Tretton: PS3 sales 30% better than expected, warns of shortages

by Alan Tsang { Oct 2nd 2008 at 11:45AM }

Maybe some of us are worried about the economy and how it might affect us. But you know who isn't worried? Sony isn't. Not at all.

Speaking to Reuters, Jack Tretton said that they have no plans to alter their sales targets for this year, despite the economic downturn. PlayStation 3 sales, in particular, we better than what Sony expected. In fact, they are around 30% better than projected and 100% higher than last year, the SCEA president disclosed. Therefore, the 10 million unit target set earlier this year is predicted to be met by the end of the fiscal year. There might even be shortages, warns Tretton, which might affect sales. "I'd say we are able to meet somewhere between 80-90 percent demand, based on how things are trending,"

The PSP is doing just dandy as well. Sony hopes to have 15 million units sold by the end of the year and the sales numbers are currently 20-30% higher than what they expected. Finally, Tretton reiterated the value provided by the PS3, especially with consumers watching what they are spending, will lead to strong sales "The entertainment value ... with PlayStation 3 compares very favorably to other entertainment choices."

Tags: jack-tretton, ps3, psp, sony

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Kahuna @ Oct 2nd 2008 11:58AM

This is the sony response to microsoft, when they said that for 1 PS3 sold, Microsoft sell 2 Xbox360. But PS3 have some great games and it's normal that sony notice a boost on sales.

Devin @ Oct 2nd 2008 12:47PM

2:1 in the UK with the massive price cuts, way to go MS.....Oh wait, shouldn't it have been more?

DigDug @ Oct 2nd 2008 1:39PM

You are not seriously saying you actually BELIVEVE what Microsoft say?? I mean come on, they have been caught lying more times than I remember ("RROD no a problem", "RROD no longer a problem", "These ones really work, honestly"....)

grimlock26 @ Oct 2nd 2008 2:13PM

Home is coming…..still coming…..Beta is coming……

Long story short don’t flatter yourself with thinking sony is on the level with info too.

Popfrogs @ Oct 2nd 2008 2:19PM

@Grimlock: Home is still coming, and people have been in the beta for months. That's the truth. Even if it's truth you don't like, it's still true.

Now "we fixed the RROD" and "the Falcon doesn't have these problems", those statements are not true.

grimlock26 @ Oct 2nd 2008 10:14PM

the point of my comment was that every company lies, deceives, points you in another direction. criterion just got done saying that the trophies are not retroactive after saying that they were gonna be. RROD is still our there even though they've switched out chips. Home has been delayed a long time. yes its coming, and no i don't have a problem with it. i just hope its better then Life with Playstation, cause that thing just sucked.

Hurricane @ Oct 2nd 2008 12:23PM

PS3 definitely has a better lineup this holiday season so i dont expect the 2:1 360 to PS3 to stay for long. However I still think that if Sony advertised PS3 and its games more the two to one wouldn't have happened.

Daniel @ Oct 2nd 2008 12:29PM

agreed I see WAY more 360 commercials than PS3 ones, especially those ones for multiplats where it says 360 at the end..with NO mention of PS3. Sony needs to stop letting that happen. Advertising is seriously Sony's weakest point.

acefondu @ Oct 2nd 2008 1:58PM

Yeah, I never thought my game line up this gen would have more PS3 games than Wii games (Nintendo fanboy here) but here we are and it's a dead heat between the two for me. Sony is picking up the slack for sure.

PSN: John-Paul-Jones @ Oct 2nd 2008 10:26PM

Sony needs to do WAY more on advertising. I hardly see any PS3 ads these days. It's been 360 ads for a while now.

Mattchewie @ Oct 2nd 2008 12:38PM

The ONLY reason the box saw a increase is due to price drop. At the price of 199 you would be crazy not to get one, especially if your a gamer!

I'm 99.99 percent happy with the PS3 as are my other PS3 friends. However the one thing that we all are waiting for is direct voice communications. Trying to coordinate via text message on which server your going to join for say warhawk or even SOCOM really bites.

Popfrogs @ Oct 2nd 2008 12:56PM

Home is supposed to fix this problem, if it ever comes out.

Devin @ Oct 2nd 2008 1:54PM

"At the price of 199 you would be crazy not to get one, especially if your a gamer!"

That's what MS wants you to think. If you're a gamer then $199.99 in just the initial cost. You will want to download patches, DLC, etc. ($100 20GB HDD new). You will want to game online ($50/yr).

With that said, 360 now costs ~$349.99 vs. a 80GB Core PS3 for $399.99.

If your room is like mine and isn't wired and you don't want to buy and run a an extremely long/pricey cable, then the wireless adapter will cost you $89.99 ($81 w/ FS at Buy.com).

Now your investment costs more at ~$439.99.

Don't forget about add-on crap like rechargeable battery packs, paid Netflix subscription for movies, etc.

Most consumers who buy 360's based solely on price are not informed of these additions and that's where MS takes advantage and is able to shift consoles. I mean seriously, what % of Arcade owners (that are true gamers) are/will truly buy it and never feel that they need to purchase any of these add-ons?

Vcize @ Oct 2nd 2008 2:13PM

"ost consumers who buy 360's based solely on price are not informed of these additions and that's where MS takes advantage and is able to shift consoles.

Or they're just more informed and less hypocritical than you, who is quoting the MSRP, not the true street value, of all those items while neglecting to do the same for the PS3.

Live deals are easily found for $40, and commonly for under $30. A 20gb hard drive can be had for ~$25, even a 120gb can be had for $70 with little effort (though used). Wireless adapter? You realize you can use any wireless bridge for that, right? Like...the 20 dollar ones?

But whatever, you can quote the prices that these things cost at Best Buy to the Joe Schmo that doesn't know any better, but you have to do it both ways then. Someone that's dumb enough to buy a 20gb hard drive for $100 at Best Buy is also dumb enough to buy that $100 HDMI cable at Best Buy, since the PS3 doesn't come with one. Yet, magically, you neglect to mention that in your price considerations.

Devin @ Oct 2nd 2008 11:48PM

Vcize,

You have a point, but what is the fairest way of comparing the two?

If we base it on MSRP then my scenario would be:

Arcade = 200 console + 50 Live + 100 20GB HDD + 100 Wireless = $450 + tax = ~$483

80GB Core = 400 console + 60 HDMI = ~$494

A $10 difference.

If we base it on internet price (still new & including shipping) PriceGrabber shows:

360 = 202.98 (CC) + 38.92 (Newegg) + 62.94 (Amazon merchant) + 81.06 (Amazon merchant) = 385.90

PS3 = 402.98 (CC) + 17.98 (Sony 5' @ PriceGrabber merchant w/ good reviews) = 420.96

PS3 is $35.83 more. Remember that after you pay for your 2nd year of LIVE @ $40 you have spent the same amount on the current price of the 80GB Core PS3.

Was those fair comparisons? For the most part?

Boffo the $ock @ Oct 2nd 2008 12:52PM

I played a part in this yesterday by finally purchasing a PS3. My Console Voltron is now complete.

Gambit07 @ Oct 2nd 2008 12:55PM

Welcome to the familia, which games you gettin'?

Echnaton @ Oct 3rd 2008 2:12AM

I'll soon get a second ps3 as well (i need a good media-station for my bedroom ;-) )
The price-diff between us and eu is just unfair ... but anyway !

Boffo the $ock @ Oct 2nd 2008 1:40PM

Thanks. I picked up MGS4 and Resistance. I had a friend suggest me Warhawk, but I'm debating whether or not to pull the trigger on that one yet. There's a few games coming down the chute that I'm looking forward to (MAG, God of War 3, Heavy Rain, and the Team Ico project). Other than that, I'm open to suggestion.

Devin @ Oct 2nd 2008 2:02PM

Uncharted definitely. Motorstorm is awesome, too. LBP will be my next purchase, so....

Gambit07 @ Oct 2nd 2008 6:03PM

Warhawk is great, but you have to consider that you'd need the expansions to fully appreciate it. Yeah, check out Uncharted too.

vahdyx @ Oct 2nd 2008 1:13PM

Wow, is sony really all excited over a 30% increase?

Sony, i love your ps3, but you need higher expectations for sure!

duckhunt8 @ Oct 2nd 2008 1:36PM

Read the source. They're 30% ahead of their target, which people still say they can't make.

I would be excited too if my "lame duck" in the console war was exceeding the expectations I set for it.

sicklesdawg @ Oct 2nd 2008 1:15PM

Shortage on the Holiday season NOT GOOD?

Devin @ Oct 2nd 2008 1:54PM

It's good and not good at the same time. Good that the console is really really popular and Sony can't meet demand, but it's also bad because Sony (who is currently sitting in last place) wouldn't be taking advantage of the demand, and for every one PS3 missing on the shelf, it could mean one more 360 sold since it was available.

Chin-Poh @ Oct 2nd 2008 1:17PM

I'd just love for them to bring back PS2 B/C, I don't mind paying extra for the SKU. Many will argue its time to move on from PS2 B/C, but its still too bad to see the newest PS3s lack the functionality the previous models had. I can easily upgrade the HDD to 160gb, but not the memory card readers or B/C.

Vcize @ Oct 2nd 2008 2:14PM

60gbs can be had fairly cheap on ebay, especially with the cashback deal going on right now.

I already had a PS2, but it was worth it to me to grab the 60gb back when I got mine just for the sake of shelf space so I could ditch the PS2.

Popfrogs @ Oct 2nd 2008 2:21PM

It's a neat feature to have, and I agree that they should keep a SKU around for it, but from financial and manufacturing standpoints it doesn't make any sense.

There's always Ebay for 60GB and MGS4 80GB packs. Even buying a broken 60GB isn't a bad idea, Sony will repair it for $150.

I had a launch 60GB that kept freezing on GTA4 a few months ago when that game launched. Sony sent me a brand-new looking refurb 60GB. So, Sony still has them available for repair work.

JerJerBinks @ Oct 2nd 2008 1:32PM

Sony set sales expectations very low for this fiscal year. If they continue to do that of the span of the PS3 life cycle, they will always meet or beat sales expectations. Yay for spin!

Devin @ Oct 2nd 2008 1:48PM

That's of course your opinion. You are trying to see the other side. Why would Sony do the opposite and say a number we all know they won't hit? Aren't they being realistic?

SpeedRacer55 @ Oct 2nd 2008 1:52PM

Most of you may not have read SCEI Senior President Kazuo Hirai's comments in June/July to a European gaming journalist. He is so over confident that the Home/PS3 is so much better technically that it would eventually outsell the compentition without spending money on advertising. But in the US that philosophy does not work, that is why you have multimillion dollar advertising agencies that sell products to people who don't have the money to pay for it.....so I am not surprised, just look at the PS2, how it is still a viable console 10 years later.... Looks like they are smoking something really powerful that they believe their own fantasy...

Jack Tretton @ Oct 2nd 2008 3:16PM

PS3 "Shortage"
+ 360 Price Reduction
= Sad Xmas for Sony

The gap will widen.

Shawn @ Oct 2nd 2008 3:38PM

Shortages actually make some people want the product even more then before. Look at all the idiots still buying wii products on ebay for more than there retail price. A shortage for Sony is a great thing, b/c it shows everyone that there doing there job in selling ps3's like hot cakes.

On the other hand, Sony, lets not try and be like kidtendo and actually make shortages into a fad.

grognard66 @ Oct 2nd 2008 4:48PM

This is pre-emptive damage control for next week's NPD numbers. "So sales could slow down and we will still hit our number" is meant to assuage their stockholders when these numbers get released. A "shortage", which Tretton used as an excuse before when there were plenty on the shelves (infamously promising to pay $100 for every PS3 people could find on a shelf until literally tens of thousands of photos flooded in), will be their fallback line.

The continued mania over the Wii, combined with the significant boost the price drop will provide for 360 squeezes out PS3 in this economic environment at it's current price point. Also, there will be Blu-Ray players released this Holiday Season for $100-150 less than PS3 so they won't get that artificial hardware boost from movie buffs anymore (who buy the console strictly as a movie player, not a game machine).

adamevex @ Oct 2nd 2008 5:16PM

Well i contributed to the 30% cos i just picked up my PS3 yesterday. Can't wait for both PES and FIFA to be released!!

apb3000 @ Oct 3rd 2008 12:52AM

I dont understand why everyone always puts the 360 hard drive as something additional that you "need" to buy to play games. The gamer that buys the $199 arcade version can download updates to the 512MB memory card that comes with the system, remember it is an "economy" machine that is being used for just gaming and watching movies, that is what's important to the person that doesn't want to pay $399 for a PS3. He is the guy or gal that has a 27-32" SD TV in his or her room and does not give a damn about Blu-Ray. Remember, over 72% of households do not have HD tv's ( http://www.engadgethd.com/2007/04/13/28-percent-of-americans-now-own-an-hdtv/ ) and that crowd doesn't give a crap about Blu-ray and 1080p.

Watcher @ Oct 3rd 2008 10:10AM

512MB was good storage space back in the early 1990s. Today it's nothing. The system should have included a HDD even if it was a small one. Microsoft didn't believe that large amounts of storage space was needed for their console so they didn't include one.

If they built the arcade console solely for economic reasons they would have built-in an expandable HDD slot for the console.

tyba @ Oct 3rd 2008 3:37PM

You do know that article is a year and half old now, right? Nearly half of all homes now have an HDTV, the article I site says 46%... just FYI...

http://www.twice.com/index.asp?layout=article&articleid=CA6596842

ZeroCorpse @ Oct 7th 2008 12:57AM

512MB is fine if you're in the middle of nowhere with no high-speed Internet connection, and you only plan to play disc-based games.

But if you're an average gamer, you'll find 512MB pretty restricting.

Sure, you can pick up Oblivion GOTY edition and have a lot of the add-ons, but some aren't on the disc. Oops! All that DLC won't fit on your 512MB card along with your saves.

Maybe you're into Rock Band! Whoops! You can't fit all those DLC songs onto the 512MB card.

I championed the 360 since I won my first one at launch, but now I'm a happy PS3 owner. Microsoft nickels and dimes you to death. What starts out cheap ends up costing a LOT more than the PS3, and it still does a lot less.

Of course, what ultimately drove me from the 360 camp was the customer service at Xbox Live. They're terrible, outsourced, don't-care-if-you-lose-money sorts of people who treat customers badly. I was hung up on, told to "just deal with it" and overcharged on a card that I had to finally report lost/stolen when Microsoft kept tapping it after I told them repeated NOT to use it. It's like they couldn't understand English, and just did what they wanted.

Oh, and the whole "Microsoft Points" thing is just idiotic. At least PSN lets you pay with DOLLARS and know how much stuff costs without having to do a conversion.

How about rechargeable batter packs? On the PS3, they're built in and charge via a standard USB cable. On the 360, you have to purchase the rechargeable pack separately, and it only charges with their special Xbox 360 controller cable (Play-n-Charge kit), even though it connects to USB.

It's the way all these little things ADD UP with the Xbox 360. In the end, you're better off with the PS3 because Microsoft has become the king of the microtransaction, and that extends to their hardware, too. Proprietary power supply. Proprietary hard drive. Proprietary WiFi adapter (a bridge doesn't allow DNAS to work properly, but yes, you could cheap out and use one of them). Proprietary controller charge cable. Pay-to-Play online service. MS Points used to mask the price hikes in DLC.

I'm VERY happy I switched. I might still pick up a 360 again someday, when they're dirt cheap, but it will always be second-class compared to the PS3 as far as I'm concerned.

Watcher @ Oct 3rd 2008 10:18AM

Also, if you're a gamer who enjoys downloadable games and content, desktop themes, and demos, you need a Hard Drive. There's no way around it.
So yes, a HDD is required in today's gaming world to get the full experience of gaming from a home console.

alex @ Oct 3rd 2008 2:30PM

I must have not written my first remarks in English because you 2 idiots comepletely missed what I was saying. No you do not need a HD to enjoy just playing games off the shelf and watching movies. It is an "economic" machine for people that do not have that much money to splurge on downloading games/media/movies and all that jazz. For the gamer that is looking for all that additional stuff you buy a regular $299 Xbox. My son saved up money to buy his and maybe in the future when it is important he will buy a HD but for now he loves playing Gears of War and Ninja Gaiden 2 and has no need whatsoever for the HD. Incidentally he was able to buy those 2 games because he did not have to spend $300 for a HD that he does not need.

dARThr41d3r @ Oct 3rd 2008 4:30PM

@Vcize: "Live deals are easily found for $40, and commonly for under $30. A 20gb hard drive can be had for ~$25, even a 120gb can be had for $70 with little effort (though used). Wireless adapter? You realize you can use any wireless bridge for that, right? Like...the 20 dollar ones?"

To score the deals you speak of require someone who is somewhat savy (knows websites like CAG & slickdeals) and has time to wait & search for them to show up. A typical parent who doesn't want to waste time and has a typical impatient kid will end up buying those at retail.

About wireless bridges: I know you've never bought one because to get a bridge for $20 you have to buy a cheap or used AP router and flash it with Tomato or DD-WRT firmware. A native wireless bridge will cost you +$50 used or refurb on eBay (I know, I've been shopping for a cheap one for a couple months now). Also you need to research which bridges are compatible with your existing AP router (depends on chipset).

Also your HDMI cable example is a bad one. Only the 360 Elite comes with an HDMI cable so you'd shell out the same cost if you bought an Arcade.

I have an Elite as well as a 60GB PS3. I love my Xbox just as much as my PS3 but I can't stand people arguing that the 360 is 'cheaper'. The majority of Xbox gamers that make up the core user base will want/buy a hard drive, Live membership, battery pack, etc. I'll leave out the WIFI adapter although everyone I know who doesn't have their DSL/Cable modem in the same room as their 360 (or modded an AP router) has one.