PlayStation 5 is the Best-Selling Console in Japan as Supply Issues Are Resolved

For years, PlayStation consoles have been the most popular gaming consoles in Japan, although the success of Nintendo has sometimes overshadowed it. But in the latest sales reports, it looks like the PlayStation 5 (PS5) has officially taken the top spot in Japan this week, outselling the Switch by 11,800 units.

The shortage of the PS5 has been a hot topic since its launch in November 2020, with many customers unable to get their hands on one. The main reason for the limited supply has to do with hardware component limitations that have hindered production and assembly. On top of that, the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has caused many obstacles to the shipping industry, further decreasing the number of units available.

However, in December 2022, PlayStation head Jim Ryan addressed the shortage and promised a resolution to the situation, specifically mentioning that customers in Japan and Asia would be able to get their PS5s during the year-end shopping season and into 2023.

The release of the digital version of the PS5 also contributed to its success in Japan, selling fewer than 10,000 units compared to the 62,908 units of the PS5. On the other hand, the Xbox Series X/S had a relatively small sales figure, with only 1,200 units sold during the same period.

The high demand for the PS5 is reflected in Sony's earnings. In 2020, Sony's Game and Network Services division made close to $10 billion, which is a 53% increase from the previous year. Additionally, over 7 million PlayStation 5 units were sold during the holiday season, representing an 82% growth from the previous quarter.

In conclusion, Sony has sold an estimated 32 million PS5 consoles since its launch, and they need to sell an additional 5 million units by March 2023 to meet their sales expectations. It looks like the PS5 is going to continue dominating the console market in Japan, and the rest of the world, for the foreseeable future.