Xbox 360 outsells PS3, Wii in Japan

by Xav de Matos { Sep 17th 2008 at 12:00PM }

According to data provided by Famitsu publisher Enterbrain, the Xbox 360 has outsold the PlayStation 3 and Nintendo Wii in Japan for the week ending September 14. At a pre-TGS event Microsoft announced the price of the Xbox 360 would be reduced in Japan on September 11, coupled with the release of the Square-Enix exclusive RPG Infinite Undiscovery, the Xbox 360 has landed on the top of the console charts. The sales breakdown from Enterbrain looks like this:

Xbox 360: 28,681 units
Wii: 27,057 units
PlayStation 3: 8,050 units

Speaking of Infinite Undiscovery, the tri-Ace developed RPG has found success in Japan selling 86,708 units in its first week of release. Recently, Microsoft has seen moderate success with exclusive titles in the region including a sales-spike in August when the Namco Bandai timed-exclusive Tales of Vesperia released -- which led to the Xbox 360 console selling out in the country.

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]

Tags: console-sales, famitsu, infinite-undiscovery, japan, square-enix, tri-ace

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Neil @ Sep 17th 2008 12:06PM

Congrats to MS and the Xbox Team!!!

dunnypop @ Sep 17th 2008 12:07PM

if they can keep this up, the next xbox system might have an even playing ground.

ryan @ Sep 17th 2008 12:19PM

as opposed to an odd playground?

dunnypop @ Sep 17th 2008 12:22PM

i meant an even playing field / market.

Dadidito @ Sep 17th 2008 12:09PM

This is Microsoft to a tee. Develop market share then rule your industry. I don't think they seriously planned on winning... but they are changing minds and attitudes ( be it very slowly) in Japan. Next generation will definitely be interesting when it arrives.

cranium @ Sep 17th 2008 12:12PM

the idea of the xbox suddenly picking up some consistent steam in Japan doesn't sound too farfetched. isn't there a constant onslaught of jrpg's coming their way from microsoft?

what intrigues me though is that western games rarely catch Japan's eye. Part of the PS2's appeal over the xbox was its massive game library that included a lot of japanese games you couldn't find anywhere else.

i would think that a nice little niche market would develop for those select few who like western games. (maybe that market makes up the 3k a week that buy 360's though..)

ryan @ Sep 17th 2008 12:23PM

like i keep saying, the 360 is the new PS2.

cranium @ Sep 17th 2008 12:45PM

that's what i keep saying too!

DjDATZ @ Sep 17th 2008 12:50PM

I like that saying.

john paul @ Sep 17th 2008 2:53PM

With Last Remnant, and star ocean, expect it to continue.

Eddie @ Sep 17th 2008 12:12PM

Wow.

Sony, tell me how my sales taste.

Nintendo... I can't trash talk Nintendo. That they have ripped everyone a new hole with what I wouldn't even consider a legitimate console is incredible and they definitely have my respect (if not my cash or my interest).

EdgeOne @ Sep 17th 2008 12:25PM

I am impressed!

Just goes to show it really is about the games. Make games (Japanese) people want to play and they'll buy the system to play it on. Duh.

Conor @ Sep 17th 2008 12:26PM

I agree with Ryan,I've been thinking the 360 is this gen's ps2 as well.

joeybeast @ Sep 17th 2008 12:28PM

Did Blue Dragon, Lost Odyssey, or Enternal Sonata sell any 360s in Japan?

Jonah Falcon @ Sep 17th 2008 12:47PM

Yes. Blue Dragon sold tons.

Tales of Vesperia had lines around the block.

http://www.gamestooge.com/2008/08/08/japanese-lining-up-for-xbox-360-madness/

Microsoft is merely saying, "Hey, we're here!" right now in Japan. Awareness is the first step to acceptance.

dicknjane @ Sep 17th 2008 12:29PM

with the new price cuts, the japanese wont be as worried to take a dive into an American console. hopefully, more and more sony and nintendo loyalists will see that an American console can be just as great, and better, as a japanese one.

Patrick @ Sep 17th 2008 12:30PM

Wow, let's see. The price drops, and a console exclusive by Square-Enix is released, and the Xbox 360 outsells Wii by maybe an 8% margin (not using a calculator here). Yes, the 360 is definitely on its way to digging itself out of the grave in Japan. Sarcasm off.

Arnon @ Sep 17th 2008 4:09PM

Um.. well, considering that the Wii owns japan for house consoles.. yes, this is very good.

Sentox6 @ Sep 17th 2008 5:10PM

That fact that the 360 is outselling the Wii anywhere is a miracle, let alone in Japan.

Sean @ Sep 17th 2008 12:41PM

Not only is there lipstick on that pig, but now wings too?

Jonah Falcon @ Sep 17th 2008 12:46PM

Unusual weather – it’s raining doughnuts and all the water in my fridge has turned to wine.

Oh. The Xbox 360 outsold the Wii in Japan this past week. That’s probably why.

DjDATZ @ Sep 17th 2008 12:50PM

WOW. *jaw drops and smashes through several floors below*

SolidOtacon @ Sep 17th 2008 12:50PM

Let's wait 'till Kingdom Hearts 3 and FF XIII Versus ^^

Jonah Falcon @ Sep 17th 2008 1:05PM

Troll alert!

deaftly @ Sep 17th 2008 1:21PM

Lets wait till Star Ocean 4

SolidOtacon @ Sep 17th 2008 1:33PM

Lets wait till Tales of Vesperia hits PS3 .

Arnon @ Sep 17th 2008 5:10PM

Lets wait till Microsoft loses every penny and has to sell the exclusive rights to SONY.

ryan @ Sep 17th 2008 1:39PM

Let's wait 'till awesome PS3 games ^^

Jake @ Sep 17th 2008 1:41PM

so that's 2 weeks in the last 3 years.. Hardly time to break out the champagne just yet. 2 weeks ago, Xbox sold just 840 units in a week.

Even at the current rate every single week, with the Wii and PS3 selling none it would take 4 years to catch up with PS3, and 9 years to catch up with Wii in Japan.

Jonah Falcon @ Sep 17th 2008 1:57PM

Don't get it, do you?

The Xbox 360 has sold over 700,000 units now in Japan. The goal for Microsoft was 1M.

maynard @ Sep 17th 2008 2:52PM

Of course he doesn't get it. That's digdug/jake who's been trolling these forums for a while now. It's pretty sad he has so much hate against a console.

Haukke @ Sep 17th 2008 3:06PM

dosent suprise me....hey did talking about games steal your picture or did you steal theirs?

Flame @ Sep 17th 2008 3:49PM

I like how MS is switching to being pre occupied with Japan to win them over. Hopefully they don't forget about the west (their biggest market). PS3 has been winning for a while. GEOW2 will probably kill that streak. But they still need more western exclusive games.