Sony’s Wild Japan-Only PS5 Experiment Is Already Working

Earlier this month, Sony did something no one expected from the company behind one of the most global consoles ever made. They launched a Japan-exclusive PlayStation 5, a cheaper model that only works with a Japanese PSN ID and only supports the Japanese language. It's not aimed at collectors or importers. It's a strategic move to stop the PlayStation brand from shrinking in its home country, where Nintendo has been dominating for years.

And as early numbers show, the gamble worked almost instantly.

According to sales figures shared by Gematsu, the region-locked PS5 sold 23,381 units between November 17 and November 23. The previous week? Just 5,855. Even more impressive, the console didn't go on sale until November 21, meaning it moved that many units in roughly three days.

The Switch 2 is still the reigning champion in Japan by a wide margin, selling 126,953 units in the same window, but Sony clearly achieved what it wanted: momentum.

Why Sony Did This

As reported by TheGamer, Sony leadership had long accepted the decline of PlayStation sales in Japan. Hideaki Nishino, now the company's president and CEO, pushed back and pushed hard. Inspired partly by Nintendo's own region-specific strategies, he approved the creation of a dedicated, more affordable PS5 for Japanese players.

It was designed, approved, and manufactured in about four months - fast by console-hardware standards - and likely sells at a loss. But Sony appears to view it as a necessary investment to win back its home market.

What It Means Going Forward

The early sales spike suggests the lower price point and local focus struck the right chord with Japanese players. The launch also takes advantage of ongoing Switch 2 shortages, offering a powerful, readily available alternative during the busiest shopping season.

If this trajectory holds, Sony may successfully rebuild a market position many assumed was gone for good. And with ongoing rumors about dedicated handheld hardware, this renewed focus on Japan might be the first step in a bigger strategy shift.

So does that means we will be getting our own cheaper PlayStation 5?

Don't be ridicules.