New Bleach game tops slow Japanese chart

New PSP titles fail to reinvigorate ailing Japanese software market

News by David Jenkins Contributor

Published on May 21, 2009

Japanese software sales are still stuck in the doldrums, following several weeks of below average sales, with Sony's Bleach: Heat the Soul 6 on PSP new at number one and yet selling only 42,000 units.

Also new in second place was a PSP remake of PSone tactical role-playing game Growlanser from Atlus, which sold just 23,000 units.

The Wii version of Konami's Pro Evolution Soccer 2009, known as Winning Eleven Playmaker 2009 in Japan, sold only 14,000 units at number seven.

Finally, new PlayStation 2 entry Rakushou! Pachi-Slot Sengen 6: Rio 2 Cruising Vanadis from Tecmo sold just 9000 units at number nine. There were no other new entries in the rest of the top 30.

Traditionally Japanese number one titles are expected to sell at least 100,000 units, but the recent slump has seen lower-ranked titles in the top 10 now regularly selling less than 10,000.