They mention "excluding digital downloads" as if they just wanted to cover their dog so people wouldn't comment saying it. But digital downloads completely break down this entire argument, and they didn't mention the digital console.
The physical console sold 172k at the time of that, so the top 3 games actually sold more like 37% of console base. Then that's just the top three, the rest of the games combined should make up a good chunk, probably bumping it to >50%. Then that's just physical, digital ratio for playstation is over 50% nowadays, even in Japan. Then you also consider that there's a free game - made in Japan - installed for free with each console. And of course there's BC with great stuff like the PS+ collection.
There's no problem here at all. Software sales for PS5 could be relatively stronger than PS4 for all we know.
Hardware will struggle in Japan, that's for sure. But PS3 and PS4 were the same, and PS5 will be expected to continue that small decline anyway. But we don't have any indication of that yet, as PS5 still sells out instantly in Japan too.
They're comparing to the Switch, which had a major title (for the Japanese market) day 1 (Breath of the Wild). Which sold a huge portion of all games on Switch for launch week.
Switch is also going to be more physical heavy.
It's just an absurd point of comparison.
Not to mention they tap on the yield issue again in this article.
And they're trying to make a trend out of Japan for the global market which is absurd.
PS5 will have a hard time in Japan but we knew that.
Bloomberg has seemingly had a bad track record with PS5 in 2020. Pretty much every article has been negative yet so far the console is setting records. I echoed some of their sentiments at the time but I don't trust their accuracy unless Schreier is the one reporting.
It's very strange. Bloomberg used to be considered incredibly reliable but they have had two articles flat out denied by MS and Sony. And a few other articles that were partially based on the rejected ones.
This one a competent arm chair analyst could point out there are issues with their examples.
