Pokemon3 DSJapan

It's Wednesday, so it's Media Create Japanese charts day. After a 2013 where each week could roughly be summarised as "3DS crushing all in its way", this year is shaping up to be a more competitive, dynamic contest.

To begin with software, top spot is taken by PS Vita newcomer Soul Sacrifice Delta, an expanded and improved version of the original. There's still plenty of good news for 3DS software in a week with no new releases, with Level-5's Yokai Watch continuing a strong run alongside its TV show and Dragon Quest Monsters 2: Iru and Luca's Wonderful Mysterious Keys showing solid momentum; Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze is the sole Wii U entry in 15th place. The top 20 is below, with lifetime sales in parenthesis.

1. [PSV] Soul Sacrifice Delta – 48,786 (New)
2. [3DS] Yokai Watch – 36,018 (532,472)
3. [3DS] Dragon Quest Monsters 2: Iru and Luca’s Wonderful Mysterious Keys – 31,157 (718,865)
4. [3DS] Harvest Moon: Tsunagaru Shin Tenchi – 29,514 (160,296)
5. [PS3] Ar no Surge – 27,037 (New)
6. [3DS] Kaseki Horider: Mugen Gear – 22,210 (80,538)
7. [PS3] Yakuza: Ishin – 19,808 (212,113)
8. [PS4] Knack – 17,272 (393,348)
9. [3DS] Kirby: Triple Deluxe – 14,108 (489,610)
10. [3DS] Pokemon X and Y – 10,708 (3,984,832)
11. [3DS] Puzzle & Dragons Z – 10,508 (1,399,320)
12. [PS4] Battlefield 4 – 9,830 (47,746)
13. [PS4] Yakuza: Ishin – 9,265 (114,271)
14. [PS3] Grand Theft Auto V – 7,312 (728,899)
15. [Wii U] Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze – 7,181(67,284)
16. [PSV] Deception IV: Blood Ties – 6,101 (25,422)
17. [PS3] Mobile Suit Gundam Extreme VS. Full Boost – 5,882 (333,928)
18. [PS3] Deception IV: Blood Ties – 5,874 (29,127)
19. [3DS] Kuroko no Basuke: Shouri e no Kiseki – 5,752 (61,811)
20. [PS4] Tomb Raider: Definitive Edition – 5,327 (25,851)

The hardware results are interesting for a number of reasons. Last week's number one — the PS4 in its second week — remains on top but with another meaty drop; while stock issues may have been a factor last week, its figures are surprisingly low for week 3 and tracking below the Japanese launches of systems such as 3DS, Wii U and PS Vita. Elsewhere the Vita enjoyed an increase to overtake the 3DS LL (XL), with a number one software release and a new budget bundle no doubt helping. The 3DS remains a little ahead if you accumulate both models, while the Wii U dips a little further; last week's sales are in parenthesis.

PlayStation 4 – 35,294 (65,685)
PlayStation Vita – 31,325 (21,581)
3DS LL – 24,192 (26,027)
PlayStation 3 – 12,102 (13,155)
3DS – 10,876 (11,986)
Wii U – 7,773 (8,204)
PSP – 3,425 (3,652)
PlayStation Vita TV – 1,962 (1,543)
Xbox 360 – 300 (257)

This week's figures continue solid if unspectacular results for the 3DS and, increasingly, the Vita, though underwhelming home console figures of the new PS4, with continued Wii U struggles, are a concern. It's not a particularly strong picture in Japan at this particular moment, though the handheld market is doing its part to help.

[source gematsu.com]