The chart arrangement remains the same as it’s been for a number of weeks now, while the decline in weekly turnover is largely proportional to the total volume of sales for each console. The DSi, topping the chart with some 62,000 sales, has seen a weekly drop of around 16,000; while bottom of the next-gen list is the Xbox 360 (5,760), which saw sales drop by as little as 1,000.
Above the Xbox 360 is the DS Lite, which in turn dropped about 4,500. Above the DS Lite is the PS3, which dropped around 7,500. Above the PS3 is the Wii, which saw weekly sales fall some 9,000, and above the Wii, the PSP was stung by a weekly drop of 18,000.
The structure of these losses go some way in showing that no particular console seems to be declining in appeal, but rather Japan is currently less interested in buying luxury goods, having just splurged throughout the holiday weeks.
Considering its price-point, Sony’s PS3 appears to have made the best impression. Though it continues to double the weekly turnover of the Xbox 360, Sony may be more interested in the fact that the console is now just 12,000 sales behind the Wii; the closest it has been to the home console market leader in months.
Nintendo, however, may be anxious about sales of the Wii, which have fallen disproportionately against the overall hardware decline. Two weeks ago Media Create reported it had sold close to 90,000 units more than its current rate.
A clearer picture of Sony’s, and indeed its Nintendo’s, performance will be established when Japanese consumers’ expenses become more balanced.
Full list for the week ending Jan 18 according to Media Create:
DSI 62,525
PSP 42,559
Wii 32,333
PS3 20,690
DS Lite 18,809
Xbox 360 9,576
PS2 5,760