http://gamrconnect.vgchartz.com/post.php?id=8642844

http://gamrconnect.vgchartz.com/post.php?id=8643185

http://gamrconnect.vgchartz.com/post.php?id=8643199

http://gamrconnect.vgchartz.com/post.php?id=8643230

http://gamrconnect.vgchartz.com/post.php?id=8643303

Here are people downplaying Japan. It's still very important and relevant to Sony.this gen ps4 is making a he'll of a bigger profit then ps3.

You linked posts from 3 people, two of which are saying that Japan is LESS relevant for home consoles than it has been in the past, which is true. Which is undeniably true.

How is the country less relevant to Sony when this gen their home console is selling more then their last gen console? 

More importantly ps4 profits are massively bigger then ps3 was at this point last gen. Sony are a business who want profits and to me this makes Japan more relevant and important this gen.

And by the way, i dont think its selling like shit there, i was just using that to counter his claim that its selling amazing in Japan, both are hyperbolic statements.

Adjusted per capita

1. United Kingdom - .066 or 6.6% of total populatoin

2. United States - .061 or 6.1% of total population

3. Germany - .056 or 5.6% of total population

4. France - .055 or 5.5% of total population

5. Japan - .039 or 3.9% of total population

Adjusted per capita (excluding 65+ year olds.)

1. United Kingdom - .08 or 8.0% of gaming-aged population

2. United States - .073 or 7.3% of gaming-aged population

3. Germany - .072 or 7.2% of gaming-aged population

4. France - .068 or 6.8% of gaming-aged population

5. Japan - .058 or 5.8% of gaming-aged population

As you can see, Japan is lagging behind those other countries when we roughly adjust for population and age-demographics. 

That's not my argument. 

To Sony goal sales are what matters. On top of this they manufacture the ps4 for Japan in Japan and also sell it an an average higher price then the EU. The profit margins on the hardware is surely higher from japanese sales. ToSony making more money from more sales make a Japan more important. e

Of course they care about Japan, because Japan is where a lot of unique videogames actually originate from.

The reason people are quick to trash on Japanese sales, particularly in regards to PlayStation, is because of a gigantic drop in sales over the years. The original PlayStation and the PlayStation 2 sold over 40 Million units combined. PSP sold 20 Million units.

The ratio of consoles sold between Europe and Japan for PlayStation used to be 2:1, but with Sony's failures over there the ratio for PS3 was 3:1, and the PS4 is edging ever closer to 5:1.

Japan is important, but it's no where near as important as it used to be. It's really rather pathetic to compare PS Japan of 15 years ago to PS Japan of 2017. All of this happens while Nintendo are still seeing platforms able to set the charts on fire - DS sold 33 Million, 3DS is at 24 Million and Switch is currently stomping the competition.

That's why people say Japan isn't a priority.

So there is much more involved in Sony's thinking than this. For example: 

1. They are thinking about which countries they'll have a future in ten to twenty years from now. Japan's aging demographics and minimal free-time culture make that very less likely. This is why handhelds are so popular in Japan. People can play them on their commute or at work. 

2. They are thinking about software sales in addition to hardware sales. In which countries can they sell the most software? 

3. They are thinking about to whom they can sell PS+ subscriptions. In which countries are people most likely to play online games, and subscribe to PS+? 

Remember, Sony is selling not just PS4's here, but other goods, which tend to be much more profitable than hardware. PlayStation is a whole ecosystem, not just the hardware. 

From that perspective, Japan just doesn't look that interesting to Sony. The developing world (China especially) and the Western world are much more viable markets for their strategy. 

That's a different argument and I agree with you. India is wherevrhey have the most future potential. It's obsessed with Sony and it's population will pass China out in future.

I'm talking now. But even be t gen I imagine ps5 will do well.

Right, and the Wii U died in Japan. Japan is all about portable gaming. Since Sony are so focused with their home console it's only natural that Japanese sales become less and less important. Sony is putting their resources into NA, EU, and the rest of the world right now since Japan's home console market has shrunk considerably.