PS4 vs Xbox One vs Wii U Japan Lifetime Sales – December 2015 Update

VGChartz' William D'Angelo writes: "Looking at the total sales of the PlayStation 4, Xbox One and Wii U in in Japan for December shows how the gap has slowly shrunk between the PlayStation 4 and Wii U. The PlayStation 4 has outsold the Wii U most months since it launched. However, the gap grew in December. The Xbox One is almost non-existent in the land of the rising sun.

The Wii U crossed the three million mark. The Wii U has sold 3.02 million units lifetime, the PlayStation 2.26 million units, and the Xbox One 64,543 units.

Taking a look at the marketshare, the Wii U tops the other two platforms combined. The Wii U has a 57 percent market share, the PlayStation 4 sits at 42 percent, and the Xbox One just one percent.

Wii U Total Sales: 3,020,227

PlayStation 4 Total Sales: 2,261,079

Xbox One Total Sales: 64,543"

[BlueOnBlue22]

Poor xbox it only sells in the USA ,MS have to start making some new IP"s and if VR kicks off its only going to get worse!

[bf000777966]

I just see two lines where is the third

[miyamoto]

Will M$ finally learn how different the video game industry is from other entertainment industries; how unique the video gamers are?
M$ thought that video gamers are just like TV couch potatoes and moviegoers and tried to hit them with "one" stone. LOL!

[TwoForce]

Well, PS4 and Wii U are only true competitors in Japan.

[nogoodusernamesleft]

ms has nothing to worry about with sony vr. it's going to sell only 3 units.

[FallenAngel1984]

It was reported that PS4 already sold 2.3 million in Japan in Decrmber

[uth11]

their number rounds to 2.3 million. Counting sales is never an exact science.

[hellothere1977]

nothing says "dead" better than a flatline.

[chrisx]

Its like the xbone doesn't even exist in Japan

[DivineAssault]

smh its sad M$ is doing so bad out there.. Its like they dont GAF.. I guess the US will help them afloat.. Nintendo is the complete opposite where its doing well in japan but suffering out here.. IDK but im a sony and nintendo guy regardless of numbers.. I support both of them because i want more of the software they offer.. I might get xb1 someday for a couple games but im more interested in PSVR, PS4, & Nintendo games..

[Kyoshi]

Microsoft probably doesn't care anymore, because Japan has shown that no matter what MS does. they don't care for whatever reason. MS tried to push the 360 in Japan with multiple new JRPG franchises and did Japan care? No, because 'reasons'.

[DivineAssault]

They need to keep at it.. Its not going to be easy but they need more.. I stopped buying M$ products when the RPGs stopped so japan wont even look at their products

[BG11579]

I remember when the Xbox came to Japan, and MS executive's said that the console would release in Japan with a smaller controller because Japanese had smaller hands...
At this point, I believe that Japanese have a very long memory.

[deester]

because it is american made product and the other 2 are japan made products it is not that hard to understand

[Kyoshi]

So...Am I the only person that thinks that the Japanese are just a little bit racist in this regard? The two Japanese consoles sell like hotcakes there, but the American made system doesn't sell worth a shit, even when Microsoft has tried to do huge Japanese pushes with their systems.

Even then, it really doesn't matter. Sales numbers are meaningless now. People obsess too much about them. Though the weird numbers with Japan just make me question some things about them.

[Bobafret]

No, not really. I think it has more to do with the fact that the Japanese see themselves as pioneers in gaming and it is a point of pride.

[Kyoshi]

So, arrogance then. Sounds about right. I don't know, the Xbox One is a fantastic system and to see it ignored so horribly by the Japanese, something seems kinda wrong about that.

[pivotplease]

The current lack of RPGs and eccentric Japanese-made games is definitely part of the problem. Though MS did invest somewhat in the 360's library RPG-wise and that hardly paid off, so you do have a bit of a point. No need to view it through only negative connotations though.

[ColonelHugh]

Individually a Japanese person could be arrogant I suppose, but their society expects them to be humbling. Socially speaking there is no where near the level of arrogance as the West.

For instance:
Two mothers could be talking of their children's school grades. One mother proudly says her son gets good grades because he studies hard. The other mother could have a genius kid, but still says 'my stupid son needs a tutor.' She's not mean to her son, she doesn't want to belittle her friend's happiness.

Not saying there aren't some serious problems with Japanese culture, but arrogance is not one of them.

[DARKKENT]

@kyoshi

Wtf? .. Are Germany France and the rest of Europe racist towards American products as xbox one isn't exactly setting the sales charts alive there either?

Why is apple the number one selling phone in japan? Or seeing huge sales in Germany etc if they are racist to American products?

Just ridiculous

[Knushwood Butt]

360 did quite well in Japan.

Then RROD happened, consumers lost faith, and MS practically pulled out completely. Which is the main reason they are now in this situation, with practically no JP devs on board.

[BitbyDeath]

Considering the numbers are like this all around the world for Xbox it is likely America is racist for strongly supporting the Xbox where everyone else does not.

[pivotplease]

This. Same logic...different context. But bias will prevail and someone will come up with rubbish reasons to disagree with your purposeful hyperbole.

[Kyoshi]

Um, doesn't Europe have a good Xbox following?

[BitbyDeath]

Nope, even Wii U is beating it in places like France and Germany.

http://n4g.com/news/1853717... http://n4g.com/news/1853381...

[ColonelHugh]

@bitby
Maybe not racist, but Xbox caters to some American ideals.

[killer_goat]

The xbox is dying in Europe also. Does that make Europeans racist?

[Kyoshi]

I don't see Europe blatantly ignoring the one system that isn't made by the Japanese.

[Ol_G]

Wow fanboy much Xbox is just a bad product no games that interest the japanese not everyone likes effing shooters were are the games for their tastes?
And for your information the Xbox is also doing bad in europe it's not selling over here and the UK is not europe

[Kyoshi]

I am pretty sure that the Xbox One has far more than shooters available for it. The Wii U is a third party disaster yet that gets a free pass.

[Inzo]

So Japan choosing to support homegrown products makes them racist? Really? Thats your argument? If anything you are showing ignorance.

[Kyoshi]

I am just going by the history here. Xbox One is a really good system, but it sells almost nothing compared to the two other systems that are actually made there.

I don't choose Xbox because it is made in America. I don't care where it is made if it is good, but do they think the same way? That is what I am unsure of.

[Why o why]

Nah, bro... you're looking for a reason that isn't there. Theres a history of products and brands from the west that have done well out there from cloathing and fashion to phones and tools. Also being pro something doesnt mean its anti something else. Its like saying a japanese person is being racist because they would prefer to marry another japanese person.

Like dark has said, has this racist card been leveled at European countries who have overwhelmingly chosen the japenese product.

[JMyers]

A lot of American brands do well in Japan... For instance Apple. Xbox's launch in Japan was a fumble from the beginning and they never really made any ground ever since... Even with some good JRPGs with in the few few years of the 360. PlayStation and Nintendo are what people see as gaming. In Europe PlayStation outsells Xbox about 4:1. That is some margin.

[MRMagoo123]

Xbox isn't even close to American made lmfao it's Chinese made.

[CaptainObvious878]

I don't think it's the console its self, it's the disgusting company that supports it.

[Trez1234]

That's some arrogance ur showing n thank God not all xbox fans display such arrogance n ignorance. Just like u love ur shooters doesn't mean the whole world has to. They prefer Japanese games n the xbox offers almost nothing in that regard .

It's not about big releases like ur saying. It's about different games n the quantity of those too ( anime games, card games, fighting games etc...). Basically games that u think are crap but they love em.

If anything u need to travel more and realise that gaming cultures are different from where ur from and that's y ps is really a worldwide console. The talk of racism is pure rubbish.

Microsoft knows that and will continue to support n hopefully will find a gem or 2 that Japanese gamers or gamers who enjoy those will feel the need to buy the console for. Doesn't have to b a so cold " big " realese.

[Metallox]

Are Japanese racist because they don't buy an American product?

Just read that question again, your suggestion is atrociously hilarious, no offense; you're taking things extremely out of context.

[BossBattle]

I don't think the charts changed much since last week when you showed this chart. It won't be much different next week either when you show it again on N4G.

[Khaotic]

How much stock do guys own in these companies. What do your divedens pay?

[BitbyDeath]

Probably not as much as MS is paying you to divert the topic.

[pivotplease]

They're paying me quite heavily with software support actually. Success of a system even somewhere far away like Japan has a huge impact on what kind of generation we're going to have RPG-wise so the sales are of great interest to me.

[Khaotic]

Oh thats funny i didnt know they payed you with software support. I cpuld have swore we paid them for software support. God was i wrong

[MegaRay]

Again with the "sales doesn't matter"?

Look at the ps4 3rd party games in 2016 and the XB1 and WiiU then tell me if "sales" don't matter.

[Kyoshi]

It is so they can get their own egos off on it. Tis a shame.

[CaptainObvious878]

Actually, I do have a little few Sony stocks.

I get roughly $50 a year in dividends.

I bought them partly because I really believe in Sony's passion for games and partly so when bitter fanboys say "do you have stocks in the company or something?" I can smugly and with great satisfaction, "Why yes, yes I do have stocks."

[lastking95]

Wii U sold more than ps4 and XO combined. Japan isn't much into hardcore gaming and the one that are, will go with a familiar choice. MS selling xbox there is a waste of time. If I was them I'd rather focus on China.

[Tobsesan]

Wii U master race!

[MegaRay]

"more than ps4 and Xbox one combined"

You make it sound worse than what it is lol

[Ruggadagod]

The wii U is only selling good in Japan.
The Xbone is only selling good in America
The PS4 is selling good worldwide

[MegaRay]

Well Us > world wide, or so I heard /s

[Why o why]

All global brands but sony has a global following.

[Ruggadagod]

Sony puts a lot of effort into making sure that Playstation is popular worldwide. They've done this aggressively since the PS1. It keeps a console brand healthy and strong.

[Moonman]

My favorite system sold the most. Yipee.. I enjoy it even though worldwide it sells the least. Game on!

[Kiwi66]

Isn't it funny how even though the Wii U is selling more than the ps4 some just focus on trashing xbox as though they're trying not to see that their preferred piece of plastic isn't in first place

[MasterCornholio]

The PS4 will reach first place though.

But that's not the point.

The point here is that the Wii U and the PS4 are close while the Xbox One is vastly behind.

We all know that the market isn't very good in Japan for consoles but selling an average of 100 units a week compared to the competition that sells several thousand units (Around 5k for the most part) indicates that there's is a problem with the Xbox brand there.

I know since your not an investor you don't care about sales but anyone studying business can tell you that Microsoft isnt happy about the X1s performance in Japan.

[Kyoshi]

And they ignore the fact that the Wii U is a third party disaster, but let's just ignore all of that and say how horrible Xbox is because reasons. Remember: THE SALES!!!!

[MasterCornholio]

This is a sales chart so that's the topic at hand.

0.0

Also the Japanese are not interested in Xbox exclusives or 3rd party titles. Most of the the games that they like are only available on the PS4 and Wii U. That's the reason why both of them outperform the X1 when it comes to sales in Japan.

How's that for staying on topic?

[Ol_G]

We are not talking third party but console sales here and the fact you try to pull Wii u in the discussion like that just shows your agenda so your going on my ignore list

[MRMagoo123]

Isn't it funny how ......who actually cares go cry to your parents. This is a sales article.

[JMyers]

The Media Create hardware numbers show Xbox One selling just 99 units. Ouch

[Bobafret]

The Xbox hate is ridiculously high in this thread, calm the hell down.

[MasterCornholio]

Most people are not hating though they are just commenting on the results.

[Ruggadagod]

U mad?

[Kyoshi]

This is a perfect example to why I gave up on N4G a long time ago. The community is just shit. Nothing but fanboy garbage.