PS3 sales drastically improve in November NPD data

by Andrew Yoon { Dec 14th 2007 at 10:00AM }

Sony fared relatively well in this month's NPD figures. It may still have been beaten by other platforms, but it's finally generating respectable sales numbers. 466,000 PS3 systems were sold in November, a 285% increase over the previous month's sales. According to Sony, the "PS3 had the biggest October to November sales increase of any hardware platform."

Surprisingly, PS2 sales are still going strong. In fact, the incredible strength of the PS2 may still be getting in the way of PS3 performance. Hardware sales reached 496,000, a 170% increase over last month's sales. The press release also reiterates that "Since its release in North America on Oct. 26, 2000, more than 120 million hardware units and more than a billion units of PlayStation 2 software have sold worldwide, making it the best-selling gaming platform ever released."

Software sales were also strong in November, with retail dollars from PS3 sales totaling $138 million, a 192% increase over last month's sales. A seeming first for the platform, PS3 had two titles reach the top ten list: Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare for PS3 sold 444K units and Assassin's Creed for PS3 sold 377K units.

For more info on how the other platforms fared in November, check out Joystiq.

Tags: npd, ps2, ps3, sales

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

DSR7997 @ Dec 14th 2007 10:21AM

I really expected to see Ratchet and Clank and Uncharted on the list but I guess that would have fallen in the October sales.

Kenology @ Dec 14th 2007 10:46AM

Unfortunately, they both tanked. I expected Uncharted to do so much better (I believe it did 127k in November).

Popfrogs @ Dec 14th 2007 10:50AM

Despite the R&C advertising it seems not enough people are buying it. The Uncharted ads are there but too few. I really can't talk because after buying COD4 and intending to get Uncharted...I still haven't. There's always Christmas though. :)

Sora57 @ Dec 14th 2007 10:47AM

Make all PS3 SKUs with backwards compatability and stop making the PS2. Then you'll really see some sales numbers.

Ghaleon @ Dec 14th 2007 10:54AM

Playstation 2 sales will stay strong even longer now that the 3's aren't backwards compatible with "the Playstation family".

Jason @ Dec 14th 2007 1:38PM

No, PS2 sales will remain strong as long as the PS3 is too expensive for the majority of consumers. Backwards compatibility is only a big deal in the first 6 to 12 months of the consoles lifespan when there aren't many games out. It's probably only a deal breaker to a small segment of gamers. I know I haven't played any PS2 games on my PS3, and there's only one or two games that might have a slight chance.

TheSh0wstopper @ Dec 14th 2007 10:54AM

For the 1 billionth time, Playstation owners dont buy games. I dont see commercials for that many 360 games yet they sell just fine.

-TheSh0wstopper

Christian @ Dec 14th 2007 11:10AM

Actually the last time I saw any figures the PS3 had the best attach rates of any console, so claiming that PS3 owners do not buy games is a little silly.

Also speaking as a European who just got Uncharted available, after buying PES, Eye of Judgement, Ratchet&Clank and COD4 I simply decided to delay further purchases a bit as I still have barely touched some of these titles already bought (partially due to enjoying Warhawk so much still). So Uncharted is absolutly on my list of games to buy, but it has to accept waiting until after Christmas.

Leobebes @ Dec 14th 2007 2:02PM

I think that maybe half of the PS3 install base are Blue Ray users only. Anyone else think that?

BlackBeltJones @ Dec 14th 2007 5:50PM

@Christian
You must be looking at some bad source info (SDF.com?) but PS3 doesn't have a higher attach rate than the 360. 360 currently has an attach rate of 6.9 games per console out in the wild, which, apparently, breaks the attach rate record.

http://www.gamasutra.com/php-bin/news_index.php?story=16643

Aaron @ Dec 14th 2007 11:22AM

Playstation FTW! :)

marklar @ Dec 14th 2007 1:50PM

Right, when the DS beats ALL of Sony's consoles combined, it's PS ftw

nice...

RangerPrimeX @ Dec 14th 2007 11:24AM

I am a little disappointed. I thought for sure with the lower priced model and price drop that the PS3 would overtake the 360 this month. Instead it was outsold 1.5 times by 360 and 2 times by the Wii. PS3 was even outsold still by PS2. The DS alone outsold all Playstation branded hardware combine. What does Sony have to do to get out of the basement.

B1gC72 @ Dec 14th 2007 11:23AM

you almost have to count the PS2 and PS3 sales together since the PS2 is still selling so well. i think if sony keeps dropping the price then alot of those PS2 owners will eventually jump to the PS3. throwing BC back in wouldnt hurt either in the aspect of luring customers.

TheSh0wstopper @ Dec 14th 2007 12:17PM

@7
you should sell that crack your smoking. The 360 attach rate is higher than the PS3's. Heck Microsofts entire E3 conference was talking about their great sales. Assassins creed sold 377 copies on the PS3 and over 2 million on the 360. PS3 has 2 games to sell 1 million, 360 has over 20. Hmmm? SO maybe my claim isnt too silly.

TheSh0wstopper

Andrew Yoon @ Dec 14th 2007 12:18PM

Incorrect. The 360 version sold under a million in the same timeframe. Of course 360 versions will sell more: there are more consoles out there.

Luke @ Dec 14th 2007 11:29AM

Weird, I've never seen anyone use a PS3 controller like that.

Dehshizknight @ Dec 14th 2007 5:30PM

Dang it, you beat me to it. Lol.

poprocker @ Dec 14th 2007 11:30AM

I'm on my 3rd xbox. If i get the RRoD for the 4th time i am going to snatch up one of the 40 gb models and never look back.

RangerPrimeX @ Dec 14th 2007 11:30AM

@Christian

The last posted attach rates I saw are below from 10/31. The 360 has the best rate. The Wii has a cheat with Wii Play counting as a game when most just get it for the Wiimote.

# Xbox 360: hardware to software ratio: 6.59 (hardware total sold = 6.8 million; software total sold = 44.8 million)
# PlayStation 3: hardware to software ratio: 3.58 (hardware total sold = 1.9 million; software total sold = 6.8 million)
# Wii: hardware to software ratio: 3.44 (hardware total sold = 4.5 million; software total sold = 15.5 million

LW @ Dec 14th 2007 11:59AM

@Poprocker--

I got the RROD twice in 3 months and sold my 3rd Xbox 360 with games, got the 60GB PS3 and never looked back. Everything about the PS3 is better except for Xbox Live kick's PSN's butt, but Home will take care of that.

gumby @ Dec 14th 2007 12:57PM

I saw tons of ps3s and psps selling on black friday I thought for sure that sony would come in just under nintendo with the price drop and all. They have to be scratching their heads right now.

corbinthenooby @ Dec 14th 2007 1:30PM

@LW
Yeah I Know the ps3 is so much better it has blue ray and not only that but good ga.........What no it doesn't 1maybe2 but that's it as far as exclusives.Don't even mention ratchet and Clank.Seriously you fanboys call Halo overrated?MAN this ratchet and clank sucked it wasn't even as good as 2 and 3.Super Mario Galaxy is way better.The only game that's realy worth your time is Uncharted.Even though it's extremely short with no online it's worth a rent.Another thing all off you ps fanboys say Gears is just a four hour game but love Uncharted which is much easier with know online and co-op.Oh yes one more thing i'm all ways seeing you guys mention Halo ,even on subjects that have nothing to do with the fps genera.What is it that you know it's a great killer app and envy it because you have nothing like it?And yes I do have all three systems.

Slayer15 @ Dec 14th 2007 2:57PM

@corbin

If you want people to take you seriously, you have to make your writing legible. Most people won't even bother reading your post, I know I didn't.

TheSh0wstopper @ Dec 14th 2007 10:44PM

@Andrew,

I made no mention of any timeframe, I spoke of sells in general. And Assasins Creed sold 2.5 million Worldwide. 377k units were sold on PS3. For arguments sake lets round that # up to 500k to account for first week of December (which is VERY generous). Gee I wonder where those other 2 million copies went?
And everyone needs to stop using that "Of course 360 versions will sell more: there are more consoles out there" Excuse. If you draw the sales #'s to a scale then the 360 is still outselling it in software by over 2-1. Lets not forget the fact that during its first year the 360's install base was comparable to the PS3's during its 1st year. Yet it still pumped out million sellers consistantly. Dont make excuses, buy games.

-TheSh0wstopper

grognard66 @ Dec 14th 2007 4:25PM

These numbers certainly do not bode well for the PS3 this generation. Developers ramping up for their next titles are going to base their decision on what platform to lead on (or even go exclusive with) based on where things end up this Holiday Season and Sony failed to gain ground during the crucial Oct-Dec. period.
Don't get me wrong, I'm certainly not saying that PS3 is going to die - just that it's going to be relegated to third-place which Sony is not accustomed to and PS3 exclusive owners (I own all the systems myself) will have to settle mainly for hand-me-downs like the original X-box did last gen.

The Fifth @ Dec 14th 2007 10:43PM

bad news for Sony i guess, do we have an official comparison?

Btw I like seeing Andrew in here laying down the law.

Andy @ Dec 15th 2007 3:45PM

Well I've bought 4 PS3 games. One thing to take in to consideration is Playstation owners have lives.

Take a look at your school or work or your local gamestore. The people who own Playstations are much more popular, better looking and have a life. Thus having a life leaves less time to play games. Xbox owners on the other hand don't have a life.

Or it could be PS3 owners buy BRD's too.