Here’s Why Sony Is Making a Japan-Specific PS5 Console

The biggest news from this week’s State of Play Japan presentation was the reveal of a new PlayStation 5 console designed specifically for the Japanese market.

This version of the console is only available in Japanese and requires a Japanese PlayStation Network account. This allows Sony to sell it for a much lower price of ¥55,000 (about $350), which is around $120 cheaper than the current digital version. Nintendo did something similar in Japan with the release of the Switch 2 earlier this year, and it’s been very popular there.

The PlayStation 5 hasn’t been selling well in Japan recently, so Sony is considering a new strategy – creating a more affordable console specifically for that region, similar to Nintendo’s approach. Recent sales data shows the Nintendo Switch 2 is significantly more popular than the PS5 in Japan and is quickly closing in on the PS5’s total sales, despite being available for less than six months.

As of November 9th, 2025, here’s a look at the total Japanese sales figures for the Nintendo Switch 2 and the three different PlayStation 5 models.

  1. Base PS5 (w/ disc drive) — 5.8 million sales
  2. Nintendo Switch 2 — 2.6 million sales
  3. Base PS5 Digital — 1 million sales
  4. PS5 Pro — 266,000 sales

The PS5, across all its versions, has sold approximately seven million units so far. In comparison, the Switch 2 has sold 2.6 million units in just six months, which explains why Sony is looking to increase its share of the market. While the Switch 2 offers a unique gaming experience as both a console you connect to a TV and a portable handheld device, its lower price, especially in Japan, has likely boosted sales.

Sony is hoping a new version of the PS5, specifically for Japan, will boost sales as the console approaches its fifth anniversary.

Read More

2025-11-14 13:06