Japan - At the beginning of last summer, the Wii almost crossed its 70% console market share barrier with 69.99% on 06/02/08. While the Wii was reaching for historic highs, the 360 had reached its lowest point* and the PS3 was quickly decelerating in one of its lower moments (23.55%).

* The 360 bottomed out at 6.39% two weeks later. Shortly thereafter, I went on record predicting that 5% or less was inevitable.

Since then, the Wii has lost nearly 2% console market share, not an insignificant number this deep into the generation.* The 360 hasn't been that low again, climbing up to a much more respectable 7.68% and the PS3 looks like it will be locking in around 24% for the generation and currently sits at 24.18%.

*2% of all console hardware represents 225 thousand units at this point.

Questions for consumption:
1. Are we seeing the plateau of Wii success in Japan? Is 70% the zenith it will never quite reach?

2. What does this mean? Can Microsoft hold its head up a little higher with 7.68% than it could at 6.something %?

3. In the same breath, should Sony be ashamed that it only has 24% market share after dominating so completely for the past ten years? Or, has the market truly split into casuals vs. hardcore, and, as the fanboys put it, "it's doing really well for being so expensive!"?