It took Sony a little over two years, but it finally managed to pull it off: the PlayStation 4 has overtaken the Wii U in Japan in terms of install base.
This might come as a shock to those who are unfamiliar with how consoles are in Japan. In contrast to the rest of the world where the Wii U is significantly behind the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One in terms of install base, in Japan the Wii U had been the top-selling current-generation home console for quite some time, while the PS4 was in second and the Xbox One was in a distant third.
However, that has come to an end - somewhat. According to the latest Media Create Sales numbers, the PlayStation 4 lifetime sales numbers in Japan are now at 3.267 million units, while the Wii U lifetime sales are currently at 3.265 million units. However, the Xbox One still retains its distant third position, with a mere 68,224 in lifetime sales.
What led to this shift in position? It ultimately comes down to each of the console's respective libraries. Early on, as far as the Wii U goes, it had a reasonably strong start with titles such as Super Smash Brothers and Splatoon, however the console is all but dead now with titles such as Star Fox Zero performing far worse than expected. Now, the only game most are really looking forward to is The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, and that won't be coming until 2017.
On the other hand, the PlayStation 4 is only starting to hit its stride now, getting its first major hit two weeks ago with the release of Persona 5. There are other major games on the horizon too, such as Final Fantasy 15 and Dragon Quest 11. So, by the look of things, not only has the PS4 managed to establish a lead, but it will be able to maintain it.
That said, while overtaking the Wii U is certainly a win for Sony, the numbers are still rather depressing - even when knowing that smartphone and handheld gaming is what rules in Japan. Just yesterday we learned the Wii U had sold 6.29 million units since it debuted in the Americas in 2012. Yes, the PlayStation 4 in Japan sold less than the Wii U in a region where its most common use is the punchline at the end of a joke. And, of course, there is the performance of the PlayStation 4 in the United States where, according to unconfirmed sources, has seen lifetime sales topping 14 million.
It can't be stressed that the console gaming market is different in Japan, but it still leaves one questioning the future of console gaming in the region, especially when considering that this generation hasn't fared as well as the last. Hopefully, with what is clearly an ever-improving library for the PS4, as well as the upcoming Nintendo NX, console gaming will be better off in the future.
Photo: Farley Santos | Flickr
