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US sales of PlayStation 3 leap by 400%
Published: December 14 2007 09:58 | Last updated: December 14 2007 09:58
Sales of Sony’s PlayStation 3 next-generation console in the key US market nearly quadrupled in November, stealing significant market share away from Nintendo’s Wii and Microsoft’s Xbox 360 for the first time ever.
The boost to PS3 sales was due to the launch of a new 40-gigabyte model and price cuts on older models, which also helped Sony’s console surpass Wii sales in Japan in November for the first time.
But Nintendo still remained in the pole position in the US, selling 981,000 units in November according to NPD, the research group, its highest ever figure since the Wii was first launched in November 2006. The console is in short supply in the US, having sold out at most retailers, meaning Nintendo’s sales numbers would have likely been much higher if more Wiis had been available.
Sony’s PS3 sold 466,000 units, nearly four times the level it sold in October, according to NPD, while Microsoft’s Xbox 360 sold 770,000 units.
Sony lowered the price of the PS3 by $100 to $499 in October and introduced a new 40-gigabyte model for $399 last month, which caused the sales boost.
The PS3’s market share of next-generation consoles increased to 21 per cent in November from 12 per cent in October. The Wii's market share fell to 44 per cent in November from 52 per cent.
The November boost in sales for Sony in both the US and Japanese markets could give it the momentum its desperately needs in the run-up to Christmas. The Japanese consumer electronics group’s games division has reported losses for seven straight quarters, due to large investment costs for the PS3 and, until now, lacklustre sales.
Most analysts think that Nintendo’s Wii will be the clear winner this Christmas. Sony, however, has increased its marketing efforts for the PS3, highlighting the fact that it is also one of the cheapest Blu-ray next-generation DVD players on the market.
PS3 sales were stronger than expected, with most analysts expecting sales of about 400,000 units in November.
“We expect PS3 sales in the third quarter to hit 4m globally and the [November US] results imply some small upside,†said David Gibson, analyst at Macquarie.
Sir Howard Stringer, Sony’s chief executive, said earlier this week that the company had been selling over 200,000 PS3 units a week in the US since Black Friday, the busiest shopping day after Thanksgiving.
Published: December 14 2007 09:58 | Last updated: December 14 2007 09:58
Sales of Sony’s PlayStation 3 next-generation console in the key US market nearly quadrupled in November, stealing significant market share away from Nintendo’s Wii and Microsoft’s Xbox 360 for the first time ever.
The boost to PS3 sales was due to the launch of a new 40-gigabyte model and price cuts on older models, which also helped Sony’s console surpass Wii sales in Japan in November for the first time.
But Nintendo still remained in the pole position in the US, selling 981,000 units in November according to NPD, the research group, its highest ever figure since the Wii was first launched in November 2006. The console is in short supply in the US, having sold out at most retailers, meaning Nintendo’s sales numbers would have likely been much higher if more Wiis had been available.
Sony’s PS3 sold 466,000 units, nearly four times the level it sold in October, according to NPD, while Microsoft’s Xbox 360 sold 770,000 units.
Sony lowered the price of the PS3 by $100 to $499 in October and introduced a new 40-gigabyte model for $399 last month, which caused the sales boost.
The PS3’s market share of next-generation consoles increased to 21 per cent in November from 12 per cent in October. The Wii's market share fell to 44 per cent in November from 52 per cent.
The November boost in sales for Sony in both the US and Japanese markets could give it the momentum its desperately needs in the run-up to Christmas. The Japanese consumer electronics group’s games division has reported losses for seven straight quarters, due to large investment costs for the PS3 and, until now, lacklustre sales.
Most analysts think that Nintendo’s Wii will be the clear winner this Christmas. Sony, however, has increased its marketing efforts for the PS3, highlighting the fact that it is also one of the cheapest Blu-ray next-generation DVD players on the market.
PS3 sales were stronger than expected, with most analysts expecting sales of about 400,000 units in November.
“We expect PS3 sales in the third quarter to hit 4m globally and the [November US] results imply some small upside,†said David Gibson, analyst at Macquarie.
Sir Howard Stringer, Sony’s chief executive, said earlier this week that the company had been selling over 200,000 PS3 units a week in the US since Black Friday, the busiest shopping day after Thanksgiving.
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