Alright, let’s dive into the wild world of Japanese gaming charts—because holy smokes, Monster Hunter Wilds just flipped the script! Look, the PS5’s been killing it globally, no question. Sony’s latest beast has fans worldwide drooling over its sleek design and powerhouse performance. But over in Japan? Eh, it’s been a different story. The Nintendo Switch has had that market on lock, outselling the PS5 week after week like it’s no big deal. Until now, that is—Capcom’s latest monster-slaying epic has given the PS5 the jolt it desperately needed.
So, here’s the scoop: Monster Hunter Wilds dropped, and since it’s not gracing the Switch with its presence, Japanese hunters had to make a choice. And guess what? They didn’t hesitate to snag a PS5 to get in on the action. (Xbox? Pfft, let’s not even go there—more on that trainwreck later.) The result? The PS5 version of the game smashed it with 601,179 units sold in its launch week alone. That’s not just a win—that’s a mic-drop moment. Meanwhile, the Xbox version didn’t even sniff the top ten. Shocker? Not really.
Switch fans, don’t despair—your little hybrid champ still had a solid showing. Yu-Gi-Oh! Early Days Collection snagged second place with 49,862 copies sold, which is honestly impressive. On any other week, that’d be a chart-topper, no sweat. But when you’re up against a juggernaut like Monster Hunter Wilds, well, second’s still pretty darn respectable.
Let’s break down the hardware numbers, because this is where it gets juicy. The PS5 family—yep, all three SKUs combined—racked up 108,978 units sold. That’s enough to rocket it past the Switch, which clocked in at 45,189. Now, before you Switch loyalists start crying foul, that’s still a decent haul—about what it’s been pulling lately. Monster Hunter Wilds just cast a massive shadow this week, is all. And then there’s Xbox. Oh, Xbox. A measly 721 units. I’ve seen more action at a garage sale. Rough times for Microsoft in Japan, huh?
Back in my gaming days—okay, fine, last weekend—I remember the hype around big launches like this. Friends scrambling to grab the latest console, debates over which version runs smoother, the whole deal. Monster Hunter’s always had that pull, but Wilds? It’s on another level. It’s not just a game; it’s a cultural event over there. And clearly, it’s the push Sony needed to flex some muscle in Japan.
So yeah, the PS5’s sitting pretty at the top of the hardware charts this week, and Monster Hunter Wilds is the MVP behind it all. Whether you’re a die-hard hunter or just watching from the sidelines, you’ve gotta admit—this is one heck of a moment for Japanese gaming charts.
Japanese Hardware Charts (Feb 17 - Feb 23, 2025)
The PS5 family’s riding high this week, all thanks to Monster Hunter Wilds. Here’s how the consoles stacked up:
- PlayStation 5 - 75,070 units sold (Feb 17-23) / 5,550,115 total units sold
- Switch OLED Model - 30,112 units sold / 8,827,863 total units sold
- PlayStation 5 Digital Edition - 26,362 units sold / 944,104 total units sold
- Switch Lite - 11,094 units sold / 6,473,891 total units sold
- PlayStation 5 Pro - 7,546 units sold / 172,238 total units sold
- Switch (Original) - 3,983 units sold / 20,066,829 total units sold
- Xbox Series S - 640 units sold / 332,626 total units sold
- Xbox Series X Digital Edition - 46 units sold / 19,889 total units sold
- Xbox Series X - 35 units sold / 319,519 total units sold
- PlayStation 4 - 20 units sold / 7,929,295 total units sold
Quick Take: The PS5 trio—standard, Digital, and Pro—racked up 108,978 units combined, leaving the Switch family’s 45,189 in the dust. Xbox barely scraped 721 total. Rough week for the green team.
Japanese Software Charts (Feb 17 - Feb 23, 2025)
Monster Hunter Wilds crashes the party at #1. Here’s the rundown of the top games:
- Monster Hunter Wilds (PS5) - 601,179 units sold (Feb 17-23) / NEW
- Yu-Gi-Oh! Early Days Collection (Switch) - 49,862 units sold / NEW
- Wizardry: The Five Ordeals (Switch) - 11,299 units sold / NEW
- Super Mario Party Jamboree (Switch) - 10,746 units sold / 1,209,807 total units sold
- Donkey Kong Country Returns HD (Switch) - 10,418 units sold / 216,581 total units sold
- Mario Kart 8 Deluxe (Switch) - 10,062 units sold / 6,269,164 total units sold
- Like A Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii (PS5) - 9,389 units sold / 77,608 total units sold
- Like A Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii (PS4) - 7,545 units sold / 44,487 total units sold
- Okayu Nyumu! (Switch) - 5,932 units sold / NEW
- Minecraft (Switch) - 5,047 units sold / 3,820,765 total units sold
Quick Take: Monster Hunter Wilds’ 601K debut is pure domination. Switch still flexes with five spots in the top 10, but PS5’s stealing the show this week
