Sony has just unveiled its latest metrics data for PlayStation hardware and software sales worldwide. Of particular note to avid observers of the handheld console wars is NPD's data on "portable hardware dollars market share" for the calendar year 2006. According to the data (seen above), Sony's PSP system actually beats Nintendo DS by a fraction of a percentage. This makes sense, considering PSP's significantly higher asking price. Although DS clearly has far more units in households, this kind of data proves that Sony isn't out of the game.
See even more statistics, after the cut.
These numbers won't mean much to the most loyal of fanboys, but we thought we'd like to point out some interesting facts that can be deduced from these statistics:
- The software:hardware ratio is actually quite high, especially in light of concerns that piracy and homebrew may be dwindling software sales. The increase to 6.5 in the first quarter of the year is relieving -- and it's only bound to go up with stellar new titles like God of War on the horizon.
- America loves PSP: it still holds the largest share of PSP sales. However, Europe is proving to be a very significant market for Sony.
- Japan gets the most software support, with 641 titles. This is surprising, especially when considering the significantly lower software shipments that Japan has (16.8 million).
That's enough math for the morning. Ultimately, it shouldn't matter how well or poorly Sony is operating for PSP gamers. As Sony is proving with its upcoming lineup of games, PSP owners will be quite happy with what their handheld has to offer.
{ May 17th 2007 at 3:01AM } 
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
txa1265 @ May 17th 2007 6:48AM
Sony was wrong to bring the DS into the discussion, because it invalidates *everything* about not competing etc, etc, etc as just plain BS.
Besides, it invites comparisons, and further digging reveals the ugly truth - Sony hasn't shipped a PSP into North America since last September, and hasn't shipped one outside of Japan in 2007!
pixelator @ May 17th 2007 11:45AM
Sony isn't invalidating the notion that the DS isn't direct competition by using it as a reference point. They've done the same thing with comparing PSP sales to the PS1, PS2 and IPOD. Using the most successful system on the market as a benchmark doesn't change the fact that it's not immediately apparent that DS sales have eroded PSP sales (or vice versa).
I'd love to see how you conclude that Sony hasn't shipped a PSP into NA in EIGHT MONTHS, or have shipped any out of Japan in FIVE. That just sounds a lot like you're pulling that out of your ass.
Here's what these figures really mean:
* Software attachment has improved markedly. That's great news for publishers and the future of development on the platform. Best news of the whole show.
* Sony is shooting themselves in the foot by slighting the American market (system colors, web downloads and low rate of Japan-to-NA game localization, although that fault rests upon publishers, too).
* NPD market data is useless except to note trends. They don't report info on Amazon, Wal-Mart, etc.
* Sony needs to break down hardware sales better, including 'Other' which could be quite significant given the PSP popularity in South Korea, etc.
txa1265 @ May 17th 2007 12:07PM
Here are the numbers from Sony's site:
"2006/07/24 20.02 million units (Japan: 5.20 million/ USA: 8.17 million/ Europe: 6.65 million)
2006/09/30 22.94 million units (Japan: 5.37 million/ USA: 9.57 million/ Europe: 8.00 million)
2006/12/31 24.70 million units (Japan: 6.23 million/ USA: 9.58 million/ Europe: 8.89 million)
2007/03/31 25.39 million units (Japan: 6.92 million/ USA: 9.58 million/ Europe: 8.89 million)"
Sony has added 10,000 to the US since 9/06, none since the first of the year.
OK, on to the good stuff you highlight:
- Attach rate - yes, that is *SUPER GOOD NEWS*. One of the reasons for my strong anti-hack stance on the firmware had to do with piracy (which I still see as being second only to the PC on the PSP). Sony is seeing strong sales of software, and that is frickin' awesome. Doesn't hurt that (a) greatest hits and budget games are selling nicely and (b) there are a load of really good games - and even a fair quantity of decent niche game.
- Totally agree on the fact that they are screwing themselves in the US market. They *owned* this market before the DS lite, and the US market is really made for the PSP (we're all graphics ho's and love our shooters and traditional game types).
- Looking at recent sales stuff, the price drop seems to have caused a brief bump only. I think we might see a big surge in sales from the lower price at the holidays.
The way I look at it is this - so long as the sells well enough to (a) keep good games coming out and (b) keep competition going with Nintendo (we all win), and badly enough to stem typical Sony arrogance ... I'm happy!
Kspraydad @ May 17th 2007 12:30PM
@pix/txa
I think part of the slowdown in distribution was the PS3 launch and Sony's focus...they flooded their distribution channels before launch of the PS3 and a lot of stock sat there (as you could see when in store and complaints from resellers). What is telling though is that Sony shipped 8.36 million last year and this year expect to INCREASE that to 9 million. The price drop and hardware refresh (see gamasutra today for that story) and 140 new PSP titles and video (game?) downloads with station.com all seem to point to a renewed focus on our handheld.
kingofwale @ May 17th 2007 12:35PM
PSP needs a price drop in everywhere else, especially again in UK, they are still grossly overpaid for PSP.
if we want to win against DS in everywhere other than Japan (and possibly US), PSP MUST be priced perfectly. we are already expecting great title to come out within next 12 months. the price is the key now.
txa1265 @ May 17th 2007 1:30PM
"What is telling though is that Sony shipped 8.36 million last year and this year expect to INCREASE that to 9 million."
> I honestly don't care about 'shipments', since those are *not* sales. In terms of sales we have this - Sony *sold* ~15.5 million globally in year 1 of release, and ~5 million in year 2. I want to know what they are doing about *that*.
"The price drop and hardware refresh (see gamasutra today for that story) and 140 new PSP titles and video (game?) downloads with station.com all seem to point to a renewed focus on our handheld."
> I remember hearing about PS1 downloads nearly a year ago and that I would have had them (without PS3) well before now. Until they prove otherwise they are liars trying to manipulate you into believing they will deliver.
... except for the games. There is a clear ramp in the top end (sure, there is still enough dreck for everyone - but show me a platform *not* flooded with crap!), and that is great - and ties in with the higher attach rate. That is the one thing I see that will help sales.
pixelator @ May 17th 2007 3:56PM
TXA, if you don't care about SHIPPED figures, why do you make a big deal out of what they've shipped from Japan since September 06? As you say, it has to do with SALES, which are reportedly rising, especially after the price drop.
These shipped/sales whine-fests always make me laugh. Sony ships 1.4 MILLION units to the USA between July and September - and then they don't ship for a while! Wow. Amazing. But when you look at the overall yearly picture, guess what? The total sales look fine, or better, than last year to date. I'd like to know where you get the '15.5 million in Y1 and ~5 million in Y2' figure from.
I think you hit on something, though - NICHE GAMES. That's part of what is making the DS and Wii such sensations (Nintendo fans will scream at me calling Wii titles like Wii Sports or Play 'niche' games but for now, until those controllers become the industry standard, that's what they are). But games like Brain Age, Cooking Mama, Phoenix Wright and others like them are big on DS. The PSP needs more interesting stuff like that.
Regardless, I see evidence that it's selling fine, and now it seems the games are selling better. I see no evidence of such a massive 3:1 drop in PSP sales as you're implying.
pixelator @ May 17th 2007 4:32PM
One more bit about this ridiculous Year 1/15.5mil vs. Year 2/5mil comment.
Here, look a this VGChartz graph. Do you see a huge downward spike in PSP sales? Yes, they use NPD (in this case, that just means there's even -more- PSP sales out there via Wal-Mart and other unreported sources).
http://www.vgchartz.com/hwcomps.php?cons1=PSP®1=All&cons2=DS®2=All&cons3=X360®3=All
Dude, you really need to check your facts before you make a statement like PSP sales dropping from 15 million to 5 million from Y1 to Y2.
Johnny Lasley @ May 17th 2007 7:48PM
Shouldn't those market share percentages add up to over 100% Some DS users have a PSP too. Vice versa, naturally.
Seems suspect.
kingofwale @ May 17th 2007 10:30PM
>Shouldn't those market share percentages add up to over 100%
it's about 'market share' not 'ownership', so, they just add up all hardware sales, and see how many dollars are used on PSP and how many on DS.
txa1265 @ May 18th 2007 8:51AM
"Dude, you really need to check your facts before you make a statement like PSP sales dropping from 15 million to 5 million from Y1 to Y2."
I think we all rely too heavily on the funky data from VGChartz! Look at the front page compared to your graph - one says the PSP has sold 21.33 million, the other has it selling
Look at it this way - my data has ~5 million units in inventory worldwide, shrinking rapidly. Yours has ~14 million in stock based on those sales compared to Sony's stock numbers ... which would be ~2 year supply!
Getting good sales numbers is hard, but that chart makes no sense - it has the DS at 40 million. We know bot h hit 10 million by the beginning of 2006, but this has it
Logan A. Wolle @ Jun 18th 2007 7:37AM
The PSP will ultimately win because the games have much better graphics and FMV as well as a lot more fun to play. I am looking forward to God of War: Chains of Olympus, Final Fantasy: Dissidia, and Final Fantasy Tactics: The War of The Lions. :)