Wii, DS could regain lead in Japan in Q4

Despite the Wii and DS’s hefty overall lead in the system wars, this week’s Japanese hardware charts show that the PlayStation 3 and PSP has taken a chunk out of Nintendo’s advantage. According to Kotaku, PSP sales have shot to the top spot, leaving the DSi and Wii in third and fourth place, respectively. The PS3, on the other hand, “declined” to number two.

Kotaku believes the PS3’s standing could improve when Final Fantasy XIII comes out in Japan on December 17, but the impending release of New Super Mario Bros. Wii in the Land of the Rising Sun (also in December) may offset this for Nintendo.

Let’s not forget—The Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks is also set to come out for the DS in Japan on December 23. Nintendo’s two marquee first-party titles just might give them back the lead before the holidays end. Or not. Who knows? Whatever the case, one thing is sure: Nintendo will be watching the results very closely this year because it could be the first holiday season that Shigeru Miyamoto and Co. won’t dominate since the Wii came out.

Here’s the complete list of hardware sales provided by Media Create:

PSP: 38,770
PlayStation 3: 38,498
DSi: 33,749
Wii: 26,764
PSPgo - 6,427
DS Lite - 5,036
Xbox 360 - 4,124
PlayStation 2 - 2,031

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