Japan sales (Week 15): Media Create/Famitsu/Dengeki - April 9 - 15, 2018

[Nautilus]

Faelco said:

Nautilus said:

I dont think stocks are the problem, well not the real problem anyway.

I personally find it weird that Sony hasnt been able to supply PS4 in a good quantity in the last 3 or 4 weeks, so I think its the result of two things:First of all like you said, there must be some kind of supply problem.For as much as the PS4 is not as popular as in other countries, or as other consoles in japan, it just seems off for the PS4 to only reach those numbers.So yeah, something fishy is going on with Sony in Japan.

But honestly, I think the biggest reason is because of this:Retailers are not asking for as much supply as we had hoped/antecipated.So yeah, assuming there was more supply, there would be more PS4 getting off the shelves, but at the same time, I just dont think it would be selling THAT much more.It would probably settle somewhere around 20k, but thats it.We need to remember that the PS4 failed to set the japanese market on fire and its a console on its 5th year.Its going to decline at some point.

Plus next or week(I guess?), is golden week, so a decline in demanda this week and the one before it is expected.Just not at this size.

Stores not ordering could be a reason, but I don't really believe it. Or they're very stupid.

 

Even if the PS4 doesn't put charts on fire, the biggest electronics stores with big shelves of PS4 games and accessories, and huge TVs advertising the latest or incoming releases should at least have a few consoles to sell with it. But it's been difficult or even impossible sometimes to get one for weeks now, with messages on the shelves saying "Sorry, we're out" and meanwhile my local Bic Camera is stocking 80 Switches. I don't believe for a second that it's a choice from the stores. If they had only a few, yeah. None at all, no.

Not wanting to sound like a jerk, but thats kind of an anecdotal evidence.Not to mention that while the demand for PS4s may be high in Tokyo, it may not be so for the rest of Japan.Plus, having Switches on stock dosent influence how much PS4 should be on stock too.I mean, if anything the effect should be contrary:Since the Switch sells better on Japan than the PS4, retailers will tend to favor it.But thats besides the point.

Its just that I personally find much more reasonable for the problem to lie in the retailers rather than solely on Sony.Why then, would impede Sony for shipping an extra 10k to Japan?GOW release?10k would hardly make a difference in the west, considering how much they manage to sell there.Unable to manufacture PS4 in the factories?Such a thing hasnt happened for years, and given its only influencing Japan(apparently) I dont think its the reason.Preparing for the launch of a new slim model?Can be, but its highly unlikely, given that we are few months away from E3, and this problem has been persisting for longer than the time that such announcement would usually take.

I mean, it could be the Golden week, and retailers and/or Sony are just holding stock for it, but I dont believe it.But if PS4 sales go back to normal after that week passes, Ill be the first to admit I was wrong.