GTA IV, LBP boost Japanese PS3 sales

By Robert Purchese Published 7 November, 2008

But DSi launch dwarfs competition.

Grand Theft Auto IV has thundered to the top of the Japanese chart this week, selling more than double the number of copies of LittleBigPlanet - which makes its chart debut at three.

Not that Sony will mind too much, as the PS3 version of GTA IV proved the most popular with 133,000 sales - nearly 100,000 more than on Xbox 360, according to Media Create data on NeoGAF.

Both GTA IV and LittleBigPlanet also helped boost PS3 hardware sales, which rocketed up to 39,587, making the Sony machine the best selling console in Japan this week.

This resulted in games such as SOCOM PS3 and Gran Turismo 5 Prologue getting a look-in at 18 and 30, respectively.

However, the launch of the DSi dwarfed all challengers, with an enormous 188,294 units sold. Unsurprisingly, then, six of the top 10 software places were occupied by DS games.

These included new entries Valkyrie Profile at two, Personal Trainer: Walking (with pedometer) at eight, and some Chocobo Dungeon game at nine.

Meanwhile, the Wii had a disappointing week, slipping to a hardware low of 23,123 units sold, and - for the first time we can remember - counting no platform-specific titles in the top 10. Wii Music continued to underperform and slipped to 11.

Japanese software sales:

  1. Grand Theft Auto IV (PS3) - 133,000
  2. Valkyrie Profile: Toga o Seoumono (DS) - 80,000
  3. LittleBigPlanet (PS3) - 52,000
  4. Pokémon Platinum (DS) - 47,000 (lifetime: 1,853,400)
  5. Wagamama Fashion Girls Mode (DS) - 40,000 (lifetime: 117,000)
  6. Rhythm Tengoku Gold (DS) - 39,000 (lifetime: 1,089,000)
  7. Grand Theft Auto IV (Xbox 360) - 34,000
  8. Personal Trainer: Walking (DS) - 26,000
  9. Cid to Chocobo no Fushigi na Dungeon: Toki Wasure no Meikyuu + (DS) - 26,000
  10. Monster Hunter Portable 2nd G (PSP the Best) (PSP) - 26,000

Japanese hardware sales:

  1. DS: 188,294
  2. PSP: 50,358
  3. PS3: 39,587
  4. Wii: 23,123
  5. PS2: 6714
  6. Xbox 360: 6119
Picture of Robert.

About Robert Purchese

Bertie is Eurogamer's Senior Staff Writer. When he's not hunting down news stories he's often found playing with his kids or gabbling about fantasy games and strange online worlds.

Read more articles from Robert by visiting the Robert Purchese archive page.

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Comments (65) Latest comment 3 years ago

Comments threads automatically close after 30 days, but please feel free to continue chatting on the forum!

  • Les #1 3 years ago

    GTA IV sells more than LBP. It's a mad world...

    Didn't know GTA was popular in Japan as well. I guess all the expats got the 360 version...

  • Vanmunt #2 3 years ago

    RIP PS3.

  • Steroyd #3 3 years ago

    All is back to normal in Japan... well it would be if the Wii isn't doing so terribly by it's own standard set throughout the whole of this year prior.

    Releaseth the games and the hardware sells, Sony should learn a lesson from this...
    Edited by 1 at 07/11/08 @ 09:13

  • ryohazuki1983 #4 3 years ago

    Wow a massive turnaround, how long it lasts is another story!

    I didn't relise GTA sold well over in Japan. Thought a unique title like LBP would sell a lot more, but there you go.

  • MENTAL1ST Verified Senior Software Engineer, Picsel UK Ltd. #5 3 years ago

    I guess the Japanese don't care much for exclusive DLC...

    ... wait, isn't it November already?

  • aldo_14 #6 3 years ago

    I didn't relise GTA sold well over in Japan.

    I don't think it actually did sell that well (not poorly, just not stratospherically as here) in previous iterations. Or am I mistaken?

  • miiiguel #7 3 years ago

    Like I suspected Sony is betting on the wrong horse. R2 will be massively bigger than LBP.

    LBP should be on the Wii as much as Banjoo, in a financial point of view. Doesn't matter how much some PS3 owners (Les?) thinks PS3'ers are all a different breed from 360'ers, fact is, it's the very same target.

  • gingerlink #8 3 years ago

    Wii has nothing at the moment, Nintendo's main game at the moment, Wii Music, was a great idea, poorly implemented and luckily, consumers seem to realise and are not buying it.

    At least this means they might excise a bit more caution as opposed to thinking "ooo, a casual gamer idea, let's bash this out and make lots of money", considering they actually did a good job with the first wii sports and wii fit...

  • Steroyd #9 3 years ago

    LBP should be on the Wii as much as Banjoo, in a financial point of view. Doesn't matter how much some PS3 owners (Les?) thinks PS3'ers are all a different breed from 360'ers, fact is, it's the very same target.

    Yes because LBP would have the same editing tools, physics and online infrastructure on the-- hey wait a minute!!!

  • miiiguel #10 3 years ago

    "Yes because LBP would have the same editing tools, physics and online infrastructure on the-- hey wait a minute!!! "

    Yes, all that depth that are going to be used by 17 guys, and 2 girls - all friends of yours, I bet. ;)

  • bad09 #11 3 years ago

    Glad the Japs are liking GTA4 (It's not boring you lot before you start!), if I remember correctly, even though they got the older ones late they were quite popular over there as well (I'm positive I read that somewhere)

    @ miiiguel

    I dunno about betting on the wrong horse! LBP is a great fun game that is just a simple 2D platformer but done in such a good way, not gonna change the world or anything (sorry SDF) but Sony and MM can hold their head high with a success (just don't waffle on so much next time!) and it may well shift a couple of consoles for 'em, definitely more than R2 that's for sure!

    Anyway how can it be on the Wii anyway, it's a quality title! ;)

    / hides from angry Wii fans
    Edited by 1 at 07/11/08 @ 09:54

  • Steroyd #12 3 years ago

    And LittleBigPlanet would be the Little Big Planet we know today if it was on the Wii wouldn't it?

    Hell do platformers that aren't named Mario do well on the Wii?

    Would they even be interested in games rather than "games" like Wiifit!?

    I NEED ANSWERS DAMNIT!!
    Edited by 1 at 07/11/08 @ 09:56

  • bad09 #13 3 years ago

    "I dont understand where this LBP evangelism comes from. It's just a goddamn platformer with a construction kit. "

    I'll be honest, neither did I until I sat there with my girlfriend playing it. 5 minutes of play convinced me more than all the waffle and a million screaming fanboys that it is actually a really good game- just not the second coming of our lord some claim.... ;)

  • the_dudefather #14 3 years ago

    they should have released gears of war 2 on the Wii because they would have sold more and it would be pretty much the same

  • CannonAnBall #15 3 years ago

    I'm also convinced that LBP is a great game after playing through it. Sony hasn't backed the wrong horse at all. That is utter crap.

  • Les #16 3 years ago

    LBP is amazing. Much better than I expected TBH. Presentation is awesome but it's a great and inventive platformer as well. They should release a demo as soon as possible. This really is a game where playing is believing. And it happens to be the only non-Wii game my girlfriend enjoys as well. :)

  • Raz76 #17 3 years ago

    Erm, the PS3's hardware-spike is because of the LBP bundle, so the game is actually driving PS3 sales (for now at least). And I don't think bundle copies are counted in the software chart. Just sayin'.

  • bad09 #18 3 years ago

    "And it happens to be the only non-Wii game my girlfriend enjoys as well. :)"

    Well my girlfriend hated her Wii but she does love LBP so far. I suspect Mr Sackboy is gonna be a player with the ladies ;)

  • Steroyd #19 3 years ago

    The Wii is more than capable to doing a 2D platformer with a dash of physics. Boom blox is proof positive that the Wii could handle it.

    LBP isn't a 2D platformer with a dash of physics, it's a physics based 2D platformer.

    The Wii also uses the very same internet that the PS3 uses, amazingly. Therefore level creation and sharing is equally as achievable.

    I shall write this down for the next time I'm in an argument between the differences of the Wii, PSN and XBL's online services "there's no difference, they're all connected to the internet."

    I dont understand where this LBP evangelism comes from. It's just a goddamn platformer with a construction kit.

    Now you've done it, you've made me click right on the D-pad twice to make my sackboy angry.

  • ps3owner #20 3 years ago

    my sack is scoring with the ladies, oh yeah Giggity giggity giggity giggity, let's have sex!

  • Steroyd #21 3 years ago

    Erm, the PS3's hardware-spike is because of the LBP bundle, so the game is actually driving PS3 sales (for now at least). And I don't think bundle copies are counted in the software chart. Just sayin'.

    Bundles are counted in Media Create.

  • JHuxley #22 3 years ago

    "The Wii is more than capable to doing a 2D platformer with a dash of physics. Boom blox is proof positive that the Wii could handle it."

    Uhh...Boom Blox is great, but in terms of scope and potneital it doesn't even touch LBP. And IMO the Wii''s horrible friend code system and lack of HD would cripple LBP's online ambitions. Nintendo would have to make some serious changes to make it work. It wouldn't be the same game.

  • Kenshin001 #23 3 years ago

    Lol at farty and miiiguel. You guys obviously haven't played the game. Anyway went to 3 Yodobashi stores (big, big electronics retailer) today including the Akihabara store to pick up a LBP + black DualShock 3 pack and they were all sold out. : (

    No mention of 360's sales Rob? Why is that I wonder. Would have though the drop to last place again would have warranted a line.

  • seasidebaz #24 3 years ago

    900% increase of PS3 sales since last time the numbers came out. 900%!

    Now if you'll excuse me, I have to go watch paint dry. Far more interesting than counting numbers.

  • jonsaan #25 3 years ago

    Check out the leaderboards for LBP. There's an awful lot of users out there.

  • FrankCannon #26 3 years ago

    Yawn

  • HolyJebus #27 3 years ago

    Localising GTA 4 must have been some job. Did they rerecord all the dialogue in Japanese I wonder or just go for subtitles? And what about all the music, did they just leave it as is?

  • DrDamn #28 3 years ago

    @Farticus
    "I dont understand where this LBP evangelism comes from. It's just a goddamn platformer with a construction kit."

    It's a very, very good game. The Evangelism is because of the rarity of that sort of thing on the PS3 :). The game itself is well worthy of praise though.

  • chris_ace #29 3 years ago

    Post deleted at 11:55:13 13-12-2011

  • bad09 #30 3 years ago

    "my sack is scoring with the ladies, oh yeah Giggity giggity giggity giggity, let's have sex! "

    I hate to admit I did it to my girlfriends sackgirl but you know you can actually make it look like the little sack people are having.....

    / puts sad face on his super sackboy - with cape \o/, gets coat and goes to work.

  • chessboxer #31 3 years ago

    @ chris_ace

    The PS2 always outsold the 360 in Japan so it's nothing new. It also always outsold the PS3 as there are quite a few games on the PS2 the Japanese people want to play.

  • Les #32 3 years ago

    Don't think one week of good performance is enough for Sony to throw a celebration party. It could be viewed as a sign that Japanese gamers don't hate HD consoles in principle or it could be a fluke. We'll see.

  • NotSoSlim #33 3 years ago

    @ Les

    Japanese consumers want the games they like i.e RPGs.

    Sony get those and 360 is dead in Japan no matter what they do. Last Remant out soon on 360 yet the PS3 version is most anticipated(has no release date)that says it all really.

  • The_Inquisitor #34 3 years ago

    Vice City & San Andreas both secured the number 1 spot in Japan too when they were launched.

  • Steroyd #35 3 years ago

    Don't think one week of good performance is enough for Sony to throw a celebration party. It could be viewed as a sign that Japanese gamers don't hate HD consoles in principle or it could be a fluke. We'll see.

    It's not a fluke, sell the games sell the system it's no fluke that the Xbox 360 was outselling the PS3 in Japan for a good number of weeks where it "coincidentally" launched Tales of Vesperia and Star Ocean 4 and the PS3 had bugger all new games for those weeks.

    I'm skeptical of if GTA made any impact, I mean... Xbox 360 sales dropped from last week, which probably indicates that most if not all PS3's sales spike was LBP's doing.
    Edited by 1 at 07/11/08 @ 11:55

  • JHuxley #36 3 years ago

    "It could be the finest harvest of RPG's the world has ever seen"

    Oh, it's not. Far from it. This generation has been typically awful for JRPGs despite MS throwing buckets of cash at devs. Star Ocean 4 and FFXIII might change that, but nothing on 360 or PS3 so far has been a real system seller to the Japanese.

  • MENTAL1ST Verified Senior Software Engineer, Picsel UK Ltd. #37 3 years ago

    Actually, 360 has been outselling both PS3 and PS2 for about six weeks in japan. Nowhere near Wii or handheld levels, though.

    I don't think any of Microsoft, Nintendo or Sony's consoles are in any danger of dying soon. In fact, given that reasonably priced PCs (i.e. the ones you can buy at the supermarket) haven't technically outpaced PS3/360 yet, not to mention the fact that the most technically inferior console is the best selling, I could see this being the longest console generation since the NES's.

  • DrDamn #38 3 years ago

    Yep - the main reason Sony are doing poorly in Japan because of the games (lack of). This week shows what can happen when they release some. The recent relative success of the 360 was down to games. Funny that - who'd have thought it? It's craziness I tell you!

    That said I think the recent success of the 360 does indicate that they could do better and better there as generations pass. There is some truth to it being a US console as a sticking issue, but there is also tradition and loyalty playing a part here. If MS can continue to grow and provide the right sort of games then they will eventually become more accepted. A console redesign to reduce the size would also go down well I think.

  • Kenshin001 #39 3 years ago

    farty, your comment is a contradiction. You say the Japanese will never accept the 360 because it is American (ignoring how they embrace GAP, Ipod, McDonalds, Levis, Starbucks etc) and then cite how the 360 has been outselling the (Japanese) PS3! If the 360 had the finest JRPGs I'm sure it would sell very well, but it doesn't. It has mainly mediocre to slightly good RPGs. Infinite Undiscovery for example has a rating of 68 on Metacritic. Lost Odyssey 78. PS3 on the other hand has familiartitles, MGS, Gran Turismo and soon FF. If FFXIII were 360 exclusive it would destroy the PS3.

  • Les #40 3 years ago

    "It's not a fluke, sell the games sell the system it's no fluke that the Xbox 360 was outselling the PS3 in Japan for a good number of weeks where it "coincidentally" launched Tales of Vesperia and Star Ocean 4 and the PS3 had bugger all new games for those weeks."

    What I mean is that, if Sony ever wants to make money on the PS3 as a games machine, it needs to shift serious numbers consistently. This is one week of good performance but they need many more. Look at 360, had a reasonable run, and now is down again.

    There will always be sales peaks when proven IP or other hyped up games are released but you'll only win the battle if you can sell a decent number of consoles in between big releases, so basically on the strength of your full portfolio.

  • DrDamn #41 3 years ago

    @Kenshin
    There is a big difference between acceptance and doing better than the PS3 has in recent weeks. The 360 sales have been comparatively good but the PS3 sales have been atrocious.

  • JHuxley #42 3 years ago

    @farticusmaximus

    I understood. What I was trying to say (perhaps badly) was that there has been nothing much of interest to the Japanese on either console yet. So saying that the Japanese have shunned the 360 when it's been selling in record numbers and gathered a massive amount of interest with Star Ocean 4...that's maybe a bit premature.

    Yes, traditionally American consoles have sold badly in Japan. But what are we talking about? The original Xbox and 3DO maybe? This is an entirely different kettle of fish, and you should give the 360 more credit than that. It's a much better console and good games will sell regardless of the language barrier (GTA IV a case in point).

  • chris_ace #43 3 years ago

    Post deleted at 11:55:13 13-12-2011

  • Triggerhappytel #44 3 years ago

    Personally, I think the most interesting thing here is that the PSP is still doing so well even though the DS sales have spiked.

    But well done to Sony with the PSP/PS3, and LBP. Out of the big three I am probably most worried about their future, so it's good to see them have some success in Japan for a change.

  • SpaceMidget75 Verified Senior Software Developer, Minerva Computer Services #45 3 years ago

    @chris_ace

    Don't you ever get bored of having Kens cock up your arse?

  • JHuxley #46 3 years ago

    @SpaceMidget75

    Wow, that's low.

  • Kenshin001 #47 3 years ago

    There is a big difference between acceptance and doing better than the PS3 has in recent weeks. The 360 sales have been comparatively good but the PS3 sales have been atrocious.

    The 360 has sold decently because the 360 has had games Japanese want. That is acceptance. If MS continue to tie up exclusives and build up more Japanocentric IPs the trend will only continue. It's not some anti-American conspiracy.

  • DrDamn #48 3 years ago

    @Kenshin001
    It didn't sell decently though - it just sold better than the PS3.

  • chris_ace #49 3 years ago

    Post deleted at 11:55:13 13-12-2011

  • Kenshin001 #50 3 years ago

    Yes, the American 360 sold better than the Japanese PS3. That was my point. It sold 20,000 more than the PS3 and half that of the Wii in September off the back of only one game, a game Japanese wanted.

  • seasidebaz #51 3 years ago

    My god, what is it with tards today? They're EVERYWHERE! In my eyes and my nose etc.

    I will extend farticus' comment slightly. The Japanese DON'T LIKE MICROSOFT. Simple as. No amount of arguing will change that.

    Plus, EVERYTHING is selling rubbish in Japan at the moment cos the consoles are too big. This has ALWAYS been the problem. Console too big? No sale. Console made in the US? No sale.

    The trend is slightly changing now as well, to the point that if your console isn't portable IT WILL NOT SELL.

    I love the fact that the 360 is getting a LOT of RPGs. I don't like the fact that they are RUBBISH RPGs. Hopefully we will get more than 1 or 2 decent ones eventually.
    Edited by 1 at 07/11/08 @ 14:50

  • Steroyd #52 3 years ago

    Yes, the American 360 sold better than the Japanese PS3. That was my point. It sold 20,000 more than the PS3 and half that of the Wii in September off the back of only one game, a game Japanese wanted.

    Lets not forget the Wii is starting to do poorly by it's own standards and the PS3 also recorded it's worse weeks sales since it launched as well through September and that 20,000 deficit has been wiped out plus more with the release of one game in one week (i'm dismissing GTA because of Xbox 360 sales didn't go up, it went down), which just shows how dire the sales were in the first place, when Xbox 360 was "beating" PS3 in Japan.
    Edited by 1 at 07/11/08 @ 15:01

  • DrDamn #53 3 years ago

    @seasidebaz
    Has anyone ever tried selling a small US console sold in Japan?

  • Steroyd #54 3 years ago

    Les: There will always be sales peaks when proven IP or other hyped up games are released but you'll only win the battle if you can sell a decent number of consoles in between big releases, so basically on the strength of your full portfolio.

    Don't get me started on the joke that is called SCEJ, i'm annoyed with them enough as it is, GT5 has gone AWOL where the hell is Teaam ICO the only saving grace is White Knight Chronicles but that comes out in December (lord knows when it hits Europe).

    SCEE and SCEA are doing brilliantly this generation SCEJ have done bugger all, gee no wonder the PS3 is selling pooh most of the time in Japan.

  • seasidebaz #55 3 years ago

    @DrDamn:

    Nope. The Americans can't "do" small. It's got to be HUGE boxes of POWAH.

  • DoctorZoidberg #56 3 years ago

    900% increase of PS3 sales since last time the numbers came out. 900%!

    You are aware, that % can only go up to 100? Stop throwing Paradox's around where they are not welcome!


  • seasidebaz #57 3 years ago

    Really?

    So if I have 1p in my pocket and swap it for a 10p coin, I have increased my wealth by 100%?

    No.

  • DoctorZoidberg #58 3 years ago

    No.

    Your wealth has gone up by 9p, thus you have gone up 90% (as you already had the 1p in the first hand, you have only gained 9 of the 10 possible).

    Anything over 100% is obviously a paradox, using % well out of its intended context. It makes about as much sense as saying that the value of a painting has gone up by 86 marmites.

  • penhalion #59 3 years ago

    LOL LBP 53k sales. Not quite the amazing Sony mascot then.

    Well you all know I'm bias as I don't like LBP so don't take the comment personally ;)

  • seasidebaz #60 3 years ago

    OK, so if I swap my 1p coin for a Ł5 note, what percentage profit have I made?

  • Steroyd #61 3 years ago

    WTF!? A 90% increase is a 9/10th increase from the original number in this case 1p so a 90% increase would be 1.9p

  • Law07 #62 3 years ago

    Ooo Maths argument, lemme in guys.

  • HolyJebus #63 3 years ago

    Please god let DrZoidberg be joking, or else be 6.

  • Triggerhappytel #64 3 years ago

    Zoidberg, I just had a right good laugh at your posts (or, more specifically, HolyJebus' comment) and had to reply.

    Let this be a lesson to us all: don't get into a math argument if you don't know what you're talking about, because it makes you look very silly indeed.

  • konniehuqfan #65 3 years ago

    this looks a lot better. ps3 selling decently and xbox at the bottom of the pile... where it belongs.