Redesigned PSP shifts 250K units in Japan

by Michael - 2007/09/27 6:30am

The recently redesigned PlayStation Portable, the PSP Slim, landed on Japanese shores this week, and has proven to be a stellar success for Sony, with first week sales for the unit totaling 250,702 units, according to Famitsu publisher Enterbrain Inc's recent reports.

Although an increase in sales due to the recent redesign of Sony's handheld should be no suprise, there are a number of reasons for the huge jump in sales. After pushing a modest 15,564 PlayStation Portables units in Japan the week of September 3-9, the launch of the highly anticipated Final Fantasy VII prequel, Final Fantasy VII: Crisis Core in a bundle pack with the redesigned PSP Slim the only way to get the handheld prior to the September 20 launch), shot the sales of the PSP up by a massive 600%, shifting 95,487 for the week. Proof if any that big-name titles can really push the sucess of a console.

The recently revealed slimline PSP, which was announced at this year's E3, hit Japanese shores officially this week, continueing Son'y lucky streak. The new redesigned handheld, which is 33% lighter, 16% smaller smaller, and also boasts a video in port for connecting it to TV screens, has proven to be a hit with Japanese consumers, with the latest figures from Famitsu publisher Enterbrain Inc. estimate first-week sales of the PSP Slim of around 250,702 units.

As of September 23, the PSP Slim has shifted a total of 326,645 units in Japan. 75,943 of this units were part of the Crisis Core bundle. According to Enterbrain, since the launch of the PSP back in December 2004, the combined total of the PSP handhelds in consumer hands sits at a very weighty 6,217,664 units, The success of the PSP can only continue to grow from here!