Japan Hardware: Mario Edges Wii Closer to PS3

This week's Japanese Hardware Chart (24th - 30th May 2010, courtesy Media Create) sees many platforms recovering after the fall across the board last week. Despite an impressive debut from Super Mario Galaxy 2, the Wii cannot beat the PlayStation 3 in weekly sales this time around. If it's any consolation, there's not much between them – a mere couple hundred units.

Home Console
PS3: 20,987 (19,075)
Wii: 20,476 (18,465)
360: 3,546 (4,656)
PS2: 1,463 (1,175)

Handheld
PSP: 25,054 (22,462)
DSi LL: 16,267 (14,108)
DSi: 10,324 (9,356)
DS Lite: 2,961 (2,681)
PSP Go: 1,232 (851)

(Previous week's unit sales in brackets for comparison)

The PSP Go seems to have bounced back from its past troubling fortnight, with a sales rally that has helped it climb back up past the 1,000 unit mark. In Europe, Sony has been offering a ten-game deal with all new PSP Go purchases – could a similar promotion have helped its chances in Japan? The PSP 3000 continues to dominate the handheld side of the chart.

The fact that the Xbox 360 is the only platform to actually drop from last week, despite a charting entry from bullet-hell masters Cave, is a bit puzzling. The race leading up to E3 is on the PS3 and Wii in Japan, as always – will Super Mario Galaxy 2 sport a long tail, similar to that of New Super Mario Bros. Wii, and help boost sales of Nintendo's console? Time will tell.