The portable wars
Unsurprisingly in its first sales week, six of the 3DS’s limited launch line up peppered the software chart’s top twenty.

But Sony isn’t done yet, as the PSP’s ravenous Japanese user base are still eating up multiplayer titles, topping the charts with Phantasy Star Portable 2.

The older system managed to outperform 3DS software sales by more than 120,000 units sold, but the latter saw only two days on sale during the period covered.

Killzone 3, the only Western-developed title in the top twenty, debuted at 13th position.

See the top twenty below. Last week’s chart can be found here.

1. Phantasy Star Portable 2: Infinity (PSP) – 206,654 (New)
2. SD Gundam G Generation: World (PSP) – 192,981 (New)
3. Professor Layton and the Mask of Miracle (3DS) – 119,591 (New)
4. Disgaea 4 (PS3) – 79,425 (New)
5. Nintendogs + Cats (French Bulldog, Shiba, Toy Poodle & New Friends) (3DS) – 64,213 (New)
6. Samurai Warriors: Chronicles (3DS) – 49,327 (New)
7. Super Street Fighter IV: 3D Edition (3DS) – 44,649 (New)
8. Ridge Racer 3D (3DS) – 38,226 (New)
9. Monster Hunter Freedom 3 (PSP) – 36,323
10. The Idolmaster 2 (360) – 34,621 (New)
11. Rune Factory: Oceans (PS3) – 28,939 (New)
12. SD Gundam G Generation: World (Wii) 28,119 (New)
13. Killzone 3 (PS3) – 26,717 (New)
14. Harukanaru Toki no Naka de 5 (PSP) – 26,345 (New)
15. Winning Eleven 3D Soccer (3DS) – 24,556 (New)
16. Samurai Warriors 3 Z (PS3) – 24.075
17. Catherine (PS3) – 21,183
18. Yu-Gi-Oh! 5D’s World Championship 2011: Over the Nexus (DS) – 21,002 (New)
19. Marvel Vs. Capcom 3: Fate of Two Worlds (PS3) – 14,821
20. Rune Factory: Oceans (Wii) – 10.495 (New)

Software chart offerings per system

3DS – 6
PSP – 4
DS – 1
Wii – 2
PS3 – 6
Xbox 360 – 1

PSP Dominant … for now
On the strength of software sales, including two new bestsellers in the top spots, Sony’s portable held off the new kid on the block – but not for long.

The 3DS launched in Japan on February 26, giving it just two days on sale during the period charted, and it managed to challenge the PSP’s full week.

Reports of initial shipments selling out within hours suggest a greater stock of hardware might have propelled the 3DS to the top of the charts.

The 3DS launch line up is another limiting factor, with only eight games on offer to tempt early adopters away from established platforms – and the PSP’s multiplayer scene.

Nintendo aren’t taking the PSP competition lightly; the new hardware’s enhanced multiplayer features could well strike a barb into Sony’s heart. Reports from Japan suggest some players have already completed the few built-in Street Pass titles available at launch, thanks to large community “swap meets”.

This spirit of interaction bodes well for the 3DS’s conquest of the hardcore PSP multiplayer crowd – but only if the software keeps rolling out.

New shipments have already reached stores; next week’s charts may well see the mighty PSP topple.

Japanese hardware, January 3 – February 27, 2011 (combined SKUs, year to date)

• PSP – 484,326
• 3DS – 374,764
• DS –247,007
• PS3 –241,251
• Wii – 166,213
• Xbox 360 –22,295
• PS2 –15,148

Japanese hardware, February 21 – February 27, 2011 (combined SKUs):

• 3DS – 374,764
• PSP – 49,031
• PS3 – 23,654
• DS – 17,558
• Wii – 12,159
• Xbox 360 – 3,366
• PS2 – 1,773

Japanese hardware, February 21 – February 27, 2011 (separate SKUs):

• 3DS – 374,764
• PSP – 47,955
• PS3 – 23,654
• Wii – 12,159
• DSi LL – 9,093
• DSi – 7,802
• Xbox 360 –3,366
• PS2 – 1,773
• PSP go –1,076
• DS Lite – 663

A large DS sales surge brought on by the release of Pokemon Black and White in Japan is finally dropping off, although the Nintendo machine is now well on the way to passing 2 million unit sales in the country this year.

DS has now pulled well clear of PSP at the top of Japan’s heap, and should push through 2 million 2010 sales in November.

DS sales exploded in the week of Pokemon Black and White’s launch, more than doubling the previous week’s figures to over 85,000 sold in the week ending September 19.

The handheld saw a similar level of business last week, rising to nearly 90,000 sales for the seven days ending September 26. As you can see below, the week ending October 3 saw DS drop back to just under 55,000 units.

The majority of the figure was evenly split over DSi and DSi LL.

PSP-3000 was the biggest selling single SKU of the week with just over 37,000 machines sold.

Here’s the lot, amazing graph included. These figures are all sourced from Media Create.

Japanese hardware, January 4-October 3, 2010 (combined SKUs):

1. DS – 1,867,410
2. PSP – 1,560,295
3. PS3 – 1,079,247
4. Wii – 1,060,614
5. Xbox 360 – 164,736
6. PS2 – 64,163

Japanese hardware, year-to-date (click for bigger image):

Japanese hardware, September 27-October 3 (combined SKUs):

1. DS – 54,980
2. PSP – 37,842
3. PS3 – 20,363
4. Wii – 13,360
5. Xbox 360 – 2,769
6. PS2 – 1,247

Japanese hardware, September 27-October 3 (separate SKUs):

1. PSP – 37,088
2. DSi – 24,937
3. DSi LL – 24,246
4. PS3 – 20,363
5. Wii – 13,360
6. DS Lite – 5,707
7. Xbox 360 – 2,769
8. PS2 – 1,247
9. PSP go – 754

[Pic]

PlayStation 3 has now sold more than Wii in Japan this year, with the Sony console having moved 1,017,094 units compared to Wii’s 1,015,513.

The figures are taken between Media Create’s first recorded week of 2010, which started January 4, and the service’s last recorded audit date of September 12.

The news signifies both PS3′s Japanese ascension and Wii’s global decline. Wii is also about to lose its year-to-date crown in the US, with Xbox 360 looking likely to pass the Nintendo console in the next two months.

With both Move and Kinect certain to push both PS3 and 360 hardware in the Christmas build-up and no known similar initiative for Wii, it now seems clear Nintendo’s hardware will finish 2010 as a runner-up in both the US and Japan.

PlayStation 3 looks as though it will be the real winner this year, though. The last round of financial information from Sony and Microsoft showed that the current reported gap between 360 and PS3 on a global level is now only 3.6 million units and that PlayStation 3 outsold Xbox 360 by 4 million units in the 12 months ending June 30.

DS is still leading in Japan this year. Nintendo will announce a release date and pricing for 3DS at a Japanese event on September 29.

Japanese hardware, January 4-September 12, 2010 (combined SKUs):

1. DS – 1,637,461
2. PSP – 1,453,248
3. PS3 – 1,017,094
4. Wii – 1,015,513
5. 360 – 153,564
6. PS2 – 60,012

Japanese hardware, year-to-date (click for bigger image):

And here’s everything from Media Create’s latest reported week.

Japanese hardware, September 6-12 (combined SKUs):

1. DS – 39,749
2. PSP – 31,570
3. PS3 – 19,907
4. Wii – 15,031
5. 360 – 2,915
6. PS2 – 1,363

Japanese hardware, September 6-12 (separate SKUs):

1. PSP – 30,761
2. PS3 – 19,907
3. DSi LL – 19,076
4. DSi – 16,345
5. Wii – 15,031
6. DS Lite – 4,328
7. Xbox 360 – 2,915
8. PS2 – 1,363
9. PSP go – 809

Here’s the previous week’s data.

Another week, and another win for PSP on the Japanese Hardware charts despite strong competition from Wii.

The handheld managed to sell 21,662 this week, just pipping Wii, which sold 20,588.

At the other end of the scale, PSPgo only managed to shift a poxy 718 units and was outdone, again, by an aging PS2.

Full list is below.

• PSP 21,662
• Wii 20,588
• PS3 17,676
• DSi LL 11,138
• DSi 10,172
• Xbox 360 3,225
• DS Lite 3,108
• PS2 1,291
• PSPgo 718

Via, Media Create.

The latest Japanese hardware numbers are out, and have, this week, given the win to the PSP.

Blame Kingdom Hearts: Birth by Sleep.

The handheld sold 145k, follwed by Wii and PS3 with 76k and 61k respectively.

Full figures below. Last week’s data is here.

• PSP – 145,682
• Wii – 76,722
• PS3 – 61,591
• DSi – 50,178
• DSi LL – 45,221
• DS Lite – 10,067
• Xbox 360 – 5,461
• PS2 – 3.092
• PSPgo – 2.841

Surprise! Wii gets top spot in this week’s Japanese hardware charts.

The console sold over 163k in the week ending January 3.

PSP comes in next after that with sales of over 132K, followed up then by PS3 with 114k.

Full list is below. Last week’s chart here.

• Nintendo Wii – 163,855
• PSP – 132.911
• PS3 – 114,368
• DSi – 92,461
• DSi LL – 70,643
• DS Lite – 17,388
• Xbox 360 – 6,878
• PS2 – 4,023
• PSPgo – 3.903

Wii and PS3 got a nice bunch of sales of Japan for the week ending December 13, with PSP and DSi coming a close third and fourth.

Not looking so great for PSP go down there, is it?

We skipped a week with these, but the data from two weeks ago’s here.

• Wii – 135,898
• PS3 – 75,086
• PSP – 71,885
• DSi – 68,184
• DSi LL – 58,006
• DS Lite – 11,376
• Xbox 360 – 10,646
• PSP go – 3,077
• PS2 – 2,463

DSi LL’s second Japanese week’s seek sales drop well back from its opening 100,000 to 67,000.

Apart from that, looks as though everything’s nicely up, there, aside from PSP go and 360. Hard lines.

Data below for the week ending November 29. Last week’s figures here.

• DSi LL – 67,243
• Wii – 46,673
• PS3 – 46,558
• PSP – 38,839
• DSi – 37,021
• DS Lite – 7,268
• PSP go – 3,809
• Xbox 360 – 3,685
• PS2 – 2,057

You can’t keep new Nintendo hardware down, it seems. DSiLL’s first week sales in Japan have come in at just over 100,000, which is probably “quite good”.

Full thing below for the week ending November 22. Last week’s chart here.

• DSi LL – 100,553
• PS3 – 34,752
• Wii – 32,844
• PSP – 32,752
• DSi – 32,070
• DS Lite – 5,051
• PSP go – 4,574
• Xbox 360 – 4,085
• PS2 – 2,024

The more things change, the more they stay the same. Week ending November 15. PSP and PS3 have seen off both Wii and DS to take first and second place in this week’s Japanese hardware chart, as you can see below.

Big Kaz will be pleased. Watch in awe as the ten-year plan unfolds before your very eyes. Or not. Whatever.

• PSP – 38,770
• PS3 – 38,498
• DSi – 33,749
• Wii – 26,764
• PSP go – 6,427
• DS Lite – 5,036
• Xbox 360 – 4,124
• PS2 – 2,031

Media-Create has released the Japanese hardware sales for October 26 – November 1.

The winner? Why DSi of course, with 37,517 sold followed by PS3 with 36,061.

Here’s the full thing, courtesy of Gamespot:

1. DSi – 37,517
2. PS3 – 36,061
3. PSP – 34,911
4. PSP Go – 29,109
5. Wii – 28,888
6. DS Lite – 6,902
7. Xbox 360 – 6,047
8. PS2 – 1,966

A bit earlier then usual, the Japanese hardware sales has been released by Media-Create.

The Nintendo DSi, as most of the time, has come out on top in this week’s hardware charts: selling over 49k units.

PSP sells 33k, 30k for the PS3 and the Wii sold 29k.

Full charts are below. Last week’s data is here. Thanks, Nintendo Everything.

• DSI – 49, 145
• PSP – 33,508
• PS3 – 30,231
• Wii – 29,965
• Xbox 360 – 3,662
• DS Lite – 2,590
• PS2 – 2,109

According to Media Create, DS was number one again this week on Japan’s hardware sales chart with 63,954 units sold, and PSP nipping at its heels with 51,215 units moved.

PS3 edged out Wii with 37,538 and 35,392 sales respectively, with Xbox 360 and PS2 with 4,244 and 2,179 in sales.

Here it is in lovely bullet form:

1. DS – 63,954
2. PSP – 51,215
3. PS3 – 37,538
4. Wii – 35,392
5. Xbox 360 – 4,244
6. PS2 – 2,179

Via Eurogamer.

It’s that time again, kids! It’s Japanese hardware sales time!

In a gist: PS3 sales are down by 12k from last week, while the DSi rules the lot as it does most of the time.

Full hardware numbers are below. Last weeks numbers are found here.

• DSi – 63,342
• PS3 – 39,960
• PSP – 17,334
• DS Lite – 15,057
• Wii – 11,731
• 360 – 4,854
• PS2 – 2,347

Thanks, Nintendo Everything.

With the Japanese Slim rush over, PS3 sales fell back from over 150,000 last week to 55,000 in the week ending September 13.

Still. Only DSi’s beating it. More thrills next week.

• DSi – 66,498
• PS3 – 55,344
• PSP – 18,375
• Wii – 17,568
• DS Lite – 11,179
• Xbox 360 – 7,568
• PS2 – 2,612

Hot dog. Japanese PS3 sales rose to a spectacular 151,000 last week, thanks to the Slim’s introduction.

That’s it. There’s no other story. Compare this to the 40,000 PS3 sold in its first Slim week in the UK. Looks as though Japan really has been holding out for this.

Data for the week ending September 6. Last week’s chart here.

• PS3 – 151,783
• DSi – 60,419
• PSP – 22,184
• Wii – 21,557
• DS Lite – 8,309
• Xbox 360 – 6,827
• PS2 – 3,001

If you thought last week‘s Japanese PS3 sales were bad, take a look at the latest Media Create figures below. Expect a bit surge in the next set, though, as they’ll include Slim’s launch numbers.

DSi’s doing OK, innit? Data below for the week ending August 30.

• DSi 59,881
• PSP 26,081
• Wii 25,038
• DS Lite 7,304
• Xbox 360 7,254
• PS2 3,179
• PS3 1,040

That’s what announcing a slim console does for you. PS3 racked up a hilarious 2,052 sales in Japan last week, making it the lowest selling games hardware in the market.

Mind you, the only machine it managed to beat in the previous week was PS2.

Data below for the week ending August 23.

• DSi – 59,578
• PSP – 27,187
• Wii – 26,972
• Xbox 360 – 8,979
• DS Lite – 5,735
• PS2 – 3,295
• PS3 – 2,052

DSi’s up in Japan. We don’t know why. We’ve still got pork poisoning from Cologne. Data below for the week ending August 16. Last week’s chart here.

• DSi – 87,936
• Wii – 47,732
• PSP – 39,882
• Xbox 360 – 9,162
• DS Lite – 7,921
• PS3 – 5,944
• PS2 4,907

Monster Hunter 3 clearly isn’t having the prolonged Wii sales affect it might have done in Japan. Wii numbed halved from 95,000 last week to just under 50,000 this week.

DSi, yet again, is the biggest selling Japanese console. Horses, courses, etc. Data below for the week ending August 9.

• DSi – 70,066
• Wii – 47,140
• PSP – 33,893
• DS Lite – 8,699
• PS3 – 5,826
• Xbox 360 – 5,436
• PS2 – 4,601

Wii sales were well up in Japan this week on the back of Monster Hunter Tri, from 24,000 units to over 95,000. Substantial.

Last week’s chart here. Data below for the week ending August 2.

1. Wii – 95,357
2. DSi – 73,710
3. PSP – 33,049
4. DS Lite – 12,027
5. PS3 – 8,760
6. PS2 – 3,617
7. Xbox 360 – 3,552

Dragon Quest IX was fun while it lasted, wasn’t it? Back to the mire.

Last week’s chart here. Data below for the week ending July 26.

• DSi – 80,362
• PSP – 30,523
• Wii – 23,995
• DS Lite – 12,385
• PS3 – 8,997
• PS2 – 3,305
• Xbox 360 3,080

Dear Mr Square,

Just a note to say thanks for Dragon Quest IX. We really like those little dudes, and all the fighting and shit. You’ve done a great job. If you could just bring out more than one a decade, that’d be awesome: we’ve sold almost 290,000 DSes in the past three weeks in Japan. It’s just peachy.

Beer next week? As long as we don’t end up in that tit place again, we’re good.

Cheers,

Mr Nintendo

• DSi – 96,986
• PSP – 24,053
• Wii – 20,807
• DS Lite – 9,932
• PS3 – 8,865
• PS2 – 3,352
• Xbox 360 – 2,899

The final Media Create Japanese hadrware sales for the week have shown that, as predicted, DS exploded on the launch of Dragon Quest IX, nearly tripling from last week to almost 130,000 sales across DSi and DS Lite.

Numbers below for the week ending July 12.

• DSi – 118,202
• PSP – 26,527
• Wii – 22,141
• DS Lite – 10,161
• PS3 – 9,864
• Xbox 360 – 3,561
• PS2 – 3,508

Here it comes. Over 2 million people have now pre-ordered Dragon Quest IX, which goes on sales for DS in Japan this week, meaning we’re almost certainly about to see a huge DSi-DS Lite hardware sales spike. Both machines started to pick up last week.

Which is great. Because if we’d had to write up another week of upabitdownabit Japanese hardware figures we may have started self-harming.

Last week’s chart here. Data below for the week ending July 5.

• DSi – 46,855
• PSP – 32,849
• Wii – 24,971
• PS3 – 11,196
• DS Lite – 7,507
• Xbox 360 – 5,876
• PS2 – 3,734

How can we make this interesting? We can’t. Some of these numbers have gone up and down a little since last week.

If you’ve got any ideas about how we can “pep” the weekly Japanese hardware figures up a bit, we’re all ears.

Data below from June 22-28.

• DSi – 39,885
• PSP – 26,789
• Wii – 21,790
• PS3 – 11,310
• Xbox 360 – 5,766
• DS Lite – 5,595
• PS2 – 3,578

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The great circle of life inextricably wheeled again this morning, Michael Jackson and Farrah Fawcett passing into the everafter while the Japanese videogames industry appeared to emerge from the ashes. So poignant. So fitting.

Here’s last week’s figures. We love you, Michael.

• DSi – 40,464
• PSP – 27,884
• Wii – 19,386
• PS3 – 10,359
• Xbox 360 – 6,734
• DS Lite – 5,531
• PS2 – 3,770

Doing these every week is just depressing. Flat lines of dreariness, moving imperceptibly up and down. Sad Japanese people trudging into flaking games shops, grumpily buying a PS2 for little Yoshi to play ten year-old Gundam games on a black and white TV in the basement.

Go nuts, Japan. Have some kind of PS3 fit, or something. Data below for the week ending June 14. Last week’s charts here.

• DSi – 36,872
• PSP – 26,904
• Wii – 18,442
• PS3 – 10,009
• Xbox 360 – 8,015
• DS Lite – 5,408
• PS2 – 3,498

Run for the hills. The dream’s over. Start making boats out of matchsticks, or something. Japan’s surrendered. Flee. Flee.

Data for the week ending June 7. We missed a week here. Blame E3. Here’s the last one. You get the idea.

• DSi – 38,783
• PSP – 29,070
• Wii – 17,177
• PS3 – 10,173
• Xbox 360 – 6,625
• DS Lite – 5,664
• PS2 – 4,096

Examiner has totalled the Media Create console sales in Japan for May 2009 and guess what? DSi won.

In other shocking news, PSP came in second closely followed by Nintendo Wii.

Full list including totals below:

1. Nintendo DSi – 238,037
2. PSP – 181,036
3. Nintendo Wii – 95,102
4. Playstation 3 – 77,035
5. Nintendo DS Lite – 33,399
6. Xbox 360 – 24,325
7. Playstation 2 – 22,831