Japanese hardware market up 179.1% as PS4 arrives

The games console hardware market enjoyed a sharp year-on-year increase in Japan thanks to the launch of PS4, Famitsu has revealed.

Data supplied to MCV shows that for February hardware sales were up 179.1 per cent year-on-year at 189.5m (1.11m). The software market climbed 113.8 per cent to 192.5m (1.12m).

However, it’s a 3DS title that tops the February chart, which is as follows:

1. Dragon Quest Monsters 2: Iru and Luca’s Marvelous Mysterious Key (3DS) – 605,692
2. Knack (PS4) – 322,083
3. Mobile Suit Gundam: Extreme vs. Full Boost (PS3) – 315,137
4. Yakuza : Restoration (PS3) – 142,811
5. Kirby: Triple Deluxe (3DS) – 117,061

For the week ending March 3rd Marvelous’ 3DS title Harvest Moon: Connect to a World debuts at No.1 with sales of 116,922 units followed by Nintendo’s fellow 3DS debutant Fossil Fighters at No.2.

PS4 was the week’s best selling console:

1. PS4 – 52,697
2. Nintendo 3DS LL – 25,127
3. PS Vita – 20,206
4. PS3 – 12,116
5. Nintendo 3DS – 10,772
6. Wii U – 8,515
7. PSP – 3,173
8. Xbox 360 – 160
9. PSVita TV – 1,254
10. Wii – 136

And here’s the week’s Top Ten:

1. Harvest Moon: Connect to a World (Marvelous) 3DS – 116,922
2. Fossil Fighters (Nintendo) 3DS – 60,216
3. Yakuza: Restoration (Sega) PS3 – 57,388
4. Knack (Sony) PS4 – 52,782
5. Dragon Quest Monsters 2: Iru and Luca’s Marvelous Mysterious Key (Marvelous) 3DS – 43,258
6. Youkai Watch (Level 5) 3DS – 35,243
7. Kagero: Dark Illusion (Tecmo Koei) PS3 – 24,315
8. Yakuza: Restoration (Sega) PS4 – 21,836
9. Kagero: Dark Illusion (Tecmo Koei) Vita – 18,032
10. Infinite Stratos 2: Ignition Hearts (5PB) Vita – 17,686