This is exactly why I think the console race this Gen will be close. Xbox One is bringing many new features to the table and taking chances. Sony is playing it more safe with the PS4, which isn't a bad thing, but I don't believe that it will sell anywhere near PS2 numbers. Microsoft is just trying to expand their market while Sony is strictly going for the gamers. We'll see which strategy pays off but as I said I think it will be close and Xbox One even has a chance to win once price points are at that magical number. Nobody will be talking about DRM fiascos, upper management, etc in 3 years when they hit that price point.

Japan has been losing interest in home consoles for a long time :(

I fail to see how your points relate to the poll results. The poll is for Japan only.

I don't think this really comes as a shock to anyone, does it? We've known this for a while and sales reflect that. The thing is, can the PS4 reenergise the market, or it is destined to fall flat like the Wii U is currently?

According to your conclusion, everything is dying in Japan.

There's been a decline in total japanese sales every gen since the 5th (31 million), with the 6th gen at roughly 28 million, and current gen at roughly 24 million.

I hate to be an alarmist here, but dedicated game handheld sales are on a decline compared to last gen as well: with about 27 months under it's belt, the 3DS is just under 12 million in Japan, where as the DS was just under 15.5 million in 27 months... And I don't even think I'd need to mention the Vita, but that too is under at 1.5 million in Japan in 18 months as opposed to the PSP's 3.5 million in 18 months. We're already looking at a 5.5 million drop gen over gen for handhelds, an even bigger drop than what we saw last gen for consoles, and frankly that handheld only looks to grow as the gen goes on while the PS3 might be able to shore up another 1 million before everything is said and done this gen and raise the drop to only 3 million.

Thankfully, I have a sneeking suspicion Japanese developers will be able to hop on board this gen much more quickly and in much more meaningful numbers (as well as with much more significant games) than last gen, so hopefully that can help stop the bleeding a good bit.

@HikenNoAce
Obviously if the console market in Japan is shrinking then that means PS4 will sell less consoles than expected there. I don't believe PS4 will sell more than PS3 in Japan and it could be even less. Obviously Playstation owns Xbox in Japan so if it sells less than the PS4 will have to make up sales somewhere else.

The PS4 will more than makeup for the sales in the US and by releasing at the same time as the 360. Also, the only reason PS3 sales are slowing down in Japan is because the system hasn't had a price drop in 2 years.

@HikenNoAce
I guess we'll see if it will make up sales in the US. I'm sure it will start out faster than the PS3 did in the US because of price but the determining factor is if it keeps momentum. Microsoft isn't just going to sit around and let Sony steal US marketshare.