Sony’s PlayStation 5 has demonstrated impressive sales performance in Japan, securing the second spot in console sales for the past year, narrowly trailing Nintendo’s Switch.
Remarkably, the PS5 has outperformed all previous PlayStation consoles since the PS2 in 2004, reflecting the increased availability of the console in 2023 compared to earlier years.
Famitsu’s sales data, released on January 12, reveals that the top-selling console in Japan for the year was the six-year-old Switch, reaching 4.06 million units in 2023, a slight dip from 4.8 million in 2022. Despite the decrease, the enduring popularity of the Switch is evident, with lifetime sales in Japan nearing 32 million.
Following closely is Sony’s PS5, which sold 2.58 million units in 2023, a substantial increase from 2022’s 1.15 million units. The surge in sales is attributed to the improved availability of the PS5, making it more accessible to consumers.
Comparatively, historical data indicates that this performance is the best for a PlayStation console in Japan since 2004 when the PS2 achieved around 2.59 million units. Subsequent consoles such as the PS3 and PSP couldn’t match this high point.
On the other hand, Microsoft’s Xbox Series X/S consoles faced limited success in Japan, with only 141,712 units sold in 2023 and a total lifetime sales figure of 540,107. In contrast, Sony’s older PS4 managed to sell 73,292 units, approximately half of the Xbox’s sales. These numbers reflect a decline for Microsoft compared to 2022 when the Xbox Series consoles sold 269,737 units.
To round up the gaming landscape in Japan, Famitsu’s data for the top 10 games of 2023 features exclusively Switch titles, emphasizing Nintendo’s continued dominance in the market.
1. The Legend of Zelda Tears of the Kingdom (Switch)- 1,929,603
2. Super Mario Bros. Wonder (Switch) – 1,549,401
3. Pikmin 4 – (Switch) 1,119,027
4. Pokémon Scarlet & Violet (Switch) – 907,432 (5,246,363)
5. Momotaro Dentetsu World (Switch) – 795,681
6. Mario Kart 8 Deluxe – (Switch) 617,223 (5,631,598)
7. Kirby’s Return to Dream Land Deluxe (Switch) – 514,581
8. Dragon Quest Monsters 3: The Dark Prince (Switch) – 510,477
9. Splatoon 3 (Switch) – 503,312 (4,191,126)
10. Super Mario RPG (Switch) – 447,687