The Nintendo 3DS Has Now Sold More Units In Japan Than The PlayStation 2

Everything is a contest.

I think it just shows that the Japanese care more about fun games than having the "right" hardware. Doesn't take violence to appeal to older gamers.

Land of the Rising Sun..
I always wonder why the Japanese flag only has a red dot in the middle...... NIHON !!

@DanteSolablood This is why I think Japanese gamers are better than western gamers

They would sell more in the States if they were in stock. I was out shopping and the big stores are all sold out, been that way since Black Friday.

But that's impossible! Clearly the PS2 is the superior console.

Yes but over what period? How long was the Playstation 2 available compared to the 3DS? Statistics can be shown to mean anything you want

The 3DS is my favorite handheld ever.
If only it wasn't region locked, then it would be the perfect portable Gaming System in my opinion.
Let's hope the Switch fixes this problem.

Let's hope the Switch can outsell the 3DS, and not just in Japan.

@hieveryone I wouldn't say Japanese gamers are better, they just tend to have a more mature attitude towards what makes a game good.

@Bunkerneath The figures would likely be lifetime sales of both machines. The PS2 has the advantage in regards to timescale but not enough to make up the difference in sales.

@DanteSolablood I always seen it as more of a cultural bias if anything. Japanese consumers are more supportive of Nintendo and Sony because they're domestic whilst Microsoft is more of an overseas product.

@AlphaJaguar There is likely to be some of that, but then you had the 3DS outselling the PS4 and Vita for a good while. It's also less to do with bias and more Microsoft not catering towards the Japanese audience very well. Remember the original Xbox and the giant controllers? Remember Microsoft having so few RPGs they had to hire a studio to make one to help boost console sales?

@KingofSaiyanZ You misunderstand me, I am not saying that Sony is bad, I am saying Nintendo is good & gets a bad reputation in countries that think a lack of blood & guts makes something childish.

@Bunkerneath If one sells more than the other over their individual lifetimes, what's there to skew? One sold more than the other.

Awesome! The 3DS is the best! 3DS FOR LIFE!

Isn't Ps4 also on track to beating the 2 in Japan? Man all my pc friends were wrong about this generation looks like many still want to play games on their tv and on the go!

@Bunkerneath
They said in the article life time sales. Ps2 came out march, 2000 and was being sold til 2013. 3ds came out in 2011 so this isn't fudging the numbers. Congrats 3ds!

@hieveryone The Nishoki (name of the flag) has always been a staple of Japan's culture however I've always preferred the JSDF and the Imperial army versions since they have rays which make it really obvious that the hinomaru (colloquial name of the flag but it means mark/circle of the sun and it refers to the red circle) is the sun. However, I'm not Japanese so just my observation as a foreigner.

Either way good job on Nintendo for the sales. I bought two JPN 3ds systems so I hope my small contribution helped. lol

@KingofSaiyanZ There were actually 4 consoles that generation... let's not forget the Dreamcast. The PS2 wasn't the weakest.

@Moon The Dreamcast was quiet impressive for its size. Actually, I wonder if the PS2 wasn't the one with the worst power/price and power/size ratios.

It's funny, just earlier this afternoon, I was playing on my New 3DS and I thought "Damn I love this console...".

I've been playing it nearly daily for the last 5 years and I'm still amazed by this system. Even though the latest two versions clearly are the best.

It feels nice in your hands (it might just be because I spent so much time with it), it looks nice, it doesn't heat up and the battery life is convenient without being incredible. The volume and 3D sliders add to the comfort of use, at a time when most system don't even have a volume slider at all.

But of course the most important is the games. And this system sure delivered! I have no idea how many games I have in total and how many I still have to complete, but wow those 5 last years were packed with some of the best gaming experiences of my life. No mater what other system I have at hand, the 3DS is the one I always go back to.

It makes me wonder if the Switch will also pass the PS2 there since it will be portable.

This data is misleading. There are many that have 2 3ds (I have 3 of them) where I have only one PS2.

@DanteSolablood really? That's what these figures tell you? I'd say you're quite off base with that assessment.

I want to live in Japan now.

Aaaaaaaaaaaaaand now I don't.

Oh, but I thought "Nintendo is doomed " and the Switch will be their "last chance to save themselves?" The 3DS is a success, the Wii was a success, the DS was a success, but we still have butthurt PS/Xbox fanboys who want Mario on their console telling us "Nintendo is on the brink of collapse and will never make hardware again if the Switch doesn't sell a bazillion units." Anyways this is a huge milestone and long live Nintendo baby!

@Ryu_Niiyama I prefer those verion of the flag too. I did learn that for some, those verions are symbols of hate. During Japan's occupation of several countries during WW2. They are but flags, but I understand how they can be seen that way for some.

@belmont Its not really misleading. It says units sold, not number of individual people who bought one. Units sold is still units sold.

@flapjackashley2 Is measleading in the term of actual profit. I have three 3ds consoles but I don't have 3xAverage game sales per person. Moreover due to this less people have actual 3ds consoles so the install base of PS2 owners to buy games is bigger.

I've bought 5 3DS. One for myself and the others for the kids. The 3DS is an awesome machine.

@belmont Your logic is technically sound but you do need to be aware that Nintendo tend to make money on each unit sold at launch whereas Sony has made a considerable loss at first. The PS3 hardware didn't start covering it's own cost until 4 years into it's lifecycle. Also, while Sony does have more games, how many of them of first party?

@yomanation What sense of superiority? I'm not Japanese and never have been & as I said I don't have anything against Sony or Microsoft. The portability argument is a good one (and is also a factor), but does that address the 3DS outselling the PS Vita & the non-portable PS4 outselling the PS Vita as well? I'm a long time animé fan and have studied the history of animé and Japanese culture in general for a long time. There is a cultural difference in how games and consoles are perceived.

@capitalism I was going to post a similar comment. The WiiU is Nintendo's only recent "flop/failure". You mentioned the success of the Wii,3DS and DS. Amiibo and the NES mini are other examples of recent successes. We will see what the mobile market has for the company. But yeah, Nintendo is financially stable.

@DanteSolablood Yes you are right in this. Before the 3ds massive price cut it was sold here for 280 euros! And the hardware was outdated even back then! Same price as I bought the PS2 years ago. Clearly they made tons of income but it did not sell that much till the price cut. However you may be right that they still profited from the 180 euro price tag for the small model since it is sold for about this price even now.

This does not change the fact that PS2 has more software sales than 3ds. I have not seen a chart but I would very surprised otherwise.

@electrolite77 I think the point was that they are more open minded to Nintendo type of games. For example. Yoshi's Island has a lot of gameplay. The game is a masterpiece. If you don't agree, just go along. But many people here would not play it because they are "Hardcore," bad ass. Yet if you take the same game and replace the sprite with darker character, music. Replace the eggs with bombs, Yoshi with a Terminator type robot, etc. Then suddenly the game is good. So in that sense I could see how someone might think that the Japanese gamers are more mature. That's a rough example.

@KingofSaiyanZ the PS2 did have fun games however the killer app was the inclusion of a DVD player,a lot cheaper than the DVD players that were out at that time, I know myself and all my mates had one but had more dvd's films than actual games, for me and most of my friends we see the PS2 as a DVD player that could play some fun games....... that's why it sold over 155 million.......and I thought everyone new that!!!!

@belmont I think you may be underestimating how many people bought 2 PS2's considering the popularity of the Slim model.

@electrolite77 No one's saying they're better, it's just that a lot of them don't automatically disregard games that are cartoony/cute.

@belmont You're almost certainly right about software sales, though never count Nintendo out when it comes to money making. I say this as someone who's had a PSOne, PS2, PS3 & PSP.

Get out of here kyarii! >:0

@Forral I think that since it is PS2 (not PS3) the vast majority only had one. I have a launch model that still works great even though I have installed two (!) different modchips becuase I wanted to import jrpg games from America (the curse of being a PAL jrpg gamer). There was no reason to buy a PS2 Slim. PS2 base model was one of the most trustworthy pieces of hardware made. PS3 on the other hand is a different story. The almost launch (non PS2 BC) model I have almost failed me so I got a cheap non hdd super slim and swapped the hard drive.

@DanteSolablood44 I don't! Nintendo always finds ways to take our money. Old first party games are still sold in launch price, no digital cross buy, lots of handheld console iterations, no meaningful digital discounts, overpriced outdated hardware and the list goes on. I know all of them but I still always fall victim. I got a new 3ds and it is not a 180 euro worthwhile upgrade since the os is still stupid slow!

No matter how you dice it, that is something worth bragging about. The PS2 was no sales chump!

@belmont Maybe you're right. I was working in a game shop when the ps2 slim was out and we seemed to have quite a few people swapping over to one. I know I myself got a slim ps2 after previously owning an original ps2. I just figured that the uptake must be worth it for both Sony and Microsoft to keep releasing so many different limited editions of this gen and last. However this is all anecdotal and I haven't researched any numbers so you may be right.

The Nintendo DS (Lite) was at the time the perfect definition of what a portable console should be. Here's hoping Nintendo can put some of that magic on the Switch as well.

Wow, streetpass must be really good in Japan.

I have 3 3ds but only 1 original ps2

each household bought 1 ps2 console but most people bought 3ds in threes and fours with limited edition this and limited edition that

HANDHELD GAMING IS DEAAAAAD! NINTENDO SHOULD GO THIRD PARTY!

Oh, wait...

Switch is going to be just fine guys. Japan will love it and thus Japanese developers will make plenty of unique and interesting games for it.

PS4 sales are terrible over there and I doubt Sony will bother with a Vita 2. So Nintendo has the Japanese market all to itself.

@belmont You could say the same about the PS2 or any console, Some people may have decide they wanted to trade in the PS2 for the slim version. That means that many have owned 2 PS2's but each counted as a unit sold.

which then begs the Question How many variants of each console sold to new people or people getting the newer model.
Goes for all consoles are they as popular as people make out, are sales made up of mainly new customers or just people upgrading to newer models. doubt you could ever really find out.

3DS have sold more than a third of their entire numbers in the smallest of the three big markets (Americas, Euro and Japan). That's both good and bad from different perspectives.

Regional differences are always interesting to see...
For example, did you knew that the "lame duck, third party shunned" N64 sold basically the same numbers as the "super popular, third party darling" SNES...IN the Americas? NOA was able to hold most of the SNES market...sure, the system was crushed by the PSone in sales, but at least NOA gave a good fight.

Or how the first Xbox sold like a few dozen systems in Japan...and still managed to sell more systems globally than the Gamecube.

@Jumpman I remember closely keeping an eye out on the sales figure of the DS family as far into 2012 expecting the DS to rule over the PS2 at that point. That said, both systems deserve a lot of credit.

@UK-Nintendo
What ? 3DS for each family member ?
Wow...

@bubby444
Tokyo has the most crowded people in Japan so StreetPass might be a popular things.

I Love to see 3DS can outselling PS2, yet PS2 still one of my favorite oldies console.
Japanese people really Love with "Kawaii" and that's why New 3DS + Changeable face plate + Kawaii games + Kyari Pamyu Pamyu for advertising = BOOM !!
Oh, well... I noticed some people above me are really don't like "Kawaii" and show a disgust feeling about cute stuffs. Embrace that unique cultures, guys !

@BinaryFragger Nah, they say 'look at the software sales', and point out how Wii U has about 4 or 5 exclusives that have outsold PS4's exclusives.

@DanteSolablood they made a different controller for Japan and explained why in a racially insensitive way too. L

Doomed.

member this article?
http://www.ign.com/articles/2011/10/22/the-playstation-vita-is-set-to-succeed
good times.

@Jumpman they temporarily did but then, Sony sold the PS2 for another year while DS was dropped

@UK-Nintendo Here in US everybody had a fat and slim ps2

@belmont I've had 3 ps2s that all stopped working in America. Lol

@ziffy I believe it was banned in China after WW2. It is considered a hate symbol there if I'm not mistakened

@ieatdragonz I think PS4 has dropped off everywhere. IT WAS HYPED AT FIRST but now it's getting hate.

Sigh... some of the comments on here are complete excrement. So many people fail at critical thinking.

With that said. Wow! What a massive number of 3ds units they have sold!

Congrats to the 3ds, hope it will be around for the next 5-6 years.

@WiltonRoots
What do you mean by Doomed ?!
3DS clearly on the TOP of Nintendo machines. A HUGE SUCCESS !
Got it ?!

@Anti-Matter It's on top of current Nintendo machines because the Wii U was a complete and utter failure. Not saying the 3DS didn't do well, but selling better than the Wii U isn't much of an accomplishment.

@DanteSolablood Don't most RPG's include violence (or at least conflict) at the core of their design, as a form of problem solving?

Still cant outsell DS tho....

@yomanation That was not my intention, I thought ! was making it clear I was talking about the perception of games & not the reality. I myself was frustrated when the Gamecube was released & many dismissed it as "for kids" despite having many great games for all audiences including some games like the Resident Evil remake that had plenty of violence in it.

While again, portability would be a factor & I don't deny that at all I was only looking to add some additional information to the discussion. I neither claim to be always right, nor a Nintendo fanboy (neither my favourite console or handheld are Nintendo).

@PlywoodStick You are absolutely correct, though as I said above it is the perception of such things rather than the reality I was getting at. Also, it could be said that RPGs tend to glorify the violence slightly less than many other types of game. Aerith spraying blood before a voice calls out "DECAPITATION!!!" would have been interesting... but not really fitting with the gamestyle.

@NIN10DOXD My apologies, not my intention to be insensitive. I was aware of the Xbox's S controller of course, especially as this later became the default controller in most countries. If I remember correctly, the original controller was reached by Microsoft ignoring the market research. It garnered "Blunder of the Year" from Game Informer and earned a Guiness World Record. The large controller was a mistake & was not thinking ahead to other regions however.. plus Microsoft not initially catering to Japanese gamers very well is established fact.

@DanteSolablood Oh my God... If that happened, I would have burst out laughing... And then start crying, like I did when I first played FF7 back in 1998...

But yeah, JRPG's definitely tend to not glorify conflict and violence. Rather, those things are usually portrayed more as a situational necessity of survival, while teaching that saber-rattling and bloodlust inevitably leads to corruption. It's also noteworthy that in JRPG's, you're a lot more likely to be killing beasts and demons than people unless the plot depicts a war, while in WRPG's, killing sprees upon random people are all too common.

...Then again, Godhand for the PS2 exists. But that's more hilariously awesome than grotesquely gruesome.

@yomanation Well we can agree to disagree on the order of influences, I've read a few of your posts & I respect your opinion. Just for bonus interesting facts:
~In Japan (and China, Vietnam & South Korea) if someone is talking about you your ears don't burn... you sneeze.
~If your nose itches, someone you know will have a baby.
~One month after Valentine's day is White Day when men give return gifts to women.
~It's traditional to celebrate Christmas in Japan with KFC (started in the 1970s).
~Not using honorifics (san, chan, kun etc.) is reserved only for close friends/family and not to do so is a big insult. However they are understanding of foreigners.

This is the reason, why the Switch will never be a commercial failure like Wii U.

The Japanese just love their potable consoles, and the Switch is going to replace 3DS as well.

All the great Japanese 3DS developer's are on board with the Switch, providing the needed content for that market. This is the most important factor, witch shouldn't be underestimated

The next big Pokemon games will also make the Switch sell ok in western countries. And the big new Mario and Zelda titles will lure in many traditional home console gamers all well.

Everything put together and the Switch will probably do even better than the 3DS.

Nintendo also love to make their hardware iterations down the line. We will definitely see a Switch Lite and Switch Mini in a few years, based on the same architecture. Making every possible potable gamer happy.

I guess they will then make some kind of adapter, to make these devices compatible with the old Switch stand.

I am very optimistic about the Switch. It's going to be a great device.

@yomanation 知らない

@Splatmaster You got that right. same with the PS3: I bought one because it was the best blueray player of its time, just to watch movies at my room.

Nintendo dropped the ball with the Wii and the Wii U on this regard.

@dres
Yup. Wanna see Switch in lovely colors like 3DS did. It will sells like a Hot Pancakes.

@yomanation
Japanese people are very loyal and love their country + their cultures. There are so many traditional Japanese cultures adapted to games or shows or toys. Very contrary with my country, Indonesia. More than 90% Indonesian people have no respect with their cultures, tends to behave like Western people rather than like Eastern people.

@electrolite77 Yeah but it's always impressive when a small company like Nintendo beat a huge one like Sony. They never fought with equal weapons and Sony always crushed them with marketing budget and exclusives buying. Nintendo is still resisting until now but other small companies like Sega, SNK, Atari or Nec didn't survive long.

@Jumpman The DS beat the PS2 in all mean markets (USA, Europe, Japan). It didn't beat the PS2 worldwide because Nintendo is too small to release their consoles in as much countries as Sony.

@maceng Actually, the Wii/Wii U optical drive is capable of playing DVD movies. Nintendo's engineers disabled the feature to avoid paying royalties, as @yomanation said. After softmodding either system and unlocking the feature, you almost immediately learn that they have no problem with you popping a DVD movie in to watch. Just boot up the homebrew movie player software and you're good to go.

@DanteSolablood "~If your nose itches, someone you know will have a baby."

Woah! I was wondering why the world's population was increasing so rapidly...

@PlywoodStick Haha, not all superstitions make a lot of sense.

@PlywoodStick Well, that's very stingy on Nintendo's behalf. I mean, how much could it cost, 6-8 bucks? My daughter just inherited the house Wii U, but it takes too much space (the controls, the external HD, the games and the unit itself) along with a DVD player for her movies (she hasn't got over Frozen yet).

@bitleman You meant ".. in as many countries as Sony".

@Anti-Matter Agreed. One of the appeals of the DS and teh 3DS was a very wide range of colors. I collect them and between the two consoles, have like 50 different units.

Still, a very good condition Zelda DS Lite still eludes me today (an original one, not a knockoff).

@maceng Still hasn't gotten over Frozen!? Hmm... You know what it sounds like she needs to do?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=moSFlvxnbgk

Haha... but seriously, that's a pretty powerful message.

@PlywoodStick Noooooooooo!

Just kidding! We love the movie, but I'm thinking of selling all my DVDs and buy them digital instead. At least that's what Nintendo wants me to do anyway...

@DanteSolablood You weren't insensitive. I just find it hilarious that the West was expected to deal with the big controllers while Japan got the S controllers in the manner that they did. It's no surprise that the XBOX was a flop in Japan.

@Anti-Matter I was being sarcastic. There's more 3DS units sold than PS4s, it's the best selling console this generation, despite so-called "AAA blockbuster" crap not being on it, yet people are still treating it like a failure. I love it when people say things like "only 60 million sold" and "the 3DS is dying" forgetting the huge amounts of money Nintendo makes from software sold...but yeah, doomed...