Exciting charts indicate PS3 possibly overtaking 360

by Nick Doerr { Jan 8th 2008 at 2:00AM }

Statistics and graphs and charts, oh my! While pie charts are always the coolest way to disseminate information, we have to give the graph above a nod for putting the holiday in perspective in terms of units sold, taken from Techvat, taken from VG Chartz. The PS3 and the 360 are in competition -- we can't deny that. Many have thought the latter has kept a solid lead on the Sony console since its inception, but the above graph shows that perhaps things are changing. Take from it what you will; we're not here to flamebait. It's just something to consider going into 2008.

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Frank @ Jan 8th 2008 2:23AM

Why even waste time posting this! The NPD numbers come out next week, those are the most accurate sales numbers available not Techvat. I read a lot of fanboy sites and this is the only site so worried about the competition that they frequently post these charts making predictions on when the ps3 will take over. Enjoy strong sales and stop mentioning the competition. The competition has been enjoying strong sales and rarely mentions the ps3.

Matt @ Jan 8th 2008 3:06AM

I noticed that shift to at vgcharts since the new year. The NPD numbers are US only right? this is worldwide sales. and yeah, vgcharts are probably not accurate but do reflect somewhat accurately I guess.

Matt B @ Jan 8th 2008 8:47AM

Even the NPD doesn't count stores like wal mart or toys r us so even the MIGHTY NPD isn't an exact number.

upz @ Jan 8th 2008 10:46AM

Calm down, Mr. Insecurity.

http://playstation.joystiq.com/2008/01/01/5-ps3-predictions-for-2008/

Check prediction #5. No one's really worried except you.

Alucard @ Jan 8th 2008 11:19AM

taking over 360 lol good comment frank to bad this site doesn't like the truth they live in denial:(

upz @ Jan 8th 2008 2:10PM

Maybe, but you live in the land of run-on sentences.

Chnkylovrr53 @ Jan 8th 2008 2:24AM

Sounds like fun... too bad I can't read, and I'm colorblind... oh, and I'm regular blind too...

Anton @ Jan 8th 2008 2:35AM

I think "exciting charts" says more than it needs to.

travi @ Jan 8th 2008 3:39AM

looking at charts, the true power of the PS3? LOL

jango fett @ Jan 8th 2008 4:19AM

damn you know what this reminds me of? sony defense force and their super crazy algorythims calculations things to show how much better will the ps3 sales be over their rival systems. haha

ck @ Jan 8th 2008 4:33AM

I love that site. There are so many angry people in the comments section.

Glenn @ Jan 8th 2008 5:42AM

I dont see the problem?
The ps3 is just fine, the x360 is just fine and so is the wii!!! what is all this competition?! WHO GIVES A DAMN how many of each console has been sold, it's all about how much you love your console and play on it, thats what makes the console great, not the amount of consoles sold!! it makes no sence at all!

It makes me think, is everyone so unhappy owning a ps3, that they need to convince themselfes of it being a better console, searching the wide wide internet for ANY information saying that the ps3 sold more, or looks better?
Because if that would be the case, the ps3 would suck right? which is doesnt, so please, stop posting crap like this, and start enjoying youre console! you didnt spend all that much money just to have it right...?

Alucard @ Jan 8th 2008 11:32AM

+ software sells consoles not hardware. I hope that this year they bring some new software that uses the real power of the PS3

Christian @ Jan 8th 2008 6:04AM

The PS3 is in a good spot now. It made it through its first hard year against an entrenched competitor. It has managed to establish a solid sales lead in Japan and Europe and while still trailing in the US at least they had made the sales gap there smaller than the sales gap going the other way in Europe.

Sony has every chance now of making it big with the PS3 this year. A long range of exclusive top tier titles coming out for the PS3, a good library of games available and Blu-ray having won the HD disc wars will increase the perceived value of the built in Blu-Ray player a lot.

But beating the 360 could easily end up a lesser victory for Sony. The biggest challenge for Sony will be to let themselves look beyond the 360 and figure out how to challenge the Wii. Sony's causal gamer line like Singstar and Buzz are ok, but I think they might need something more drastic to dent the Wii's current dominance.

Pete @ Jan 8th 2008 8:05AM

If you were in a race, and the car you are trying to pass was 10 million feet in front of you, would you say that you were overtaking the car simply because you drove a tiny bit faster than the other car for a minute, but you were still 10 million feet behind?

Slightly better sales for a month doesn't really equal "overtaking". If the PS3 had more consoles in the hands of users then the competition, then that is overtaking.

James @ Jan 8th 2008 9:03AM

Er, how many PS3s would Sony sell if the pulled the PS2...............?

Ghaleon @ Jan 8th 2008 9:43AM

"Exciting charts"

The 360 will get passed in Europe, big shock. Don't count on the U.S. to follow though.

Prince King @ Jan 8th 2008 11:48AM

something like Little Big Planet?

Michael @ Jan 8th 2008 11:53AM

Hey guys, if you cruise the tech blogs, you will see many people in reference to the Warner deal, saying that they believe it is time to get a PS3. There are a lot of people saying that. If the techies are "giving in", then watch as the average consumer decides which way to go. As the adoption of HDTV and HD in general goes up, so will the demand for suited products, which is making the PS3 an attractive offer with its Blu-ray capabilities and gaming, interactive capabilities as well. I believe it will really start to take off soon. It may not be instant, but it sure looks to happen. Now, what I'd like to see if this talk of Blu-rays having a portable file that can be copied to the PSP. Imagine how a feature like that would increase sales of the PSP, PS3, and Blu-ray. It's going to be interersting. That's for sure.

ck @ Jan 8th 2008 1:20PM

I noticed that as well. It's quite surprising how many people are taking the plunge after the Warner news.

Marc @ Jan 8th 2008 3:01PM

Its strange you say that because they just released news that you can copy Blu-Ray from your PS3 to your PSP,
though it will convert it to display right on the PSP's screen.

Autobon @ Jan 8th 2008 12:23PM

Something smells horribly fishy about all this. If PS3 was doing so spectacular, ya are Sony officials even unhappy about its performance? The PS3 had horrible sales so far, its all over the internet, i highly doubt this graph is as innocent as it makes out to be.

I love PS3 though, and if this graph is true then congrats Sony, but i highly doubt it.

Efeez1986 @ Jan 8th 2008 12:25PM

Wassup with all the 360 fanboys in here? This site is meant to report on all news involving the PS3, and that includes sales. You guys are acting like your upset the PS3 isn't failing like everybody hoped foor it to do. PS3 is the best console, therefore it will succeed no matter what

emaxximus @ Jan 8th 2008 12:59PM

Charts shmarts. Are you enjoying your PS3? 'Cuz thats what counts. If nobody else ever bought one after today I would still be having fun with mine.

Marc @ Jan 8th 2008 3:03PM

Well not now, but through an up-date, it was annoucned at the CES.

moparful99 @ Jan 8th 2008 3:23PM

People tend to only look at overall sales instead of a year by year comparisson. Sony has managed to get 9.2 million ps3 in the hands of consumers in just over a year source: vgchartz.com Microsoft only managed 8.3 million in the same time frame. This seems to suggest that sony has much more momentum at the end of its first cycle year for the ps3. Even more foreboding is the fact that the biggest and arguably most anticipated games for the console are landing this year and early next. Sony is basking in 300% sales increase resulting in 1.2 million ps3 ending up in consumers hands from black friday to christmas day. Why is this a big deal? This is huge because it proves that the ps3 has legs and isnt going to die away. This simple fact ensures competition in what is considered a crowded market. We all know that competition results in better technology and better games for all... For the first time in history 3 consoles are coexisting succesfully. This means that at the end of it all the consumer wont be left with a useless console. Because of sony's super huge success with the ps2, the video game industry is now main stream, with enough demand to support 3 consoles.... What a great time to be a gamer.

NineT9 @ Feb 14th 2008 3:00AM

VERY well said! I completly agree with you on all you've said. We haven't seen the big games... Blu-Ray has just began... Home is coming... so far the PS3 doesn't have much to offer...and yet it still outsold the 360 its first year, and the 360's 2nd year (Obviously not talking about grand total)...

So when all these highly anticipated games come out this year and the next, i wonder what sales will be like if the PS3 is selling good with nothing now :D

overthehill @ Jan 8th 2008 8:08PM

Vgchartz, by their own admission, only poll 2-3% of retailers in the US and won't disclose which retailers they poll. Nobody pays them for the info, its not hard to figure out why.

Mark C. @ Jan 11th 2008 4:42PM

For the record, I am an Xbox 360 owner and host of the Xbox Podcast (www.xboxpodcast.com). But before you start flaming me, please read what I have to say.

Its crazy to think that the PS3 will not do well. Sony has a HUGE install base with the PS2. It is very likely that most of those people will migrate to the PS3 once the price drops to a decent range (already happening) and more games hit the market (2008 is looking good).

I think 2008 will be a great year for the PS3. Personally I have tried one out. My boss gave me his for a month while he was in Europe on vacation. I tried it. I liked some things, did not like others. I do prefer my Xbox 360 for gaming. I did watch one Blu-Ray movie and was not impressed. The movie looked exactly the same as my DVD version. But I have seen some amazing HD shows via DirecTV and if other Blu-Ray movies can look like that then great.

I may even consider buying a PS3 eventually, but if I do, it will be for Blu-Ray. I figure if I buy an HD player and I can get a stand alone for $400 or a PS3 for $400, I might as well get the PS3. But prices will have to drop big time before I get one. $400 is still a lot for a movie player that I don't need. I still think my DVD collection is just fine.

Anyways, back on point. Its great to have the Xbox 360, PS3, and Wii doing so well. Each console that does well provides competition to the others, which brings improvements, cheaper prices, and better options for consumers all around. If the PS3 was the only console, you would not have the Playstation Network (this came about because of Xbox Live), you would not have near the other capabilities of the system. This goes the same for the other guys as well. They all work off each other to improve their own products. So all console owners should be glad to see innovations (like the Wii) because it will bring new things to their own consoles.

Anyways, thats all from me. Real quick, if any of you Playstation or Nintendo owners would like to be a host on the Playstation Podcast or Nintendo Podcast, then feel free to sign up over at www.brokeneggsmedia.com. We are looking for people to host the Playstation and Nintendo Podcasts.

Happy gaming everyone.