Analyst agrees with EA: 2008 is 'exceedingly strong' for PS3

by Andrew Yoon { Feb 5th 2008 at 6:15PM }

It's taking Sony's latest some time to build momentum. However, it's clear that 2008 will be a strong year for the PS3. Major publisher EA predicted not too long ago that Sony's system would actually outsell Xbox 360 this year, due to its popularity worldwide. Analyst Mike Hickey agrees. "We expect PS3 unit sales will perform exceedingly strong in CY08, due to a recently reduced price point, killer content coming into the channel (GTA), and Blu-ray currently having a decided edge in the high definition format war," he said. He predicts the system will sell 5 million systems this year, which is within the range of EA's estimate.

Obviously, a high price point, confusing HD format war, and small software library were all contributing factors to a sluggish start for PS3. However, now that all of these hurdles have been overcome, things are looking in Sony's favor, particularly due to the success of their last console. "Considering Sony has sold in excess of 120 million PS2 units globally, we anticipate the PS3 adoption rate could accelerate meaningfully in the coming years as the aforementioned issues are addressed and legacy PS2 players' accelerate their transition to current gen." Even if only a small fraction of PS2 owners make the transition to PS3, Sony will be rolling in the dough. We're confident that a lot of these casual PS2 owners will jump on the PS3 bandwagon over the long-haul.

[Via Joystiq]

Tags: analyst, prediction, sales

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Byron517 @ Feb 5th 2008 6:32PM

HA! I'd like to see the reaction of the Xbots if this turns out to be true!?

Leobebes @ Feb 5th 2008 6:54PM

Nothing...

In 2005 analysts were saying the Xbox 360 would never have a chance at impacting the market.

Let time play this out.

Wonderflex @ Feb 5th 2008 7:02PM

Leobebest - Well, looking at the sales of the DS and Wii, I would have to agree with those analysts. The 360 does have a small impact worldwide, as does the PS3. Sure, I play my PS3 way more than my Wii, but that doesn't mean it's translating into sales.

Popfrogs @ Feb 6th 2008 12:47AM

@Wonderflex: the only sales the Wii generates is hardware sales for Nintendo. It has probably the worst attach rate in history.

SAGExSDX @ Feb 6th 2008 1:02AM

uh actually the wii's tie ratio beats the ps3's : 4.64 to 4.24. http://www.joystiq.com/2008/01/25/wii-tie-ratio-8-1-in-december-still-trailing-life-to-date

playcrackthesky @ Feb 5th 2008 6:37PM

sony need to advertise the hell out of some of the big games. Sure GTA is multiplatform but ps2 owners will come over if sony advertise it enough, maybe even a bundle.

I never see ad's for anything to be honest.

ps. i was never sent a password in my email to confirm my user. arf!

motorer @ Feb 5th 2008 6:47PM

no shit. it's call a "self-fulfilling prophesy". when you're one of the largest game publishers in the world, you have a certain amount of control over the install base of a system. if ea had concentrated on making their ps3 games on par with their 360 counterparts, the ps3 wouldn't be hurting so much.

davey @ Feb 5th 2008 6:54PM

i always believed in you sony. I don't think that anyone can say the xbox is better. The only things the xbox has thats better is the price (slightly cheaper) and better online features (PS3s will hopefully be equally good if not better when home eventually comes out)

The Sound @ Feb 5th 2008 6:57PM

Pfft.

5 million?

Fiddlesworth @ Feb 5th 2008 7:17PM

^ Not worldwide, obviously.

John @ Feb 5th 2008 7:43PM

Sony and its fanboys (I own a ps3, 360, and a wii but I'm not a fanboy of any of them) seem so desperate to pass the 360 in sales, I know its hard to cope with being 3rd place but stop posting so many predictions and concentrate on news related to games and future updates to the ps3. All of last years predictions didn't come true...holiday 2007 predictions were way off. Can't wait till the ps3 passes the 360 in sales so this site can concentrate on some real news. Predictions, Predictions, Predictions, that's what this site has been concentrating on. Guess there's nothing better to write about.

yomama07024 @ Feb 5th 2008 8:43PM

But the fact of the matter is, John, that the PS3 IS catching up in sales. Check out vgchartz.

Efeez1986 @ Feb 5th 2008 9:16PM

The best way to show people your a fanboy, is by starting off your comment by claiming to not be a fanboy. I know many people who own all 3 consoles, and some of them are still bias so having all 3 doesn't disqualify you from being a fanboy. There simply reporting what other people in the game industry spoke about regarding the sells of the PS3, because this has been the topic of discussion lately. People saying the PS3 will pass up 360 in sales probably upsets you so much because your a 360 fanboy.

davedrastic @ Feb 5th 2008 9:31PM

ok well done PS3 - credit where credit's due

future's looking bright, but i have to say you could lower the price for Aussies - introducing a new bundle for $799, come on, do you think we're mugs or something. If you don't follow the news we keep getting hit by interest rate rises here so justifying a big outlay (for 1 year old technology) is a big ask.

So come on, settle on a decent SKU with rumble, media card slot and a decent price and get these platinum titles and Home out of the door. I presume asking for BC would be too much to ask. I just hope Warhawk still has servers running by the time tight asses like me jump on the band wagon.

In the meantime xbox should seriously consider lowering their price to get back into the game - I'm thinking $299 or $349 AUD for the premium one. It may sound cheap but there's a fair chance of failure and if they want my dollars they'll have to do some bending. I mean $529 for a machine with high failure rate, no BluRay, limited hard drive etc -no no no, make it cheap and i'll buy it, like i did the Wii, but at that price i'll wait for the PS3 to sort itself out.

We've gone past the point of Next Gen excitement and premium costs, it's all Current Gen now so get the prices in line with that and we'll start talking.

Araskaz @ Feb 6th 2008 4:47PM

Think about it..If EA thinks PS3 will be selling more in 2008, Who do you think they will focus on more for their games??? :)

mostwanted @ Feb 5th 2008 11:16PM

i do agree that ps3 will outsell xbox 360 worldwide maybe not in north america but in latin america, europe, and asia. sony is more known world wide than microsoft is maybe that would be the key to ps3's succes this year. i mean i will not change my ps3 for an xbox plus blueray is the future something 360 does not have.

Iain @ Feb 6th 2008 12:43AM

This is good for us. Sony has to say competitive and not just sit on its laurels.

Xiru @ Feb 6th 2008 4:58AM

Take a look at American sales for the week of Feb 2nd at vghcartz.

PS3 - 53,443
360 - 65,837

Doesn't look like too much of a gap anymore does it? Take into account that PS3 is beating 360 everywhere else, and 360 will be soundly in 3rd place very soon. I'm glad to hear EA supporting the PS3 finally, they did nothing but complain the 1st year of its life. Oh and the PS3 has a bette 3rd party attach rate than the Wii. Wii will always be king of 1st party games.