Dragon Quest 3 remake sales split shows concerning signs for PS if they don’t do anything about it in Japan

[Neversummer]

These splits are insane. As much as we talk about Xbox market share being non existence in Japan, PS could be following Xbox as more devs & Japanese devs focus on Nintendo Switch 2 as the defacto 3rd party machine. Unlike previous gens Nintendo will blur the line for 3rd party support & with it’s dominance in Japan & massive sales due to Nintendo double downing on exclusive games the Nintendo Switch 2 will be undeniable to 3rd party & gamers where PS is focusing less on its hardware & storefront lacking behind PS4 even when Xbox is dead PS has not gain at the demise of Xbox.

PS needs to acquire Square Enix + the Dragon Quest ip make there games exclusive while also making the PS6 a hybrid handheld no 2 consoles like what Xbox is doing or what PS did w PS3 & PS Vita Sony/PS needs to combine there console market & handheld/mobile into 1 like Nintendo did & focus on 1 hardware less focus on power & more focus on actually making games (1 game from a first party PS studio isn’t enough when Nintendo in there final lifecycle of Switch release more games from first party then PS did for PS5 in its 4th year which should be the golden years) Also releasing on Nintendo Switch will make it where PS consoles are non existing in Japan not sure what Herman is thinking but all of the moves he has made puts PS in a serious threat of being permanently damaged/diminished.

PS should be looking to make a native PS portal that played PS5 & PS4 games for $400 to compete w Nintendo & grow in Asia call it PS5 go which will bundle its sales & make it look like PS5 is selling more. For PS6 it has to be a handheld hybrid like Nintendo Switch or if PS makes a traditional console & or a traditional console & a handheld on the side PS might aswell say bye bye to Japan. Japanese gamers want to buy 1 hardware that can do both, it’s simplified that way not a traditional console that is $600 then a handheld which would have to play PS6 games so it would have to be $600 or more. Seriously the focus on power is what will kill PS from the pricing being to high for casuals while Nintendo double downs on less power making there hardware affordable & have a high focus on first party output for there games making there hardware & storefront both undeniable to consumers & devs

 

[Danja]

It's pretty much in line with how a huge RPG will perform on PlayStation this gen it seems, it's still one of the bigger launches on the platform for that region

 

[DarkLordOtaku]

It's great to see DQIII performing so well! No surprise here with a Switch heavy purchase rate, as DQ is still largely the most popular in its home market, where Switch continues to perform very well.

I'm excited to try out the PC release after it hits gets a few sales discounts!

 

[Kokoloko]

Im pretty sure Dragon Quest is the biggest video game IP outside of Pokemon and Nintendo IP in Japan. Then its Monster Hunter and FF?
So good to see the game back in the popular books.

PS knows what to do if they release a handheld in Japan. Put some money into some DQ timed exclusives, same as Monster Hunter, and other franchises coming out continually. Like how Nintendo does, every few months they have a 1st party or 3rd party exclusive that the Japanese love. From Drum games and train games to small JRPG’s and niche titles.

They cant match the 1st party games Nintendo does, but a good combination of 1st party and 3rd party titles can do a great job, just like the PSP does. So can games like Harry Potter, Ghost of Yotei, Gran Turismo, Spiderman 3, along with Japanese popular titles and niche titles would do fine in Japan and worldwide

 

[thicc_girls_are_teh_best]

Well, if Sony ends up acquiring Kadokawa & From Software, I don't think they're going to go for Square-Enix and IMO I don't think they would need Square-Enix in that scenario since it'd potentially be redundant.

As for getting exclusivity to DQ games, that's not gonna happen. For one that IP has at least as much history with Nintendo as it does with PlayStation. Secondly, DQ is one of the IP Nintendo would likely actually fight SIE on for any type of deal IMO, specifically because of how big it is in Japan. And if it came to that, I think Nintendo would have an advantage in pointing to sales of other DQ games on their platforms (mainly Switch & Wii, but also 3DS), leveraging that against SIE to try showing what potential sales Square-Enix would lose out on by making, say, DQ XII, a timed PS console exclusive.

Look, I generally agree that SIE need to be more competitive in Japan and things like a new portable, as well as more exclusives that appeal to the market, would be strong moves in that direction. If they acquire Kadokawa, there's a lot they can leverage in terms of IP adoption and the newly acquired talent to produce games that'll appeal to the market and also push console exclusivity for them, at least in Japan and other Asian territories.

But, seeing how it seems Square-Enix want to go in a purely multiplatform direction and, very likely, will be pushing Switch 2 as a platform of priority for future growth, I think SIE would be better off leveraging JRPG IP they already have and bringing those back, building them up, or bringing back titles like King's Field. Will any of those on their own match Dragon Quest numbers? No. But it'd be adding something to the library and to the gaming space vs. just lateral transfer of games & IP through even more major acquisitions or exclusivity deals, particularly with a 3P who've already said they aren't interested in doing exclusivity deals anymore.

That all said, I do think SIE should try going for marketing rights to DQ XII globally, even if it's a Day 1 multiplat on all platforms. It'd likely further help DQ popularity outside of Japan which Square-Enix would like, and associates the IP with PlayStation more strongly which SIE would like. I think in situations like that and other instances where SIE might go for marketing deals, Nintendo might more likely just partner to develop content based on their IP exclusive to versions of those games on their system. That seems like something Nintendo'd do; technically SIE can try something similar, but their IP in general isn't as well-suited for that type of thing.

 

[ethomaz]

What?

It is the 3rd biggest release in Japan for the console… just behind Rebirth due supply issues.

 

[PlacidusaX]

Sold pretty well on PlayStation considering Nintendo having a foothold in the mobile favored market.

 

[Neversummer]

If they acquire Kadokawa, there's a lot they can leverage in terms of IP adoption and the newly acquired talent to produce games that'll appeal to the market and also push console exclusivity for them, at least in Japan and other Asian territories.

I’d agree but even some of Sony own anime ip they own that get made skips PS platform & releases on PC & Nintendo or releases multiplat.

I don’t expect anything to change really under Herman. Big anime ip aren’t being exploited under PS where they could make singleplayer games that are highly rated & or a genshin impact clone using the Demon Slayer ip that’s big in Japan & could release on PS4, PS5 & Mobile. Sony/PS has shown no sign of actually caring at the bare minimum they do 3rd party exclusive deals but that isn’t enough nor is it good because those are time & not permanent exclusive which when Nintendo is a competitor to PS Nintendo games even 3rd party are full permanent exclusive

 

[TrishaCat]

you can buy and play it on ps5 right now

 

[CrackmanNL]

34 million Switch sold in Japan vs 6 million PS5's for context on the ratio.
Shows how well the next mainline instalment of DQ12 on UE5 will do when that launches and systems it will sell, concerns?

Incoming Square Enix's didn't meet sales expectations quote.

 

[AfnanAcchan]

Sony should consider handheld that is comparable to Switch 2. Make it backward compatible with PS4 (digital) and Vita. It wont outsell Switch 2 but it gave some competition in handheld category. This will sell well in other countries too. PS Portal success show there market for another PS handheld.

 

[Yurinka]

These are only physical sales and 80% of PS5 sales are digital, while in Switch are way lower. That, combined with the console install base and Japan's traditional preference for handhelds explains the difference.

Sony should consider handheld that is comparable to Switch 2. Make it backward compatible with PS4 (digital) and Vita. It wont outsell Switch 2 but it gave some competition in handheld category. This will sell well in other countries too. PS Portal success show there market for another PS handheld.

Sony makes more revenue and more profit than Nintendo mainly because sells way more 3rd party games (worldwide and combining digital+physical, not limited to only Japanese physical sales) for their consoles than Nintendo.

Sony is more than fine with their current approach. But seems they are working on a PC handheld, yes.

 

[anonpuffs]

These are only physical sales and 80% of PS5 sales are digital, while in Switch are way lower. That, combined with the console install base and Japan's traditional preference for handhelds explains the difference.


Sony makes more revenue and more profit than Nintendo mainly because sells way more 3rd party games (worldwide and combining digital+physical, not limited to only Japanese physical sales) for their consoles than Nintendo.

Sony is more than fine with their current approach. But seems they are working on a PC handheld, yes.

I'd expect the physical split to be much higher in japan, but still lower than the Switch.

 

[Thirty7ven]

They need an handheld.

 

[Eternal_Wings]

Well, this shouldn't surprise us. DQ had a good run on PS1-PS2 with various re-releases of the first DQ games (1-7) + DQ 8 for PS2. But then Nintendo largely money-hatted DQ, and it was since then always stuck on Nintendo consoles. That's over 20 years we are talking about. So, of course, Japanese will tend to buy DQ on Nintendo systems. In the two decades, DQ is associated with Nintendo. Like FF is practically a PlayStation franchise without Sony owning it. Crisis Core Remaster sold way more on PS in Japan, despite a native Nintendo Switch version.

 

[Neversummer]

Sony makes more revenue and more profit than Nintendo mainly because sells way more 3rd party games (worldwide and combining digital+physical, not limited to only Japanese physical sales) for their consoles than Nintendo.

Sony is more than fine with their current approach. But seems they are working on a PC handheld, yes.

Wrong

 

[Neversummer]

Well, this shouldn't surprise us. DQ had a good run on PS1-PS2 with various re-releases of the first DQ games (1-7) + DQ 8 for PS2. But then Nintendo largely money-hatted DQ, and it was since then always stuck on Nintendo consoles. That's over 20 years we are talking about. So, of course, Japanese will tend to buy DQ on Nintendo systems. In the two decades, DQ is associated with Nintendo. Like FF is practically a PlayStation franchise without Sony owning it. Crisis Core Remaster sold way more on PS in Japan, despite a native Nintendo Switch version.

Mmm looks like if Sony bought Square Enix & the Dragon Quest franchise they would revert back to there dominance position in Japan if still give Nintendo overall dominating because they really focus on Japan first then others 2nd but at the very least if Sony bought Square Enix & Dragon Quest PS wouldn’t be on a decline & be at a neutral position. Also if PS used some of Sony anime ip & made exclusive singleplayer games at a 1st party PS studio level having exclusive Fate, Demon Slayer & in the future Kadokawa anime ip could revert the decline PS has had for a long time now.

 

[BillyZ]

Mmm looks like if Sony bought Square Enix & the Dragon Quest franchise they would revert back to there dominance position in Japan if still give Nintendo overall dominating because they really focus on Japan first then others 2nd but at the very least if Sony bought Square Enix & Dragon Quest PS wouldn’t be on a decline & be at a neutral position. Also if PS used some of Sony anime ip & made exclusive singleplayer games at a 1st party PS studio level having exclusive Fate, Demon Slayer & in the future Kadokawa anime ip could revert the decline PS has had for a long time now.

Not even sure that would be enough but it would help, unfortunately:
1) Sony will not buy Square Enix
2) Even if they did Square doesn't own Dragon Quest entirely, it's co-owned with Yuji Horii and he might have something against abandoning the best selling console for his series

 

[voke]

Why is it so important that only Sony has rights to Square Enix games?

You are posting Sony fanfic and covered it in a armchair analyst veil.

 

[DarkLordOtaku]

Why is it so important that only Sony has rights to Square Enix games?

You are posting Sony fanfic and covered it in a armchair analyst veil.

Yeah, this is a bit of an odd one for me too.