It's Media Create Japanese chart time again, and some things remain ever-present: Animal Crossing: New Leaf is still hanging around near the top, 3DS is still the best selling platform (only just, for once) and Wii U is still awaiting games before it can enjoy a sales bump. That said, this week's results do have a couple of interesting points.
For one, Professor Layton and the Azran Legacies has made its debut, but has only managed to join the chart in second place, out-hustled by another popular franchise making yet another return on PS3; that number one spot may be a puzzle too far for the Professor in his last full adventure. Lifetime sales for each title are in parenthesis.
1. [PS3] Dynasty Warriors 8 – 203,224 (New)
2. [3DS] Professor Layton and the Azran Legacies – 130,686 (New)
3. [PSV] Senran Kagura: Shinovi Versus – 94,324 (New)
4. [3DS] Dragon Ball Heroes: Ultimate Mission – 88,386 (New)
5. [3DS] Animal Crossing: New Leaf – 73,615 (2,739,654)
6. [PS3] Macross 30: Ginga o Tsunagu Utagoe – 63,089 (New)
7. [PSV] Phantasy Star Online 2 – 61,227 (New)
8. [PS3] Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance – 60,394 (369,075)
9. [PSP] Shining Ark – 54,837 (New)
10. [3DS] Dragon Quest VII: Warriors of Eden – 46,878 (1,135,220)
11. [3DS] Touch Detective: Nameko Big Breeding – 28,367 (New)
12. [PSP] D.C. III Plus – 12,444 (New)
13. [3DS] New Super Mario Bros. 2 – 10,208 (1,942,364)
14. [3DS] Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate (Best Price!) – 9,177 (244,642)
15. [Wii] Taiko Drum Master Wii Super Wonderful Edition – 7,737 (413,787)
16. [PSV] Hot Shots Golf: World Invitational – 7,616 (184,192)
17. [3DS] Taiko Drum Master: Chibi Dragon and the Mysterious Orb – 5,983 (435,146)
18. [3DS] Magi: The Labyrinth of Magic – 5,815 (35,217)
19. [3DS] Mario Kart 7 – 5,307 (1,988,455)
20. [3DS] Fantasy Life – 5,236 (241,576)
The hardware chart has been shaken up a little this week, as this is the first set of results since Sony applied a price cut to the PS Vita handheld in its homeland. The chart shows Vita's sales boost taking it top, but that's due to the standard and XL 3DS models being counted separately — for a positive Nintendo spin, it's still holding off the Vita (when units are combined) despite the fresh price reduction of its rival. Wii U had a modest increase, but its sales are likely to remain static until games such as Dragon Quest X and Game & Wario land in the region in the coming weeks. Last week's sales are in parenthesis.
1. PlayStation Vita – 62,543 (11,456)
2. 3DS LL – 50,265 (49,317)
3. 3DS – 27,174 (25,412)
4. PlayStation 3 – 25,725 (18,529)
5. PSP – 11,171 (8,981)
6. Wii U – 10,021 (9,633)
7. Wii – 1,383 (1,317)
8. Xbox 360 – 486 (473)
So, a few shifts and signs of reinvigorated competition for Nintendo in Japan this week. Surprisingly, Sony has so far said that the Vita price-cut isn't planned for the West; Nintendo may be pleased that, regardless, 3DS sales are still particularly healthy and consistent in the Land of the Rising Sun.
[source gematsu.com]
Comments 26
While great sales for the Vita, Sony were probably expecting more considering the sales of the 3DS in the 1st week of it's own price drop (20k to 200+k).
Pretty big boost for the Vita after the price drop.
The real question is whether it can keep it up or if it'll die down again.
Good to see the 3DS still on top.
Every platform sold more this week than it did last week. Interesting.
The Wii U actually went up this week from 9.633 with no new big releases in months. People want a reason to buy the Wii U but there are no games at all. This is so frustrating to see. The next game is March 28th with Game and Wario and March 30th with Dragon Quest X. So three weeks again with no new release plus I doubt those games can do much sales anyway.
Nice to see the Vita doing well. And I didn't even know there was a Dynasty Warriors 8. I'll have to look into that.
I have to say those are pretty horrible Vita numbers for essentially their last gambit, but I guess it all comes down to Sony hoping Soul Sacrifice becoming Monster Hunter. lol
@luminalace Next week will be better with Soul Sacrifice coming out.
3DS sales sure are gonna rise here with LMDM and ACNL coming soon...
Tbf, the Vita not only got a price drop, but also a wave in games, hence the increase in sales. However, the last time sales spiked, they fell back after a week or two
@Five-seveN I wonder if ACNL sales will be as good or better than the Japanese sales.
I think I'll wait for something similar here with the Vita: a surge in good games + a price drop.
I'm happy to see the PSVita gain in sales, even if it was because of a price drop. More competition is better for everyone, I think. I just wish Sony was taking it into a more "handheld" territory, with games that can't be experienced anywhere else. Rather than into the "home console" territory with games that are playable on PS3/PS4. That's what I think. But hey it'll pickup steam everywhere & then more developers will support it I'm sure.
I actually forgot that Professor Layton and the Azran Legacies already got released in Japan!
Nothing for months then 4 games get released on the same day in march!! Best put some cash on one side for at least 3 of them.
I'm astounded how popular Animal Crossing is in Japan. I'm really looking forward to its release this summer.
I knew that Dynasty Warriors was very popular over in Japan, but i was not aware that it was a game enjoying similar popularity as Dragon Quest...
.. Actually, scratch that, I've heard about Dragon Quest sales in Japan, and they seem to be unbeatable.
Animal Crossing must have one of the most unreasonably long waiting times for a video game release (that was always on track). We saw it first back in 2010 I think, so when it releases it would have been like 3 years.
I have now had the Vita for a month and everyone online said I would get used to the crappy analog sticks and not need too much memory, but I hate the controls and I've already wasted all my space on the Sony only memory. Reminds me why I hate Sony garbage. Don't get me started on my 52 inch that lasted less than 2 weeks and Sony wouldn't do anything about it. Samsung enjoyed the 3 TV's I've bought since, all working fine.
Hopefully this means more developers will be making games for the vita. I'm tired of always seeing the same 5 on stores everywhere.
Good to see the Vita doing well~
@Zodiak13 Because 3DS analogues are far superior, obviously. /sarcasm
Professor Layton should be no.1... because it's the best...
@Zodiak13 "crappy analog sticks"? That is the last thing that I'd expect someone to complain about. I suppose I could understand someone disliking them when compared to a console controller, but I'd say that they are indisputably the best seen on a handheld.
As a side note, the 3DS's circle pad is nice, but it can't compete with the accuracy of actual upright sticks, And the lack of a second pad is a real problem for me in monster hunter. It worked fine for the PSP because you could claw to reach the d-pad, but that isn't an option with the 3DS, which really limits the game for me.(I only played the demo for 3 Ultimate).
Dynasty Warriors beats out Professor Layton in Japan? That makes even less sense than panty face fashion. (Can't wait til that hits Style Savvy.)
Good to see Vita is picking up. Healthy sales for both portable systems can only be a good thing for gamers (competition bringing out the best in both Nintendo & Sony, and all that jazz).
Why 3DS and 3DSLL sales are divided, they are the same thing.
3DS still sold more than Vita. LOL
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