2022 CESA Games White Paper: Hardware sales in 2021.

[SoonyXboneUhh]

Look closer, the "marketshare" shown is just PS versus MS, Nintendo is ignored.

Yeah. And just one year.
Nordics is the big outlier where Xbox One launches in 2014 and sold a ton compared to 2021 for Series X|S. The Xbox One was quite competitive that year because of huge holiday sales and price cuts.

LTD marketshare after the first 2 full years including launch should give a better picture next year

 

[cw_sasuke]

I’ve answered with facts (average income and so on), you are free to check

Average income doesn't tell you much about spending behavior when it comes to entertainment and brand loyalty though.

Italy has been more or less a dominant single plattform market for most of its time, meanwhile Spain always had a relatively strong Nintendo/Japanese games presence even during PS stronghold years. Aka my point about people willing to spent extra for brands they feel strong about.

If I'm reading the market wrong, why do you think Spain is the bigger market ? I don't think saying the Italian market is small or weak makes sense, they just don't have strong enough ties to certain platforms and their legacy that would push them to spending as much a ppl in Spain.

So yeah Spain is all things considered probably more of an outlier, if you factor in the overall economic standing.

 

[Valerio]

From what ived witness its still a bit more severe in Italy, also a lot of the japanese IPs has been a core part of the France/Spain media DNA since the early 90s, so in these cases the properties are priorities, while they are seen as luxury or secondary in other markets. Its like Disney still being Disney regardless of how well a country is doing because most people grew up on it and will spent money on things they feel passionate about/sacrifice other stuff for it.

Everything outside of a Playstation + Fifa/GTA/Fortnite will already push things for the regular customers in certain countries, where Nintendo never was as big and is considered expensive. If you are struggling financially a 2nd system, let alone +50€ that rarely drop in price might be not be that attractive. Especially now in this f2p/mobile world.

Online people always act like owning multiple current system is a standard - like having a Switch, a powerful PC, SteamDeck another Playstation and whatever - when many people still tend to be happy and satisfied with a single platform per generation. In bigger markets the answer can be PS/Xbox and Switch, in many other markets its still more often than not - a either or situation.

Maybe struggling was the wrong word, in the end consoles and gaming in general are luxury items, cant take these bigger markets just for granted, its a privilege to be able to spent a large portion of your resources on a hobby like gaming.

Average income doesn't tell you much about spending behavior when it comes to entertainment and brand loyalty though.

Italy has been more or less a dominant single plattform market for most of its time, meanwhile Spain always had a relatively strong Nintendo/Japanese games presence even during PS stronghold years. Aka my point about people willing to spent extra for brands they feel strong about.

If I'm reading the market wrong, why do you think Spain is the bigger market ? I don't think saying the Italian market is small or weak makes sense, they just don't have strong enough ties to certain platforms and their legacy that would push them to spending as much a ppl in Spain.

So yeah Spain is all things considered probably more of an outlier, if you factor in the overall economic standing.

Data says Spain is a bigger console Market than Italy. You said It was for Financial reasons, i answered you that the economic and living conditions of Spain and Italy are very similar. So, that’s not the reason…

Edit: it’s not easy to assess why the difference. Anime are very strong in Italy, and japanese animated Ips came in late 70’s. I bet on demographics: Italy has a lower percentage of young people

 

[Celine]

PS Vita

PS Vitaのゲームに関するサポートについてご紹介します。

www.playstation.com

lol your post reminded me we don't have yet a "objection" gif for the misconception that all you need to be successful in Japan is to release a portable console.
(it's not directed in specific to user anthony98)

 

[Joseki]

.

 

[Fiendslayer]

Lol absolutely not.
PS's second largest market is Europe, certainly not Japan.

I like how Europe is lumped as one country.

But yes Sony doesn't care about Japan.

 

[cw_sasuke]

Data says Spain is a bigger console Market than Italy. You said It was for Financial reasons, i answered you that the economic and living conditions of Spain and Italy are very similar. So, that’s not the reason…

Edit: it’s not easy to assess why the difference. Anime are very strong in Italy, and japanese animated Ips came in late 70’s. I bet on demographics: Italy has a lower percentage of young people

I replied to a post framing Italy as weird because their VG market isnt as big and other markets despite the population, which didnt make much sense to me considering what they are struggling with, which isnt limited to just financial reasons.

Spains market thriving despite these factors doesnt mean that they arent factors, Italy is facing similar issues which is always gonna limit the speed of growth unless people are very attached to the content/brand and willing to make other sacrifices for it.

 

[Valerio]

what they are struggling with, which isnt limited to just financial reasons.

They are not struggling (please, use other words) that’s the point, more than other countries. Maybe you understimate cultural Factors and demographics

 

[Kmds]

I like how Europe is lumped as one country.

But yes Sony doesn't care about Japan.

And also he’s very wrong saying that Europe is their 2nd largest market. That’s the United States.

Europe has always been the number one territory for Sony, America 2nd and Japan 3rd in absolute terms. Obviously though, Europe is a collection of countries so Japan has ALWAYS been the 2nd biggest Playstation country until now for EVERY single sony platform.

 

[cw_sasuke]

They are not struggling (please, use other words) that’s the point, more than other countries. Maybe you understimate cultural Factors and demographics

"Like MS is struggling to sell Xbox systems in Japan" - of course doesnt mean that MS is actually struggling and in the risk of going under as a company or in terms of Xbox.
VG market struggling compared to the other main/bigger EU markets that its being compared here.

Its not 'weird' for the Italian market to be not be as big a France or Germany for example despite the population, which was the whole point of my initial reply. Also cultural factors and demographics are part of certain struggles, you rarely can completely separate these issues from one another.

PS. Personally i dont see an issue with the word used but i also dont know what other term to chose. Its really not that deep on my end, but feel free to provide whatever word you feel is more appropriate.

 

[Bruno MB]

Now that you are talking about Italy, I would like to point out that CESA data (IDG Consulting) is very inaccurate for this country, hardware sales are vastly overestimated. When I saw Nintendo Switch with 710.000 units my first reaction was that it was not possible and I went to check the 2021 report from l'Associazione di categoria dell’industria dei videogiochi in Italia.

https://iideassociation.com/kdocs/2041621/i_videogiochi_in_italia_nel_2021.pdf

According to GSD, the sum of Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series accounted for 806.227 units, but CESA shows 1.130.000, a figure 40% higher.

For what I have seen at first glance, Nintendo Switch is notably underestimated in France, overestimated in Spain and very overestimated in Italy.

 

[Necroxid]

Now that you are talking about Italy, I would like to point out that CESA data (IDG Consulting) is very inaccurate for this country, hardware sales are vastly overestimated. When I saw Nintendo Switch with 710.000 units my first reaction was that it was not possible and I went to check the 2021 report from l'Associazione di categoria dell’industria dei videogiochi in Italia.

https://iideassociation.com/kdocs/2041621/i_videogiochi_in_italia_nel_2021.pdf

According to GSD, the sum of Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series accounted for 806.227 units, but CESA shows 1.130.000, a figure almost 30% higher.

For what I have seen at first glance, Nintendo Switch is notably underestimated in France, overestimated in Spain and very overestimated in Italy.

Pleas note that when they're saying "console portable" they mean mostly Switch Lite sales

 

[Valerio]

"Like MS is struggling to sell Xbox systems in Japan" - of course doesnt mean that MS is actually struggling and in the risk of going under as a company or in terms of Xbox.
VG market struggling compared to the other main/bigger EU markets that its being compared here.

Its not 'weird' for the Italian market to be not be as big a France or Germany for example despite the population, which was the whole point of my initial reply. Also cultural factors and demographics are part of certain struggles, you rarely can completely separate these issues from one another.

PS. Personally i dont see an issue with the word used but i also dont know what other term to chose. Its really not that deep on my end, but feel free to provide whatever word you feel is more appropriate.

Look, It’s not offensive per se, but it is very inaccurate: by Gnp in 2021, Italy is the fourth economy of europe, and the eight globally. Per capita, 28th (Japan is 26th). The struggle is a misconception

 

[Bruno MB]

Pleas note that when they're saying "console portable" they mean mostly Switch Lite sales

The 806.227 units figure for "Next Gen" include all models of Nintendo Switch.

 

[KtSlime]

lol your post reminded me we don't have yet a "objection" gif for the misconception that all you need to be successful in Japan is to release a portable console.
(it's not directed in specific to user anthony98)

I'll have to use this in the future, thanks. Like I feel there is a big misunderstanding it's not that being portable or not is what makes or breaks a system, it certainly helps quite a bit. But the real determining factor of what will make a console have success is whether or not it has the support of the largest and second largest publishers in Japan.

 

[cw_sasuke]

Look, It’s not offensive per se, but it is very inaccurate: by Gnp in 2021, Italy is the fourth economy of europe, and the eight globally. Per capita, 28th (Japan is 26th). The struggle is a misconception

Again these terms dont exits in a bubble and are usually used relatively to whatever you are comparing it to.
We are talking about the mayor EU console markets here - all regions here are considered generally strong markets, that goes without saying. My comment was a reply to a comparison between Italy and other bigger markets with similar population, sayin it was weird that they are 5th place, when what im saying and the data you are providing pretty much backing up that its not weird at all but in line with expectations for the economy compared to the other nations.

Anyhow i dont think we need to prolong the discussion because it doesnt seem to go anywhere. If you took offense to it it wasnt meant as an attack.

 

[Valerio]

Again these terms dont exits in a bubble and are usually used relatively to whatever you are comparing it to.
We are talking about the mayor EU console markets here - all regions here are considered generally strong markets, that goes without saying. My comment was a reply to a comparison between Italy and other bigger markets with similar population, sayin it was weird that they are 5th place, when what im saying and the data you are providing pretty much backing up that its not weird at all but in line with expectations for the economy compared to the other nations.

Anyhow i dont think we need to prolong the discussion because it doesnt seem to go anywhere. If you took offense to it it wasnt meant as an attack.

Ok Pal. I didn’t take offense, it’s all ok

 

[Astral_lion02]

@Grady If you don’t mind I’ll open a different thread next week, with the graphs like this one, because I want to keep the format.

Hardware and Software sales 2020 in +10 countries

2020 numbers for each country. USA Hardware Switch - 8.980.000 (56%) PS4 - 2.070.000 (13%) PS5 - 1.960.000 (12%) Series - 1.490.000 (9%) XB1 - 1.460.000 (9%) 3DS - 200.000 (1%) TOTAL - 16.160.000 (100%) Annual Hardware (2012-2020) Total Hardware Software Switch - 39.080.000 (42%) PS4 -...

www.installbaseforum.com

I recomand for this year's thread to remplace CESA data when more acurate data are publicy avaible :

For exemple I recomand to use directly the the GFK/GSD numbers in France instand of CESA numbers.

I know that this will mix differents source but I think the result will be a little more accurate.

France Hardware [GFK/GSD]

	3DS	PSV	WIU	PS4	XB1	NSW	PS5	XBS
2011​	761​
2012​	947​	201​	118​
2013​	950​	121​	176​	240​	126​
2014​	742​	106​	221​	860​	290​
2015​	668​	79​	228​	1055​	300​
2016​	697​	28​	89​	1060​	310​
2017​	486​			1008​	278​	911​
2018​	255​			940​	232​	1130​
2019​	97​			550​	180​	1250​
2020​	29​			294​	78​	1445​	165​	86​
2021​				90​	5​	1231​	600​	214​
ALL	5632​	535​	832​	6097​	1799​	5967​	765​	300​

LTD HW Total for the previous Gen :

Wii : 6293k
PS3 : 5235k
360 : 3379k

NDS : 10596k
PSP : 3582k

France Software (2011 - 2019) [GFK] :

	3DS	PSV	WIU	PS4	XB1	NSW	PC
2011​	1250​	​					5130​
2012​	2520​	500​	200​				4350​
2013​	3480​	400​	600​	410​	250​		3230​
2014​	4130​	400​	1000​	3290​	1280​		2520​
2015​	3480​	300​	1300​	6100​	1980​		1970​
2016​	3980​	200​	1100​	7970​	2190​		1420​
2017​	3050​	100​	500​	8940​	1990​	2570​	820​
2018​	1480​	​	100​	8180​	1780​	5160​	430​
2019​	810​		​	6510​	1350​	7210​	200​
ALL	24180​	1900​	4800​	41400​	10820​	14940​	20070​

LTD SW Total for the previous Gen (2018) :

Wii : 46M
PS3 : 54M
360 : 34M

NDS : 55M
PSP : 17M

UK Software (2013 - 2021) [GFK]

	3DS	PSV	WIU	PS4	XB1	NSW	PS5	XBS	PC
2013​	2500​	500​	700​	1300​	1000​				2600​
2014​	1900​	400​	1000​	6800​	5600​				1600​
2015​	1300​	200​	9800​	8300​	9600​				1000​
2016​	1700​	100​	600​	10700​	8100​				600​
2017​	1300​		200​	12000​	7500​	1800​			300​
2018​	700​		​	10500​	6600​	3700​			200​
2019​	300​		​	7600​	4700​	4800​			100​
2020​	300​		​	7300​	3500​	6900​	500​	100​	100​
2021​	50​		​	3700​	1500​	7000​	2000​	600​	50​
ALL	10050​	1200​	43200​	68200​	48100​	24200​	2500​	700​	6550​

 

[fiendcode]

Lol absolutely not.
PS's second largest market is Europe, certainly not Japan. Even in the gen PS3 and PS4, Europe was the second market.

PlayStation disagrees with you.

"The Japanese Market Remains Incredibly Important To Us," Says Sony Interactive Entertainment Boss Jim Ryan

Sony boss Jim Ryan has rubbished reports claiming PlayStation will place less focus on Japan this generation.

www.thegamer.com

 

[La Leganto]

Switch this strong in Germany surprised me.

 

[KillerMan]

PlayStation disagrees with you.

"The Japanese Market Remains Incredibly Important To Us," Says Sony Interactive Entertainment Boss Jim Ryan

Sony boss Jim Ryan has rubbished reports claiming PlayStation will place less focus on Japan this generation.

www.thegamer.com

That feels weird when we actually have decent retail sw figures for PS4 in different markets. In UK and Germany PS4 sold more retail sw than in japan by decent margin (And this doesn't even count digital where especially UK should have way higher share than Japan). I guess maybe users in japan spent a lot of money in F2P games.

 

[awng782]

The 806.227 units figure for "Next Gen" include all models of Nintendo Switch.

Then that means 3DS + PSV sold 125,640 units in Italy in 2021? Is there some non-Nintendo/Sony handheld that's being accounted for?

700K Switches sold in Italy in 2021 is likely way too high, but I would like to know how GSD classifies home consoles vs portables?

 

[Necroxid]

The 806.227 units figure for "Next Gen" include all models of Nintendo Switch.

Unfortunately that can't be true, in fact I and @Ryng™ once we came to the conclusion that, in order to have things right and clear, Switch Lite has to be under the "Console Portable" label

 

[enpleinjour]

I would like to point out that CESA data (IDG Consulting)

Wait, CESA uses IDG consulting as their source? So these are IDG 2021 numbers?

That feels weird when we actually have decent retail sw figures for PS4 in different markets. In UK and Germany PS4 sold more retail sw than in japan by decent margin (And this doesn't even count digital where especially UK should have way higher share than Japan). I guess maybe users in japan spent a lot of money in F2P games.

Japan iirc is number 3 in total user spend, and number 1 in spend by user, primarily due to their love of F2P games.

 

[Astral_lion02]

Then that means 3DS + PSV sold 125,640 units in Italy in 2021? Is there some non-Nintendo/Sony handheld that's being accounted for?

700K Switches sold in Italy in 2021 is likely way too high, but I would like to know how GSD classifies home consoles vs portables?

Italy HW :

Split by generation :

[PS5/XBS/NSW] 806.227
[PS4/XB1/WIU/3DS] 80.503
[Retro] 60.056
[ALL] 946.786

Split between Home Console/Portable

[Home Console] 821.146
[Portable] 125.640
[ALL] 946.786

 

[Pooroomoo]

Italy HW :

Split by generation :

[PS5/XBS/NSW] 806.227
[PS4/XB1/WIU/3DS] 80.503
[Retro] 60.056
[ALL] 946.786

Split between Home Console/Portable

[Home Console] 821.146
[Portable] 125.640
[ALL] 946.786

There is no way 125k portables were sold in 2021 unless it includes Switch Lite.

 

[Necroxid]

Italy HW :

Split by generation :

[PS5/XBS/NSW] 806.227
[PS4/XB1/WIU/3DS] 80.503
[Retro] 60.056
[ALL] 946.786

Split between Home Console/Portable

[Home Console] 821.146
[Portable] 125.640
[ALL] 946.786

OK now I get the misunderstanding with @Bruno MB, when they say "next gen" they are including all switch sales, including Switch Lites sales under the "Portable Console" category

 

[Aostia82]

Aesvi and IIDEA put the Lite under the portable label
I think you can check my thread about IIDEA report on the Italian market here on IB (cant look for it now)

 

[Ryng™]

Unfortunately that can't be true, in fact I and @Ryng™ once we came to the conclusion that, in order to have things right and clear, Switch Lite has to be under the "Console Portable" label

it's been a while but yeah i rember we come to that conclusion, numbers didn't make sense otherwise.

 

[RaymondBryce]

Beyond the fact that Sony has somewhat sidelined Japan, the factual data says that already PS3 had sold less than PS2 in Japan. So did PS4, which sold less than PS3. The same will probably do PS5 which will do slightly less or at most the same or slightly more than PS4 in the jap market.
The trend in Japan is now clear, Portable and Mobile Gaming is king.
I'm pretty sure that if Nintendo tried to make a Classic home console, it wouldn't do anywhere near the Switch's numbers in Japan.
Unless Sony brings out a new handheld console and supports it well with some Japanese titles, PS's numbers in Japan will remain that way. And I honestly don't think they are interested in this. I think they're fine with having only a Classic home console and a minimal market share in Japan, while maintaining similar sales to PS4 gen in the U.S. and Europe (where they make most of the revenues) , and increasing sales in countries like China or India to have general growth.

Sony's issue in Japan is not hardware, it's software. Neither they nor third parties have been able to provide the PlayStation ecosystem with a constant supply of games with high appeal, which is why it has declined.

 

[enpleinjour]

Sony's issue in Japan is not hardware, it's software. Neither they nor third parties have been able to provide the PlayStation ecosystem with a constant supply of games with high appeal, which is why it has declined.

Not really. Portability is absolutely crucial in Japan. If your hardware does not have portability its going to restricted to a much smaller audience.

 

[Tbone5189]

Not really. Portability is absolutely crucial in Japan. If your hardware does not have portability its going to restricted to a much smaller audience.

That's partial and only by a small amount of the total reason. PS5 hardware is selling on par with ps4 for example yet even if half of the ps5 are scalped, that doesn't explain the poor software sales

 

[ILikeFeet]

Not really. Portability is absolutely crucial in Japan. If your hardware does not have portability its going to restricted to a much smaller audience.

I wouldn't say this is completely true when consoles had done well. PS5 just isn't desirable

 

[enpleinjour]

That's partial and only by a small amount of the total reason. PS5 hardware is selling on par with ps4 for example yet even if half of the ps5 are scalped, that doesn't explain the poor software sales

No, its likely the biggest reason.
Digital sales have increased significantly and F2P titles have almost overtaken all other forms of playtime on Playstation in Japan.

I wouldn't say this is completely true when consoles had done well. PS5 just isn't desirable

What consoles? Even the phenomenon that was the Wii topped of at 12M. The PS3 did 10M and PS4 got close enough to 10M. The last time a console with no portability did really big numbers was the PS2.

20 years ago and before the smartphone, 4/5G age of computing.

 

[fiendcode]

Vita tho. Sony's core problem isn't portability, it's the Sony approach in general.

 

[Tbone5189]

No, its likely the biggest reason.
Digital sales have increased significantly and F2P titles have almost overtaken all other forms of playtime on Playstation in Japan.



What consoles? Even the phenomenon that was the Wii topped of at 12M. The PS3 did 10M and PS4 got close enough to 10M. The last time a console with no portability did really big numbers was the PS2.

20 years ago and before the smartphone, 4/5G age of computing.

It's not even close to half the reason, vita puts that to rest. That said, I agree that F2P games have significantly increase, and digital.... but nowhere near what you think. A few examples doesn't justify that, and even if digital was 50% split, software sales are horrible in japan.

Look at chris post from the other day with ps4 software, triple it (66% digital) and its below the likes of ps4/vita/wiiu software aligned

 

[MegaXZero]

PS in Japan is undergoing an obvious decline that publishers and devs are taking note of. We had recent interview from Capcom talking about the shift in Japan and what that means for future talent they would need from Japan; Falcom which resisted going to Switch for years is now doing Switch+eshop giveaways to help move/develop their audience; and multiple devs speaking out publicly themselves or privately to media organizations about the decline of PS/stranglehold of Nintendo.

SIE isn't reliant on Japan so for them it is not as much an issue, besides perhaps a bit of bad press for the mother company back home. But in Japan the effects are becoming more and more apparent each year.

I also never get how people act like Japan has been overtaken by mobile and F2P, while the rest of the world is safe with premium games away from that menace.

 

[ILikeFeet]

I also never get how people act like Japan has been overtaken by mobile and F2P, while the rest of the world is safe with premium games away from that menace.

because the west isn't "safe from that menace". billions of dollars are to be had in the west on mobile. it's just more balanced because people find playstation (and xbox and switch) desirable as well

 

[MegaXZero]

because the west isn't "safe from that menace". billions of dollars are to be had in the west on mobile. it's just more balanced because people find playstation (and xbox and switch) desirable as well

Exactly. Mobile gaming is just used as a scapegoat in japan when it's already strong elsewhere.

 

[Celine]

What consoles? Even the phenomenon that was the Wii topped of at 12M. The PS3 did 10M and PS4 got close enough to 10M. The last time a console with no portability did really big numbers was the PS2.

20 years ago and before the smartphone, 4/5G age of computing.

It's a rookie mistake to not also look at the software side.

Total software sales in Japan split by first-party and third-party as August 2010 (Media Create)

Total software sales in Japan+USA split by first-party and third-party as August 2010 (Media Create, NPD)

Cumulative number of titles released on Wii in Japan and America:

 

[enpleinjour]

It's not even close to half the reason, vita puts that to rest. That said, I agree that F2P games have significantly increase, and digital.... but nowhere near what you think. A few examples doesn't justify that, and even if digital was 50% split, software sales are horrible in japan.

Look at chris post from the other day with ps4 software, triple it (66% digital) and its below the likes of ps4/vita/wiiu software aligned

No it does not. PSV's third party support was nowhere close to PS3/4 and soon PS5.

We don't need to think, we have data. Digital is likely anywhere from 30-60%. And you have to take into account F2P is far far bigger in Japan relative to other forms than in any other country in the world. In fact Japan has the highest F2P ratio, and 2nd highest spend per user.

 

[KtSlime]

Data must be interpreted by a model to make sense. Thinking is required.

 

[Kenka]

No it does not. PSV's third party support was nowhere close to PS3/4 and soon PS5.

We don't need to think, we have data. Digital is likely anywhere from 30-60%. And you have to take into account F2P is far far bigger in Japan relative to other forms than in any other country in the world. In fact Japan has the highest F2P ratio, and 2nd highest spend per user.

I command you for intervening in the conversation, though I am not convinced by your communication; you are trying to pull too many tangent arguments to defend your opinion to the point the readers are losing your real affirmation from sight.

 

[tentacle-tropes]

Yes JP is big in digital spend & F2P if you account for mobile. On the PS5 that is highly suspect. The software situation shouldn’t be this bad even if we are being generous with digital share & assume everyone’s been twiddling their thumbs with F2P content. We have more then enough evidence from companies saying as much to the state of the PS software market.

https://www.pushsquare.com/news/202...ayers-praying-for-pc-port-of-final-fantasy-16
Maybe if Sony didn’t do stuff like this then people would actually desire or even want to buy content on their system.