Japan Hardware: PSP Plummets Despite Popular Releases

It's a good week to be a DS Lite, DSi or PlayStation 2 in Japan, as these platforms are the only ones that have seen any gains in the latest Hardware Chart (2nd - 8th August 2010, courtesy Media Create). All other formats are down from last week, but the PS3 and PSP still remain top of their appropriate trees.

Home Console
PS3: 28,630 (45,224)
Wii: 18,238 (20,038)
360: 5,639 (6,929)
PS2: 1,524 (1,444)

Handheld
PSP: 30,397 (48,603)
DSi LL: 21,018 (23,120)
DSi: 18,318 (17,950)
DS Lite: 4,372 (4,058)
PSP Go: 708 (777)

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

The lack of any real new killer software this week has most likely contributed to the drop in sales, although despite a timely release of the Tales of Phantasia: Narikiri Dungeon remake, the PSP actually saw the largest drop. The PlayStation 3 also saw a sharp plummet in units sold, but then last week's software #1 (Sengoku Basara 3) has been selling significantly less this week too.

While the DSi LL's figures continue to slowly drop, the other DS family handhelds are picking up the slack in selling several hundred more units over last week. We wonder about the longevity of the PlayStation 2 sometimes – perhaps it's a console that's destined to be on sale forever?