While Nintendo can take heart from its continued lead in the Japanese charts, overall trends in the market remain a concern. The latest Media Create figures are in, and continue recent form of low sales in software and flat levels in hardware.
To begin with software, Level-5's Yo-kai Watch continues to impress, having topped the charts during the Holiday 'Golden Week' in Japan; it's a brand that, combined with the TV show, is gaining serious momentum. It leads ahead of Mario Golf: World Tour, which remains in second place after début sales of 49,889 physical retail units last week. Without a single new release numbers are poor — opening the door for some ageing titles, too — while there are three Wii U titles in the top 20 and a host of 3DS games; lifetime sales are in brackets.
1. [3DS] Yokai Watch – 58,906 (919,730)
2. [3DS] Mario Golf: World Tour – 28,882 (76,771)
3. [3DS] Mario Party: Island Tour – 20,065 (363,136)
4. [PSV] Sword Art Online: Hollow Fragment – 15,972 (193,513)
5. [3DS] Theatrhythm Final Fantasy: Curtain Call – 10,525 (115,956)
6. [3DS] Kirby: Triple Deluxe – 10,056 (580,005)
7. [3DS] Pokemon X and Y – 8,771 (4,057,914)
8. [3DS] Wagamama Fashion Girls Mode Yokubari Sengen! Tokimeki Up! – 7,039 (32,988)
9. [3DS] Kaseki Horider: Mugen Gear – 6,002 (155,704)
10. [3DS] Animal Crossing: New Leaf – 4,965 (3,731,660)
11. [Wii U] Super Mario 3D World – 4,903 (542,177)
12. [Wii U] Famicom Remix 1+2 – 4,836 (24,130)
13. [3DS] Monster Hunter 4 – 4,776 (3,273,739)
14. [PS3] Metal Gear Solid V: Ground Zeroes – 4,746 (216,208)
15. [3DS] Mario Kart 7 – 4,657 (2,315,232)
16. [3DS] Puzzle & Dragons Z – 4,585 (1,452,120)
17. [Wii U] Just Dance Wii U – 3,892 (43,072)
18. [3DS] Attack on Titan: The Last Wings of Mankind – 3,757 (292,337)
19. [3DS] Crayonshin-Chan: Arashi wo Yobu Kasukabe Eiga Stars! – 3,681 (34,902)
20. [PS3] Grand Theft Auto V – 3,507 (772,773)
The hardware results show drops across the board from the Golden Week equivalents. The 3DS LL (XL) is comfortably on top again, though there's grim reading for home consoles as a whole, all down to four figures. The Wii U's dip following an increase last week is, to look on the bright side, relatively modest; last week's sales are in brackets.
3DS LL – 28,414 (31,979)
PlayStation Vita – 17,143 (23,030)
PlayStation 4 – 8,480 (11,486)
PlayStation 3 – 7,684 (9,252)
Wii U – 7,613 (8,079)
3DS – 7,529 (7,644)
PSP – 2,022 (2,321)
PlayStation Vita TV – 1,351 (1,687)
Xbox 360 – 233 (278)
Level-5 is clearly onto a winner with Yo-kai Watch, one of multiple titles helping the 3DS remain at number one. The Japanese market is badly in need of new games, however, in order to boost struggling retail numbers.
[source gematsu.com]
Comments 22
Yokai Watch is still selling wow that must be some amazing game then if it's still selling.
Wii U looks like its closing the gap on PS4.
Yeesh, the 360's sales are pitiful! Makes me wonder why Microsoft doesn't just cut the losses and stop its production there...
Just wait until mario kart 8... May 29th cant come faster (at least for japan)...
@Wolfgabe Really want to see how the Ponys will react when the Wii U surpasses the PS4 in Japan. My caramel popcorn is ready.
Those Vita numbers
It's nice to see 3D World in the top 20! Kind of random given that it dropped out of the top 20 about four or five months ago but hey, at least it made an appearance this week!
Those software numbers, holy geez the 3DS dominated. Also, Mario Kart 7 is there, a clear sign that Japan is HYPED for Mario Kart 8...
3DS is on top, but those numbers aren't great. Wii U and PS4 basically selling pound for pound in Japan right now. Not good news for either of them. Hopefully E3 will help...
@JaxonH Well E3 is a North American trade show so unless the games announced there are completely new I see very little in the way of boosts for either console.
We'll have to see if the results of the Tokyo Game Show make any impact.
@Ernest_The_Crab
A fair point, but just like gamers here pay attention to TGS, Gamescom and other international events, I'm sure Japanese gamers pay attention to them as well, particularly E3, which is the largest gaming event in the world.
The Wii U has three games in the top 20 compared to 0 for the PS4 and 2 for the PS3. I know this is a small victory but it is a notable one.
The hype for PS4 is over we own a PS4 and a Wii U as well two 3DS's and two PSVITA's in our home the 3DS's and PSVITA's get the most attention then the Wii U there are some really great titles out for Wii U now (cannot wait for Mario Kart 8) ., We seem to use the Browser on the Wii U alot it's one of the systems best features .
Nintendo sold more hardware with their 3 hardware items than Sony did with their 5 on there... well.. Nintendo seems a lot more popular in Japan than sony
That's cool Japan gets a NES REMIX 1+2 retail package. I saw it featured on an episode of Games Center CX with Chief Arino....KACHO ON!
Looks like 3ds domination in the charts for this week. WOW!
Meanwhile Super Mario 3D world proves to be a long term seller.
Would be nice to see more Wii U units move, but this is pretty typical...meh.
i want youkai watch so bad! and sword art online. that game looks awesome too.
@retro72 i live in japan and Im not Japanese. You don't have to be Japanese to buy Japanese games.
wow 3DS has close to 3/4 of the entries in the software chart, what's interesting to see is that how bad the PS4 is doing in japan.
@Tsuchinoko I think he meant wanting to know how to read Japanese.
Yes you can still buy Japanese games but being able to understand it is a whole other issue.
With the ps4 losing momentum in Japan to wii u levels and no big game (as long as Im aware of) coming soon for it, I think this is a golden opportunity for Nintendo to make awareness of the console. I hope for marketing bombs over there. Mk8 is a big deal, and even if it's the only one in months to come, they can promote the virtual console with all games they can. All these factors combined could very well be wii u's saving grace
Waiting for June 5 to see the first 3 or 4 days of the MK8 effect.
Did Japan ever announce an MK8 bundle, I don't recall seeing it covered here and Google can't find it either?
@Hy8ogen You'll be in for a show then. Fanboys - as usual- will overreact, start throwing tantrums while speaking down on every other person who likes anything different than they do.
@Topic In the midst of all of those 3ds games, Hallow Fragment stands in the top 4. Kind of makes me even more excited for that game. Can't wait when it gets localized.
Tap here to load 22 comments
Leave A Comment
Hold on there, you need to login to post a comment...