than the PS3 for two weeks in a row. This means that something COULD happen. Could... this is huge for Microsoft.
Not really. It's just further confirmation that HD gaming is utterly dead in Japan.

[The Hedon]

I agree Neo...pretty crazy that the 360 is outselling the PS3 two weeks in a row now in Japan. That is huge for MS.

However, the 360 and PS3 are still doing piss poor in Japan. They are fighting for last place with dismal sales, while the Wii just floats along with stellar sales in comparison.

Sony and MS need to work on improving sales in Japan....it's all about the games.

[somenobody]

Anyone else think Dragon Quest IX will make a new Japanese record considering the size of the DS fanbase there and their love for the franchise?

[stevedave]

wow who would have guess that putting games that people want to play on a console will increase sales. If Xbox360 would have launched with a bad ass JRPG it would probably be in the lead in japan.

[BladeVenom]

It's back to the Wii dominating with sales higher than the 360 and PS3 combined.