The launch lineup here was already pretty bad for the local market, even with the 3 month delay so I always assumed it was because of product supply constraints to be honest.
Yup, in Europe getting a PS4 was hard.
The launch lineup here was already pretty bad for the local market, even with the 3 month delay so I always assumed it was because of product supply constraints to be honest.
I agree with the other posts.Correct me if I am wrong, but isn't it pretty much impossible for Sony to keep up with whatever product Nintendo is supporting in Japan? Like doesn't Nintendo usually become the de facto game console in Japan no matter what? It is probably a better idea for them to focus on the US and Europe. Especially in the US where it seems like XBSX is going to be the clear cut beastly and bleading edge consumer friendly option,
It looks that way. But the reality is that it's totally fabricated by the platform holders and publishers. It is - legally speaking - a single market. There are no regional restrictions within the European single market - it is illegal to do so. You are free to use any store you like.
I don't.
Europe is, as far as anything jurisdictional goes, precisely a single market.
I never said anything to the contrary. The original point was purely with regards to total market size.It may legally be a single market, but I bet they have to make individual advertisements and commercials, localize the games and box art, etc for each individual country. Releasing a game in the Japanese market is a much simpler, less faceted process.
I agree with the other posts.
You can't just give up on it. This isn't a MS XBO situation there.
That's one reason why I think there are rumors about Lockhart. A cheaper Xbox console might be appealing in Japan.
It's not like the delay changed the price or brought in any game worth a mention! So it was probably better to at least not miss the holidays if the shitty launch was unavoidable.Launch timing is important but unless the price and games are there, it's not gonna help things
Because Microsoft were idiots. It was exactly the same as if the console had released in some US states and not others.Then why did the Xbox One come out at a later date in Belgium, Denmark, Finnland, Greece, The Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Sweden, Slovakia, Czech Republic, Hungary and Switzerland?
I guess Sony would consider Demon's Souls Remake as something appealing to JP userbase...
If you ignore Nintendo yes. Otherwise no. Nintendo already have multiple million sellers and is next to reaching their first 4 million seller there. Animal Crossing will also be massive thereJapan as consumer market for consoles is irrelevant now, even if their devs have been smashing it this gen.
That's actually why I think they prioritised the US and Europe.I think launch absolutely matters. It helps perception and builds momentum. A strong launch with desirable games can snowball positive word of mouth going forward.
The PS4 has sold more in Japan than any other country outside of the U.S.
PS4 will have additional 10m sold thanks to Japan and Nintendo is doing great with Switch, how is that irrevelant?Japan as consumer market for consoles is irrelevant now, even if their devs have been smashing it this gen.
Nintendo consoles sell poorly too. Even the massive Wii barely did better than PS3 there and the Wii U did poorly as well. Switch doesn't count as a traditional console because it's a handheld. Make a dedicated TV Switch and watch it flop compared to the OG/Lite.Considering that only handheld/Nintendo consoles sell any significant amount in Japan, I don't think it would have mattered at all.
Considering how the Japanese market has changed up until this point, "barely selling better than the PS3" isnt something to scoff at. They are keeping interest in core gaming alive in Japan almost singlehandedly. PS4 also has sold a lot more software in Japan than PS3 did.
Because Microsoft were idiots. It was exactly the same as if the console had released in some US states and not others.
Europe isn't a country nor a single market. There are a lot of differences between European countries.
Obviously but SCEE was still a thing. Not like they had SCEUK or SCEF
Both of those things exist... SIEE actually covers many territories outside continental Europe, including a number of Middle Eastern countries, Australia, New Zealand.
Nah prioritization of the US should continue. Those extra consoles sold in the US will do more than launching in Japan. We are the largest consumer of their games as a country. We should continue to get prioritization. Japan barely supports half of what we do.
Sorry, forgot it's SIEE now and not SCEE haha.
I think my point is that they don't have individual branches of SIEE for every country in Europe. Unless they do? You work there so you would know far more then I'd ever.
There are local offices for many European territories as well as others outside (Australia, for example).
I expect they probably are already working on MH6 with Tokuda's team but don't expect multiple Gens (ie: no MH7) on PS5 and don't expect it before 2022 earliest. Maybe they could do some spinoffs on PS4/PS5 but they'd probably need to be ground up new projects since Frontier's dead and the older family friendly PSP/3DS spinoffs (Nikki, Stories) would just bomb on PS4/PS5.Sony should work with Capcom and have the next MH ready ASAP for next gen, MHW gave PS4 a nice boost, would be interesting to see what it can do if PS5 gets 2-3 titles.
Maybe because that little acre of land over there is by a wide margin the 2nd largest national console market and also hosts a disproportionate amount of high pedigree game development. It's a mistake to downplay Japan like this.That's why Sony decided to basically concede Japan to Nintendo. Why worry about this little acre of land over here if you are reaping from the rest of the field? Sony just happens to be in a unique spot because while they aren't the de facto console in Japan, they will continue receiving support from Japanese third parties which sells to the rest of the world. That's power you can't buy.
At this point it goes US > Europe > Japan in terms of playstation market size, right?
NA > EU > US iircI'm pretty sure Europe is PlayStation's largest region in market size. Don't we have the US and Japan numbers for hardware sales?
How are they not caring about Japan though? Are they not getting every single game and console? People always say they should make software that's enticing for the Japanese market but what does that meant? No market deserves special treatment and if the games that the whole world is buying isn't good enough for Japan then that's on them.I just hope Sony eventually starts caring about Japan again sometime in the future, even if it looks higly unlikely given how much of an americanized company SIE has become.
Well it means making games and hardware that would also appeal to the Japanese market. It's not exactly controversial to say that the Japanese market is an afterthought for them compared to other markets. Seeing as they get all major support from Japanese developers anyways, it's not a particular problem for them or anything but it's something to be notedHow are they not caring about Japan though? Are they not getting every single game and console? People always say they should make software that's enticing for the Japanese market but what does that meant? No market deserves special treatment and if the games that the whole world is buying isn't good enough for Japan then that's on them.
I just hope Sony eventually starts caring about Japan again sometime in the future, even if it looks higly unlikely given how much of an americanized company SIE has become.
You don't have to make games specifically for Japan, just make games that also appeal to Japan and everywhere else globally. Nintendo's mastered that and Sony used to do it too (GT, Parappa, Crash, etc) but not so much these days. The only other 1st party game that does now is Minecraft and that's in part because it's on everything and really blew up on Vita/Switch.How are they not caring about Japan though? Are they not getting every single game and console? People always say they should make software that's enticing for the Japanese market but what does that meant? No market deserves special treatment and if the games that the whole world is buying isn't good enough for Japan then that's on them.
Sure. My point is that by doing the exact same thing that the PS4 did, PS5 isn't going to "fly off the shelves."
PS4 had the full weight of every AAA publisher in the world releasing all of their biggest hitters on it. Literally every non-Nintendo million seller IP this gen was released on PS4. It had some of the best software support in history. It pulled out every stop there was and will finish around ~10m lifetime in Japan. Releasing another Final Fantasy and another Monster Hunter on PS5 won't result in a drastic difference in performance.
Edit: Somehow I missed it the first time I read your post, but what is this "keeping interest in core gaming alive in Japan almost singlehandedly" complete nonsense lol. I've seen Nintendo "doesn't count" for many, many reasons over the years, but I think "Nintendo doesn't even count as core gaming" is definitely a new one.
I'm looking at the Lifetime software sales for PS3 and PS4 in Japan from Dengeki and what you're saying is not true at all.
PS3 Software LTD in Japan: 74.664.457 units
PS4 Software LTD in Japan: 44.310.828 units
Source: https://sites.google.com/site/gamedatalibrary/software-data/2019-retail
Could you please show the data that backs up your claim?
Just retailDoes that count digital sales or just retail?
I've heard previously that PS4 has sold more software relative to PS3 launch aligned.
Not if it's going to be a timed exclusive or some other DLC exclusive BS thing. If Sony wants to push Japanese content cool, but the exclusive deals with third party need to end IMO.Sony should work with Capcom and have the next MH ready ASAP for next gen, MHW gave PS4 a nice boost, would be interesting to see what it can do if PS5 gets 2-3 titles.