Japan's console market at lowest point for 24 years

[XTankSlayerX]

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2014's total physical game sales for all home console and handhelds generated 369 billion yen (£2bn). Back in 2007 that number was nearly double - 688bn yen (£3.8bn).

The 10 top-selling games in Japan last year were all for Nintendo platforms (eight of which were for 3DS, a reflection of Japan's preference for handhelds in general).

Level 5 role-player Yo-kai Watch 2 sold the highest (just over 3m copies), while Pokémon Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire notched up 2.4m copies.

3DS was, unsurprisingly, the top-selling console in Japan last year. It shifted 3.1m units, making for a 17.8m lifetime total in the country.

PlayStation Vita was the second-best selling console. Sony shifted 1.1m units, out of a 3.4m Japanese lifetime total.

Source: http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2015-01-07-japans-console-and-handheld-physical-game-sales-at-lowest-point-for-24-years

Obviously Nintendo's going to be on top.
Makes sense. Since people in Japan are always working you can only really game when your on your way to work.

[terrytek]

They should sell more of their consoles here than the PS4 and XBO combined. They are the only good consoles nowadays.

[AlexGoesHigh]

They should sell more of their consoles here than the PS4 and XBO combined. They are the only good consoles nowadays.

blame that one on the grand majority of spoiled teenagers/kids that exist today

[brownninja97]

parents be like work more no play games. 

 

[shujin]

this is sad they have the only good console I'll hope they came back on track in the next 5 year or so. Well they can make it for sure when people will understand "next gen" (lol) console is shit they will buy something that have at least some mind (and that don't bs us 24 fps more cinematic)

[Ertman]

declining since 2008 hmmmm... i wonder what caused that?

[MonkeyFace]

Eurogamer needs to account for the deflation of Japanese currency. 2006-2008 was Wii, and PS3 wave too. 

 

But I won't deny that Japanese people are playing more games on their phones. Tsum Tsum, Monster Strike, and Puzzle Dragons are top dogs. 

[GrimNeo]

Japanese gamers are more on the go than anything else. Handhelds and phone games are pretty popular with them last time I checked.

[StingBull]

declining since 2008 hmmmm... i wonder what caused that?

 

My theory:

 

- Nintendo releases Wii and turns every Japanese gamer to filthy casuals.

 

- iPhone comes to Japan and takes the casual market away from consoles.

[cesrai]

They should sell more of their consoles here than the PS4 and XBO combined. They are the only good consoles nowadays.

What consoles ?

[ComradeHX]

Seems like people have caught onto the bullshit of peasant companies.

One solid step away from peasantry!

[Hatsune Miku 「 」]

YAY!. the only console I have is nintendo. 

[Silent_Xaxal]

To be fair, 2014 wasn't exactly the bang up year for the economy their, especially towards the later end.

 

That said, this could mean greater South East Asian and general Asian efforts for Sony and Nintendo. The integration should make that kind of business easier.

[Albatross]

Clearly it means consoles suck and they now know it and want PCs cause they are teh bezt. /pc master race thinking

[MoonSpot]

Aren't the age demographics the cause of this?  Or at least a large factor?

[Zeruel]

Japanese people are not FPS gamers, I know that for sure. 

[McMurderMonkey]

Good to see Nintendo doing well on their home turf.