A new report by Japanese site TV Tokyo has revealed that Sony’s recently announced Japan-only PlayStation 5 console was only brought about after the company executives learned that Nintendo were preparing a Japan-only Nintendo Switch 2, which has since proved popular with Japanese consumers. The system is a cut-price, Japanese language only model which Sony hopes will reverse the fortunes of the PlayStation 5 in Japan. The PlayStation 5 has been selling poorly in comparison to the Nintendo Switch and Nintendo Switch 2 in Japan. Here’s some translated highlights from the TV Tokyo piece.
- In the PS5 resale market for China, the mainland version has strict content regulations and very few playable titles, so the unrestricted Japanese PS5 sells at high prices.
- The decision to sell a Japan-only PS5 model began when Sony executives saw that Nintendo was preparing a Japan-only Switch 2. They decided “we should do the same”, and the price cut was approved in only four months.
- This price reduction carries significant risk and may mean Sony is selling the console with a substantial loss.
- In the background, while global PS sales are growing, the brand has been losing share in Japan, as a result, there was an internal sentiment within SIE that “it is acceptable if the Japanese market continues to shrink”.
- However, the new president Nishino, who is Japanese, feels a strong sense of crisis about the decline of the PlayStation brand in Japan, this sense of urgency shared by Nishino and the Japanese team helped push forward the Japan-focused measures.
As usual Sony get most of their good ideas from Nintendo, as it ever shall be. Look out for their hybrid system in the near future…..
I’ll tell you a secret, the entire industry does this, whether for games or for hardware. Every console manufacturer is in the roundtable talking decisions regardless of what company it originates from. Sony influences Nintendo, Nintendo influences Xbox etc.
I want to know in what way has Nintendo been influenced by Sony.
To not make their mistakes
😂😂😂
I meant it like for a randomisation but I’d argue like the online infrastructures like with Xbox and PlayStation, it’s clear they’ve mimicked them from the Switch onwards (albeit worse). Controller wise they dropped the Wii U and Wii classic controllers parallel analog sticks to the standard you’d find on like the Xbox 360/One layout. The industry learns from one another, and adapts to its successes and failures. Nintendo Network and Cloud Saves are another example of this as well as NSO offering a subscription of games, a direct response to Gold, Game Pass and PS Plus. Like even smaller things like in-game with Photo modes and whatnot come from software outside of Nintendo, that they’ve adapted within. It’s not a bad thing, it’s progress, and consumers honestly need to realise that. The industry inspires, not locks down.
I like your detailed response. Thanks!
It’s why I roll my eyes most of these days when I see rip off being used. Some people don’t seem to understand the difference between a rip off and a homage these days. (Then there are those that do but mainly call anything that isn’t made by their favorite company or whatever thieves.) Pure originality died a very long time ago and most things are a variation of another. I definitely see it in cultist discussions over wrestling which is the single worst place to look for it. Nearly every move is a variation of another. And wrestlers mimic others almost all the time. Game mechanics aren’t any different.
Can’t wait for that Playstation Swap 😂😂😂
||Copycats…||
Hardly surprising… Sony has been losing momentum for years, but some of their die-hard fans will tell you that ‘it’s thanks to Sony that Nintendo sells.’ I remember back in my youth when some people claimed that the analog stick and vibrations were ‘invented’ by Sony…
Watch Sony burn all these bad decisions will end PlayStation the Tencent lawsuit, expensive acquistions that have gone no where, enabling bad behaviors, lawsuits from employees such as victims of workplace hypocrisy that lead to harrasment, now Steam Machine yeah they’re cooked. PS6 will be the last PlayStation. Even worse that they bought studios to port to PC and now rumors are non live service games will remain exclusive moving forward.
This is great news I despise new age Sony, most of their games are aimed towards western audiences cause it’s more profitable i Miss those weird colorful Japanese games they used to have
Remember games like Rain, Tokyo Jungle, Puppeteer, echo chrome, Murasaki Baby, and so many more like that? 😮💨 I miss the old Sony.
Nintendo makes, sony takes. It’s always been like this.
Now that’s great news to hear. I don’t know about Microsoft but they make their games to appeal some mature audiences.
I’ve been reading about how Sony might stick to a Japan-only PS5 after seeing how well the Japan-exclusive Switch 2 is doing. Anyway, I’ve got some money to spend and I’m looking for fun ways to make it grow. I don’t mind gambling, but I’m kind of hesitant about slots.
If consoles are going region-exclusive now, at least online stuff stays global. If you like sports, you can skip slots and try sports betting on Roobet @ https://roobet.com/sports it’s way more engaging than pure luck-based games.
I’ve been seeing a ton of online ads for sports betting lately maybe it’s a sign I should try that instead of worrying about which console is stuck in Japan.
I agree. While Sony and Nintendo are busy focusing on Japan, platforms like Roobet have been solid for me both in casino games and especially in sports betting.
Happy you’re considering it! With all the console drama, I’m glad people still check out Roobet as their go-to sportsbook.