PS3 about to make big turn-around with sales

by Nick Doerr { Nov 2nd 2007 at 10:00PM }

This is all according to Tech.co.uk, but they believe the PS3 could "be about to pull off one of the biggest turn-arounds the games market has ever seen." This is relying on the idea that the PS3 was hampered by the lack of compelling titles at its launch coupled with the high entry price. Since both of those are pretty much nonsense now, the sales figures are already looking decisively different.

Tech goes on to explain how the Halo effect is starting to wear off of the 360 and the PS3 has been consistently outselling its number one rival in the UK. After the price cut of the PS3, sales doubled from about 5,000 to nearly 12,000 per week. It's interesting, but the PS3 is really starting to get into a comfortable number two position everywhere but the US. The Wii is getting a little nervous, as the gap between sales with the PS3 is continuing to narrow as well. Originally 6-to-1, the gap has shrunk down to 2-to-1. In time, it may shrink to an even more favorable gap for Sony, but for now, the race is getting closer.

Tags: japan, price-cut, ps3, sales

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Justin @ Nov 2nd 2007 10:15PM

Doesn't surprise me.

Its just to be expected. Microsoft doesn't have much else up its sleeve other than maybe some games that they've yet to announce. But Sony hasn't announced 2008's full lineup either. The PS3 has nothing but potential hardware and software wise, so 2008/2009 will really be interesting.

But advertisement will be key.

Dru @ Nov 2nd 2007 10:19PM

I think most of us would agree that it was only a matter of time. Not to flamebait, but what will the Xboxers being saying if/when PS3's start outselling their system on a regular basis?

Justin @ Nov 2nd 2007 10:26PM

@ Dru, I always wanted to know the answer to that question. What POSSIBLY could they say? It's almost inevitable that the PS3 will take over, but will the Xbox360 boys be so caught up in their fanboyishness that they won't hop on board? Some of their feet are stuck so far down their throats already, it'll really take something out of them to actually go out and give Sony their money. You wouldn't believe the pride in some of them.

ryano @ Nov 2nd 2007 10:31PM

the halo effect is starting to wear off then it's onto the Mass Effect (no pun intended).

waiting on a cheap PS3 w/DS3 for MGS4 this spring.

after that it's back to the 360 for some Ninja Gaiden 2 (woot woot!)

oh and VF5 online SUCKS! No lobby for your friends. You have to keep sending friend invites when changing characters/costumes. I'd take friends at my house pizza and beer and lotsa smack talking over VF5 online anyday!

Maci @ Nov 3rd 2007 12:30AM

Emerald, as the article points out, 12000 is still better than what the 360 is selling in the UK. How is that poor?

Also, pointing fingers and saying that only PS3 Fanboys said their console will outsell the 360 is just foolish.

I'm sure the PS3 will outsell the 360 worldwide. I have had a lot of confidence in the system. However, I am unsure if it will ever outsell the 360 in the states.

John @ Nov 2nd 2007 11:47PM

@Justin, you are obviously not a ps3 fanboy. You are obviously planted, by Microsoft, to incite. You're third remark is totally out of line. There is no need to bring that here. Hence, we may reasonably assume that you are a 360 fanboy. Ironic, isn't it?

@Emerald2, whoa, dude. You just created a logic vortex. You said that 12000 units was not as good as 5000 units. It's like you're in a negative universe, dude.

Hyams @ Nov 2nd 2007 11:58PM

Emerald (no. 4), said: "the PS3 going from 5000 to 12000 units/ week in the UK highlights how poorly the PS3 is doing rather than how good its doing."

This should be corrected to: "highlights how poorly the PS3 **WAS** doing"

;)

Justin @ Nov 3rd 2007 12:34AM

@ emerald, you failed to point out how i mentioned that the PS3's hardware potential > 360's. Sorry if you didn't notice. And what I also meant, was with GT5, MGS4, FF and FF Versus, SOCOM, and all the others that I didn't mention that are slated for 2008, PLUS the ones Sony hasn't announced yet >>> Alan Wake and Splinter Cell: Conviction(lmao)...and the ones MS hasn't announced yet for '08. Sony has a bright future ahead of it...whereas the Xbox 360 looks like it may max out in 2008.

I know you probably hear this a lot in defense, but I have a 360 also only because I couldn't wait to jump into the next-gen when the PS3 got delayed, and I enjoyed it for a while, but to be honest I haven't turned the damned thing on since it scratched my Rainbow Six: Vegas. Although it hasn't gotten the RRoD, I'm probably never gonna buy anything else for it. Everything I want is coming out for PS3. Halo and the majority of FPS' aren't my style. Not in the least bit.

Iadien @ Nov 3rd 2007 12:37AM

The only people that didn't see this coming EVENTUALLY are deluded 360 fanboys.

Justin @ Nov 3rd 2007 12:40AM

And about that last comment about how sony fans said this and that about outselling the 360 in months...

That's ridiculous. You may have heard one or two people say that, but I've never read where PS3 fans unanimously said anything like that.

A matter of 'months'? C'mooonnn.

B1gC72 @ Nov 3rd 2007 12:40AM

@4 Emerald2

wow. way to spin everything everyone said lol. now im going to proceed to make you look like a complete idiot for not reading.

"you basicaly said MS will suck because they havent said anything about their 08 lineup then you go on to say how sony will rule because of what they've yet to announce..."

-he didnt say they would suck he said that they havent announced anything special so far compared to PS3s intriguing announcements but neither of the consoles have announced much of their '08 lineup. he also didnt say PS3 would rule, he said it has alot of potential, which it does.

"and Btw the PS3 going from 5000 to 12000 units/ week in the UK highlights how poorly the PS3 is doing rather than how good its doing."

-no jumping from 5000 to 12000 shows how bad it WAS doing. thats a 140% increase dude. how is that poor?

"Your one to talk about fanboyism, as sony fans are the ones who said how the PS3 would outsell the 360 in a matter of months..."

-im a diehard Sony fan and ive been saying the whole time they would eventually come back FTW but i, and most of the analyst on these blogs, predict 2009 as the magic year. how would they outsell it in a matter of months with a lackluster games line up and well-above-the-norm price point. both those problems are now fixed and things are looking on the up and up because of it.

so would you please droop your head, tuck your tail between your legs, and wander back X3F.com defeated already. i dont mind fanboys but i cant stand fanboy dumbasses.

but neway, this is great news because larger install base=more support and more support=more exclusives and more exclusives=world domination! lol (in villain revealing evil master plan voice)

Hollywood Ron @ Nov 3rd 2007 12:49AM

Shouldn't the XBox be reaching saturation point by now? As in, everyone who wants one actually has one?

RazielDune @ Nov 3rd 2007 1:04AM

the only game i wanted a Xbox for is Bioware games.

Iadien @ Nov 3rd 2007 1:04AM

This isn't about Sony fans saying this or that. The inevitable price drop and the lineup of games to come out in the next few years are the reasons I've thought it , and still think it. Games like GT5, MGS4, FF13, White Knight Story, etc.

Justin @ Nov 3rd 2007 1:06AM

Exactly my point @ Iadien

Killer @ Nov 3rd 2007 1:32AM

NO WAY! "PS3 about to make big turn-around with sales" are you serious? I'm going to be a f-ing analyst! It's like they have the magic 8 ball and asking it questions. ANYONE with common sense could have got this right. I'm a 360 fanboy and I didn't believe that the ps3 was going to loss money for it's entire life time. Why would it? It wouldn't make any sense economics wise.

andiputra7 @ Nov 3rd 2007 1:41AM

@RazielDune

Don't worry, my friend. SInce Bioware is acquired by EA already, i think it's just a matter of time before all Bioware games become multiplatform. You never see EA making exclusive right? hehe

JR @ Nov 3rd 2007 2:01AM

this is gonna be awesome to rub it in all my friends faces calling me crazy that playstation is dead. i've been saying since ps3 launched that it will turn around but no one believed me, said it was to late and sony screwed up. ever since around E3 when i seen all the games coming i've been telling people it's right around the corner. then basiclly the last nail in the coffin came when they launched these rediculously awesome commercials. sony has been saying they have a plan set out and they were gonna follow it, i believed them and look at them now, ready to claim the top spot once again. it's only a matter of time now.

sirpilf @ Nov 3rd 2007 2:18AM

these new commercials have been pretty cool, much better then the creepy ones of last year that mostly just confused people. these new ones are more just about how the system has great fun games, not creepy babies and chicken eggs that turn into ravens.

i to am tired of retard xbots saying crap like ps3 is dead and has no games. i owned a 360 (sold it because i was poor not because i didnt want it) and really the first year of 360 was god awful, all it had was ghost recon, oblivion, and dead rising pretty late in the summer. kameo sucked, PDZ sucked... and PGR3 was ok if you liked that series, but really... ps3 has been WAY better off its first year, with oblivion, resistance, motorstorm, ninja gaiden sigma, folklore, heavenly sword, plus the good multiplatform games like rainbow six and ghost recon 2.... and ratchet and clank, in PS3's 11th month of life. and these arent even the games most people are anticipating.

can you imagine what will happen when GT5 comes out? i dont care for the game but that series has a loyal following like no other racing game can comprehend even. then theres socom, MGS4, FFXII.... sad part about 360 is they already got their most anticipated game. really.... what else do they got that will be as HUGE as halo 3? i hope they have something great planned we dont know about because halo wars isnt gonna cut it. mass effect is probably one of the few games to look forward to on 360 thats exclusive.

chop @ Nov 3rd 2007 3:35AM

circuit city, and compusa sold out of the 40gb online already. someone told me sonystyle.com themselves sold out of the 40gb online not long after it was released, but it has since been replenished from what i can tell. pretty insane to see the ps3 sold out since i dont think its been sold out since the first few weeks the original 60gb came out.

JayFight @ Nov 3rd 2007 4:22AM

personally i know the ps3 would turn things around even before it came out because unlike microsoft, sony builds there game systems to last a decade (hint look at the life of the ps1 and ps2 both of which are still selling) versus microsoft who have always built things to be replaced every so many years (windows 95, 96, 97, 98.....and the xbox to 360 which the original as far as i know doesn't sell all that much if at all) and yes i do have a 360 and i play it often i got ranbow six vegas for it a month or two ago and i just got halo3 and most online multiplayer games i get will be on the 360 (at least until the ps3 is more user friendly online) and of course i'm looking forward to mass effect and i will eventually get the orange box for the 360 but once the ps3 has worked out their bugs and added some better features you better believe that i will happly ditch the 360 for my ps3 when i can (although it will be hard for me to say good bye to my achievments....and no i am not an achievment whore but i do strive to get all the achievments for the games i do play)

@6 justin i have observed that if you move the 360 even a little while playing a game it will gouge a ring into it so that might be what happend to your rainbow six

hiiro @ Nov 3rd 2007 5:09AM

Why do PS3 fanboys keep insisting that the PS3 will turn around, dominate everything, etc? It's impossible to know. It shows potential but so far the is no evidence to suggest anything. Anyone who right now claims the 360 is on top is either a 360 fanboy or a realist. The simple truth is that right now the 360 is on top and all the 360 fanboys you hate so much are siding with something that happens to be true for now.

Blind fanboyism this generation reminds me of the days of the Genesis and SNES. Only then I had an excuse cause I was 10.

"The only people that didn't see this coming EVENTUALLY are deluded 360 fanboys."

Why are they deluded? Considering Sony fanboys are the ones making bold claims of how it's inevitable that the PS3 will dominate for no particular reason other than blind faith in a brand sort of makes accusations of delusion rather meaningless.

YES the PS3 is more powerful, but so was the original Xbox and the weaker PS2 beat it pretty badly with it's early install base, quality games, and developer support. Three things the 360 has right now.

I'm excited that the PS3 is finally getting some games this holiday season and early next year. But this situation where people favor a system just for the sake of doing so, while bashing a great system and even it's great games is baffling to me. I've seen people here go as far as saying Bioshock is overrated. One of the more brilliant games in years and since it's not out on the PS3 it automatically sucks.

People need to learn to love games and leave this stupid pettiness behind. Favoring a console over the games (the point of gaming) is completely devoid of logic. It's almost as if fanboys don't care about games. Then again that might explain why they would favor so blindly a console that after taking $600 from your wallet has been unable to produce games for an entire year.

Phil @ Nov 3rd 2007 5:28AM

I bought the Xbox 360, Xbox 360 Elite and Wii at launch but held off on the PS3- it was overpriced and had absolutely no titles I found sufficiently compelling. It's still short on compelling titles, but they've fixed the price and are slowly producing more reasons for me to buy one. Just got to wait for my birthday at the end of Feb so I have an excuse to buy on. It'll go nicely with my Bravia.

And if the PS3 beats the Xbox 360 (I don't really think there's a competition anyway) I'll have both consoles and benefit either way.

Still, it's ultimately in the best interests of all fanboys for both consoles to do well. What us Xbox owners might get if the PS3 starts to dominate is lower prices, more frequent dashboard updates and who knows what else. The Xbox 360 dominated the PS3 long enough to create some fantastic bundle deals and the PS3 game prices tend to be lower. For example, Gamestation are selling a 60gb PS3 with 3 games, 2 Blu-Ray disks and an extra controller for £399.99! For anyone who owns both consoles, it goes both ways.

Just me.. @ Nov 3rd 2007 8:14AM

the 360 has finished the fight with Halo.. after this it's gonna die ..then MS will release the 1080. PS3 is just at the start of wonderfull things.

Tony @ Nov 3rd 2007 8:45AM

PS3 is there to compete with Xbox 360, and now it's far better placed than ever. Integrated hi-def disc format for games and movies, HDD as standard (and you can put whatever size 3rd party HDD you want in it), more muscle power courtesy of Cell+RSX+Blu-Ray, and the games are finally here to coincide with the price drop. Wi-fi as standard. They're upping the ante on network features too. PSN, Home...online gaming being free. The expected turnaround has finally begun.

Meanwhile PS2 will be re-designed and repriced to compete with Wii. And judging by the scant offerings on Wii, with the right peripherals PS2 is set to blitz Nintendo's similarly powered home console now the gap is narrowing in Japan between Wii and PS3. If PS3 can catch it then the remodelled remarketed PS2 will match if not trounce it.

SKI @ Nov 3rd 2007 8:47AM

"Originally 6-to-1, the gap has shrunk down to 2-to-1. In time, it may shrink to an even more favorable gap for Sony, but for now, the race is getting closer."

That has more to do with the Wii's sales falling then with the PS3 gaining.

Dylan @ Nov 3rd 2007 9:29AM

Well, I just ordered my ps3, with Ratchet and Clank, before the price came down and R&C came out, I was worried about the ps3. But with sales going up in Europe and Japan, the PS3 is less of an American console. The 360 has some cool games, and those games are more attractive to most Americans. I think the 360 will stay on bottom everywhere but America, where it will still sell more than the PS3. I think all the consoles will succeed, which is good, because they will constantly compete, and everyone wins. Why do fanboys have to defend chunks of hardware made by megacorporations? Its about the games.

Justin @ Nov 3rd 2007 9:39AM

Thank you b1gC72. I don't know how he thought he was making a point. Seems he's gone though.

Iadien @ Nov 3rd 2007 9:56AM

"Why do PS3 fanboys keep insisting that the PS3 will turn around, dominate everything, etc? It's impossible to know. It shows potential but so far the is no evidence to suggest anything. Anyone who right now claims the 360 is on top is either a 360 fanboy or a realist. The simple truth is that right now the 360 is on top and all the 360 fanboys you hate so much are siding with something that happens to be true for now."

I am not a fanboy, I own all three consoles and enjoy them all. The 360 is no longer on top anymore, the Wii has claimed that spot.

"Blind fanboyism this generation reminds me of the days of the Genesis and SNES. Only then I had an excuse cause I was 10."

You are a blind fanboy if you didn't think Sony could turn it around with the lineup of games they have already announced. How many people know of the Playstation brand because of PS1/PS2? 100 million+ at least, according to sales. Competitive prices and GT5 and MGS4 right around the corner will help sales a lot in my opinion. Good advertising doesn't hurt either.

"YES the PS3 is more powerful, but so was the original Xbox and the weaker PS2 beat it pretty badly with it's early install base, quality games, and developer support. Three things the 360 has right now."

PS3 being more powerful doesn't do them any good right now. The fact that HD movies will become more and more popular as the years go by does. Sony obviously wins that battle.

"I'm excited that the PS3 is finally getting some games this holiday season and early next year. But this situation where people favor a system just for the sake of doing so, while bashing a great system and even it's great games is baffling to me. I've seen people here go as far as saying Bioshock is overrated. One of the more brilliant games in years and since it's not out on the PS3 it automatically sucks."

I don't enjoy most games that the 360 has to offer me that isn't multi-platform. I enjoy very few console shooters, and none in recent years. That includes Halo. I prefer twitch shooters on the PC, and I bought the PC version of Bioshock as well.

Justin @ Nov 3rd 2007 10:04AM

What happened to the comments???

They're all wacky and out of their original order.

joe @ Nov 3rd 2007 10:14AM

@hiiro

your post included several false imo comments that makes your whole argument wrong.

"Considering Sony fanboys are the ones making bold claims of how it's inevitable that the PS3 will dominate for no particular reason other than blind faith in a brand sort of makes accusations of delusion rather meaningless."

reread the article, as the REASONS were stated. heck, reread other ps3fanboys comments, as they give additional if not the same reasons as the article. so it isn't blind faith as you falsely claim. we gave you reasons - you either ignored them or did not read them.

"YES the PS3 is more powerful, but so was the original Xbox and the weaker PS2 beat it pretty badly with it's early install base, quality games, and developer support. Three things the 360 has right now."

right, weak graphics, weak sound, weak ai are in most 360 games, oh but the gameplay is fun, consitute as quality games. I might as well go back to my ps2 games cause i can say the same for those. most ps3 exclusives have much more quality games in terms of production value, the abilities of the developers, and how much effort are put into the game. only factor 5 screwed up on gameplay with lair, but aside from that, lair is a "quality" game. the rest speak for themselves, resistance, motorstorm, ninja gaiden sigma, heavenly sword, ratchet and clank, folklore, warhawk. and there will be many more exclusives and multiplatforms, white knight story, FF13 AND versus13, tekken 5, mgs4, GT5, uncharted, haze

Justin @ Nov 3rd 2007 10:22AM

@ John, I don't know where you derive your logic from about my loyalty to one side or the next, but read my comment #8. And based on my experiences at Joystiq + Xbox360Fanboy, I can reasonably say what I said. You probably will still have your feelings one way or another. And thats fine.

EDGE @ Nov 3rd 2007 12:26PM

I am looking forward to the upcoming games coming in the remainder of this year on the PS3. Now with the 40gig out, more people are going to find out what a wonderful console the PS3 truly is.

Anthony Pittarelli @ Nov 3rd 2007 4:28PM

the reason wii sales are dropping is because of market saturation. only so many consoles can be sold - this may or may not be good news. everyone who is going to buy has!

Syrionus @ Nov 3rd 2007 6:14PM

Who cares which system sells better! As long as you have games that you enjoy playing, that is all that matters. I hope you all realize that the world laughs at you PS3, Wii and 360 fanboys.

Ty @ Nov 4th 2007 5:49AM

at anyone who supports the PS3 and denounces other consoles... shut up. The war isn't about you, me or these companies really. It's about the growing market making a stand in todays media hungry world. Its about making sure the world takes video games seriously, and they are. You can't thank only 1 console alone for this effect but together they're making people who never would've dreamed about purchashing a console which one they'll get. As true fanboys you shouldn't be knocking other consoles for doing well or others for supporting them or for denouncing our own because they don't like it. So celebrate the PS3's growth without attempting to harm others. If you wanna harm others, I know a few good games you can play =)

Starfire @ Nov 4th 2007 6:48AM

The consoles should compete to be their best, but destructive competition, trying to knock another console, doesn't get us anywhere. I'm just happy that the PS3 is recovering and will be a major console rather than a 'failure', as many feared (or, in some cases hoped!) This will make a lot of people sit up and take note. Here's hoping it leads to more originality and depth in games and in terms of originality- this is where the Wii still rules.

Syrionus @ Nov 4th 2007 6:13PM

Starfire, you had a good speech going until the last sentence. If that isn't a Wii fanboy comment, then I don't know what is. Fanboys are people who can't think for themselves.

chris.westermann @ Nov 4th 2007 10:06PM

Did the writer of this article just say Wipeout is a system seller?

ryan bean @ Nov 5th 2007 9:51AM

Just got me an 80gig last night. The last one at Best Buy. I have been watching the shelves at other Targets and Best Buys and 60's and 80's far and few between. The main reason I broke down and got one was the ending of backwards compatibility. That and the price drop. I look forward to catching up on all that I have missed over the past year.

Dave @ Nov 10th 2007 3:35PM

Hey there ps3 fanboys. I was a loyal xbox/360 owner until about a week ago when my 9th xbox broke. This time it spun my halo 3 disk off, scratched it, and now it just winds up a high pitch sound when I power up. I'm officially done with microsoft and their b.s. Halo 3 sucks, it's nowhere near what a follow up game should be (especially graphically) and still full of bull****. I played with a ps3 my friend owns. He let me borrow it for just a few days. I would just like to announce that for the second time(i owned a ps1) I am switching to a PS3! I know that all these big companies are the same. They want to make a buck. Microsoft seems like they want to make two. Goodbye Bill. Hello to a stable, noiseless, black beauty!