Wii U nearly catches PS4 in Japan

Console sales fell this week in Japan despite a number of new titles coming to stores, Japanese sales data from Famitsu reveals.

The 3DS still heads up the hardware charts for the week ending May 18th, but with considerably lower sales than last week. 25,440 3DS units were sold compared to the 40,068 sold the week before.

The Vita sold 12,844 units, down on last week’s 16,890.

Two new releases head up the software Top Ten. Bandai Namco’s The Idolmaster: One for All tops the chart, and is possibly the catalyst of PlayStation 3’s higher position in the hardware listings this week.

Last week the Wii U was right on the heels of the PlayStation 3, but this week Nintendo’s hardware came close to outselling the PlayStation 4. Only 48 units separated the two consoles.

Here are the hardware numbers:

1. Nintendo 3DS LL – 20,619
2. PS Vita – 12,844
3. PS3 – 7,060
4. PS4 – 6,887
5. Wii U – 6,836
6. Nintendo 3DS – 4,821
7. PSP – 1,320
8. PS Vita TV – 855
9. Xbox 360 – 132

And the Top Ten games:

1.The Idolmaster: One for All (Bandai Namco) PS3 – 80,692 (New)
2.Genkai Tokki: Moero Chronicle (Compile Heart)Vita – 35,655 (New)
3.Yokai Watch (Level 5) 3DS – 26,351
4.Macross The Movie 30th d Shudista b Box (Namco Bandai) PS3 –12,277 (New)
5.Mario Golf: World Tour (Nintendo ) 3DS – 9,015
6.Mario Party: Island Tour (Nintendo) 3DS – 7,714
7.Sword Art Online: Hollow Fragment (Bandai Namco) Vita – 6,651
8.Theatrhythm Final Fantasy: Curtain Call (Square Enix) 3DS – 5,435
9.Wii Party U (Nintendo) Wii U – 5,134
10.New Super Mario Bro. U (Nintendo) Wii U – 4,997