The Sony PlayStation 5 is currently on track to become one of the lowest-selling PlayStation consoles in the history of the country. Not just in terms of Sony, the PS5 is actually faring worse than any other video game console has in Japan.
Officially released (in most regions) on November 12, 2020, the electronics company continues to face sharp criticism in its native country. Many Japanese analysts and fans are accusing Sony of putting them on the back burner in terms of market priority. Sony Interactive Entertainment CEO Jim Ryan is refuting such claims, recently stating that Japan is still "incredibly important" to the company.
However, recent developments may suggest otherwise. A translated GamesIndustry.biz Japan Edition article from ResetEra user SinCItyAssassin reveals that the PS5's statistics are the worst of any console. Roughly six weeks after launch, only about 240,000 units have moved in Japan. The article states that should the current purchasing rate continue, total lifetime PS5 sales would only equal about half of the PS4, perhaps even less. This comes amidst the news that Sony is discontinuing all but one PS4 model in the country, which, looked as a whole, gives legitimacy to Japanese fans' concerns
The translated article states the way PlayStation players in Japan feel could be due to a variety of factors. These include factors such as Sony's censorship of games in the country and the PS5's summer reveal entirely lacking any Japanese narration. In addition, Japanese gamers saw a huge change to the PS5 controller in the form of switching the confirm button from O to X. While this button layout may have always been the case with all other countries, the fact of Sony's decision to create a single button layout adds to the theory of PlayStation's heavier global focus.
Another large factor likely affecting sales of the system is availability. The GamesIndustry article mentions Japan's initial stock of the PS5 was similar to that of the PS3, preventing many gamers from snagging the console early on. Finding one is a worldwide problem however, as PS5 scalpers are hurting software sales in addition to hardware sales. In Japan, the newest PlayStation is moving less units than the Nintendo GameCube and PS3 did at their respective launches. Sony's latest and greatest system struggling to hit higher numbers in its home country is likely a cause for concern for the company.
Although the situation surrounding the PS5 is seemingly dismal, Sony is dominating the next-gen battle in Japan. A recent report reveals that PS5 has sold over seven times more units than the Xbox Series X/S. While PS5's seem particularly scarce, it seems both companies need to get their stock up in every country, as demand for the next-gen video game systems remains sky high.
Source: GamesIndustry.biz Japan Edition, ResetEra