Famitsu has released its multi-format sales figures for Japan, covering 23rd to 29th December. The title of this news post has given away who "won", but can you guess by how much? Wii U and 3DS games took eight out of the top ten positions, with the only non-Nintendo game to break it up being the Vita and Playstation 3 releases of Final Fantasy X/X-2. The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds went straight in at number one, selling 225,418 units since its release on 26th December, knocking the other 3DS mega-hit Puzzle & Dragons Z into second place.
Looking further down the charts it's still good news for Nintendo fans, with evergreen titles like Mario Kart 7 still sitting at 25th and Mario & Luigi: Dream Team at 29th; more niche games — from a Western perspective — such as Taiko no Tatsujin: Wii U Version! at can be found in 20th place.
The full top ten is as follows, with sales numbers also provided:
1) The Legend of Zelda: Link Between Worlds — 225,418 (3DS)
2) Puzzle & Dragons Z — 198,968 (3DS)
3) Final Fantasy X/X-2 HD Remaster — 182,638(PS3)
4) Pokemon X and Y — 156,483 (3DS)
5) Final Fantasy X/X-2 HD Remaster — 134,645 (Vita)
6) Wii Party U — 87,262 (Wii U)
7) New Super Mario Bros. U — 75,131 (Wii U)
8) Super Mario 3D World — 71,159 (Wii U)
9) Monster Hunter 4 — 40,338 (3DS)
10) Animal Crossing: New Leaf — 37,300 (3DS)
Famitsu has also published some hardware results. The 3DS family of systems is top on 208,893 units, well ahead of the rest. The Wii U is the second highest-selling system on 79,174 units, a little ahead of the PS Vita's festive boost to 75,207. It's another top two lock-out for Nintendo's hardware.
We'll keep an eye out for the updated Media Create results later this week, but in the meantime let us know what you think of these Famitsu figures in the comments section below.
[source famitsu.com]
Comments 63
When does the PS4 release in Japan? I only ask because even though it doesn't have any must have games at the moment it's still going to be tuff competition for the Wii U on their home land.
Good news for Nintendo indeed!
Good to see Mario 3D World in the top 10 and great to see Zelda @ #1 as the Japanese are not traditionally massive Zelda fans...
But Pachter said... I am just joking... spread the news, those games are great!
Nice work Nintendo!
@Buduski It was delayed to summer, I think.
But I can't see PS4 doing well in japan, just like XB1. Aside of SquareEnix (FFXV), only Arc System Works (Guilty Gear Xrd) and Grashopper Manufacture (Lily Bergamo) will publish major japanese titles in 2014 for now. So I don't see a possible competition in japan for this year. Japan is fine with the current gen (PS3, VITA, WIIU, 3DS).
Great for Nintendo. I just hope they build on this momentum, especially in Feb, when the PS4 arrives. If they can weather the Sony launch hype like they did in North America, Nintendo will be looking good for 2014.
@Kaze_Memaryu PlayStation has always been top dog in Japan beginning with PS1.
Good news Nintendo. Great, vita also get a surge because of final fantasy
@Kaze_Memaryu , I mostly said it will be tuff competition because of the hype, I and many others are fine with last gen (ps3/360) and Wii U as there next gen console of choice, but that hasn't stopped the PS4 from breaking sales records left and right, and yes their games library is pretty bad and as mentioned by you, 2014 really doesn't show me any must have games I can't get on last gen. I just hope Nintendo keeps doing good, I'm sick of people complaining about a console (Wii U) they have never owned or tried for themselves.
80,000 Wii U in a week is a far cry from the 5,000 and under it used to do... Keep pumpin' those mofos out yo
@SavantSupreme I am pretty sure beating the Vita in the last week of December is a decent achievement for a home console in Japan and if we want to get silly with maths we could say it is a 3000% increase from the same period 2 months ago. I'm sure they're saving for PS4 but I am not sure Xbox has a planned launch for Japan yet.
@Lithium I think they were referring to the fact that home consoles are dying in Japan. It's not just the Wii U but the PS3 is performing relatively badly in its native Japan compared to how it is doing in US and EU. I don't know if there will be more Japanese games ready for PS4 launch but the current line up will not do brilliantly in Japan.
Keep it up Nintendo!
Would love to know the sales numbers for Europe and US over Christmas(both WiiU and 3DS).
Even Vita is keeping up in Japan...that's good news for all of us who got both consoles(at least I do, I own 3DS and vita).
Hopefully the next few months will show us sale numbers in the west for all consoles...really interested in the sales.
Nicee
That's actually a rather steep drop for the Wii U, if I'm not mistaken. I think they sold over 100k the last two weeks.
^ You're thinking of Mario sales. That's right about where its been the last two weeks.
Could it be the handheld market grows bigger then the console one in Japan because of the insane working schedules there? If you're sitting in the train, metro or w/e more to travel to work and such a handheld is a good choice.
What i think they did very right with zelda albw is that u can play it in short burst. I don't see that for FF-X for a vita which is a time sink game, more ideal for consoles then a handheld.
@SavantSupreme if you think people in Japan are saving for an xBone, there is no hope for you.
Is it me or did Final Fantasy X not need a HD make over. I would much rather see VII, VIII, or IX. Mostly VII tbh!
@CaviarMeths
Only the week before. As it stands it's still the second highest of the month.
@Spoony_Tech FF7-9 would need to be rebuilt from the ground up. There is nothing except for the story script that could be reused for an HD release of those games. 10 just needed a facelift and upscale.
@SavantSupreme Ugh, shutup.
Yes...but what about everywhere else...
A couple more months of the Wii U "dominating" Japan before the other next-gen consoles even get released really isn't saying much.
When we looked at the charts for all next-gen consoles around the world in a few months time I think we'll see the REAL picture of exactly what is going on here and just what kind of state the Wii U is in.
SM3DW should be selling more, it's an amazing game. Enjoyed it as much as the Galaxy games.
Wii U needs to keep getting numbers like this if not higher before the ps4 comes out. 2014 is gonna be interesting.
What's with the lack of the actual charts in the article? I hope this doesn't become the norm from now on!
Everytime I see these Japanese charts a smile comes to my face. I usually enjoy japanese games much more than western games anyway, so I'd be extremely happy if the Wii U receives more japanese games because it's a successful console there.
Capcom could just release Monster Hunter 4 HD on the Wii U and seal the japanese domination coulnd't it?
@Buduski - Feb 22. Don't click on the video it's WAY too loud.
http://attackofthefanboy.com/videos/ps4-confirmed-japanese-release-date/
Gung Ho is doomed!
Monster hunter 4 to the US please.
@Spoony_Tech Wii U sold 110,000 last time round so it is a pretty sharp drop but still much better than where it was a month or so ago
@datamonkey If you look at how the original A Link to the Past did then it did very well in Japan (Especially if population is given any weighting.) Japan is one country and it has sold 1/3 of the amount of copies the US has of Ocarina of Time 3D. 2/3's of the amount of copies sold in Europe. More than double the amount sold in the rest of the world.
Strange some of the things that happen presuming vgchartz is in the right ball park. (Pro Evolution Soccer 2013 3DS which is really good miles better than the 3DS Fifa for example has sold 75% of its copies in Japan).
Gogo Nintendo!
OT: Can we plx get the remastered version of FF:X in EU now?!
I'd love to see the charts for America and the UK might shed light on the eShop dealings awhile ago.
See everyone! I keep saying that Zelda is popular in Japan. The handheld Zelda's always do well.
@Spoony_Tech Oh my god I was thinking the same thing about Final Fantasy X. Why?
Nice that vita sales are ok!
Glad to see that the Wii U is doing better. I hope that it keeps this pace up for a while longer! As for the Nintendo 3DS, that system is a beast and I can see why. It has some of the best games I have played in recent memory.
@Dpullam Agreed! If the 3ds keeps pumping out the quality games like it is now, it will most likely become my favorite system ever released! 2014 is looking great so far!
@Buduski @Lithium that's the problem - there's no hype in japan for PS4. And it lacks a core audience there as well. Japanese gamers didn't even care that they didn't get the PS4 first, since there's no system sellers for them releasing in the entirety of 2014. Not a single animé-style RPG is scheduled, or any RPG's for that matter. I can't see the PS4 making a good start with Sony ignoring an entire third of the audience like that...
But I'm not saying the PS4 library is bad, it's too early to say so - it just doesn't have anything coming for japans core audience this year. PS4 has become a western console instead of staying international.
NICE WII U!!! And for the only Japanese games launching with the PS4 right now... I think.... is a Dynasty Warriors game.
@Kaze_Memaryu , I understand and thats what I'm trying to say, I honestly haven't found a reason to purchase a PS4, at least not yet and I don't see that changing anytime soon, I am really loving my Wii U & 3DS, and the way 2014 is starting to shape up I'm pretty much booked for my gaming needs, with MK 8, Smash Bros, bayonetta 2, watch dogs... The list goes on, 2014 is going to be a good year to be a Nintendo gamer.
@Kaze_Memaryu "Japan is fine with the current gen (PS3, VITA, WIIU, 3DS)"
Only the PS3 in that list is current gen (a.k.a Seventh Gen). Wii U, 3DS and Vita are all next gen (Eighth Gen).
However, I know what you were trying to say. Japan is fine with it's current releases
... Unacceptable, I demand all top games to be Nintendo systems. Due to the Japan's inability to make this happen, I will be boycotting buying any anime for the rest of the month. This should cause some concern, because I personally own the "Gundam Wing" anime on DVD, and I have considered purchasing another anime title in the last decade. That will teach them...
Surprised to see Wii U doing okay in Japan. Nintendo needs to make more Japanese centric games for Wii U, as that could be the territory it dominates in.
When will we see some US numbers for December?
@SavantSupreme Xbox has always been a garbage seller in Japan, that won't change. PS4/Wii U will rule JPN.
@SavantSupreme 79,000 a week is loads better than the 5,000 they were selling a week before 3D World launch, so comparatively, the Wii U is doing great at the moment.
Those numbers are still kinda meh for the Wii U but at least its an improvement. Hopefully Nintendo can turn this thing around!
Edit: Those Zelda numbers are pretty good though. Glad too see the ALLTP follow up getting some love
Maybe it's time for the Wii-U to shine Problem for me is no RPG's pretty much all I play anymore
Wii Party U is beating out Super Mario 3D World? Year-old Super Mario Bros U is beating out brand new Super Mario 3D World? Isn't something wrong with this picture?
I'm happy there are more people enjoying Nintendo games now. Welcome!
These are the type of chart updates I could get used to seeing.
Glad to see Nintendo doing so well with not only the 3DS, but the Wii U as well! But yeah, I'm a bit puzzled at the positionings of the Wii U software as well. Wii Party U probably beats out both Mario games because it comes bundled with a Wiimote Plus, and is actually cheaper than buying a solo Wiimote plus. For whatever reason that may be. (At least, that's the case over here, anyway.)
@Kaze_Memaryu Not to mention the fact that the first commercial for Japan is basically a clip of people from every other country enjoying their system. Sony is basically saying "Look at all the people who got it before you do," which won't go over well with the Japanese.
keep this up nintendo and the wiiu might finally be a success.
@Spoony_Tech
Actually, he's right. The Wii U sold over 160,000 the week prior in Japan, and 119,000 the week before that
@Nik-Davies Actually, PS3 is last gen. Wii U, 3DS and Vita are current gen. Next gen is about 5 or 6 years away, when the 9th generation begins.
Well folks, that's FIVE weeks running now that 3DS and Wii U have dominated the Japanese hardware charts. You know what they say- once is happenstance, twice is coincidence, three times is enemy action... well what do you think FIVE TIMES is? Nintendo has officially declared war against Sony and Microsoft lol.
80,000 is only about half of what Wii U sold the week prior, but, you should look at this with perspective. Regardless of how many it's selling, the important thing is how it's selling relative to the competition. And it's selling MORE. That's what counts. It means that Wii U is outperforming the competition. Furthermore, Wii U is selling on average now about 1/3 of what the 3DS is selling in Japan. And considering the 3DS is wrecking the market- just pile-driving the competition, I'd say selling 1/3 of that is pretty freaking amazing. Especially considering where it was mere months ago.
What is a link between worlds called in Japan?
@donkeykong64 Zelda no Densetsu: Kamigami no Triforce 2. If they'd followed that naming convention in English we'd all be playing "The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past 2" instead of "A Link Between Worlds"
@SavantSupreme "Obviously people are saving their money for the X1"
LOL
This is japan we're talking about, kid.
Doubt it, that wii-u sales can remain flowing for long.
Holy crap, PS4 must be dead in Japan, not a single game anywhere on the charts.
@Kimimi "Triforce of the Gods 2", even!
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