More PS3s sold worldwide in Q2 than 360s

by Jem Alexander { Oct 29th 2008 at 9:35AM }

Sony's recently revealed Q2 earnings report reveals that the PS3 has sold 2.43 million units worldwide during the three month period ending September 30th. That's an improvement of over a million on its Q2 2007 sales figures and brings the number of PS3s around the world to a total of 16.84 million. Software sales for the console have also more than double from the same period last year to 21.1 million.

Microsoft recently reported that the 360 sold 2.2 million consoles worldwide during the Q2 FY period, just shy of PS3 sales despite a price cut which came into effect in early-mid September. Q3 is going to be an interesting battleground, what with Sony being adamant about not cutting price. We're intrigued to see whether LittleBigPlanet and the PS3's other big exclusives (we'd love to see some real marketing for Valkyria Chronicles -- that game deserves to sell well) will push boxes this quarter despite the 360's price cut momentum. Only time will tell.

[Via Eurogamer]

Tags: corporate, earings-report, PS3, Q2, sales

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)

Smitty @ Oct 29th 2008 9:41AM

At this point, the absolute numbers sold really don't have to concern us as gamers. The important part is that both consoles now have user bases considerable enough to ensure quality development.

Hopefully this means the days of the PS3 getting shoddy ports of 360 games are over. Who sells more units in a given month is irrelevant now except for the Sony / Microsoft shareholders and console warriors!

Puli @ Oct 29th 2008 9:45AM

agreed, Just need developers to see this type of data to show that they can and will make money off of good PS3 games. Don't try and force me to get a 360 to play a working version of the game. Looking at you Bethesda.

bknight @ Oct 29th 2008 9:48AM

It wont change, if the developer are PC developers like Value that design the game for a PC Architecture which is similar to the 360, Ps3 is very different.

Popfrogs @ Oct 29th 2008 10:48AM

@Puli: No doubt. When I read this "Hopefully this means the days of the PS3 getting shoddy ports of 360 games are over", I thought back to my Fallout 3 experience last night.

It sucks on PS3. All XMB notifications (friends going on/off, messages) pause the game. Using in-game XMB also pauses the game. I have no idea why this is the only game ever made that does this. Bethesda sucks...and I had high hopes after the great version of Oblivion we got.

It's like they just shoved it through EA's old Port Machine and didn't even bother to play it. Once.

Ty @ Oct 29th 2008 2:56PM

I'm a console warrior. Anyway...

I must say that the PS3 wasn't getting shoddy versions of multi-platform games because it wasn't selling/basing as good as the 360 etc. (atleast thats not the main reason). It was the development difficulties on the console that caused to shoddy versions of other games. There's more to this though:

When it comes to games that are almost of the same quality as 360 games, the reason has been confirmed and addressed already, the home developed platform is usually the Playstation 3's DevKit. As a result when compared to other games on the same console the games themselves only look regular. But when home PS3 developed games are ported over to the less powerful XboX360, the games usually look better than the fodder that surrounds it (in art and complexity). As a result, these games seem to stand out more on the 360 not just because the 360 has a larger user base, but because the games themselves are swarmed to due to their outright dominance over the Xbox360 exclusives (that aren't Microsoft pushed... Halo, Gears).

Assasins Creed actually sold just about the same amount of copies as Haze believe it or not. But the reason its more popular in the zeitgeist is because it sold like crazy on the 360.

Vincent @ Oct 29th 2008 9:52AM

I guess the whole "low supply" excuse from Q1 doesn't work anymore for MS :P

Sony needs to improve its advertising though

Topsu @ Oct 29th 2008 10:05AM

Sony has come up with some good ads last weeks. Even in Finland! That's weird.

To the news!
All Xboxist know deep in their hearts, that the PS3 would've been a better choice. Really. Of course, the Xbox360 is also a big investment and of course you want to defend your expensive purchase, but really. I hope there won't be too much fanboy-replies to this post. Because I DO own a Xbox360 AND a Wii. And they are great. Well not the Wii. It's just childish. I know... i'm a rich bitch.

Hife @ Oct 29th 2008 10:16AM

Yes, advertise!!! WTF is Sony doing. That old commercial with the Saliva song did a great job at pumping people up. My brother keeps it on his PS3 and shows everyone that goes to his house.

rgoff31 @ Oct 29th 2008 10:10AM

I'm worried about how poorly the PS3 sales have been in Japan lately. They need to develop and release more titles in the Japanese market.

Eggy @ Oct 29th 2008 10:27AM

There are new bundles coming in Japan, that is probably why sales have dropped dramatically. And the fact that not one, for the Japanese public, interesting game has been released for months.

Popfrogs @ Oct 29th 2008 10:51AM

Eggy nailed it, no JRPGs = no sales. Nothing is even on the radar for at least another year for Japanese gamers. It's like they're buying the PS3 on faith alone.

Square-Enix needs to hire some people and you know, make more than 1 game every 4 years.

Hyams @ Oct 29th 2008 1:09PM

WKS is releasing Dec 25th in Japan. That's a JRPG. =)

Copland @ Oct 29th 2008 3:28PM

SCEI, decreased the amount of shipment of PS3 in Japan from September if I remember right. And completely stopped shipment in October, for the new 80GB+GT5 Prologue SpecIII Bundle. And also the Little Big Planet Bundle too. A developer from SCE also announced that in this 80GB, the GPU will be shrinked to 65nm.

So I think this is the reason the sales dropped recently for the PS3.
BTW, the new PS3 80GB is coming out tomorrow in Japan. I already pre-ordered mine :)

DjDATZ @ Oct 29th 2008 10:20AM

Hmmm, wouldn't say the momentum will continue into the Holiday season. I have a feeling the 360 will outpace the PS3 due to price and an absolutely massive selection of games this holiday season. Hell, I have so many games I want to get this season, I have no clue where I'll find the time nor the money. Then there's the whole Gears of War 2 problem: I WON'T have time. And the 360 has several big exclusives this season: Fable 2, Gears of War 2 and Banjo Kazooie Nuts and Bolts. Finally, there's a really big push with the NXE and making the 360 seem more everyone-friendly.

Yes, I do write for a 360 website. Am I biased? Probably. Do I hate the PS3? HELL NO. I want one dearly, but there are so many games on the 360 this holiday season, I a) don't have the money for a PS3, and b) wouldn't have time for anything on the PS3. I really want to get one though. LBP looks badass. And I have several PS3 RSS feeds in my reader, so I would say I'm relatively informed.

I would love to hear rebuttals and points that I don't know about. :D Just don't start calling me names; intelligent conversation only.

Leonhart @ Oct 29th 2008 10:59AM

Ok here's a rebuttle.

I really don't know what you mean by "absolutely massive selection of games". You have gears, I'd much rather play resistance. Gears isn't my type of game, it's too feels too clunky/glitchy where resistance feels a lot more fluid. Fable II was exactly what fable was, a promise of some revolutionary action RPG that turned out to be just slightly above average. I don't see how anyone could fall for that again. I don't really feel the need to say it, but I'll say that Banjo Kazooie isn't really a must play anyway.

On the PS3 side of things there's resistance 2, LBP (I have it and yes it is amazingly fun), SOCOM (there is a diehard fanbase for that game), Motorstorm 2, Valkyria chronicles, and even Naruto Ultimate Ninja Storm (I am very impressed with that game and so is IGN and PS3Fanboy). While not all of those games appeal to me, most of them do and there IS something there for everyone. Then games like Fallout and deadspace and MK vs DC (yes i am getting that) could go either way for either system.

Then take a look at next year. PS3 has killzone 2, infamous and we're still waiting on God of War 3. what does 360 have to look forward to?

So there's my reasonable rebuttle, and I didn't even resort to name calling.

Puli @ Oct 29th 2008 10:44AM

Just wanted to say that for every 360 game you want, there is (most likely) a PS3 game I want. I've already bought 3 that just came out. And still want 3-5 more.

Not saying you are incorrect or anything, just that the fact that you own a 360 and not a PS3 colors how you view upcoming games. aka, a good 360 game coming out (Gears, fable, etc) becomes a must-buy. Good PS3 games coming out become a "that looks cool." Since you already own the 360, you no longer feel the need to "justify" the console purchase. While PS3 game do, even if you don't consciously choose to use that rational.

This ended up longer than I intended, but again. Not trying to say you'll be incorrect. I do see the 360 doing very well this holiday season.

Mattchewie @ Oct 29th 2008 11:00AM

I hope both systems do well this holiday. Though I am more Pro Sony competition is good. As others have said, as long as there are enough systems out there to let developers know that shoddy ports won't cut the mustard, then I'm good.

DjDATZ @ Oct 29th 2008 12:02PM

@Leonhart

When I said absolutely massive selection, I was including the multiplatform games as well. Fallout 3, GHWT, and just about every other game.

Personally, I've never played Resistance, so I won't comment on it. Heck, I don't think I've really seen any videos of it either. (I only started appreciating the PS3 within the last year...) Personally, I wouldn't say GOW was glitchy. It was very well tested, and I didn't really experience any glitches... As for Fable 2, while the original was kind of monotonous and boring, the sequel (which I wasn't interested in until I got my hands on a free early retail copy) is awesome: great story line, usual, but streamlined combat, and everything else was very very well done. When I saw BKNB, I thought it was a kids game, kind of like Viva Pinata. I played it, and I was HOOKED. It's a really really good game, that unfortunately will get overlooked due to GOW2 coming out just 4 days before it.

Honestly, except for some big games, I wouldn't be able to tell you what Microsoft has in store for us next year. There's Halo Wars and Halo 3 Recon (an expansion on the Halo storyline) which I'm both really excited for, but other than that, I wouldn't know. Microsoft is one for sticking to the current holiday season, and not looking past it until it's over.

When the PS3 gets it's next price drop, I'll look into getting one. I'm in my last year at Uni, so I may just wait till I graduate so I'll have some more free time.

@Puli

Well, most of the titles I want this holiday season are multiplatform, so yes, they probably have an equivalent on the PS3. :P I have 2 so far of about 8 for this holiday season.

I understand that owning the 360 does make my biased, but I do try and get as far away from that bias when looking at the industry at a whole.

@mattchewie

I hope they do too! Just means more fun for us gamers!

Overall, I hope both systems do amazing this holiday season.

It'd be great if all 3 companies combined to make one crazy console: Sony doing ridiculous (and reliable FFS...damn 360's RRODs) hardware, Microsoft doing the software and backend, and Nintendo throwing in some of their uber-crazy-but-damn-successful ideas. :D

Devin @ Oct 29th 2008 12:41PM

@DjDatz

Regarding your last comment: IMO that would be horrendous! Where would the competition be? HW is what drives software, right? Without advancements in technology that we are seeing with 360/PS3 vs their predecessors, this "one and only console" would be around way too long and would probably kill consoles all-together, but who knows....I just don't see it working/happening....

DjDATZ @ Oct 29th 2008 12:44PM

@Devin

Therein you are correct... it would never happen though. Dare to dream I guess. :P

Sauvage @ Oct 29th 2008 3:10PM

I own a PS3, but plan to buy an Xbox 360 so I can use XNA to write games for it. I think that Sony would benefit on having something similar for their console, but it is unlikely to happen. But I won't buy an Xbox 360 until they are more reliable. Period. The 3 year warranty is a hack, not a fix for the problem. Now onto the the question at hand.

I agree that more Xbox 360s will be sold this holiday season, but next year will continue to see the PS3 outsell the Xbox 360. This can bee seen where even with a price drop in Europe, the Xbox 360 only managed to outsell the PS3 for 3 weeks and now the PS3 is outselling the Xbox 360 in the European territories again and that is how they managed to beat Microsoft in the last quarter worldwide. Not from US sales but from European sales. The price difference really does not seem to matter in the consumer's mind.

I think this trend will continue as Sony will no doubt introduce a price drop, just before KillZone 2 is released. I think that price drop will filter through and will have a bigger impact than the Xbox 360 one has had.

Ok, I'm going to go all Patcher like and say that if Microsoft's price drop does not start kicking in and taking a foot hold, then the Xbox 360 will not sell more than 40 million this generation.

CrzyNick @ Oct 29th 2008 3:14PM

Well I would reconsider a ps3 if I was you because some really good games like (my personal favorite) Heavenly Sword which had a amazing story,MGS4 (do I really have to explain that???),SOCOM Confrontation ,Resistance, Motostorm, Folklore, Uncharted, Little Big Planet, and more. Also, Resistance 2, InFamous, Killzone 2, M.A.G., Naruto: Ultimate Ninja Storm, Valkyria Chronicles, Heavy Rain, and Quantum Theory which is coming out next year + more.

DjDATZ @ Oct 29th 2008 3:44PM

@CrzyNick

Did you read what I said? I said I'm looking into getting a PS3, just not in the next couple months.

Arnon @ Oct 30th 2008 12:54AM

@Leonheart

1. Fable 2 is absolutely awesome.. I haven't found anything disappointing whatsoever within the game and all promises were kept. If it wasn't, it wouldn't have an average of a 90 and be considered a AAA game.. RPGs are very strictly rated! =(

2. The 360 has a lot of games coming out next year. Theres: Star Ocean 4, APB, Alan Wake, Splinter Cell 5, Halo Wars, Halo 3:Recon, Project Offset, and a lot more.

3. Honestly, the selection of 360 games this holiday is larger than the PS3 selection.. out of the major quality titles for the PS3, I see LBP and R2. SOCOM wasn't that good at all, and the same with Motorstorm.

The games I have picked up and will pick up are:

Fable 2
Fallout 3
GeOW2
Banjo-Kazooie: Nuts and Bolts (been playing the demo, and it's awesome)
Left 4 Dead
Banjo-Kazooie 1
Portal: Still Alive

The games that I want the most for PS3 are:

LBP
Naruto
Valkyria Chronicles

Ranben @ Oct 29th 2008 10:22AM

Oh you.

Jon Acheson @ Oct 29th 2008 10:24AM

The way I see it, the PS3 is likely to become affordable much sooner than the 360 is to become reliable.
(Though, it's an unreliable POS with great games.)

SuperGayParade @ Oct 29th 2008 11:18AM

You can't afford to buy an inexpensive cheaply made system, because you'll be replacing and repairing it.

Those that get a PS3 will end up spending less, not even accounting for Live memberships.

The_Icon @ Oct 29th 2008 10:56AM

With all due respect to the 360, it has some great exclusives. But, its no surprising that the only real reason 360 sold so close is because of the price cut. If Sony slashed 100$ (I know i wont this year); I think the sales would triple at least.

Jerses @ Oct 29th 2008 11:30AM

Yeah they should do like the 360... cut the HDD, the wireless, you can only read DVD (and game dvds),delete the mp3 folder (so you can only copy original CDs), no more web browser, put crappy sonic games in it, give you free access to psn but you will need the HDD for most of the games and updates (PSN experience) ..and there!!!! a PS3 that is worth $199...
Maybe parents will buy it to his son because its cheap. But a real gamer wont.

Devin @ Oct 29th 2008 12:44PM

Well-put Jerses.....well-put.....also no 1000MBps ethernet or chrome outlining.....

Copland @ Oct 29th 2008 3:39PM

Jerses,

The HDD and Blu-Ray Drive is a big advantage.
So I think they won't omit these things.
PS3 is sold with a HDD installed, and thats a big advantage because its really hard to read all the data from Blu-Ray in real time. The access speed isn't high enough. That why most games require you to install the game. Like DMC4 and MGS4, etc. And from now on, you'll need the HDD for updating your Firmware. (I've heard that Sony omited 256MB worth of Flash memory from the PS3 and instead of the Flash memory, they're going to use the HDD from now on.) So its really impossible for them to remove the HDD.
Also concerning the price cut, if Sony manages to get the 45nm out for the PS3, I think there will be a price cut. Until then, its really hard for a price cut. As you know of the exchange rate for Yen and Euro's, Sony is getting negative figures by selling PS3... They actually announced this yesterday (29th JST). So its really a hard time for them right now, thus its really impossible for a price cut.

Popfrogs @ Oct 29th 2008 5:41PM

@Copland: They've still got to have flash for firmware. What happens if you replace your hard drive? You would put in a blank HD with no OS on it. Also, that little interval when you do firmware updates is the firmware file unpacking and installing itself to the flash.

Devin @ Oct 30th 2008 12:02PM

@Arnon

You forgot to add in the $9/mo. Netflix subscription:

Also, an 80GB PS3 is $399 btw not $499.....so really it would take around 3.4 years (at $59 = $50 XBL + $9 Netflix) to equal the cost of a PS3.

ferrarigtc @ Oct 29th 2008 11:40AM

Numbers don't mean much when Sony profits are down 72%. Just last week, Sony slashed its full-year earnings projection, citing weaker consumer demand and a stronger yen. For the fiscal year through March 2009, it is expecting a 150 billion yen ($1.5 billion) profit, down 59 percent from the previous year, on 9 trillion yen ($92.8 billion) sales, up 1 percent on the year.

Sony said its core electronics sector enjoyed particularly healthy demand for flat-panel TVs, Vaio personal computers and single-lens reflex cameras.

Sony also reduced quarterly losses in the gaming business, with sales in the sector improving 10 percent. Sony sold 2.43 million PlayStation 3 consoles during the quarter, up 85 percent from the same period a year earlier.

Sony's gaming unit has been losing money for several years because of high research and startup costs for the PlayStation 3, a machine that has struggled against the popular Wii console produced by Japanese rival Nintendo Co.

Sony's gaming business can hope for profitability only if production costs drop alongside a rise in console and software sales and downloads.

Mr. Joe @ Oct 29th 2008 1:15PM

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20081029/ap_on_bi_ge/as_japan_earns_sony

provide links so you aren't plagiarizing, buddy. you got an opinion on the matter or you just want to spread news?

DjDATZ @ Oct 29th 2008 12:16PM

Not true. The PS3 is badass. And currently I own a 360 only.

Quest @ Oct 29th 2008 12:11PM

What is important to me in terms of the sales numbers is this: how do the 360 sales compare to before the price drop. If those numbers are consistent, then the PS3 is selling at a higher rate. If they are lower, then PS3 sales are the same, or possibly lower. But compared to the 360, more consoles sold.

As a gamer who has had my PS3 for almost a year, these numbers are still important, because these sales will drive decisions by studios to multi an exclusive, or to develop on the PS3 natively.

Also, I just bought a 360 arcade at Target and got a $25 gift card. I've already been called a traitor, but I really do not like the movie/TV options Sony is offering. The Netflix seems like a no-brainer. Funny, I want the 360 for the "living room hub" concept that Sony is trying to push, and my PS3 is my gaming center!

Devin @ Oct 29th 2008 12:53PM

But Quest, you have to be an XBL Gold member and a Netflix monthly subscriber, so how much more are you spending now vs. with the PS3? SD is the only option currently with streaming Netflix.

Lastly, have you ever heard of PlayOn? You CAN stream Netflix on your PS3 and more....

Check out the article: http://www.engadget.com/2008/10/01/playon-media-server-streams-netflix-to-ps3-xbox-360-today/

Mr. Joe @ Oct 29th 2008 1:17PM

i know devon said "currently" but hd netflix will be arriving soon.

http://www.nytimes.com/external/gigaom/2008/10/29/29gigaom-netflix-hd-streams-coming-to-xbox-10864.html

Mr. Joe @ Oct 29th 2008 1:18PM

*devin

sorry.

ryan @ Oct 29th 2008 1:27PM

Yup, 300 HD movies for netflix along with the standard "watch now" selection, soon to grow with Starz network adding their movie and show selections.

Devin @ Oct 29th 2008 1:29PM

@Mr. Joe

According to the article: "Despite all this coolness, the Netflix service still has one huge hurdle to overcome, and that’s content. Even though it’s signing new deals, the library of content still has a long way to go before it becomes compelling."

Basically Netflix will be offering HD at some point, but how many movies (that are worth watching) will be offered in HD? What will the quality be like? These will be key....

Arnon @ Oct 30th 2008 12:57AM

"But Quest, you have to be an XBL Gold member and a Netflix monthly subscriber, so how much more are you spending now vs. with the PS3? SD is the only option currently with streaming Netflix."

If you're trying to say that you will save money by having free online with the PSN, then just don't.. If you use simple math, it would take you 10 years for you to save up enough to buy a PS3. 10 x $50 = $500. And honestly, I would want the best SKU of the PS3.

Also, the quality of the netflix HD will be.. well HD. Which is 720p, 1080i, and 1080p

Jack Tretton @ Oct 29th 2008 1:58PM

2.43 million against 2.2 million? That's a pretty narrow spread, especially when "anyone who's ever wanted a 360 has already bought one." (That's the Sony fanboy refrain, right?)

Devin @ Oct 29th 2008 3:44PM

Both sides will look at it differently of course. In your case you see it as not a big deal, but IMO it is. The PS3, even at it current price (no price drops), continued to sell more than 360 (with price drops/timed exclusives) even with no real blockbuster exclusives for Q2 of this year. Imagine if Sony were to price drop this Xmas (though it's doubtful) with all of it's blockbusters & Home......

ajiezer @ Oct 29th 2008 2:48PM

16.8 mill PS3 vs 22 mill Xbox, man we are getting close :) and I'm really happy to see how the PS3 is growing, that only means more games and more respect from developers.

Natan82 @ Oct 29th 2008 2:50PM

xbox360 is already dead for this reason MS reduces every 3 months xbox360 price.

Remember HD-DVD strategy before his death?

It is the same thing happening with xbox360. This is because xbox360 annually sells less than the previous year.

Instead PS3 sells more annually of the previous year despite costs x3 xbox360.

The harsh reality is this, and next year when PS3 will cost $ 299 xbox360 will definitely dead.

Intelligent people have understood this and even MS and Sony knows this, and for this reason MS reduces every 3 months xbox360 price and instead Sony does not reduce the price of PS3.

Tyler @ Oct 29th 2008 3:24PM

Well... then we will have to see how the Xbox720 will affect the PS3 sales next holiday season!!

Arnon @ Oct 29th 2008 6:10PM

Yes.. praise Natan because his knowledge is all powerful.

Dude, do you really think they care about this? In your eyes, not being in second place means a console is dead.. which would in reality mean that the PS3 has been dead for about 3 years. SONY and MS don't care lol.. they're just happy that it sells.