US PS3 sales rocket after 40GB console debut
80GB model's price cut a cause too?
Sony's PS3 sales jumped up by almost 300 per cent last week, the company has claimed, attributing the sudden increase in demand to the introduction of the 40GB console.
According to an Associated Press report, Sony sold 100,000 PS3s in the US in the week ending 11 November, up from around 30,000 to 40,000 consoles a week in the run up to the $100 reduction in the price of the 80GB console on 18 October.
The 40GB PS2 went on sale in the States on 2 November. There's clearly a gap in Sony's numbers: what were the weekly sales in the two full weeks between the price cut and the commencement of the seven-day period that saw sales hit 100,000?
If they're much the same as before, that shows it's the introduction of the 40GB model that's driven the boom in demand. If they too mark a big increase in sales - albeit not enough to pass the 100,000 mark - then the cheaper 80GB console, not the 40GB version, is the reason.
Indeed, that 100,000 is for all PS3s - Sony didn't say how many were 40GB and how many were 80GB models.
Either way, it's good news for Sony, which has seen PS3 sales throughout 2007 languish in comparison with the much less powerful Nintendo Wii.
This coming Sunday, 18 November, will mark the end of the 40GB PS3's first week on sale in Japan, and it'll be interesting to see whether the console experiences a similar upturn in demand in its home territory.
PS3 sales in Japan peaked in July and have been falling month on month ever since, from around 90,000 down to under 50,000 last month. But that's as nothing to the plunge in Wii sales, from July's 400,000 peak down to just over 100,000 in October.
In the US, Sony shipped 119,400 units in September, while Nintendo shipped 501,000 Wiis, market watcher NPD revealed last month. Microsoft shipped 527,800 Xbox 360s, thanks to the launch of Halo 3.
Worldwide, Nintendo has shipped 9.3m Wiis, Sony 5m PS3s and Microsoft 11.6m Xbox 360s since each console's launch, AP said.
COMMENTS
@ Albert - by Albert
All I can say is watch this space.
As an example of the Sony push they are exhibiting at the O2 until the 18th of December.
Sony’s financial year end is March, so they will be putting a lot of effort in to getting as many PS3s and games sold by then.
Interesting comment from Joerg that the PS3 is selling better in its first year than the XBOX360 did, even without being an exclusive and with only mildly interesting games.
Let’s see how the Christmas season goes.
It you check any of my older posts you will see I have always said it is Christmas 2007 and the beginning of 2008 that will define this generation of consoles.
As an aside for the Wii –it’s a toy, a novelty, a bit of fun but nothing more. Millions bought cabbage patch dolls, but where are they now. I think the Wii is the same.
Re: Re: (untitled)
It's Gran Turismo 5 Prologue that's due for release in the next 4-5 months (by the end of the year in Japan, as it happens) and pretty much anyone with a PS3 already has seen it, as the demo's available for download if you create a Japanese PSN account.
Re: (untitled)
"... Gran Turismo 5 ... released in the next 4-5 months ... "
Yeah, I'll believe that when I see it.
Gran Turismo for the PSP anyone?
(untitled)
The PS3 has tracked almost equivalently to the 360 in total sales in their respective first years. The PS3 has been competing with the Wii and 360 for that year, whereas the 360s first year it was the only next-gen console in the market. In fact the PS3 total sales pushed ahead of the 360s total sales (releases aligned) after the Euro launch and remained there (www.vgchartz.com).
Of course the total sales for the 360 is higher, it has been in the market twice as long, and had market exclusivity for that extra time. The 360 has had two christmas boosts (significant console selling time), the PS3 one, and none yet for Europe.
As far as games go, it has already passed the time where you can legitimately claim that games released in that first year, that have already been superceded by sequels, count as a lack of games for the newer platform. Unless you would count it as a valid argument that the PS3, 360 and Wii are a compete and utter waste of time, with no games available, because there are hundreds more games available on the PS2? Or does FIFA08 supercede FIFA07, FIFA04, FIFA01? If you count those as individual games, then PS2 wins hands down. Are 360 owners are still playing PGR3 and FIFA07 equivalently to PGR4 and FIFA08?
Aside from platform exclusives, any decent 360 game has been ported to PS3, and new games are developed concurrently on both platforms. As far as exclusives go, the PS3 is just hitting stride, with Ratchet and Clank, Uncharted, Haze, Metal Gear Solid 4, Gran Turismo 5, Killzone 2, LittleBigPlanet, Home all released in the next 4-5 months. How does 360 look post Halo 3?
Different demographics
I dont sit inside the Wii demographic - I don't need simple games with a new controller to convince me to part with my money for video games. Have been an avid gamer throughout the last 20 years.
So for me it's a choice between the 360 or the PS3. I was leaning heavily towards the 360, but have recently changed my mind following a demo of the 60GB PS3. That thing looks amazing, it can do more than the 360, and Sony will be pumping money into it for years. I don't really care what other people think, that's the console for me.
