IGN: PS4 JPN Software Sales Worrisome

PlayStation 4 sold very well during its Japanese debut -- 322,000 consoles were sold in 48 hours -- but its software sales seem to be soft, at least at retail.

Japanese Media Create charts, which are updated every week, show 10 PlayStation 4 games in the Top 20, according to a translated list from Gematsu. But the numbers aren't incredibly impressive.

Topping the list is Knack, which sold over 300,000 copies. However, Knack comes with every PlayStation 4 sold in Japan, explaining the one-to-one attach rate. The other nine PS4 games in the top 20 are as follows:

• 3.) Yakuza: Ishin (82,540)
• 7.) Killzone: Shadow Fall (32,336)
• 8.) Battlefield 4 (24,799)
• 11.) Dynasty Warriors 8: Xtreme Legends (14,356)
• 13.) Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag (13,862)
• 14.) Call of Duty: Ghosts (13,701)
• 15.) Tomb Raider: Definitive Edition (12,093)
• 18.) FIFA 14 (8,808)
• 20.) Need For Speed Rivals (6,602)

The above sales account for just shy of 210,000 games sold at retail, meaning that not everyone who purchased a PlayStation 4 in Japan bought a game. Now, Knack’s inclusion with each PS4 certainly had something to do with that, but there’s definitely more to the story.

For starters, the much-anticipated Yakuza: Ishin launched on PlayStation 3 at the same time as PS4, outselling the PS4 iteration by over 55,000 copies (138,158 copies of PS3’s Yakuza: Ishin were sold). And then there’s the rise in digital sales. Like PS Vita’s roster of games, every title sold on PS4 must be available digitally, and those sales are not counted by Media Create.

The soft sales of PlayStation 4’s software at retail may be more a sign of the times – of a shift away from brick-and-mortar and towards the inevitable digital future – but it could also be a sign that there’s not a lot of interesting PS4-exclusive software available in Japan right now. Either way, we’ll keep an eye on how things develop for PS4 in Sony’s home country in the coming weeks and months

SOURCE

I am worried about the state of the PS4 and especially its software sales, in Japan. Right now, it has absolutely no major system selling support announced until the end of 2014- and then, all the games that it will get will be shared with at least one other system.

Will the PS4's performance in Japan be like the PS Vita or the Wii U, which both launched well enough, and then plummeted off a cliff?

Lost cause market. Kaz has a lot of explaining to do.

the ps4 is just lacking jrpgs. thats all they play over there.

Are'nt the sales generally weak?

Edit:

But yeah, it indicates that most people bought just one game with their console or settled for their bundle.

Surely that explains sales of games like Miku, Mario, Grand Theft Auto, Resident Evil, Metal Gear Solid, and Monster Hunter!

Software sales? Not really, software in Japan has been selling well enough, propped up almost single handedly by 3DS, but with some assistance by PS3.

Console gaming on the whole is in deep trouble in Japan. I just think mobile/tablets are where they are headed. We shall see in a year.

@charizard1605:

Yeah, I added a little to my post. Seems like it was mostly bundles and single game purchases.

Had to check the Media Create thread again ;)

*handhelds

I am surprised at the low yakuza sales .... it used to sell much more than that.

@charizard1605: Wait a minute. They sold over 322,000 systems, but only sold around 210,000 games? How is that even possible? So you're saying some gamers bought PS4's, but didn't buy any games? Maybe they wanted an expensive Blu-Ray player with access to Twitch, Netflix and Amazon apps. That's not even a 1:1 ratio. At least they were smart enough not to buy Knack.

What about digital sales? Since the ps4 is a lot faster at installing and downloading, digital may have become a better option for people. it might be cutting into the retail sales and I think the publishers know that, so that is why they shipped less units. I heard somewhere (don't feel like finding a source) that almost all of the launch games sold through 70-80 percent of their initial shipment.

they bundled Knack in with the ps4s the article says lol. so a lot of them just got their bundle with Knack and called it a night, apparently. i guess nothing else appealed to them...which isnt good.

Just Google search "Beleaguered Sony Counting on new game machine". Its not really the PS4 that is killing Sony its the company as a whole and the gaming division might not be enough to save it. Its' def an interesting read. Also worrisome that insiders are getting reports that engineers are quitting in droves and Kaz isn't investing in the future of the company. Crazy, the Sony Bravia Tv line hasn't made money in 10 straight years.

It looks like Sony's other divisions might doom the gaming division, will Sony have to sell off the gaming divison or just sell everything else and just so let be a gaming company?

The console market is pretty crap and the big AAA titles are also pretty stale. Why am I going to pay for a new console when the game experiences are literally the same as the last but prettier.

PS4/Xbox One sales are going to tapper off eventually and both will get a price cut this year.

This generation has honestly been the most underwhelming one. Everything looks fucking boring, from everyone. All the indie stuff looks great, but the big AAA titles look stale.

Knack is bundled with the system

Digital sales still account for less than 10% of total software sales, even for the most successful releases in Japan such as Animal Crossing, Monster Hunter, Pokemon, or any major PlayStation Vita release.

Untrue, Jrgps are only slight successes over there outside of a few companies.

Maybe some went digital? Maybe there are games accessible on the JPN PSN store that aren't everywhere else?

No, for three reasons:

1. Knack is bundled with the system in Japan
2. There are no games available on the JP PSN store that aren't available anywhere else
3. Digital penetration in Japan is shocking low- less than 10% low of a game's overall sales, so it would add a measly 0.1 to the overall attach rate.

The PS3 had an attach rate of 8, what are you talking about?

Really? I don't know, the Wii sold a shit ton in Japan. Maybe it's just PlayStation consoles that haven't sold as well there as you would like? :-3

Hardly a surprise. PS4 is grossly lacking in Japanese games.

Even after a delay the launch lineup is barren, couldnt they invest in a major Japan-centric exclusive. One could go change the fortune of the console's early life.

@kuu2: man... you're really hoping that "PauperStation" is gonna catch on, don't you?

That's not true, the japan psn store launched with a few games that were exclusive to the JP psn store.

same with williamRLbaker and him calling cows "sheens"

Not only has the Japanese console market gotten smaller, their taste in games tend to be much difference than the west. At the end of the day, games like MGS and Deep Down will undoubtedly move consoles.

Well duh. There are no interesting exclusives for the japanese market.

well it came bundled with goty knack, is there even a point in buying another game

haha i always wondered wtf 'sheens' originated from, why not just say cow so people know wtf u are talking about

Each PS4 came with Knack?! Bad move, shit I imagine people would run the risk of selling their PS4's in regret if it came packed with Knack.

That's what I was talking about a few days ago prior to having any numbers just the titles. These machines at launch, they need more Japanese developed games. Hardware sales will go up and down, but they need that Eastern killer app.

It looks like you glanced the OP. It's doing good, that game is a PS3 and PS4 cross generational game. Those PS3 Yakuza figures have been deleted from the OP to highlight PS4 numbers, but that particular game is on two platforms, and as you might expect, selling a lot more on PS3.

We'll see better PS4 Yakuza sales if/when the future game is not also developed for PS3.

This was in the link that may also be of interest:

Now, Knack’s inclusion with each PS4 certainly had something to do with that, but there’s definitely more to the story.

"For starters, the much-anticipated Yakuza: Ishin launched on PlayStation 3 at the same time as PS4, outselling the PS4 iteration by over 55,000 copies (138,158 copies of PS3’s Yakuza: Ishin were sold). And then there’s the rise in digital sales. Like PS Vita’s roster of games, every title sold on PS4 must be available digitally, and those sales are not counted by Media Create."

^ ^ this. The sales are not surprising at all. There are no Japan-centric games in the launch and the two ones that may appeal to Japan are already on the PS3. I expect future Japan focused games to move the software sales. Unlike Western gamers the Japanese are quite picky with their games.

Ryu Ga Gotoku Ishin! is a spin off title not main line so it's not going to sell as well as the normal games. Two, the game is multiplatform with the PS3 as is pretty much ever other game for the Japanese launch except for Knack and Killzone.

1) There is only one truly Japanese game on the list (Yakuza)

2) The internet exists

3) Everybody received a game with their purchase, as was pointed out, but certainly understated

4) It's one week, no cause for concern at this point.

Yeah, they didn't extend to Japanese developers. I mean the ps3 is still getting support, that's not good at all. Especially when the largest game in Japan is one of those. (Persona 5)

It'll get better, eventually.

not surprising.

1. digital sales (article mentions)

2. the most obvious choice of a purchase is cross-gen

3. there's no JRPGs for it yet.

chill out and wait long enough for some games to be developed. it's doing better than any other console released in the past few years in japan right now given the amount of time it's been out.

I dunno. That seems pretty decent to me. When you consider all systems come packed in with software.

And for the Vita at least, digital makes up close to half of all software sales.

With those Yakuza figures; consider the userbase size difference between the PS3/PS4 and suddenly it doesn't seem the game is doing so badly anymore.

This trend of software doing poorly around console release isn't new either; it was the same story in the west. People end up holding off on buying games for last/next-gen altogether as they end up stuck on the fence.

I agree with this. I was initially pumped up for this gen, but looking at what we've gotten thus far and what we're going to be getting over the next 6 months, I'm a lot less enthused than I was. I'm sure some game will eventually be released that will officially usher in this gen (I don't think it'll be either Titanfall or Infamous SS) and just "wow" everyone silly, but that game certainly isn't here yet.

Sony is kicking ass in Japan

This doesn't account for games SOLD ONLINE in DIGITAL FORMAT.... and Knack being packaged in with every unit sold.

Also... the PS4 is selling about 4 times better than the PS3 did in Japan in the first 2 days as well. Both of the other consoles that sold over 300k in 2 days went on to sell over 100 million units.

yeah.... "really worrisome"

@charizard1605 well, I guess they don't really like what's out at the moment.

If they could get square enix to put dragon quest X on the beastly ps4 it would move a few units, and IF square enix localizes said game, I would be a happy person.

I also would love to see monster hunter 5 on there with 4 player online with one special server that has about 10-15 super giant monsters that you choose to hunt with a 16 man team (not for the weak hearted). I just glad it launched in japan with some strong numbers so far because it makes me think of all the possible announcements at TGS this year!

Japan has been irrelevant since the last gen started. Sony should have just ditched that market and shipped all of those PS4's to the rest of the world instead.

None of these games have 13y old spiky haired shemans, how exactly can you expect them to sell?

lol IGN

People were probably playing the FFXIV beta or the F2P Dream Club game.

Maybe its just cause some of those games on the list dont have that much appeal over there. Also isint japan heavy on the handhelds as of late.