Analyst: Global demand for DS hardware has peaked

by JC Fletcher { Jun 17th 2008 at 10:15AM }

According to Kotaku, KBC Securities Japan's Hiroshi Kamide believes that demand for DS hardware has reached its saturation point and is now on the way down, just as the company predicted two months ago. "A downturn in software demand is likely to follow, as casual gamers are 'happy with their lot' and do not need to consume more," Kamide said.

We're not sure that the drop in DS hardware sales in Japan is indicative of any trend other than Monster Hunter Portable 2nd G finally selling some PSPs. If you really want to predict a downturn in software sales, how about the PSP market post-Monster Hunter? The DS has several Dragon Quest games, Professor Layton, and Inazuma Eleven on the way. And in the U.S., there's the Guitar Hero bundle, and a million games.

Tags: demand, hiroshi-kamide, japan, kbc-securities-japan

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Flint @ Jun 17th 2008 11:04AM

I imagine that in Japan the DS will once again destroy all competition in its path the moment Dragon Quest IX is unleashed.

supa_s @ Jun 17th 2008 11:18AM

I don't think the drop in DS hardware demand has anything to do with PSP or any other console. The fact of the matter is, the DS lite has reached its maturity stage and is approaching its decline stage. This is why they're coming up with limited edition packages and new colors (Europe) - to try and boost their sales by attracting new customers or to get existing customers to buy more.

BlackDS @ Jun 17th 2008 2:03PM

I don't know about hardware sales, but software sales depends on the quality of the games more than any saturation point analysis IMO.

If everything is shovelware, like Hell's Kitchen DS, then yes, software sales will decline. OTOH, if the games are good, they will sell. For example, if Nintendo ever found a way to sucessfully port Smash Bros. Brawl to the DS (which will never happen IMO), it would sell like hotcakes (irregardless of any saturation point for software). Ditto for Pokemon Platinum (which I will buy).

IMO, the higher gas prices has a bigger effect on sales, here in North America, than any "saturation point". Higher gas prices cut into disposable income, which effects all consumer buying.

Peace.