Japanese Gaming Market: Latest Sales Insights and Console Performance

09/11/2025

This report offers an in-depth analysis of the recent Japanese video game market, highlighting the performance of new game releases and the ongoing competition among major gaming consoles. It delves into the specific sales figures for both software and hardware, providing a comprehensive snapshot of consumer preferences and market dynamics in Japan.

Unpacking Japan's Gaming Arena: A Fortuitous Swing for Newcomers and Console Contenders!

A Stellar Launch for Golf Enthusiasts: 'Everybody's Golf: Hot Shots' Takes the Fairway

The newest sales data for physical games in Japan, courtesy of Famitsu, indicates a successful launch for Bandai Namco's 'Everybody's Golf: Hot Shots'. The title achieved impressive sales in its inaugural week, with 35,139 units sold on the Switch and an additional 16,075 on the PS5. This combined total of 51,214 units positioned it favorably against 'Mario Kart World', which remained at the top of the charts.

New Entrants and Chart Movements in the Software Landscape

Beyond 'Everybody's Golf: Hot Shots', the only other fresh release to enter the top ten was 'Daemon x Machina: Titanic Scion' for PS5, securing the ninth spot with 8,413 copies sold. The rest of the top ten primarily featured recently released titles on the Switch and PS5. 'Story of Seasons: Grand Bazaar' demonstrated a strong showing at number four, while 'Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater' experienced a slight decline, settling at number eight.

Detailed Breakdown of the Week's Top 10 Game Titles

The following table provides a comprehensive look at the top-selling games in Japan for the period of September 1st to September 7th, including their respective platforms, weekly sales figures, and cumulative sales to date:

Position	Game	Platform	Unit Sales (1st - 7th Sep)	Total Unit Sales
1	Mario Kart World	Switch 2	38,483	1,694,409
2	Everybody's Golf: Hot Shots	Switch	35,139	NEW
3	Everybody's Golf: Hot Shots	PS5	16,075	NEW
4	Story of Seasons: Grand Bazaar	Switch	13,505	60,091
5	Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba – The Hinokami Chronicles 2	Switch	12,061	109,486
6	Donkey Kong Bananza	Switch 2	10,445	296,564
7	Super Robot Wars Y	Switch	10,180	70,712
8	Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater	PS5	9,748	73,333
9	Daemon X Machina: Titanic Scion	PS5	8,413	NEW
10	Minecraft	Switch	6,410	3,996,318

Console Market: PS5's Surprising Ascent Amidst Switch Dominance

In the hardware sector, the Switch 2 maintained its leading position. However, the PS5 delivered a notable surprise, with its standard model climbing to second place, selling 22,247 units. When combining all three PS5 models, Sony's console family reached a total of 31,695 units, surpassing the 24,175 units sold by the original Switch consoles. Despite this momentary victory for Sony, the Switch 2 continues to exhibit strong performance in the market.

Overview of Console Sales and Lifetime Figures

The following table provides a detailed breakdown of console sales for the week, along with their cumulative lifetime unit sales in Japan:

Position	Console	Unit Sales (1st - 7th Sep)	Lifetime Unit Sales
1	Switch 2	46,403	1,980,483
2	PlayStation 5	22,247	5,771,474
3	Switch OLED Model	12,683	9,166,792
4	Switch Lite	8,285	6,657,654
5	PlayStation 5 Digital Edition	7,315	992,697
6	Switch	3,207	20,145,209
7	PlayStation 5 Pro	2,133	245,766
8	Xbox Series X	98	322,062
9	Xbox Series X Digital Edition	37	21,433
10	Xbox Series S	25	339,432
11	PlayStation 4	14	7,929,886