Wii outselling PS3 in Japan 5-to-1

The latest figures from the Land of the Rising Sun show Nintendo steaming ahead of Sony in console units shifted.

April's figures showed the Wii was outselling the PlayStation 3 4-to-1 in Japan, and last month the gap widened even further, with the cheaper Nintendo console now 5-to-1 ahead, reports Bloomberg.

Bloomberg, quoting figures from Famitsu publisher Enterbrain Inc, revealed that 251,794 Wiis had been sold in Japan in May, five times as many units as the PS3. Microsoft's Xbox 360 lagged even further behind, with 11,082 units changing hands last month. Exact figures were not given for PS3 sales, but they are likely to be in the region of 50,000.

The story was much the same in the battle of the handhelds, with the Nintendo DS having sold 620,670 to the PlayStation Portable's 123,673 during May.

1184 Comments

  • theKSMM

    Posted Dec 26, 2007 11:33 pm GMT

    Sales charts typically show one thing as being important to gamers, and it isn't graphics nor is it games. It's price.

    Quite simply, cheaper consoles and games typically sell better than expensive ones. Consider your own purchasing decisions. How often have you backed away from a particular title that looked like a good game, but not "$60 good?" It's no coincidence that GameStop is doing so well; they're making a killing selling used games at a $5 discount. Gamers are so price-sensitive that we'll take a slight risk in product quality/completeness just to save five bucks.

    For those of you who can remember the last generation, remember that the PS2 and XBOX didn't start selling well until they were under $200. Whether the XBOX 360 or PS3 ever get that low or not remains to be seen, but until they do, you'll continue to see a sales graph that looks like an exponential decay function with respect to price.

  • fred_for_brains

    Posted Oct 7, 2007 10:54 pm GMT

    ethos3419, that has to be the most enlightened post I've read in AGES. Good on you for expressing what the video game world is all about: GAMES.

  • Silicon_Noob

    Posted Jun 29, 2007 8:50 pm GMT

    "I own one and I am having a hard time finding a new game to buy"

    I would put it down to Japanese wii's havin' much more culturally exclusive software in Japan, you know like the type of games that will never get a western release like hello kitty mahjong and naruto pachinko and an endless stream of dating sims.

  • Full-Throttle

    Posted Jun 13, 2007 10:08 am GMT

    I am actually glad the Wii is wining, but I really don't know how. I own one and I am having a hard time finding a new game to buy. Kick Ass Wii.

  • bizkit_limp

    Posted Jun 10, 2007 10:31 am GMT

    The PS2 won the last console war, i think this time the Wii would win this console, 100% for sure, Wii FTW!!!

  • aznpr1d34eva

    Posted Jun 9, 2007 4:46 pm GMT

    to all of you who think ps3 will catch up after it drops its price
    dont expect ps3 to drop its price so soon... it uses a crapload of new techology (bluray,etc) that may not have been fully developed yet. until sony can fidn a way to create the hardware at a lower cost, they cant lower the price of the ps3, cause then they wouldnt be making enough profit

  • khoofia_pika

    Posted Jun 9, 2007 2:03 am GMT

    Wow! Wii is completely rocking! It deserves the glory. PS3 may be very good but it has a lack of good games and games in general, the price is too high and it is underhyped. Wii rox!

  • wiidominance

    Posted Jun 9, 2007 12:27 am GMT

    ok ... i grasp all that ... but where did the 620 k DS come from ?? is that in May only in Japan only ??? ...... DS = new iPod ... anyone ?

  • olthof

    Posted Jun 8, 2007 1:12 pm GMT

    Hahahah!

  • cancer_777

    Posted Jun 8, 2007 11:05 am GMT

    RoC1909 because Both Nintendo and Sony are Japan based companies and MS is an American Company that has always find it hard to break the extremely nationalist Japan market.

  • ethos3419

    Posted Jun 8, 2007 10:38 am GMT

    At pixel sword...

    I think the whole world has forgotten what a true "hardcore" gamer is. Just the fact that the Wii has games that appeal to a wide audience doesn't somehow suddenly make them "kiddy." A real hardcore gamer isn't going to the store and saying, "hey, you can see the numbers on the jersey so much better in the PS3 version, lets get it!" Somehow "gamers" have come to think that "hardcore gamers" are all the people who have jumped on the graphics bandwagon and look at that before gameplay. I'm sorry, but when I see that, I think "casual gamer." The graphics of each system do play in a part if they enhance gameplay somehow, but I don't think any "hardcore gamer" goes and buys a PS3 with a copy of Madden and says, "death to Wii and Xbox360! They'll never be as good looking as PS3!"

    The fact is, each console does something really well. I don't think the Wii targets "casual gamers" necessarily, but the games are rather asscessible to all types of gamers...and "hardcore gamers" should be able recognize that. I've played the PS3, and I've played nothing on that system that would tell me that I need to get one. A true hardcore gamer sees innovation as it is: as either a setback to what really counts, or something that truly enhances the experience. I don't need an HDTV to enjoy play a game if the gameplay is good...and that's what counts. If I were to be stuck on a desert island with just one game in the world, I highly doubt I'd pick some game because "the graphics are sweet." But I will be blowing a whole lotta sand out of an NES cart.

    So stop all these complaints about "well, PS3 will catch up b/c of these reasons, this system isn't as good blah blah." Show us the games. I have a PSP as well, but the DS is still outselling the PSP? It's because of games. I play my DS more than my PSP. If Sony wants to sell more PS3s, they need to make more games, and make them faster. In today's gaming world, graphics are good enough cross platform to get the developer's point across. Doesn't matter if the game appeals to a lot of people...it should, that's what truly makes a good game. If I'm playing a tennis game and enjoying it, and my grandma comes and picks up the controller and plays with me, call me a "mainstream gamer" or anything you want...I'll still be having more fun than you...and I guarantee she wil be, too.

  • charizard1605

    Posted Jun 8, 2007 9:33 am GMT

    for all those who claim d Wii duznt deserve dis glory, ponder dis:
    The Wii hasnt been released in Asia, not even d major gaming countries (Singapore, Hong Kong, India, China). Despite dat, its all set 2 overtake 360 in a few months. wat'll happen when d wii duz get released in des countries

  • pixelsword

    Posted Jun 8, 2007 8:40 am GMT

    Actually, for the PS3 to be at $600, it's doing rather well. When the price drops, I think there'll be many a PSWii. I for one am not getting another Microsoft 'boX at this time because there were too many problems with the last three I had. I just got the PS3 and I'm waiting on the Wii to pass two years so I can see if it will be worth it. The Wii is selling fast only because of (I believe) three things that will may ultimately undermine it:

    1. Cheap, very cheap. So a price drop won't affect the sales, and a cheaper PS3 or 360 will be more appealing.

    2. Easy controls. Easy, but not precise nor fun to have on multiplayer if a multiplayer will last a long time.

    3. Low Graphics/high fun. Sure, the Wii is pushing "fun", but how fun can the games be for a hardcore gamer when all of the "killer aps" will be geared for n00bs and "mainstream" gamers? Gamers who will be as young as two (if you seen the kid on the Wii playing tennis) or as old as 80+? I can see the next big seller perhaps being "Super Mario Knitting" or a sandbox game that's actually a virtual kiddie sandbox. Don't get me wrong, congrats to the Wii, but I don't know if it will be hard to pin down a killer app with a target audience so wide.

  • RoC1909

    Posted Jun 7, 2007 9:31 pm GMT

    Hmm. How about a story reading:

    Wii OUTSELLING 360 in Japan 22 to 1. Why not make it a 360 headline instead of ALWAYS downing the PS3????

    ya.

  • rogue81

    Posted Jun 7, 2007 7:37 pm GMT

    Of the three major companies, Sony put itself way out of range of most players with it's price point. Even on it's home turf, Sony seems to have alienated a large portion of it's installed base. Thats dissapointing to me, and it makes me nervous about the consoles future. i'm not too concerned about the 360 in Japan though. Microsoft never sold well there, and it's no surprise it's in a distant third place. Great job Nintendo; just start making some more worthwhile games, eh?

  • gmayronne

    Posted Jun 7, 2007 4:29 pm GMT

    ttdog, i dont feel very ripped off. im enjoying gaming as well as blu-ray right now with my ps3. 600 bucks well spent to me because with my entertainment set-up im getting everything i wanted out of it, excellent blu-ray playback, great looking games, and frequent system updates that are constantly improving my ps3. besides, sony didnt force you to pull 600 bucks out of your wallet, so if someone did and they feel ripped off it sounds to me that they were just dumb to begin with, its not like they didnt know what they were getting.

  • TTDog

    Posted Jun 7, 2007 1:29 am GMT

    Why is it then when Sony fanboys compare prices, as they love to do (limitless_rage) they always include the HD-DVD drive in with the cost of the 360 when its NOT NEEDED to play games? Nor do you have to have the wireless network adaptor. Surely its not to try and disguise the fact that they've been overcharged for a console that is forcing a Blu-Ray player on them whether they want it or not and feel bad that they've been ripped off?

  • blackace

    Posted Jun 6, 2007 11:51 pm GMT

    Not really. The Elite sold very well in May. It may have even outsold the PS3 in sales with just the Elite along. We'll wait for the numbers in a couple weeks. Also, like the Wii, the 360 is not making a profit of every system sold. This has been confirmed a a few months ago. The profit they are making is slowly getting them out of debt from the original Xbox.
    __________________________________________________
    sanjt They look even worse for Microsoft, Chuckles...

  • mikhailk5

    Posted Jun 6, 2007 4:27 pm GMT

    GO BIG "N"!!!

  • DrewBlood08

    Posted Jun 6, 2007 4:21 pm GMT

    @limitless-rage
    If the ps3 was dropped to the price of the 360elite there is no way that MS wouldn't drop the price as well. Just cuz the elite just came out, it doesn't mean MS can't afford to drop it. Its not like they spent a bunch researching it. Bigger hard drive and hdmi port, prolly didn't cost them so much as to justify its current price point. MS is just waiting on ps3 to drop their price, right now it an advantage that they can still sell their systems at the original price.
    As for the Wii, unless some serious software comes out I don't know how long they will continue to sell. I'm sure cause of the cost they will continue to fly off the shelves. If the software is there, the Wii can do some serious business.

  • Alex_THVK

    Posted Jun 6, 2007 4:00 pm GMT

    The Wii outselling the PS3 in japan is no surprise.
    The PS3 Outselling the 360, on the other hand....

  • gmayronne

    Posted Jun 6, 2007 3:53 pm GMT

    jestarius, why didnt gamecube sell more than xbox and ps2? because its games sucked, obviously. with games like halo 1 and 2, final fantasy, god of war 1 and 2, gran turismo 3 and 4, knights of the old republic 1 and 2, jade empire, doom 3, half-life 2, grand theft auto series, forza 1, rainbow six 3 wooo.....catching my breath, onimusha series, fable, crimson skies, metal gear solid series, and so on.....who really needed a gamecube??? okay, the gamecube had the resident evil remake and 4 (but ps2 has RE4 now so....) and rogue squadron, metroid, zelda, smash bros. melee ( i STILL dont know why melee is so popular, you could make a game with mario taking a dump and a million morons would buy it). the reason the ps2 and xbox 1 sold better is because they had a much more diverse lineup of games. one more thing about the wii, most of the people i know that went out and bought a wii, arent very avid gamers, just people looking for something fun to do, but come on....how many people do you know that went out and bought a glove and baseball bat only to play a few times with it then throw it in the closet. i guarantee you the system will sell really well but software sales will grind to a hault save for the nintendo based games in the future. basically, there will be a bunch of wiis owned but not played in the future.

  • limitless_rage

    Posted Jun 6, 2007 3:21 pm GMT

    Ardiendo_1

    I think the best thing Sony can do right now (other than release some good games!) would be to lower the PS3 price to the price of the 360 Elite. That way they would rumble MS who aren't likely to change the price of the Elite any time soon as it literally just came out. I think Microsoft's game plan with the Elite is to make it their primary console because why else would they put out the stand alone 120GB HDD at such a ridiculous price? They want to satisfy previous 360 owners by offering them the same hardware as the Elite, but also tempt new customers with a better deal. Therefore if Sony can match the Elite price wise we would see a straight head to head battle with both companies primary console being the same price. It is only a $120 price drop but the effect of making it the same price of the latest 360 SKU would be massive to the average consumer (I think).

    -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Fact is, if your talking options, ps3 is cheaper than 360. Elite($480):
    120 GB HDD
    wireless controller
    headset
    hdmi/hdav cables

    Wireless internet ($100)
    HDDVD player ($200)
    Controller Battery + Recharge cable ($20)
    wireless headset ($50)
    4 years(XBOX v1 hardware lifespan) of XBOX live ($200)

    total: $1050($1000 w/o wireless headset)

    PS3($600):
    60 GB HDD
    Wireless controller w/built in battery pack
    Recharge cable
    Built in wireless Built in Blu-Ray

    HDMI cable ($15)
    Bluetooth headset w/Warhawk ($40) or motorolla bluetooth ($50)
    120 GB SATA HDD ($75)
    Playstation Network (FREE)

    total: $740

    PS3 is waaaay cheaper! Save yourself 300 bucks over the elite (and thats 100 bucks even if you never log online!!!)

  • ninten5

    Posted Jun 6, 2007 3:07 pm GMT

    waa waa wiii!!! thats all i gotta say!

  • limitless_rage

    Posted Jun 6, 2007 3:00 pm GMT

    getoconnection

    2 things have to happen for this to be true. 1. the PS3 has to drop the price far enough under the 360 so that the Madden and Wrastlin' gamers will be able to justifying playing said games on a cheaper system and 2. the Wii has to completely stop housing games geared at casual gamers. Don't see either of those scenarios panning out so your future may be flawed.


    -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    1- With the defective rate of xb360 (I am on my fourth since i got mine on day one, and this one is barely able to read crackdown) it IS cheaper to keep a ps3 than to keep replacing the 360. I got my ps3 day one as well (same thing for wii), and I havent had a single problem with either console. Not only that, but not a single person I know who owns one has had a problem(a ton of 360 owners who dont own the system will tell you there are "big problems", but that is a line of BS. ps3 is one solid machine).

    2- Casual gamers DO NOT keep this industry alive. Its the hardcore gamers who buy games weekly that keep games coming in. Now whether they have a 360 or a ps3 is of little importance. The point is, there is only fluff on the wii right now ... its all ported from other systems, and to be honest, its not meant for wii. Even super paper mario was originally planned for GC, and it shows (not that its a bad game, its awesome. Its just clearly not designed to take advantage of the wii). Besides, most "casual gamers" who bought the wii bought it specifically for wii sports, and dont really care about anything other than mario.

  • deadarknight

    Posted Jun 6, 2007 3:00 pm GMT

    it does not mater is wii is out selling 5:1, gave ps3 some time and watch wat will happen

  • bob_newman

    Posted Jun 6, 2007 2:44 pm GMT

    The problem that Nintendo has, is that they ONLY make gaming systems. Microsoft: Computer software.
    Sony: Countless amounts of technology and hardware.
    Because of those multiple incomes, Sony and Microsoft have the stashed away surplus of money which, in the long run, helps them (whether their systems sell or not). If Nintendo didn't put out a cheaper, less powerful system, they would've gone bankrupt without question (look at Sega, they tried to make a superior system, and it F***ed them over). They took a risk, and so far it has proven to be positive for them...let's just see if they can keep it going for the next 5 years.

  • death_link

    Posted Jun 6, 2007 2:14 pm GMT

    Bill Gates says Wii-like gaming rulz!!!!! Not exactly like that, obiously, but if you follow this link-- http://www.1up.com/do/newsStory?cId=3160087 -- you can see clearly that Microsoft is planing to follow the Wii footsteps. So much for your so called fad and the incredible mind-blowing next-gen systems. Wii Rulz!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  • MattDark

    Posted Jun 6, 2007 2:09 pm GMT

    terrybogard - I think its that fact that the PS3 and the WII are the big consoles in japan, and sony were saying that the Wii didnt count in the 'next-gen' war as it wasnt a next-gen console in their eyes.

    I agree with kbaily, sony have been over-confident with the PS3, they will be playing catch-up for a long time right now if things carry on this way, especially with the differance in price.

  • sanjt

    Posted Jun 6, 2007 1:09 pm GMT

    They look even worse for Microsoft, Chuckles...

  • ChucklesMginty

    Posted Jun 6, 2007 1:03 pm GMT

    Things sure don't look good for Sony.

  • ManOfTeal

    Posted Jun 6, 2007 12:58 pm GMT

    I remixed a remix, it was back to normal.

  • Nomad013

    Posted Jun 6, 2007 12:06 pm GMT

    eh...whatever happens if and when the PS3 delivers the games that I want to play, that's when I'll buy it, no matter what its market share is at the time...

  • dkcamp

    Posted Jun 6, 2007 11:28 am GMT

    DarkForse, the original NES was weaker, and it still won... SMS was WAY better, and prettier, with an all around more powerful system. so that just goes to show that it could easily happen again.

  • terryboguard17

    Posted Jun 6, 2007 11:15 am GMT

    Jestarius

    Yes the GC was cheaper than the PS2 and Xbox, but not by a margin of $200 or more. Anyone who says the Wii's price isn't a factor is just plain naive. And why is everyone attacking the PS3 on this page? The 360 sold even less in Japan last month! Why doesn't the headline of this article say "Wii outselling Xbox 360 in Japan twenty-three-to-one"? I guess bashing the PS3 makes better news, doesn't it Gamespot?

  • kbaily

    Posted Jun 6, 2007 11:08 am GMT

    Sony did this to themselves. Their overconfidence in the brand was what did it. Even if they still deliver some quality titles, it's going to be hard to catch up at this point.

  • KillaHalo2o9

    Posted Jun 6, 2007 10:48 am GMT

    wow

  • Ardiendo_1

    Posted Jun 6, 2007 10:40 am GMT

    metc123

    Smash Bros Brawl______ Mario Galaxy.... The both render some impressive graphics.... rite now the full potential of wii Graphics are years away...... but Wii can and does "hold its own, Graphically" ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    That is just not true, maybe Wii games haven't fully tapped into the console's graphical power but it won't be long 'til they do and I doubt it will improve much from the graphics in Zelda: TP simply because the Wii, like it or not, is comprised of technology that has been around for years. The 360 and PS3 both have much more modern technology which is why they will improve in years to come.

  • rpgfayth

    Posted Jun 6, 2007 10:26 am GMT

    I agree with Jestarius.

  • Jestarius

    Posted Jun 6, 2007 10:21 am GMT

    to gmayronne: the programming has been lackluster for the Wii by 3rd parties because, as those 3rd parties have said, they didn't put their good teams on it because they didn't expect it to do as well as it is. Things will get better.

    To those who keep bringing up the price difference as an excuse for sales: Why didn't the gamecube outsell the xbox or ps2? It was cheaper! Yet it sold less....hmm this must be something other than price then!

  • chocolate1325

    Posted Jun 6, 2007 9:59 am GMT

    The Blu Ray is what is making the PS3 sell slow. I was intrested in getting one but when I found out about the price it was gonna cost I decided not to get one. It is affecting it in sales. It's the price. If it didn't have the Blu Ray it might have been first in the console sales but the Blu Ray made it a very expensive console and it is selling badly because of that.

  • TTDog

    Posted Jun 6, 2007 9:58 am GMT

    @_sephex_

    The PSP is the only thing using UMD, and doesn't cater for any alternative, so there's no choice... so it can hardly be described as a sucess, the film industry binned it off due to appalling sales and the lack of space to include all the extras that are common place on DVD's stopped consumers buying it. It continues only because Sony continues with the PSP... if Blu-Ray fails to beat HD-DVD, and its way to early to tell either way as the sales of both are laughable compared to DVD, then it will still continue because Sony will continue to offer no alternative for the PS3.

    You can't call something a sucess because the company that makes it doesn't give an alternative for their own product and forces other companies to use it.

  • ManOfTeal posted Jun 6, 2007 9:33 am GMT (does not meet display criteria. sign in to show)

    ManOfTeal

    Posted Jun 6, 2007 9:33 am GMT (hide)

    I like escalators because they can never break, they can only become stairs.

  • 8bit16bitsowhat

    Posted Jun 6, 2007 9:31 am GMT

    really, thanks alot for that un-obvious fact bloomberg/gamespot.
    --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    pixelsword Wow, a cheaper system sells more than an expensive system. I'm glad I have gamespot and bloomberg to sift out all of the complex and deep factors in THAT story!

  • _sephex_

    Posted Jun 6, 2007 9:29 am GMT

    TTDOG: I've heard the "Sony introducing new formats in the past and failing" speech on too many threads now not to just laugh at you. You mention a few failures like Betamax, Minidisc, and UMD, but you seemed to have somehow missed CD. But not really a big one I know... I mean, it only seemed to have spawned the likes of DVD, HD-DUD, Blu-ray ( Which, btw, it supported by over 200 companies, Sony of which was NOT the first to deliver players to the market 'see blu-ray.com or wikipedia'). And while Betamax and UMD might have failed as a home video format and a portable video format respectively, Betamax did very well in the industrial side of things. And UMD, Hmmm, I seem to see every single PSP game is on one.... I have a feeling UMD isn't doing quite as poorly as you think. As far as PS3 sales go, why are we comparing them to Wii sales anyway, it should be compared to PS2 for a fairer (price/functionality) comparison. PS3 should be compared to .... well, whatever M$ does next.... er.... after Elite.

  • ManOfTeal

    Posted Jun 6, 2007 9:19 am GMT

    You know I'm against picketing but I don't know how to show it.

  • blackace

    Posted Jun 6, 2007 9:05 am GMT

    Because the 360 came out in Japan over a year ago for one. Two, the 360 was selling poorly in Japan from day one, so everyone already knows the 360 was selling less then the Wii from the beginning. It's not anything new. The PS3 was only launched 7 months ago at the same time as the Wii. Both are Japanese made consoles, by Japanese developers. So watching one outsell the other, especially since Sony dominated last-gen, is big news. ________________________________________________________
    mephixto Hey, gamespot. Why don't you put the same article in the Xbox360 side with this title "Wii outselling Xbox 360 32 to 1"

  • msalz1

    Posted Jun 6, 2007 9:04 am GMT

    Hmm...cheper system....more games.....DUH...

  • pixelsword

    Posted Jun 6, 2007 9:01 am GMT

    Wow, a cheaper system sells more than an expensive system. I'm glad I have gamespot and bloomberg to sift out all of the complex and deep factors in THAT story!

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