Wii U sales fall below PS Vita in Japan

NewsPublish Date 27/02/2013 - 3:43pm GMT

Under 10,000 Wii U consoles sold in the week of February 18.

Wii U continues to show no signs of a recovery in Japan with sales for the week beginning February 18 coming in at only 9,633 units, reports MediaCreate.

This means that for the first time the weekly Wii U figure is lower than the PS Vita's (11,456 units). The Vita benefited from some retailers slashing the price of the handheld ahead of the official price cut, but expect a bigger increase next week when the reduction is nationwide.

PS3 moved 18,529 units, while the 3DS continues to dominate the marketplace with a further 74,729 units sold.

Metal Gear Rising: Revengeance took the software crown – the PS3 version shifting 308,681 units – with Namco Bandai's Tank! Tank! Tank! the highest placed Wii U game at No.13 with 4,714 copies sold. The multiplayer arcade game had previously been available free-to-play via the eShop.

Source: NeoGAF

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Mintyrebel @ CheekyLee

Quote:

Monster Hunter is going to make a big difference in Japan.

Um, you do realize it came out around 3 months ago in Japan on Wii U and over a year ago on 3DS right?

Quote:

The Vita, I wouldn't say has many games out right now the Japanese audience wants

Disgaea 3
Dynasty Warriors Next
Everybody's golf 6
Lord of Apocalypse
Tales of innocence R
Ragnarock Odyssey
Gravity Rush
Virtues Last Reward
Ninja Gaiden Sigma plus
New Little Kings Story
Persona 4: Golden
Kidō Senshi Gundam SEED Battle Destiny
Hatsune Miku: Project DIVA f
Ys: Foliage Ocean in Celceta
Atelier Totori Plus: The Adventurer of Arland
Ninja Gaiden Sigma Plus 2
Phantasy Star 2 (Came out 3 days ago)

These are all currently out and are ones off the top of my head, I am sure there are more. So I really beg to differ....

Posted 13:49 on 02 March 2013

CheekyLee

Monster Hunter is going to make a big difference in Japan. Especially since Wii U and 3DS versions can play together. Bear in mind just how many 3DS systems are already on the market. It probably won't be anywhere near as big a deal in the West, although it should be, but is going to push some sales. Lego City Undercover, Need for Speed Most Wanted, and .... ok ... ANYTHING else, please .... will do a better job over here.

I have to say, the reporting of low sales was not quite done with the same apparent relish when it was PS3 and Vita as it is being now it is Wii U. Not just on this site, but overall.

Posted 13:29 on 02 March 2013

MJTH @ Mintyrebel

The Vita, I wouldn't say has many games out right now the Japanese audience wants, but it certainly has them coming. Soul sacrifice is coming, dragons crown is coming, FF10 HD is coming (if people still care), phantasy star online 2 is coming. The line up is coming up nicely in Japan (the west could use some work still).

It is unfair to judge a platform so early in it's life. Considering 1 year is still a point where the platform is at it's most expensive, and some of the games coming are to be released as cross titles (Tokiden is a PSP and PS vita release, Pokemon B2&W2 DS and 3DS release) Look at the 3DS, after the first year nay sayers were still saying the platform was doomed. Now it's 2 year along 30 million units sold, and 2013 looks like it will be a brilliant year for the platform.

The Vita price cut will give the system some more strength before games come out. However it takes time to make a success, and I makes me so angry when you see annoying comments of "so and so system is dead" or "so and so manufacturer better start third party soon" so early in a life cycle of a console. It's like to some people think if said hardware is not an instant success, then the platform and platform holder is screwed, and or want to wish death on a certain platform....

Posted 13:13 on 02 March 2013

Mintyrebel @ Woffls

The Vita has plenty of games that the Japanese want, Persona 4 is a prime example. The sales for that had not really picked up until this price drop. That being said they do have Monster Hunter which is HUGE in Japan so I'm not entirely sure that software will help greatly.

Posted 11:10 on 02 March 2013

Woffls

Don't the Japanese market buy consoles when the games come out that they actually want to play? The WiiU library is pretty dire at the moment, so wait until there's more games worth playing and see what happens. Like 3DS.

Posted 10:58 on 02 March 2013