PS3 sales surge in Japan

[ConorBuckley]

November 14, 2007 - Official sales numbers from Japan won't be available until later this week, but prior to that, one of our favorite retail blogs has provided an early glimpse at a sales surge for the PS3 following the release of the lower-priced 40 gigabyte model.

The system managed sales of 56,000 units, the site reports, representing a three fold jump over the 17,000-or-so that the system had been averaging prior to the release of the new model. This figure accounts for just one day of sales for the revision (released on a Sunday) but also includes full week sales for the 60 gigabyte and 20 gigabyte models.

Only once has the PS3 performed better this year. In the first week of January, as supply began to trickle back into retail following post-launch holiday sell-outs, Sony managed to sell 67,000 systems. Not even the release of Gundam Musou (46,000 PS3 units) or Hot Shots Golf (38,000 units) caused a sales surge this huge.

In addition to the new, attractive price point, one of the reasons for the surge might be the release of Dynasty Warriors 6. The latest in Koei's popular franchise shifted 170,000 units in its first day of sales this past Sunday. For those keeping track of sales for the series, the Xbox 360 version, released the same day, sold 26,000 units.

This is much better performance than the other game released opposite the 40 gigabyte system, Ratchet & Clank Future, which only managed to shift 10,000 units.

Following a week where it was beaten by the 360 in hardware sales, the PS3 managed to beat out all console competition. The Wii shifted 35,000 units. The 360, just 7,000 units, although the site reports that Microsoft's Value Pack, which combines the 20 gigabyte 360 with Forza 2 and Viva Pinata, all for the low price of 34,800 yen, was in short supply.

By ConorBuckley