PS3 outsells rivals in Japan following Yakuza 3 launch

We’ve pointed it out before, but all you need to sell your console in Japan is a Japanese game about Japanese things by a Japanese studio made for Japanese people. For some reason, the Japanese love that kind of stuff! The PlayStation 3 has put this winning formula to use, with PS3 exclusive Yakuza 3 driving sales and giving Sony’s black box o’ Blu-ray a leading position.

PS3 sales jumped 20,000 units in the week ending March 1, selling 36,513 units from the previous 16,149. This runs pretty parallel to Yakuza 3, with Sega’s latest release pulling in 372,000 within the first week of release. The PS3 pushed the DSi down to second place with a solid 35,827 (an all-time low for the system) followed by the PSP with 35,588. 

More good news for the PS3. Maybe 2009 will be its year, like Sony has promised since 2006? Probably not, but we can enjoy the fun while it lasts. Hit the jump for all the sales, if you’re a numbers nerd.

PS3: 36,513
DSi: 35,827
PSP: 35,588
Wii: 17,876
Xbox 360: 11,795
DS Lite: 11,774
PS2: 5,099