Prey chooses interesting time to prey on the Japanese market

Slumping season

It’s still a down season in Japan as we progress out of the post-Golden Week slump into summer. Overall software and hardware sales remained on par with the low numbers last week while little changed: Mario Kart 8 Deluxe and Monster Hunter XX sip tea from their thrones while the Nintendo Switch pumped out another 25,000 units. Box sales are not counted. The only new Japanese title to rank this week was the Danganronpa 1•2 Reload combo.

What a time to release your revived shooter. Prey ranked fifth in software sales, but that is only just above 7,000. On one hand, you think it’s not a great idea to sell a western shooter during such a down time; on the other I suppose it’s perhaps better than lining it up around the time as major Japanese releases such as Splatoon 2. 

Media Create Sales 5/15/17-5/21/17 [4gamer]

Top game sales. Lifetime sales in parentheses.

1. [NSW] Mario Kart 8 Deluxe – 28,781 (440,696)
2. [3DS] Monster Hunter XX  – 12,643 (1,479,189)
3. [NSW] The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild – 10,849 (465,631)
4. [3DS] Dragon Ball Heroes: Ultimate Mission X – 7,470 (146,408)
5. [PS4] Prey – 7,105 (New)
6. [PS4] NieR: Automata – 4,740 (330,293)
7. [3DS] Fire Emblem Echoes: Shadows of Valentia – 4,400 (179,268)
8. [PS4] Danganronpa 1•2 Reload – 3,880 (New)
9. [PS4] Dark Souls III: The Fire Fades Edition – 3,302 (55,979)
10. [WIU] The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild – 3,286 (122,993)
11. [3DS] Attack on Titan: Escape from Certain Death – 3,238 (11,837)
12. [3DS] Pokémon Sun & Moon – 3,043 (3,262,880)
13. [NSW] 1-2-Switch – 2,937 (211,793)
14. [3DS] Animal Crossing: New Leaf Amiibo+ – 2,905 (178,852)
15. [3DS] Mario Sports Superstar – 2,865 (92,829)
16. [PS4] Grand Theft Auto V (4,990 yen Version) – 2,863 (336,943)
17. [3DS] Super Mario Maker for Nintendo 3DS – 2,774 (1,041,237)
18. [3DS] Pro Yakyuu Famista Climax – 2,753 (76,436)
19. [PS4] Ghost Recon: Wildlands – 2,468 (180,413)
20. [PS4] Rainbow Six Siege – 2,426 (194,471)

 Top console sales. Prior week’s sales in parentheses.

1. Switch – 26,114 (24,712)
2. New 3DS XL – 13,922 (13,643)
3. PlayStation 4 – 12,235 (12,334)
4. PlayStation 4 Pro – 4,989 (4,961)
5. PlayStation Vita – 4,088 (4,114)
6. 2DS – 2,732 (2,862)
7. New 3DS – 1,406 (1,021)
8. PlayStation 3 – 327 (325)
9. Wii U – 184 (157)
10. Xbox One – 103 (149)