[News] Price Hike Impact? PS5 Sales in Japan Plunge Nearly 70%, Hitting a New Low This Year

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According to Money DJ, citing the latest data from Japanese gaming media Famitsu, overall console sales in Japan (including Switch, PS5, and Xbox Series X/S) dropped 19% to 79,962 units during the week of September 2-8, compared to the previous week (August 26-September 1), driven by a sharp decline in PS5 sales.

Famitsu reports that sales of Nintendo’s Switch series (standard Switch, Switch Lite, and OLED Switch) rose 6% week-over-week to 67,473 units. The standard Switch saw a 14% drop to 5,723 units, while Switch Lite sales jumped 12% to 15,271 units, and OLED Switch sales increased 7% to 46,479 units.

Sony’s PS5 series (standard disc version and digital edition) saw Japanese sales plunge nearly 70% during the same week, hitting a new low for 2024. Total PS5 sales slumped 67% to 11,007 units. The standard PS5 dropped 66% to 9,097 units, and the digital edition saw a 73% decline to 1,910 units.

Meanwhile, Microsoft’s Xbox Series X/S sales in Japan surged 90% week-over-week to 1,482 units, with Xbox Series X sales jumping 87% to 759 units and Xbox Series S up 94% to 723 units.

Sony Interactive Entertainment (SIE), Sony’s gaming subsidiary, announced on August 27 that it would raise PS5 prices in Japan starting September 2. The standard PS5 price was hiked 19% (an increase of ¥13,000) to ¥79,980, while the digital edition saw a 21% increase (also ¥13,000) to ¥72,980.

Meanwhile, rumors of a new Nintendo console have been making the rounds. According to Notebookcheck, leaked details regarding the price and launch date of the anticipated Nintendo Switch 2 have surfaced, fueling speculation that Nintendo could be gearing up for another blockbuster release.

(Photo credit: Sony)