PSP Loses Hardware Lead in Japan Thanks to DSi

Kris Erickson • Dec 22, 2008 • Comments (0)

For most of 2008, the PSP sold more units on a weekly basis than the Nintendo DS in Japan. Of course, the rest of the world is a different story, but 2008 was (for the most part) truly the year of the PSP in the Japanese market. That is, until December. The release of the hot new dual-camera equipped Nintendo DSi has removed the lead enjoyed by Sony's handheld. The chart below shows Sony on top for most of the year, but Nintendo making a late-stage comeback as we get closer tot he holidays. The recently released PSP 3000 managed to stave off defeat for a while, but it looks as though the DS will edge ahead of the PSP in sales this year, like it did the previous three years in a row.

Oh well, at least the Playstation Portable put up a good fight this year. Let's hope that it can continue the strong sales it has recently enjoyed in North America, long enough to convince developers to make some games for it.