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Year-end figures show massive growth in Japanese gaming

To the surprise of no one, the just-revealed sales figures for games hardware and software in Japan last year underline what a massive 12 months it was for the industry as a whole and Nintendo in particular.

The total amount spent on gaming - including handhelds, consoles and the titles to play on them - was a massive ¥688 billion, which converts to just under $6.5 billion. To put it another way, Japan’s residents forked out more than $200 on games each and every second throughout the year.

Unsurprisingly, a hefty chunk of that is now in the Bank of Mario, with Nintendo securing the top two hardware sales spots for the DS and Wii respectively. 2007 sales for the handheld notched 7.1 million units, while the console hit 3.6 million.

As for Ninty’s rivals, Sony’s PSP managed a respectable 3 million sales, which is more than double the number of PS3 consoles sold in Japan (1.2 million) last year. Bringing up the rear was Microsoft’s Xbox 360 at just over 250,000 units shifted in the same period.

Despite concerns over the longevity of its famously simplistic offerings, Nintendo clearly isn’t resting on its laurels. The data from Enterbrain shows that Wii Fit has sold one million copies in the month since its launch and that Wii Sports, which is sold separately from the console in Japan, is closing in on 2 million.

Looking ahead, Nintendo’s Satoru Iwata suggests that even more innovation may flow from the Kyoto company, with train timetables, shopping guides and plenty more due before long.

(Crossposted to Tech.co.uk)

10:42 PM J Mark Lytle • Permalink
Gaming | Japan
Tagged with: ds microsoft nintendo ps3 sony wii xbox
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• I think that growth is going to keep on going strong throughout 2008. Games such as Super Smash Brothers Brawl and Wii Fit are going to be massive. Wii Fit in particular as it will have such broad appeal across the demographics.

  Posted by wii fan on 08/02/06 at 08:09 AM

• The gaming industry will keep growing just like the electronics industry.

  Posted by Doom4 on 08/06/09 at 12:55 PM