PS3 to have 380 games by March 08 says Kaz Hirai

by Jem Alexander { Jun 21st 2007 at 6:45AM }

Reuters is reporting that the president of Sony Computer Entertainment, Kaz Hirai, has stated that by March 2008 the PlayStation 3 will have a total catalgue of 380 games. This will be a solution to the current slump in sales the PS3 is currently seeing worldwide. Apparently Kaz only just realised that having actual games to play might persuade more people to pick up a system.

The current plan is for the release of 200 titles in shops and 180 downloadable from the PlayStation store. Hirai states that there are currently 60 titles in stores and 50 downloadable. If the software library really does almost quadruple in less than a year, then the PS3 will have no problems selling worldwide. The games drought has been hard on early adopters of the console, but with the release of Rainbow Six: Vegas, Ninja Gaiden Sigma, The Darkness and Super Stardust HD all in the next two weeks, the drought looks to be almost over.

So start saving those pennies. Before long there will be so many games vying for your attention, you won't know where to start.

[Via Gameindustry.biz]

Tags: games, Hirai, Kaz Hirai, KazHirai, lots of them, LotsOfThem, Reuters

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)

insane @ Jun 21st 2007 6:56AM

great stuff. this will silence the haters.

tony @ Jun 21st 2007 7:14AM

how will it silence the haters when hardly any are exclusive except ninja gaiden which is just black in hd? i have a 360 and a ps3 and ill buy most of these on 360 over ps3 because if im going to play them i want something to show for it and ps3 has no achievements as of yet.

Andir3.0 @ Jun 21st 2007 7:31AM

"i have a 360" - good for you. There are a lot of people who want quality hardware. ;) Now the games are coming. This news isn't really for those that already have the consoles. Those people are still the "must have" crowd. There's still the general populace that they need to sell to.

Personally, I could care less for achievements. I think it's a poor attempt to gank money from people abusing their competitive nature. It reminds me of the Pokemon "gotta get them all" attitude. Of course, I also prefer cooperative games instead of competitive games.

Oh, and last time I checked, there are like 10+ exclusive games (maybe more...)

Tyler @ Jun 21st 2007 7:39AM

@2

I too have both systems but seriously.. do people actually care about 'achievements'? I perfer PS3 games over 360 cause i hate the 360 controller.. that and I havnt had my PS3 randomly crash on me while playing a game

Stellarpimp @ Jun 21st 2007 7:42AM

...I know of "only" 37 games of which can be bought today. That is a far cry from the 60 they claim. If anyone else knows what the other games are...please let me know.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_PlayStation_3_games

insane257 @ Jun 21st 2007 7:51AM

how will it silence the haters??? Because the PS3 is getting good games. In fact, the PS3 looks to sell more than the Wii in the long-run due to exclusives like Final Fantasy XIII which should sell the system, just like FFVII did for the PS1 and like FFX did for the PS2. Don't forget Kingdom Hearts III for the PS3. This war is far from over , don't doubt that for a second. Sega announced that it thought the PS3 will last the longest out of the 3, whilst the Wii will grind to a halt soon enough.

Why are people hating on such a good console? It's more powerful than it's competition and it's too early in the war to rule it out. PS3 will become a HUGE seller when the price drops slightly and there are more games. Just wait and see.

Magma @ Jun 21st 2007 8:03AM

6. QFT

Thomas @ Jun 21st 2007 8:14AM

"I have a 360" myself.. I rather play more games on my ps3 than the 360 because I know that the ps3 is less likely to end up dying. I can run the ps3 all night long... do that w/ the 360 and it might be the last time you play it. Plus there's no guarantee that MS can make it right...

I'm glad that Sony is getting more aggressive about these games. If Sony had more games out, people would probably stop buying 360s...[and buy more ps3] why the hell would you keeping buying the same system over and over when it keep malfunctioning, even after you get it fixed.

bleakcabal @ Jun 21st 2007 8:17AM

Like kotaku mentioned. This much games by next year would mean they would have to release, starting this week, 10 games per week every week.

Yeah this will silence the haters.
I can't wait to see what 10 games will be released next week !

Popfrogs @ Jun 21st 2007 8:25AM

I don't know what this guy is smoking saying there are 60 games already in stores and 50 downloadable. Is the Sony HQ that far removed from reality? Does he live in the future? Even counting a tiny number of Japanese exclusives, we have probably 15-20 games or so to choose from currently.

Personally I stopped counting downloadable games after the slew of subpar Midway "classics" hit the store. Original content like GripShift and Go! Sudoku and Calling All Cars are things I actually count.

All in all, it's wonderful that he believes we'll have this avalanche of games by 3/2008, but he's already living in a dream land with overinflated numbers, so I think either he needs to put down the cuckoo pipe, or get a better translator.

HAHAHA @ Jun 21st 2007 8:36AM

PS3 to have 380 games by March 08 says Kaz Hirai, It should of read like this:

'PS3 to have 8 GOOD Games by March 08, & 372 games that will blow'

We All know that 87-93% of these games will suck, & I can Personally Guarantee that there will NOT be that many games by March, Delays, junk, scrap it, etc. Sorry Sony just stop with the Nonsense....

insane257 @ Jun 21st 2007 9:02AM

We All know that 87-93% of these games will suck

Posted at 8:36AM on Jun 21st 2007 by HAHAHA

^^^

well how good games are depend on the people playing them to be fair. E.g i hate Zelda, but other people like it and it sells. There are bad games on every system. Can't be helped.

Matt B @ Jun 21st 2007 9:09AM

@11

What is the 360's library ratio of great to sucky? Where did you get your crystal ball? Cracker Jack box?

shase @ Jun 21st 2007 9:14AM

I dont know about the 380 games games by march 2008... maybe he meant 280 games? Or perhaps 380 games in development? i doubt this is gonna happen...

Bored @ Jun 21st 2007 9:29AM

He's counting for all versions of repeated games (EU version, Japan version, Collector's Edition, etc). Not to mention PSOne downloadable games. If the real number is closer to 100, that I might believe.

erac3rx @ Jun 21st 2007 9:35AM

I don't know about hitting the 380 mark either, that seems pretty high. But easily achievable if they release a slew of PS1 for PS3/PSP games in the store, which would be great.

Which reminds me... I still don't get why Nintendo and so far Sony are trickling releases out for their virtual consoles so slowly. I know they have to get re-rated by ESRB, but the I think both services would be far more appealing if the numbers were bigger. It just so happens I don't want Jumping Flash or Wipeout from the PS1 days. I want Castlevania SOTN, Klonoa, Devil Dice, Super Puzzle Fighter II Turbo, and Silent Hill!

And why stop at PS1 games? PS2 games should be available for download as well. Tekken Tag anyone?

Kxpuc @ Jun 21st 2007 9:37AM

if it has 60 games now and 380 in 9 months. that's around 8 games a month. or 5 physical games a week possible if a mass number over 5 come during the holidays

ShadowHawk01 @ Jun 21st 2007 9:46AM

I have always stated that the PS3 NEEDS more games in order to drive more sales. However, this statement scares me a little. This statement gives me the impression that many titles will be rushed to market in order to satisfy the numbers on paper. This would mean: incomplete games, more bugs to deal with, many features removed to meet new deadlines (look at MotorStorm).

I would rather have a steady flow of games coming to the system than hundreds of rushed titles.

However, I think most of these statements are meant to confuse the Stockholders until the next fiscal year.

Mishi @ Jun 21st 2007 10:11AM

jump off a bridge johnnyboy

insane257 @ Jun 21st 2007 10:15AM

JonnyBoy2U, that comment was ridiculous. The PS3 will outsell the 360 easilly. The 360 is doing awful in Japan, which is the land of gaming. The PS3 will definately take over the 360 and hopefully the Wii. If we're all 'PS3 fanboys', then that's cool because if you didn't notice, this site is called: 'Ps3fanboy.com'. So take your 360 fanboy comments somewhere else, because you're talking out your ass. PS3 can match and easilly beat your 360 games... E.g Killzone 2 will be better than the over-rated JUNK that Halo is and FFXIII will be better than any RPG on the 360... Some claim Oblivion is the best RPG on the 360......just so happens the PS3 has Oblivion.

We'll soon see who wins the battle, but my money is on the PS3..

and yes, i probably am a fanboy, but least i back up what i say instead of talking crap without facts and evidence behind it.

Bored @ Jun 21st 2007 10:31AM

Oblivion is indeed rated as the best game on the PS3, and is also one of the best on the 360.

I have enough games at the time (Motorstorm, RFoM, Oblivion, and a few PS2 games), especially considering their price. I'm hoping to catch the PS1 version of MGS1, just for collecting it.

I couldn't care less about multi-platform games, I already have a console that plays most of the games I want, is properly backwards compatible with the great PS2 library (even for me as an european) that I missed in the past.

MS zealots just don't know how much they are harming themselves and others as consumers by blindly supporting one the most evil corporations ever to exist. You think Bill is throwing away billions and billions of dollars just to save us from the evil Sony? Wake up, people. Wake up.

borland502 @ Jun 21st 2007 10:36AM

I believe the 380 games figure. I also believe they are counting game packs as individual games, looping Regional games in with the total, and so forth.

However, I do not buy more than one game a month so if even a small fraction is cool then I'll be well satisfied. A very large portion of PS2 games are crap too, so I just want enough out there that I have a choice at the buffet line.

gordyNYC @ Jun 21st 2007 12:02PM

I think the lack of games for the PS3 is part of SONY's strategy to make the BluRay movie format the standard. What do you do if you don't have games to play? Well, you buy Bluray movies. Could this be why BluRay is winning?

insane257 @ Jun 21st 2007 10:55AM

Bored, well said.

Half of the people who bought an Xbox 360 follow Microsoft despite the fact the 360 is built very poorly. I know of at LEAST 10 people whose 360 has over-heated, had the 3 red lights etc etc. They sent off their console to be fixed and Microsoft sent them their console back 'fixed'... and it broke again. Some people are on their 5th Xbox 360. It's a disgrace. The PS3 however, is built very well. It does get hot, but it manages heat much better than the 360.

PS3 is blindingly good, it's a shame that alot of people don't realize that. And they don't realize that because:

A) Nintendo aimed their console at girls and new-gamers. So now you find that the majority (not all, but most)of the people buying a Wii have never had a console before, and then you find them online bashing the PS3.....

These people just don't know the history that Playstation has, nor do they care. Metal Gear Solid, Final Fantasy, Gran Turismo, Tekken, etc etc. Meanwhile, Nintendo is ruining the games industry by constantly pushing out old games and making you pay top dollar for them. Remember the GBA 'Snes Collection'? Basically making you pay £15 ($30) for games that came out in the 80's? Nintendo are also charging on their online service for old games, trying (yet again) to get even more money off previous releases. Sadly, they keep getting away with it, because old Ninty fans love the idea of playing the 'classics' again and the new gamers fall for it.

Nintendo were creative with the Wii controllers, yet they handle awfully and i'd not recommend them, but they sell... Least the console doesn't over-heat and break though like the 360..

Meanwhile, Sony are putting out a great console with top build quality which doesn't feel cheap in your hands and releasing new, innovative games for their console. Bit by bit they're building up this fantastic jigsaw of games. So quit with the hate and cut Sony some slack, they're playing this 'console war' well. They might not be leading right now, but give em time and they will be. Mark my words.

*breathes out*

Naaiif @ Jun 21st 2007 11:10AM

JonnyBoy is a complete queerbag.

Andy @ Jun 21st 2007 11:31AM

"10+ exclusive games"

I have counted 41 exclusive games coming out in the next 12 months.

The truth @ Jun 21st 2007 11:33AM

@ insane257

OMG blind little PS3 slave. Where did you eat for breakfest this morning... the toliet??? Everything coming out of your mouth reeks of SHIT!!! You make it sound as though Sony has a walk in the park ahead of them and anyone who's followed the launch of these consoles so far knows that's way far from the true.

Don't be so naive. Sony is in trouble... plain and simple. None of the consoles are perfect. Microsoft has all of their eggs in a row with anticipation for their fall line up of games. If they can nail the hardware issues and a lower price, there is no reason to believe Sony has this one in the bag. Especially when you consider the high costs of making games in todays age and the more affordable route to go (xbox and nintendo). The masses are not going to buy a $600 console. Even with games most people are not going to pay $400 for a console. The sweet spot is under $300. Sony banked the farm on blu-ray when it should have focused on video games. It is hurting them and only a blind fanboy like yourself can't see that.

ryano @ Jun 21st 2007 11:49AM

IMO 360 "achievments" are just bragging rights, but it does not hurt to have them.

the problem with the 360 is it's hardware, plain and simple. it's very prone to heat up break down and cook scrambled eggs.

BUT it is also extremely easy to program for...meaning games get out quicker before porting to the PS3. which takes apparently 6 months for some developers to crack the PS3's code. and when it does come out it's strangely lower in quality.

the PS3 has fantastic potential but with it's lack of great exclusives and shotty ports there is no reason to own one right now, except maybe to play blu-ray movies. even then most people don't have HDTVs to notice a difference from regular DVDs. i'm sure this will change if Heavenly Sword and Uncharted get rave reviews.

360 needs to get better hardware, PS3 needs better programers. even Ninja Gaiden Sigma has some weird glitches from the port over.

but because the 360 is easier to program for most game developers start on it, to have something to showcase on. which is why whenever you see GTA IV footage it's always on the 360.

and some of you might have heard the rumor that Silent Hill 5 is being developed by an American company. well guess what? that company is The Collective (you know Star Wars Episode 3, Da Vinci Code). and a good friend of mine that works there says they are only working on the 360 version as of now. they have one PS3 dev kit...and hasn't been touched yet. but the game is "looking awesome".

i don't own either system, but i will say that they each have pros and cons. IMO they both suck right now until they get their problems straightened out.

insane257 @ Jun 21st 2007 1:42PM

''The truth.....''

tut tut tut. Actually, the PS3 sold like 200 units in what was it, 3 minutes? And that's at full price.

When there are price reductions, things sell even more. So Sony released the PS3 at a high price so that people will buy it at full price, and masses of people will buy it after each price reduction thinking they're getting a bargain compared to the RRP.

Also, Sony recently announced that Blu-Ray players are becomming cheaper to make, meaning the PS3's price will probably drop sometime fairly soon.

If you think Sony are in trouble, you need to wake up.

Bored @ Jun 21st 2007 12:19PM

gordyNYC is spot on.
That's how business works. It was the same with the PSP, except they failed to support UMD properly, and it didn't work.
The PS3, however, is a very good media player and Blu-Ray is a decent format with proper support from movie publishers. But now the pressure from low hardware sales is growing, so they'll have to hurry with releasing enough games.

ryano @ Jun 21st 2007 12:44PM

so from what i gather, if you want blu-ray movies and don't mind having games get a PS3, if you want games but don't mind buying 4+ systems to play those games get a 360?

Castor @ Jun 21st 2007 12:42PM

Another thing to think about is that the PS3 has a steeper learning curve for programmers. But once the programmers get a handle on the system and how to use it the time to port and the quality of the ports should improve. Also if the PS3 can handle everything it is touted to be able to the developers may start using it as the first option once they figure out how to so they can get everything out of it for each game. As far as the 380 titles by next March I think they meant that they are projecting a total of 380 total games from last march to next march which would be the fiscal year. That list would include all of the online sent out since march as well as the retail titles put out in that time. that will bring the total to be released down a little bit farther with maybe 180 more retail and 150 more online titles in the next 9 months. Although unlikely there are a good 50 to 60 games coming out by christmas this year just for retail and with Sony starting an online only division of development in San Diego plus PS1 titles and hopefully some 3rd party online titles they might get close. I would say more like 300 or so total games available by next march which is a pretty good start for a system that will only be about 15 months old at that time.

Andy @ Jun 21st 2007 12:48PM

I have yet to buy one Blu-Ray movie in the absence of games. I am new to the whole online scene and I love playing Motorstorm and sometimes Resistance for free online. (to many more experienced users thats not a big deal but to me it is)

This article backs up why I bought a PS3 now. I bought it for the future, I saw glimpses of games like Afrika ,Uncharted, and Killzone 2 and I was sold. I also played Motorstorm in a mall and I loved it.

Andy @ Jun 21st 2007 12:52PM

"PS3 to have 380 games by March 08 says Kaz Hirai"

Wouldn't it be funnier if it was
PS3 to have 360 games by March 08 says Kaz Hirai

360 fanboys could easily misinterpret that headline.

IlovePS @ Jun 21st 2007 1:04PM

@29

Yeah,I rather buy a realible console than a broken down 360 piece of shit.

ryano @ Jun 21st 2007 1:14PM

my problem is that most people say they bought a PS3 for all the games that are GOING to come out, that they bought it "for the FUTURE"...

why not wait for that future to happen when the system will be cheaper?

Andy @ Jun 21st 2007 1:55PM

I agree with nobody's comments. I think the PS3 is going to turn into a cult. The basic idea is that Wihaladalalala will come down from his thrown to bathe all the PS3 owners. Theres even a website for this new cult. Learn more at
http://ps3cult.com/

miguelon918 @ Jun 21st 2007 2:28PM

Your guys are such a fanbois but for the record Ps3 fTw!!!

ryano @ Jun 21st 2007 7:31PM

@insane257:

what percentage of those PS3s were then sold 3 minutes later on Ebay for 1,000- 2,000 bucks?...yeeeaah...

The truth @ Jun 21st 2007 2:35PM

@ insane257

"the PS3 sold like 200 units in what was it, 3 minutes?"

Wow, that'll save them for sure?!?!?

"When there are price reductions, things sell even more."

Not if people have no reason to buy one. If you can find the same games elsewhere for cheaper... why would you need a PS3? Blu-ray? Wow, I think I'm sold. You really showed me the light here today. By price cut they are probably talking by $100 bringing the total to $500. Big deal. What's to stop Microsoft from offering a price cut. And apparently you didn't read the rest of my comment because there are more factors than just the price. You truely are insane!!

Azorean @ Jun 21st 2007 2:39PM

Man you Fanboys believe EVERYTHING Sony says Damn! I'd figured you all would have learned a lesson by now!

Chameleon @ Jun 21st 2007 3:09PM

"38. my problem is that most people say they bought a PS3 for all the games that are GOING to come out, that they bought it "for the FUTURE"...

why not wait for that future to happen when the system will be cheaper?"

Thank-you ryano.

Aex @ Jun 21st 2007 3:20PM

@Chameleon

Maybe they wanted a game or two to play now while they wait? Perhaps they wanted some PSN games? Perhaps they didnt have a PS2? Perhaps they wanted a blu-ray player. Perhaps they have $600 burning a hole in their pocket?

Plenty of reasons not to wait. The value of each is in the indiviual tho.

Chameleon @ Jun 21st 2007 3:25PM

@Aex

so essentially 'to each his own' ... fair enough.

James @ Jun 21st 2007 3:49PM

There are 60 games for PS3? Where have I been? Currently, I own 2 games, lol. Motorstorm, and Virtua Fighter 5. I also have 3 Blu-Ray movies. I wish I had waited another year or two, because then I could have used that money to buy 10 games for the 360, of which I already have over 50 games, and 62 XBLA games. 112 games vs. 2 games. I guess you can tell which gets played more often. Also, I have not had any issues with either machine. My 360 was a launch box and it has been going strong since day 1, and I run it 12-24 hours at a time. The longest I've had the PS3 on is about 4 hours. No problems with either machine.

Bored @ Jun 21st 2007 5:05PM

@ JonnyBoy2U:

"As for the earlier insults such as "Jump off a bridge" or "you're a queerbag" I'm not surprised. Most sony fanboys have shown themselves on this website to be homophobic, racist, and sexist assholes."

I wouldn't think of insulting you, until you showed your own prejudice here. You're a hypocrite of the worst kind.

"Microsoft is not an evil corporation and regardless of what you say I'll continue to support their gaming products and PC products because I like them. And thats my choice. You can continue to believe the scary stories that sony tells you but don't get mad because the majority of us enjoy the 360."

This paragraph shows your complete ignorance.

Scary stories from Sony? Wrong, you can dig up a lot of stuff from every source there is, except Sony.

Microsoft, Sony, Nintendo, whatever. All corporations are greedy and to some extent evil. So, what makes Microsoft worse than most?

US Government Court Findings of Fact:

http://www.usdoj.gov/atr/cases/f3800/msjudgex.htm

A couple more commentary can be found in Wikipedia:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_v._Microsoft

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Criticism_of_Microsoft

These people have been known to steal source code (you're probably too young to remember the DBLSPACE case), bribe officials, and blackmail companies into doing their bidding. And this is about IMPORTANT things, not just games. Anybody with brains would worry and think twice about supporting companies like Microsoft or Google.

This kind of shit makes Sony's rootkits and fake movie critics look like kinder garden stuff in comparison.

Now go ahead, keep telling yourself it's all lies from Sony, blablablah, whatever.

Now, try to understand, please. I have friends of mine who always were XBox guys and I surely understand that it makes sense for them to buy a 360 (BC with XBox being a good reason there).
I respect their taste, and as such let them use it if they like it. That meaning, I just don't annoy them about it. Another thing I do not do is go to a blog site about the products they like and go on trolling like you do.

Stop trolling here. Now fuck off.

Can't you guys please ban this asshole?

illiniguy @ Jun 21st 2007 5:14PM

Personally, I own all three systems. I managed to get a free PS3 due to a deal struck with a friend. I have rented every one of the 20 games that Blockbuster has for the PS3, and so far I am still waiting for one that justifies the price tag of free. Sometimes I wish he had paid me to take it. I believe someone mentioned achievements were stupid and pointless? That same poster will be the 1st one to post about how many "trophies" he has in HOME... Don't get me wrong.. I am HOPING to have a killer title soon. BUt in realistic terms, it isn't coming soon. Every month since January all I have heard out of this site is "just wait, the next 6 months will be killer." Well guess what? The 6 months is here and what is on the boards? "In the next 6 months, things will be awesome..." Purely frustrating to know that the almighty MGS4 is pushed back farther than the freaking pre-order systems allow and LAIR is still just a gob of pre-rendered cut scenes, demo anyone? Oh yea, they don't release those on the PSN. Honestly, no fans of this system can POSSIBLY look at the downloadable content of PSN and think it is a good mix of things...

In the end, I do not care who wins the console battle in the minds of gamers... I care about the games I want to play and which system is the best for it. You say the xbox360 overheats and you can't play for long? Well, I still have yet to see any of my gaming pals suffer this...

Bill Gates is not evil... Neither is Sony... they are businesses looking out for their livelyhood. Everyone here knows that Bill G shells out hundreds of millions to charities, don't hear that from the Sony camp... Is it so bad to make sure your company earns enough to support your charity work?

****End of soap box*****

Bored @ Jun 21st 2007 5:24PM

So the Gates Foundation suddenly makes the man a saint?

Read this:
http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-gatesx07jan07,0,6827615.story

It's just another one of those big charity associations like Unicef: a business. And one that is constantly used for PR.

Charity existed before the GF, and would continue afterwards. Thankfully, some people do it without using it to promote themselves.

Sorry for going off topic.

nick @ Jun 21st 2007 5:51PM

I'm willing to take Sony at their word and wait until March next year to see if this pans out.

I'm sure there's some padding of the numbers, but all in all, this means there's going to be a lot of games for the PS3, presumably many that we don't know about yet. This bodes well for announcements come E3.