Handheld Gaming Continues To Rule in Japan

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So last week, the New Nintendo 3DS was released in Japan as was Monster Hunter 4G. Both highlight the obvious: Handheld gaming is still very big in the country.

Let's be honest, home consoles still aren't really doing spectacular in Japan. But they're not dying by a damn sight. According to Media Create, Sony sold 11,697 PlayStation 4 units between October 6 and October 12. That's hardly amazing, but to Sony's credit, the console did outsell the Vita and the 3DS. Here's how the hardware sales looked during that week:

1. New Nintendo 3DS XL: 164,756 units

2. New Nintendo 3DS: 70,050 units

3. Nintendo 3DS XL: 19,727 units

4. PlayStation 4: 11,697 units

5. PS Vita: 8,561 units

6. Nintendo 3DS: 7,340 units

7. Wii U: 6,309 units

8. PlayStation 3: 4,954 units

9. Xbox One: 809 units

10. Vita TV: 737 units

11. Xbox 360: 97 units

12. PSP: 67 units

While the Wii U really needs a jumpstart (Super Smash Bros. for Wii U?), Nintendo looks like it's doing well with all its different portables. Yes, those numbers will drop off during the following week's sales, but the software sales continue to be incredibly strong. Even the Vita is getting a good flow of titles that seem to be doing well.

Here's how the software chart looked during that same period:

1. Monster Hunter 4G (3DS): 1,446,289 units

2. Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS (3DS): 76,392 units

3. Yokai Watch 2 (3DS): 57,583 units

4. Kingdom Hearts HD 2.5 Remix (PS3): 21,158 units

5. FIFA15 (PS4): 16,719 units

This is actually pretty good. Two console games in the top five—great news. But looking at the rest of the top fifty games, nineteen of them are Nintendo 3DS games, while nine of them are PS Vita titles. The rest are PS3, PS4 and Wii U games. Of course, these figures are for what are called "consumer games" in Japan and don't show download figures for smartphone apps, which are also incredibly popular in Japan—and well, everywhere these days.

However, for those who like traditional gaming, it's nice to see portable systems continuing to get new exciting titles.

週間ソフト＆ハードセルスルーランキング（2014年10月6日～10月12日）[Media Create]

モンハン４Ｇ発売です　[Furu1]

Top photo: Furu1

To contact the author of this post, write to bashcraftATkotaku.com or find him on Twitter @Brian_Ashcraft.

Kotaku East is your slice of Asian internet culture, bringing you the latest talking points from Japan, Korea, China and beyond. Tune in every morning from 4am to 8am.