NPD: PS3 sells 190k units in October

by Jem Alexander { Nov 13th 2008 at 8:00PM }

PS3 sales in October have dropped from the last month, despite the launch of many of this year's big hitters such as LittleBigPlanet and MotorStorm Pacific Rift. Around 190,000 units were sold in October (an increase of 56% over October 2007), though this is almost half of the nearest competition's sales, with the Xbox 360 selling around 371,000 units and the Wii continuing to storm ahead with over 800,000 sold during the month.

Despite being outsold to this extent PS3 software sales increased to 2.3 million units, a 200% increase over October 2007 sales. SCEA expects software sales to increase throughout November, in the lead up to Christmas and with the launch of Resistance 2. There are also more than 14 million registered users for the PlayStation Network worldwide. An increase of 166% since January.

Hardware Sales

Wii - 803k
DS - 491k
Xbox 360 - 371k
PSP - 193k
PS3 - 190k
PS2 - 136k

Software Sales

Fable II - Xbox 360 – Microsoft – 790K
Wii Fit w/ balance board - Wii – Nintendo – 487K
Fallout 3 - Xbox 360 – Bethesda – 375K
Mario Kart w/ wheel - Wii – Nintendo – 290K
Wii Play w/ remote - Wii – Nintendo – 282K
Saints Row 2 - Xbox 360 – THQ – 270K
SOCOM: U.S. Navy Seals Confrontation - PS3 – Sony – 231K
LittleBigPlanet - PS3 – Sony – 215K
NBA 2K9 - Xbox 360 – Take-Two – 202K
Dead Space - Xbox 360 – EA – 193K

Tags: NPD

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)

Game_playa @ Nov 13th 2008 8:07PM

Beat by almost double!!! What a shame, but atleast better than last year. But with more killer apps coming, We'll see the black box on top, and for software most of them will be bold!. That's my prediction for October '09

Jerses @ Nov 13th 2008 8:12PM

what killer apps are left :S LBP and resistance 2 are out and didnt do nothing... we are dooooom!!! oh well... guess all i have left is HOME...wait no. lol

Year of the ps3 my balls

CL34N3R @ Nov 13th 2008 8:21PM

@Jerses: For real, year of the PS3 was a joke statement. Two of their biggest exclusives sold a combined total of 400K, not even close to Fable 2. Not to mention Gears 2 that's already sold 2 million units.

Game_playa @ Nov 13th 2008 8:36PM

Balls?! Where?!

The Aggie CEO @ Nov 13th 2008 9:14PM

LBP is a LONG term selling game....

and as far as R2.........I'd estimate it hit 500k sold by the time Killzone 2 comes out.....if not twice that.......

Sackolantern PSN ID: johnnynumber5 @ Nov 13th 2008 9:18PM

This was the year of the PS3 in terms of software. Had by far the best stable of exclusives. LBP & SOCOM will have long legs. Not to mention the sales data for LBP was a very short period. By the time everything is said and done SOCOM will sell 2-3 million and LBP will have sold around 5.5 million. Resistance 2 should also show strong numbers when next month NPD numbers are released.

Remember that NPD is only for North America. We all know that NA is the land of the 360. PS3 has had the best software lineup this year by a landslide.

Luis @ Nov 13th 2008 10:04PM

You guys are all wrong, first of all... Resistance 2 is part of the November sales so we wont know how well it will do in the US until the NPD numbers are out next month. Neither resistance or SOCOM are out on the PAL regions which is where the PS3 sales the most, so we still do not know how well will they do.

Have some common sense.

vahdyx @ Nov 14th 2008 10:43AM

As much as I hate to say this, but the ps3 was a failure of a selling system. IMHO it's the best, but it's just not gamey enough.

Most americans love xbox why? no clue, but that's just the way it is.

ExMcCloud @ Nov 14th 2008 9:37AM

Well Fable 2 and LBP only released a week apart so even if you add the sales of that week plus the week that fable was out it still would have gotten smoked....Sony needs a hard hitting title badly......Im hoping GOW 3 will be that game but we gotta wait till next year for that....And LBP is not a long term selling game if the intial sales are terrible so if that game doesnt hit 500K by the end of next month we have a problem.

Puli @ Nov 14th 2008 10:06AM

@Exmccloud:
LBP had a terrible launch, you can't just say that the only difference between it and the Fable launch was a week. Most retail stores had no idea what was going on. Some told people coming in to ask about it that the game was canceled. When the game did actually come out, most of the stores had just enough to cover pre-orders.

Also, does that number also include the people who were able to, like me, get the old unpatched version? I believe it had a different SKU. I don't think it would be a huge amount of people, but would likely put LBP above SOCOM if they were not counted.

Marius @ Nov 13th 2008 8:13PM

was not expecting this LBP bombed!!! WTF

Sean @ Nov 13th 2008 11:13PM

4 days worth of sales and it sold 215000 units. For a brand new IP, that is actually a really good amount.

Relax LPB will do fine. Four days worth of data does not a bomb make.

CL34N3R @ Nov 13th 2008 8:15PM

231,000 people bought socom? So that's about 230,500 people that feel ripped off right about now, and I'm one of them.

JAH75157 @ Nov 13th 2008 8:31PM

i enjoy playing half a game.

it's kinda like me buying a 6 pack of light beer, only to get a note from the brewer that the beer will be light as soon as they figure out how to get the calories out.

GIVE ME THE WHOLE GAME ALLREADY!!!

Game_playa @ Nov 13th 2008 8:37PM

@JAH75157
I love your picture

Simon P @ Nov 13th 2008 8:52PM

you're about 500 short in your estimate

Alex @ Nov 13th 2008 8:15PM

The game is fun for 1 hour after that it is extremely repetative. And making maps is not fun it's lame. Why are u surprised?

McBonk @ Nov 13th 2008 8:28PM

No spinning this one - not a good day for Sony.

The_Black_Circle @ Nov 13th 2008 8:30PM

Well, if it's any consolation LBP was only on the market for 3 days of OCtober.

Tez @ Nov 13th 2008 8:32PM

Didn't LBP come out in the last half of the month, though? I mean, it's obvious it isn't selling as expected, but next month could tell a different story.

Paulmichael @ Nov 13th 2008 8:32PM

Why is North America so damn stupid? I guess the way the economy is right now no one wants to spend $400-$500 upftont...No price drop means the PS3 probably won't move much during the holidays either.

RPGJock @ Nov 13th 2008 8:32PM

Well I hope Sony gives up on trying to catch NA market, and focus on Europe and Japan now. Nothing against you to you shooter fans but its time for the other genres to get some love. Lets go Heavy Rain, Team ICO project, Infamous, Uncharted 2, and God of War 3, and FF13 series.

Evan @ Nov 13th 2008 8:53PM

Sony needs to give up trying to catch the shooter fans, but that doesn't mean giving up the NA market. The PS2 outsold the original Xbox in NA without a focus on shooters. I think there are plenty of fans of other genres that would buy a PS3 if Sony paid any attention to those genres.

SlyTheBoss @ Nov 13th 2008 9:53PM

What's the top two games for October on the 360? Two RPGs... What was the top selling game (by far) in Europe last week? A shooter...

dicknjane @ Nov 13th 2008 8:37PM

the year of the PS3 never came to be

Evan @ Nov 13th 2008 8:49PM

It's a shame LBP bombed, but I'm not surprised. Sony has not promoted the PS3 to families - a demographic that would eat LBP up. Had LBP been released on the Wii, it would probably be at the top of the list.

The Aggie CEO @ Nov 13th 2008 9:16PM

I wouldnt say it BOMBED considering it DID come out with like 7 days left in the month........and even THEN it was a scattered release(pre-orders first).........

it'll do around 300-400k this month

Andez @ Nov 13th 2008 8:53PM

Damn
"Why is North America so damn stupid?"
Very good question.
I'd have to agree with you though, it's probably the price. You can buy that pile of trash 360 for peanuts now.

deaftly @ Nov 13th 2008 8:55PM

heh, the comments here never cease to give me a

/facepalm

Haohmaru @ Nov 13th 2008 9:18PM

Hey, deaftly. It's good to see that you still troll the Joystiq network. I'm not sure what it would be like without you.

Popfrogs @ Nov 14th 2008 10:56AM

@haohmaru: I agree, I got so accustomed to his drive-by trolling that when he doesn't chime in with a Sony-hatin' one liner, I wonder if something is wrong with the world.

KoSzNik @ Nov 13th 2008 8:56PM

14million PSN users? ;) many of us have 2 or more accounts so let's just say we have to divide it by (at least) 2 to have actual number of PSN users;)

lee @ Nov 13th 2008 8:57PM

2009 YEAR OF THE PS3!!!!1111one0newan1!!

Heavy Rain, Team ICO project, Infamous, Uncharted 2, and God of War 3, FF13, Killzone 2, Resi 5!!!!!!!!!!!1!

cjay @ Nov 13th 2008 8:58PM

SUCKS FOR SONY OVERALL ,THEY NEED A PRICE CUT BAD!BUT LBP DIDNT RELEASE UNTIL THE 27TH SO THATS NOT HORRIBLE BUT IT COULD BE BETTER FOR SURE.

PSN: MannyCalvo @ Nov 13th 2008 9:00PM

It really does suck to see a product I enjoy so much behind like this... but with the price of the 360 being so low it makes sense that people are being conservative about where they are spending their money..... But I still have faith they will do well with next batch of games that are coming out... But one thing is for sure I've very happy with my PS3.

bknight @ Nov 13th 2008 9:08PM

On things is sure PS3 needs a price cut but Sony cannot afford it.

I am sure Nov will be a better month with Resistance 2 and LBP but i am afraid that sales figures wont get anywhere near the 360 and Gears of War 2.

The Aggie CEO @ Nov 13th 2008 9:22PM

of course not.........the 360 has more than double the amount of PS3's.......when there are 20 Million PS3's out there the 360 will have slowed down in sells because its not in the same eyes as the PS3...most gamers and people that want one will already have it.....the market is saturated with them unlike the Wii which appeals to EVERYBODY........Videophiles will clamor to the PS3 for the Blu-ray player alone....and when its made smaller in 2-3 more years it will sell alot more again......I mean what will M$ do to re-release the 360??? I mean they cant make it TOO small cause it wont be able to hold a large enough heatsink....

Alex @ Nov 13th 2008 9:09PM

Fable released the 21st. That is a difference of 6 days. LBP could have release on the first of the month and not sold as many copies! LOL

Rodz @ Nov 13th 2008 9:17PM

Well, bought mine knowing that it's the third console option for this generation, so I never expect anything from PS3 sales. But I was kinda hoping that these so-called "killer" titles would push the envelope for Sony. Guess I was wrong. Anyone still believe in that "10 years lifespan" talk??? If things continue like that, I can see a new playstation version coming in less than 4 years (considering that MS should be releasing a new Xbox version in 2 years max).

dan @ Nov 13th 2008 9:25PM

Why do you and so many other misinterpret the 10 year lifespan? It dosent mean there wont be a ps4 for 10 years, it means they will support the ps3 for 10 years and not abandon it after 4 like the Xbox. The PS4 could come after 5 years and not affect the lifespan of the PS3. Got it?

leatherface @ Nov 13th 2008 9:17PM

and you got , how much money out of those 371k?
just know we are getting quality stuff and that 190k people knew that.

RVCA208 @ Nov 13th 2008 9:17PM

The thing is Fable 2 sold extremely well, but it disappointed most of it's buyers. I have a friend who was really into Fable and very excited about Fable 2. He played it, beat it, and traded it in within a week.

At least LBP is fun and inventive and that's what people expected. The PS3 has quality titles, I just don't understand, besides the price range, why it's not catching on as well as predicted.

Tidux @ Nov 13th 2008 9:17PM

hey guys. Here is an explanation about figures about fairness of the game releases, sick,.

http://ps3street-style.blogspot.com/

albert @ Nov 13th 2008 9:23PM

you guys make me laugh. freaking out cuz software sales arent on top!?! think about the xbox's price drop obviously increasing hardware sales therefore increasing software sales. its not that little big planet bombed, its that fable was the only good game that has come out for the xbox in a long time and with more xbox's out there its obvious it would sell more. with todays economy its no suprise to see this. truth is ps3 has more killer apps this year but at its price people dont buy. the only people that know wut the ps3 has to offer are the people that own one. hardware space.... check. internal router.... check. free network...check. bluray player (yes i use it)... check! try adding that up to the acces. that are required to have all that on an xbox and u got yourself a ps3! but nobody see's this. there is tons of games i would love to have but cant buy cuz money is tight. blame it on whatever you want but in the end sony is still afloat. bad decisions? maybe but still afloat. the only thing to consider is a price drop in order to start gaining a user base otherwise its gonna be the same story all throughout the year. it just sucks to see people complain about its price when its really worth it. people pay the same for a cellphone and get less but hey its a touch screen! give me a flippin break.

maidsandharem @ Nov 13th 2008 10:43PM

glad you got the period!

jahd5000 @ Nov 13th 2008 11:52PM

exactly. The thing that most people here just doesnt understand here is that most ppl sint, like us, always reading Ps3Fanmboy or IGN and up to date with video gaming news. So they just dont know the benefits of the ps3 over the others.

People here bringing excuses (their holding for the bundle, they should sell more cuz of the new games coming) come on most people just buy the cheaper one, the one that they saw in a demo and amazed em, and then, when they do buy it, they may randomly get a nice game or one they've hear of and like it. Face it. And thats what SONY doesnt understand. AND what Nintendo did extremely well.

Anyways, im still happy, sometimes it is just fine not to have th e most common less-powerful machine, i enjoy understanding my own thing and hopefully sony doesnt bring next gen a PS4 with the same specs of ps3 but cheaper and id dont know, intereactive. Just not what im looking for. Difference between PS· and 360? well of course reason #1 (and only one) is price, and SONY is just not gonna win the war, cuz when those not hardcore common people see people getting more 360s and telling them their best thing they will also get it. Thats how it works. If it wasn't that way, nobody would have an iPhone and would have some kind of PPC (Xperia or any HTC).

Sammy @ Nov 14th 2008 4:52PM

You are correct yes. Sony NEED to point out the advantages of their console over the XBOX because when the average consumer compares an XBOX Arcade and a PS3 they THINK they are getting the same.

The reality is that to spec up the XBOX Arcade to do what a PS3 does it would probably cost you the same price as a PS3 but the average consumer doesn't realise that because Sony never communicate it.

It's a shame really because I love my PS3 - I'm by no means a fanboy but I want it to sell well just to ensure it's future proof if you know what I mean.

Microsoft play a dirty game really but it works. Their whole strategy this generation has been to get the 360 out first and block their existing market from moving.

Rodz @ Nov 14th 2008 9:07AM

@jahd5000 :

I think the best analogy for Iphone is Wii. It's an inferior piece of tech but has a very strong appeal to the regular consumer with its innovative and easy to use interface, even though it can't match the competitors in terms of features and functionalities.