PSP overtakes DS in Japanese hardware sales

Just in case you've been keeping one eye trained on the console wars out there, you might want to take note of the most recent sales figures from Japan. According to the latest stats, the PSP overtook the DS, Wii, Xbox 360, PS3, and PS2 in sales last week, propelled by the newest handheld installment of the Final Fantasy series, Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII. Sure, it's happened before, but with the increasing competitiveness out there, this one seems extra important. The message should be clear to Nintendo -- don't rest on your laurels. Also, don't miss out on really hot Square Enix exclusives. The last thing you want is to go the way of Atari, and just end up as a simulation on a thriving system.

[DickHardknocks @ Sep 21st 2007 11:58PM]

It was inevitable that sooner or later the PSP would be able to outsell the DS somewhere.

The key is for SONY to have plenty of PSP-only, original first and 3rd party games.

Technology wise, the PSP has always been a superior system to the DS. The PSP Lite's hardware revision should help it in the near future but I'd have liked to see a price drop to $129.99

[JohnTitor @ Sep 22nd 2007 12:14AM]

hold on to your socks
it's only one week with a good set of titles that came out
the DS still have way more total sales and probably most people that want one have one

[Xavier Gill @ Sep 22nd 2007 12:16AM]

Isn't the PSP outsellling the DS one of the signs of the Apocalypse? Repent people! Repent for your sins!

[raf @ Sep 22nd 2007 10:07AM]

jeez man, in Poland psp slim is like 300$ !!! Europe is a real hell for tech geeks :(

[DickHardknocks @ Sep 22nd 2007 12:02AM]

NINTENDO DS caters mostly to those who are stuck on dated, traditional gameplay from the Gameboy, SUPER NES and ULTRA 64 days.

Many Japanese buyers thirst for story rich RPG games with as much depth as console system software and graphics/sound that stand up to the consoles as well.

The DS simply can't offer that. 90% of DS's top sellers have "Mario" in the title and are updated versions of Nintendo's 1990 glory days.

[601210 @ Sep 22nd 2007 12:52AM]

>NINTENDO DS caters mostly to those who are stuck on >dated, traditional gameplay from the Gameboy, SUPER >NES and ULTRA 64 days.

Hmm, not really.
The DS brings alot more new features to the scene, alot more variety in gameplay. Traditional gameplay it is not

The PSP, on the other hand, clings to tradition like a little kid and his blanket. It's pretty much just a portable ps2. Content-rich RPG? Sure. But all these "Content-rich" RPGs have something in common. The same gameplay, and usually a very, very similar plot. The ability to write good stories does not make a great game. Even great content, great graphics, and great sounds can still be filed under traditional gameplay.

If you stripped down a DS game to it's bare essentials, going down to crappiest graphics, and worst sounds, you'd still have a great game.

If you stripped down your favorite PSP game to it's bare essentials, you'd have Final Fantasy 1 or something like that.

[John Doe @ Sep 22nd 2007 1:27AM]

never mind the fact that there is no such thing as an Ultra 64. Yes I'm a nit picker.

[Mr Presidente @ Sep 22nd 2007 3:10AM]

I have both the systems; I am not biased. But I can't beliee the PSP overtook the DS. Maybe because people wanted more - like it or not the PSP offers much more, including multimedia, browser, and isnt less games focused in any way because it has the memory stick.

What I see in the above comments is some bad atempt at a comeback from the DS Fanboys. The DS is about as entertaining as my 3 yr old motorola cell-phone (The cell even clocks faster).

Nintendo offers games which are variations on the same things; they may be fun, but "fun" like the helicopter game, you get bored of it soon.

With a modded PSP you can do so much more anyways, 50GB of isos on HDD - nuff said.

[Ed @ Sep 22nd 2007 6:39PM]

Aren't the Pokemon series RPG games and weren't they also one of the most successful franchises in the history of gamingand they're nintendo exclusive??

[Ryura @ Sep 22nd 2007 8:16AM]

Do you have any clue what you're talking about? Here's the top ten DS sellers in Japan:

Pokemon Diamond & Pearl
New! Super Mario Brothers
Brain Age 2
Animal Crossing: Wild World
Brain Age
Mario Kart DS
English Training
Nintendogs
Common Sense Training
Big Brain Academy

Only 2 have Mario in the title.

[Emceay @ Sep 22nd 2007 10:42AM]

Shh, it's final fantasy VII. No one tell him the money printer will be back in a month. He's clearly overcome with joy, albeit short-lived.

[Temple @ Sep 22nd 2007 12:03AM]

Only because of FF7: Crisis Core. Will probably be back to DS dominance next week.

However, Final Fanatsy 7; Crisis Core is an absolutely amazing game with steller graphics. Just beat it, tear-jerker ending.

[Vy @ Sep 22nd 2007 12:04AM]

Unless I'm misunderstanding something, I'm not sure what the big deal is. This is for a week's sales, is it not?

It has happened before, and I think the PSP is more than capable of having a good game come out and have a good week of sales.

Though I don't get the 'rest on your laurels' or Atari reference...considering Square Enix is putting the next Dragon Quest on the DS (which is somewhat bigger than even Final Fantasy in Japan), those concerns don't make much sense.

[Matthew @ Sep 22nd 2007 9:06AM]

Seriously. DS has sold ove 50 million units in under 3 years worldwide and engadget throws in an atari reference? This sarcasm is not understood.

[Drew @ Sep 22nd 2007 10:58AM]

Thank you! One week doesn't mean anything! Hey did you see where the PS3 OUTSOLD THE WII ON AMAZON!?!?! ZOMGWTFBBQSAUCE! That was months ago, and had absolutely NO bearing on the "console wars". I don't see the Wii being emulated on the PS3 or all those people in line for the Wii suddenly looking on Amazon and saying "woah... the PS3 outsold the Wii. Fuck this line!" This is just flamebait. And yes I took it so sue me :P

[giuliop @ Sep 22nd 2007 12:39PM]

"This sarcasm is not understood"

Unfortunately, that is not sarcasm. That is utter and blatant stupidity.

[Kaemon @ Sep 22nd 2007 12:05AM]

Hmm Hmm, I knew it would happen. PSP has to at least sell well when THIS game comes out, its been around longer then the PSP, haha.

Ah well, I have DS, I have PSP, I win either way. Pfft.

[fischju @ Sep 22nd 2007 12:13AM]

Title is completely misleading. The PSP is nowhere near the DS in any part of the world. This is what happens when FF fans get a game

[Lyle @ Sep 22nd 2007 12:13AM]

What a load of crap. The PSP is on it's second iteration which is going nowhere fast and it completely depends on these exclusives. What makes the DS so easy to sell is it's library of games, at least one appealing to everybody. The PSP library consists of failures and just awful games with a few gems thrown in, but nothing comparative to the DS. The PSP may lead every once in awhile, but will never achieve what the DS has.

[Tony @ Sep 23rd 2007 10:22PM]

Obviously you've never played or probably seen a psp game. The library consits of failures?

Games with 75 or over on metacrititc.com for PSP: 94
Games with 75 or over on metacrititc.com for NDS: 73

Obviously the psp has better overall games. Gotta love ignorant dsfanboys.

[baz.karim @ Sep 22nd 2007 12:14AM]

Sony = Lame

[SimbaDogg @ Sep 22nd 2007 12:44AM]

you're an idiot

[LiQuiD_FuSioN @ Sep 22nd 2007 2:16AM]

No, YOU'RE the idiot for calling someone else an idiot.

[sm @ Sep 22nd 2007 3:59AM]

@LiQuiD_FuSioN
You're an idiot for calling someone an idiot that calls someone else an idiot

[NiL^ @ Sep 22nd 2007 8:09AM]

and so are you :) ... me too :(

[Matthew @ Sep 22nd 2007 9:09AM]

I'm not an idiot but I married one

[LiQuiD_FuSioN @ Sep 22nd 2007 1:14PM]

"You're an idiot for calling someone an idiot that calls someone else an idiot"

@sm

Wow, I never saw that coming!

..

IDIOT!

[NaeemTHM @ Sep 22nd 2007 12:16AM]

HOLY COW. Pretty impressive considering the DS dominated Japan for most of it's existence.

This will probably be a one time occurrence seeing how the DS has three Dragon Quest games in it's pipe line.

And in Japan: Dragon Quest>Jesus

[Lenz @ Sep 22nd 2007 4:17AM]

Japan's culture isn't tied to Christianity like ours is, so in Japan: Many things>Jesus.

[Lupin @ Sep 22nd 2007 10:03PM]

To be greater than Jesus isn't that difficult. Actually there's no Jesus in Japan and they live very well with that. And you have to admit they make great computer games.

[Arthur Nonamiss @ Sep 23rd 2007 1:44AM]

@Lupin

"There's no Jesus in Japan"

If you're a Christian, then you believe that Jesus ascended into Heaven. If you're an atheist, then you believe Jesus's remains are somewhere in Israel. (Or if you're a die hard Atheist, you believe Jesus never existed.) Any way you slice it, Japan is safe!

[Alan Partridge @ Sep 22nd 2007 12:19AM]

Kind of misleading title. Using 'overtakes' makes you think it has replaced the DS as the overall best selling handheld. Not just ahead one week because of Final Fnatasy

[Gadget Mike @ Sep 22nd 2007 12:20AM]

Engadget - Please stop the Sony BS marketing ploy that everything Sony is doing great.
Facts:
Sony PSP -$$$ both original and slim
Sony exploding laptop batteries -$$$
Sony PS3 -$$$
Sony Blu-Ray format -$$$
Sony Beano MP3 PLayer -$$$
Sony Betamax VCR -$$$
Sony MiniDisc -$$$

[ark_v2 @ Sep 22nd 2007 12:47AM]

Yeah, sony is the only company that cares about numbers.

[SimbaDogg @ Sep 22nd 2007 12:50AM]

you're an idiot too...

[Reader @ Sep 22nd 2007 2:55AM]

I love when people say that a company is evil because it tries to make money...

[Willen @ Sep 22nd 2007 5:39AM]

Nintendo doesn't have a spotless record either.

64DD, Gamecube, Gameboy Micro, cracking DS hinges, breaking Wii straps, and lest you forget, Virtual Boy.

Oh, and while Sony is losing money on each PS3, Nintendo is actually making a profit on every Wii sold. Does that make you hate Nintendo?

[Wolfticket @ Sep 22nd 2007 6:50AM]

I think Sony might have recouped any money it lost on betamax by now.

[GazzyC @ Sep 22nd 2007 9:27AM]

Don't insult the Minidisc, I find it extremely useful and have been using it for years but I guess Sony could have made it more open!

[o29 @ Sep 22nd 2007 1:29PM]

But I liked my Virtual Boy :(

[kev @ Sep 22nd 2007 12:32AM]

PSP is the system with more of all them nerdy otaku games. Isn't it obvious that sales should be higher for that very reason?

[eddy_88_nite @ Sep 22nd 2007 12:34AM]

hey well the ds can't win everything everytime right? Just most of the time....Are you sure monster hunter freedom 2 didn't have anything to do with the surge of sales? Cause that is one kick ass game not to mention the sick graphics. I had a ds before and i couldn't stand the games. i refunded it after a year and so far no game has made me look back on that decision. I'm not saying the PSP is better. Infact i haven't bought or played any games for the past 2 months on it until i bought monster hunter 2. Now i play it 24/7.

[ark_v2 @ Sep 22nd 2007 12:45AM]

Please, don't cry.

[trancer @ Sep 22nd 2007 12:57AM]

well.... obviously! sony did just come out with the psp "lite", thus generating more sales.
i'm sure if nintendo had come out with a DS lite V2, there would be a bit more competition.

[LiQuiD_FuSioN @ Sep 22nd 2007 2:17AM]

Please, God, NO MORE DS updates!

[Andir3.0 @ Sep 22nd 2007 1:43AM]

What's this Jesus you speak of? Some Mexican dude?

[ukickmydog (NDF - Earth) @ Sep 22nd 2007 1:43AM]

i think you should reiterate that it's just THIS week it overtook the DS, it is nowhere close to overtaking it in overall sales figures

[Stangman @ Sep 22nd 2007 3:31AM]

But will it blend?

[bl0nde @ Sep 22nd 2007 6:05AM]

The three commandments of the internets:

Thou shalt not ask if it will blend.
Thou shalt not ask if it will play Doom.
Thou shalt not welcome our new (fill in article title) overlords.

[Drew @ Sep 22nd 2007 11:11AM]

I know I'm breaking the commandments of teh interwebs, but I, for one, welcome our new PSP overlords.