It's not surprising. MGS should have been the launch game and we would have a whole different picture from what it's happening now. After this we will have to wait another 2 years for Final Fantasy 13... TWO YEARS.

VakeroRokero

@sascha23: Limbo of the Lost?

kingmanic

It's about time the PS3 to make a statement.

Thanks for MGS4.

Game of the Year Baby!

Game of the Year.

xCruciaLx

@katboi: No. Supposed to be matter of fact. And not literal.

Michael McWhertor

April Fools... Wait, for reals?

Emperor_Guam

@katboi:

O_o

I dont think its a joke. Hes just saying it will probably keep sales higher than normal for a while. Why did you ask if its supposed to be funny?

spargo_1

@katboi: Maybe Mr mcWerthor didn't notice that the ghetto is painted green.

Abriael

The PS3 deserves it. MGS4 is such a good game.

Treecubed

@ShaggE: Since i have ALL machines, maybe it's just that you didn't notice it.

@spargo_1: Didn't know about that, and honestly, Kotaku seems to be entirely at fault for it.

Abriael

@Cheez-It: Superior hardware? It's the same ol' 40gb. It just happens to be bundled with MGS4. The bump in sales is clearly from MGS4.

mind in rewind

"it should at least help keep the console out of the ghetto for the Summer" - What? Is that suppose to be funny?

katboi

@lordofsword:

PSP sales also started increasing when the Slim model was released, but yeah Crisis Core really pushed it up, and Monster Hunter took it to another level.

LittleBigPlaneteer

Nice to see another color on the chart :) It's been black blue and white for far too long.

Wolfers

@Abriael:

THE incident

[kotaku.com]

spargo_1

wasn't the PSP barely selling anything every week until crisis core? ever since then, along with the help of monster hunter, it's been top or second in the charts every single week. i don't think MGS4 will be the PS3's crisis core but with a game like that available in shops maybe it'll help keep sales closer to 20k than 10k, for a while at least.

lordofsword

@Abriael: Odd... outside of the harmless joke here and there, I don't remember anything like that. Perhaps you're reading a different Kotaku? Or just overly protective of your machine?

(operative word being "machine". As in "Jesus H. Lemmingway... it's just a machine for crying out loud.")

ShaggE

@spargo_1: Can you tell me what "incident" are you talking about? :D

Abriael

Snake can perform miracles... hats off to you old man :D

Leepox

@bobtheduck: lol, given the mudlinging fest by the (mostly paid off) gaming press since the release of the PS3, you might be quite close to the truth.

Abriael

@spargo_1: "Personaly I think its SCEJ, they aren't pressing/paying as hard as MS for those JRPG's." -> True

Also I could care less for SO4, the next Tales game however I want and it seems it won't be coming out for the PS3.

That chart certainly surprised me. I knew MGS4 will help boost the PS3, but I didn't really dawn to me until I saw that chart.

goldwings

@Cheez-It:

How can you doubt MGS4's influence on PS3 sales? Did you see how many copies of MGS4 were sold last week? I'm thinking there's a high correlation between those sales and this increase in PS3's.

LittleBigPlaneteer

@Abriael:

Its the bad blood between the two. Sony and Kotaku ain't bff after the 'incident'

Though its nice Kotaku ain't bias in reviews or anything but sometimes you see that 'tone'. That "Curse you Sony! It wont be for long! Bwahahahaha!" arch rival tone. All in good spirit though =D

spargo_1

Holy Crap, It gave me a little shock first seeing that pie chart, I was expecting better sales, but still... a shock.

*puts on party hat*

ittekimasu

That reminds me of the time I saw Snake sneaking around in a big, black, curved-on-one-side box. Coincidence?

BPMκ

Is it MGSIV inspired, or is this due to the superior hardware finally being sold, combined with a small bump from MGSIV? I sincerely doubt it is MGS...

Cheez-It

@Abriael: I know, it's like people are just conditioned to the idea that Sony = Fail... I mean, even the fact that the gap between PS3 and 360 has been closing rapidly since the Pal launch doesn't change that... Where will people's jokes go once Sony isn't doing abysmally? End of gaming editorial, right?

bobtheduck

Wow, I'm guessing Sony will seem pleased.

EmeraldDragon

@Xcite79: Oh man, whenever FFXIII comes out, you can expect the chart to be completely red. That's going to be one hyped up game.

sascha23

@spargo_1:

They submit to the almighty money bag, rather than the ultimate payoff. Microsoft pays big bucks for exclusivity. It's so obvious that one of their tactics is to dominate the JRPG market, no matter the cost. It's sad that companies like Square would agree to such deals, despite the fact that they'll make less money in the long run.

LittleBigPlaneteer

I predict (no, I know) that it will be a battle between MGS4 and GTA4 for Game of the Year and it will be heated for sure.

I obviously have my preference. Take to guess which one I'm rooting for? ;)

sascha23

@Salen:

Just so you know, 5/6th of Japan don't own a DS yet.

LittleBigPlaneteer

@mva5580: LOL

Yeah, it confuses me, releasing rpgs exclusivly on the 360 in a county that just wont buy games for the 360. Blue Dragon, Eternal Sonata and Lost Odessey all had bad sales in japan, what makes squarenix think their games will do better I have no idea.

Personaly I think its SCEJ, they arnt pressing/paying as hard as MS for those JRPG's.

Though PS3 does have some lovely looking jrpgs coming, Valkarie chronicles, White Knight, Disgea, Dark Cloud 3(rumoured) FF13 and FFversus13. All are pritty big names. Only one 360 jrpg I want is Star Ocean 4.

But overall there is one RPG I want more than any other, and its a PS2 RPG... Persona 4. Thats gonna ruuuule.

spargo_1

You're the man now dog.

subnet6

When asked to comment about last weeks hardware sales, a SCEJ spokesperson said "waka waka waka."

LostToys

@Abriael:

replace their voice in your head with Eeyore from Winnie the Pooh.

idrisz

@Xcite79:

Well in 2011 there'll be a lot more PS3 owners, so I think it will sell millions its first week!

LittleBigPlaneteer

Well, the only reason DS sales are down is because its hard to convince someone they need 2 seperate DSes, let alone a third. I'm sure if everyone in Japan were to donate their DS to Tokyo, they could make a great wall made of DSes that would be able to stop Godzilla.

Thats my theory anyways. Oh, alas, when will man learn the folly of taunting nature with our atomic energies?

Salen

It's almost like a red ring of life...!

(sheds tear of joy and one of mourning for the 360 in Japan)

Maximus9

Jesus fucking sheeeeit.

Aethyr

it's funny to read the defeatist tone Kotaku editors use every time they talk about the PS3...

Abriael

Pie-Charts are YUMMY

Gantz: Your Trusted Friend in Science.

@Santa_Lock22:

color-blind much??

idrisz

WOW! Sony rules Japan again! ...it's like I've been warped back to November 2006!

okenny :)

I had to do a double-take when I saw the chart. I didn't even know red existed in the hardware chart :x

Santa_Lock22

It will be interesting to see what the impact will be like when Final Fantasy 13 is released.

Xcite79

@mva5580: Easy! Its just so people will stop asking them for a FFXIII release!

Noshino

Now if only the green were a lil larger they'd all be forced to fight that much harder for our gaming dollar.

majatt

Boy I can totally see why Square is starting to put so much JRPG development into the 360 *roll*

mva5580

@Swift_:

You can't compare a portable game like Monster Hunter to the sales of a console game. Japan is predominantly a handheld market right now. It doesn't have much to do with how niche MGS is, but rather how much more popular Monster Hunter has become.

LittleBigPlaneteer

75,000 added to the happy list :D

Grimmjow Jeagerjaques

Wow, never saw the red have so much :D

Congrats Sony, keep it up

LittleBigPlaneteer

Nice job Sony, if MGS4 doesn't get game of the year after all of this something is terribly wrong.

Sparx

BWUH?! That's a new one. At the same time, this isn't exactly a Monster Hunter G-Like spike in sales is it? Another testament to the niche appeal of MGS, I would think. People often exaggerate its popularity.

Now... back to playing the game.

Swift_

Initial D is absolute fire. Online multiplayer based on the Arcade tournaments?. All I need is the racing seat and it is all DANDY.

PsycheE

As a PS3 owner, I just had a pants eruption.

Rurik

I bet a few bottles of champaign was cracked at Sony HQ.

suya123

I like cherry ps3 pie, please.

sladee

add: it's amazing that PS2 is still outselling the X360 by 3 times in japan

djricekcn

crazy, thats like as much red as the last 20 pie charts combined!

DrunkRaba

yum yum pac pellets.

sladee

not surprised at all, but still amazng lol

djricekcn

Sony going Om Nom Nom Nom haven't seen that since PS2.

Raziel Dune

The red! The red! Aaagh it burns! It's so...unusual!

ShirtGuyDom

The Japanese hardware chart is becoming another red ring of death for the 360......

ZPfan

@Ryodestined: Wow, fanboy much?

KirbyMorph

I'm not surprised for three reasons. 1- MGS4 came out and it was great. 2-I've always believed the PS3 would be the better console in the long term once developers understood the machine and started putting out good games at a decent pace. 3-Of course you can out sell your competition when the competition already sold itself to everybody. No where to go but as they say. Sony just needs to get some good exclusives to set itself apart from xbox.

Ryodestined

I agree. It's good to see the PS3 top charts in Japan, but I don't think MGS4 will keep it that high for very long. No doubt it's a solid game (pun intended =P) but I think it will slide off but stay respectably high compared to the previous months sales. I'm glad to see Sony getting some good coverage lately though. MGS4 is like a breath of fresh air for doubters of the PS3 and the potential of even a supposed "niche" game to affect hardware sales this way for the console.

nine07

@Abriael: Yup... They were... They were given rights to knowledge before the general public and they betrayed the terms. But, the general gaming public whined and bitched about freedom of speech (and a complete misunderstanding of it... Since they have the "right" to report on things they're not supposed to, and Sony has the "right" to in turn no longer offer them inside info due to their breaking the terms) and it caused Sony all sorts of heartache...

And, of course, because of their already damaged PR, Sony had to give in to this because places like Kotaku and the other bloggers that were reporting this HEINOUS crime of Sony refusing info to someone who violated an agreement, and the ban was lifted... Then someone (from a company under Sony, I believe, though I could be wrong) gave two brass balls to someone from Kotaku for getting the gamers on their side better than Sony could, essentially.

bobtheduck

@spargo_1:
That's the past..Everything is cool now.

Good news for Sony.Up several hundred precent in sales is good for the console.I'm anxious to see NPD for June.

enewtabie

@Abriael:

What the? How are you STILL not banned? You bring your fanboy bullshit into every single article you comment on. Anyone who looks at your recent comments will immediately see your fanboyism. Its annoying.

Now go away and never come back.

CCCombobreaker

@KirbyMorph: I don't see any fanboyism there. Besides, given your usual comments, you're one to bring up anything as such.

summerdrone

@ceilingFANBOY: LOL,you're right :P

But we have to take in account that perhaps the hand-held market is reaching saturation,much more for the DS,that's why the PSP is in a rampage right now too.

OT79

Am I the only one finding it weird not that the PS3 is leading sales, but that for both Nintendo and Sony the consoles are beating out the handhelds. I mean, come on, this is Japan we're talking about.

ceilingFANBOY

Oh, and is Japan the place where the PS2 is currently selling the least? I mean, that's the first time I've seen not only the PS2 eclipsed by the PS3, but actually, you know, doing badly.

How long has this been going on?

Zerbrechen

This just end: Sony is talking to Konami and begging Kojima to do MGS5. MGS5 is halfway done...people just don't know about it.

InitialD should do well too, is that coming to the states...I haven't read anything about it.

karateka

I kind of wonder about the Japanese sometimes. Their sales charts are so predictable that it's mind boggling sometimes.
Sure, we've got our Halos and our GTAs over here in America, but only in Japan can 1 game cause, like, a 2000% increase in sales.
I mean, watch the charts when the next Gundam game comes out or when Monster Hunter Wii/Dragon Quest 9 come out- even if they are mediocre.
AND they're supposedly becoming more casual day by day... Will I ever be able to identify with them?

Zerbrechen

@marmidukestank:
Well, the Wii and DS are A LOT cheaper than PS3, so it's easier for more people to buy those.

So, this is a very good week for PS3. Wonder if the next week will be similar.

BPMκ

hahaha I think the ps3 will be back in the ghetto with the xbox soon enough.

Snukadaman_

75,000 seems like a low figure to represent the top of the charts, seeings as Wii and DS at one time sold through 100,000+ week after week without a single game release.

But congrats to Sony. Wonder how it's going to hold up.

marmidukestank

Oh you poor 2mm xbox segment... Hang in there baby.

insanejedi

I think someone's comment about JRPG's on the 360 may be in part due to MS paying for exclusivity, but I think they may also be looking at the bigger picture with the US being one of thie biggest markets for software sales and Japan on the decline, they may be trying to make some money off of US hardware sales. They have been saying a lot in recent months how they have to start looking outside of Japan to the bigger market.

fearing

Oh some one go buy Satan a snow shovel because it looks like hell has finaly frozen over.... /sarcasm

MGS4 was great this is a good thing that more people will get to experience it now.

hk458

@Snukadaman_: wow, I can see how this news are making this thread turn into a fanboy war.

Did someone really think that MGS4 would have no effect on sales? and now that is out what makes people think that everyone will forget what the ps3 is after a few weeks?

Masterpain22

SONY PLEASE: it's only the first week for Metal Gear Solid 4. Keep the 80GB bundles coming out, at least until I finish my CIS Summer Exams and thus have the rest of the summer to waste...

... And send Willow Video Games in Langley, BC (Canada) some Playstation 3's, they haven't gotten anything for three months. IF only I had a picture of those dedicated gamers :(

AntiZERØ

@karateka:
MGS5?

Not possible. Unless they will do that "Liquid" thing again.

Another "Metal Gear" is more possible.

xCruciaLx

Holy crepe!

JokesJokes

Wow, nice. First big burst of PS3 sales since it's debut?
More owners should mean a much needed boost in software sales too.

everybest

One more nail in the 360 coffin. I can't wait until MS try to force yet another next-gen console out the door in...maybe 2 years because of how much of a failure the 360 will turn out to be.

dowingba

lol I was like what console is the red color?

Aflack: Likes slushies

Waka Waka Waka Waka...

Talleh

"We don't expect to see the PS3 kicking this much tail next week"

Yeah, that's what you also said the first time the PSP managed to outsell the DS and look how that's going.

GogolGants

its good to see things like this when its earned.
its like when bioshock sold well here last year, you're happy to see it.

TheIrishNinja

NO! not yet! wait for another price drop

trebors

@Denalin: Your fanboy is showing.

Sabre_Justice: Okay, no more long name.

I'm shocked at the PS3 sales, even with MGS4 having its hands in the pot. It's the consistent PSP sales that has me impressed. If the PS3 can perform like this on a more regular basis I'll be impressed also.

Replica23

@Denalin:
Funny, it seems like you've written something, but all I can read is "blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah."

BPMκ

PS3 and 360 owners need to realize that the Wii is ruining high-quality gaming as we know it and replacing it with crap. Wii is like the Hannah Montana, the Walmart, or Obesity in console form.

Denalin

Yay initial D!

Seventh

We don't expect to see the PS3 kicking this much tail next week, but with a handful of appealing releases-Initial D Extreme, Soul Calibur IV, Siren- and this shot in the arm for sales of Sony's big box, it should at least help keep the console out of the ghetto for the Summer.

As others have mentioned, the defeatist tone is starting to seem more and more out of place. Sony may no longer be number one, but too many remarks make it seem like the PlayStation brand isn't making any progress either.

Christ, the PlayStation 3 has managed to outdo the 360's lifetime sales in Europe in half the time...that's pretty significant.

Nightshift Nurse: Mile High Colonic

Praise the Baby Jesus! Praise his holy name! Can't wait to see how great next week turns out.

Sailorcancer

Sales spike, nothing more.

Foxstar Sixtail

@Snukadaman_: Can I borrow your crystal ball?

electricmine

@KirbyMorph: And how is that a fanboyish statement. That's just his opinion...I didn't smell anything fanboyish about it.

Anyways, this is excellent news for the PS3. Hopefully they keep this up.

electricmine

BEHOLD!! The Power of MGS4...Brother! It's been too long...

ahmeng

It's the final nail in the coffin for the Wii (!)

Asaron

Given that MGS4 was released, the PS3's sales are not particularly impressive. The question, then, is: Will the PS3 go back to pre-MGS4 levels, or will it be able to maintain sales like the PSP did?

L_K_M

@bobtheduck:Well it's not all people. Mostly Americans. Microsoft=money=lots of advertisements. And from what I've heard from some Americans it's like commercial world over there. Also a lot of Americans like violent games (gears of war, halo, bioshock, mass effect etc) a lot of which they can find on the 360. (this is reflected in the high US homicide rate) Where as the japanese are totally against violence (indicated by their low homicide rate).

Woot.

fadecy

@spargo_1: Blue Dragon and Lost Odessey were the best selling 360 games in japan, don't forget it

But look at that big slice of the pie! PS3 hasn't seen a better week! Good on 'em!
Price drop please Sony? kthxbai

excel_excel

@Sailorcancer:
"Christ, the PlayStation 3 has managed to outdo the 360's lifetime sales in Europe in half the time...that's pretty significant."

Indeed, the North American market is the only place 360 is outselling PS3, but even that is changing. 4 out of the 5 months of NPD so far PS3 has outsold 360.

DigitalHero

It's like finding out Santa isn't real: This can't be happening...

Nereos

ahhh all that red is so heart warming to see. Sony finally top, but how long will it last? >.>'

MellowJade

Good for Sony. I was hoping they'd get a lift from MGS4, since it's going to be a great game. As an Xbox owner, I'm genuinely jealous of PS3 owners for the first time. Too bad they can't do it on the XBOX - maybe the next generation will be kinder!

Shadowguitar

@Nereos: You should have marked your comment with a big *SPOILER* sign first :-D

Pilch

I can't understand why the Xbox 360 does that poorly in Japan. I could understand it coming in third place... but man I almost feel sorry for Microsoft!

Zunnoab