AfterDawn: News

PS3 sales top 3.8 million worldwide for holidays, says Sony

Just a couple days after Nintendo announced it expected 3 million Wii sales in the US alone for the month of December, Sony has put out a prediction as well, saying 3.8 million PlayStation 3 units were sold globally "during the holiday season."

Sony says demand jumped 76 percent year-on-year, mainly thanks to the cheaper price point of "fat" models and the introduction of the "Slim" model. Sony did not give region-by-region estimates however.



The NPD Group will release the December U.S. figures on January 15th.

Additionally, the company added that the free PlayStation Network now has 38 million registered accounts, although it is unclear how many actively use the accounts for anything but downloading firmware updates.

Written by: Andre Yoskowitz @ 7 Jan 2010 14:14

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• 16 comments

• manrod

  Are they making a profit now then or still losing money on these?

  7.1.2010 14:34 #1

• djeazyg

  I heard but don't quote me, as I understand it they are breaking even now with the slim model.
  I hope the developers will recognize this surge of new PS3 owners, stop being lazy and stop releasing glitchy games for the PS3 that run perfectly fine on the 360.

  7.1.2010 15:25 #2

• Oner

  They are actually not making a profit just yet going by the last iSupply report. But that is just their estimation of the parts cost...what Sony's actually pays and what the cumulative cost really is may differ from iSupply, but that would most likely be in Sony's favor anyway.
  

  
  
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  7.1.2010 16:07 #3

• ZippyDSM

  Originally posted by Oner: They are actually not making a profit just yet going by the last iSupply report. But that is just their estimation of the parts cost...what Sony's actually pays and what the cumulative cost really is may differ from iSupply, but that would most likely be in Sony's favor anyway.I wonder when they will make a profit before or after they out pace the 360? Or before the next box hits the shelf's?

  7.1.2010 17:44 #4

• ZeusAV

  It's really pretty amazing how Sony has turned things around with the PS3. 2007 was a good lesson in humility for them and now they're actually competing again. Lots of stores around here are still sold out of PS3 Slims and even Amazon can't keep them in stock.

  7.1.2010 19:56 #5

• scum101

  Shows what having a couple of decent games at long last does..
  

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  7.1.2010 20:05 #6

• chris4160

  Quote:Additionally, the company added that the free PlayStation Network now has 38 million registered accounts, although it is unclear how many actively use the accounts for anything but downloading firmware updates. I wonder if this includes the psp and ps forums aswell, It probably it does (this not to be taken out of context like my statements have been before, I have no proof to conclude this but it is merely a personal opinion).
  
  Does anybody know how many ps3's have been sold (total)?

  7.1.2010 21:57 #7

• llongtheD

  It would be nice to see a breakdown of where the bulk of these sales were. U.S, UK, Japan? I don't want to start any flame wars, but its always laughable to see a a big corporation limit supply, create demand, then open supply around this time of year. Its the kind of thing that keeps people from dumping their stock. If they did actually sell that many units, kudos to sony.

  8.1.2010 02:54 #8

• chris4160

  Originally posted by llongtheD: It would be nice to see a breakdown of where the bulk of these sales were. U.S, UK, Japan? I don't want to start any flame wars, but its always laughable to see a a big corporation limit supply, create demand, then open supply around this time of year. Its the kind of thing that keeps people from dumping their stock. If they did actually sell that many units, kudos to sony.Most of the sales would be in Japan.

  8.1.2010 03:05 #9

• av_verbal

  what are the global sales for all consoles? i'm sure this is a very low amount of hardware shifted for global sales for the xmas period.
  
  didn't the wii sell something like 8 to 10 million?
  
  i guess for the current gen 3legged donkey race console battle for supremacy, sony's 3.6 million is something to be impressed with even though it's probably in last place.
  
  news has now turned into speculation, why couldn't afterdawn wait until the 15th and release the data then instead of what amounts to "free advertising" through leaked wow factor press release dribble.

  8.1.2010 08:17 #10

• scum101

  It is a little like that.. 3.8 million in a global marketplace of 4 billion adults.. not exactly a stunning figure in context.
  
  game sales figures are revealing..
  
  http://www.neogaf.com/forum/showthread.php?t=383637&page=6
  
  and the overall sales figures from another source..
  
  Media Create hardware sales (12/21 – 12/27)
  January 3rd, 2010 Posted in DS, News, Wii, Written by Valay
  
  Wii – 215,129
  DSi – 113,984
  PS3 – 110,519
  PSP – 105,801
  DSi LL – 81,430
  DS Lite – 17,695
  Xbox 360 – 6,489
  PSP go – 4,192
  PS2 – 3,747
  
  For comparison’s sake, here are the numbers from December 14 (last week).
  
  PS3 – 237,086
  Wii – 191,915
  DSi – 95,227
  PSP – 79,194
  DSi LL – 75,241
  DS Lite – 12,879
  Xbox 360 – 8,965
  PSP go – 3,260
  PS2 – 2,982
  
  That is only 2 weeks.. and probably US only.. but the trend is still there. The ps3 sold large following the price drop, then went back to something like it's normal numbers.
  
  http://palgn.com.au/15705/australian-sal...ing-06-12-2009/
  
  I think the game sales figures tell a far different story about actual console use and who spends during the holiday season.
  
  Wasn't it just about a year ago that there was a press release from sony stating they didn't care they had lost this gen and were going to move on and develop the next gen instead? .. I remember that clearly and thought it was a good move seeing the sad sales figures overall.. but obviously to keep their sales up they haven't repeated it.
  
  It would be fascinating to see the sale of used consoles.. but that's a figure we would never get. I will ask my local pawn shops which ones they do trade in over the holidays just for fun.
  

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  8.1.2010 08:44 #11

• Oner

  Originally posted by av_verbal: what are the global sales for all consoles?The 360 is estimated to be at 39 Million but even that is a bit of MS double speak because in the other news thread here on aD it states that ~
  
  Quote:Ballmer also noted that there have been about 39 million Xbox 360 consoles sold globallyWhen what he actually said was
  
  Quote:There are now over 39 million Xbox 360 consoles around the world, and more than 500 million games have been sold.Saying there are over 39 Million 360's "around the world" doesn't exactly prove/say that number is what is in the consumers hands. For all we know that could include systems sitting on store shelves from channel stuffing (a known MS occurrence 1) and/or that MS counts their totals differently than the other 2 console makers ("Sell In")...but in this matter lets just say it is 39 Million for "arguments sake" (or to avoid one).
  
  The Wii is at right around 60 Million actually sold since they have made it very clear before that they count their totals via "Sell Through" (to consumers) and NOT "Sell In" (to retailers), of which Sony has stated numerous times as well. The last estimations of the PS3 I have come across have it at about 30-31 Million as of beginning/mid December or so, so add X amount to that for the Holiday season because there are no exact amounts yet as Sony doesn't release their Total sales number until the end of their fiscal year which is March 2010. But from all sources Sony is right on track to meeting their sales goal of 13 Million PS3's during FY 2009.
  
  
  Originally posted by chris4160: I wonder if this includes the psp and ps forums aswell, It probably it doesI don't doubt that it does because the sales of the PS3 are not @ 38 Million. But that is no different to how MS requires PC gamers to sign up to Xbox LIVE! to play "Games For Windows Live" Online as well as the 360 Forums and not to mention probably* Zune accounts too (but that would be pretty negligible I guess so it's of no consequence ultimately). Either way it's not just "Sony" who does it.
  

  
  
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  8.1.2010 09:13 #12

• scum101

  I use the evidence of my eyes while out shopping. Can't help noyicing people buying the wii, the now very scarce person with a 360 (they seem to sell more used than new) and the miniscule ps3 sales. Most places don't even bother stocking games for it outside the actual game/console retailers.
  My wallyworld told the same tale when I was buying my essentials 2 weeks ago.. wii games empty shelves.. temp out of stock.. 360 games.. plenty waiting.. no buyers.. didn't see any in baskets.. ps3 games.. actually apart from the latest.. had dust on them.. tested with the tell all "finger swipe" test.
  
  That is the only shop for 6 miles that even sells them.. unfortunately my friend wasn't on the counter so no chat until next time *sigh* .. hehehe
  
  I had 12 enquiries from people after a softmod or used xbox during the holidays. and 1 from some misguided soul who thought I sold chipped ps2's which I don't. Around 50 calls.. to the point I turned my phone off about modding new or used wii's.
  
  I guess times are hard and people don't want to spend on 3 hour games. I should learn more about modding wii's but I don't have the funds to buy one to learn on. Used ones are like gold.. they fetch 80-90% full new retail price when they do turn up.
  
  This is an odd year.. the buying demographic has been seriously skewed by peoples financial uncertainties. Overall retail figures are going to be dire. I bought bread at 2pm on xmas eve.. and the shops were no more crowded than usual.. unheard of! saying that.. my treat this year was a bottle of scotch not a game or a console or anything that wasn't a requirement for survival.. an essential in the snow.
  
  An interesting comment from a mainstream financial analyst
  
  Quote:We continue to kick the can down the road. Washington pretends to make progress on financial regulatory reform (check back later this weekend for my thoughts on that) but the American consumer and public at large remain under real duress. Are the hints of economic strength real? Whatever happened to the term green shoots?
  
  The fact remains we live in a very fragile world, economically and politically. Our global economic risks remain deeply embedded in the debt burdens of nations, corporations, and consumers. These debts are disguised and covered by central bank liquidity. The water may appear fine, but it remains shark-filled. Remain on guard.http://www.senseoncents.com/2009/12/dece...comment-page-1/
  
  In that kind of market who makes large capital purchases on something which will need a continued real £££ investment month on month for games etc?
  

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  8.1.2010 09:34 #13

• DVDBack23

  Quote:Originally posted by llongtheD: It would be nice to see a breakdown of where the bulk of these sales were. U.S, UK, Japan? I don't want to start any flame wars, but its always laughable to see a a big corporation limit supply, create demand, then open supply around this time of year. Its the kind of thing that keeps people from dumping their stock. If they did actually sell that many units, kudos to sony.Most of the sales would be in Japan.As is ALWAYS the case, the most sales would be in the U.S.

  8.1.2010 09:42 #14

• chris4160

  Quote:Quote:Originally posted by llongtheD: It would be nice to see a breakdown of where the bulk of these sales were. U.S, UK, Japan? I don't want to start any flame wars, but its always laughable to see a a big corporation limit supply, create demand, then open supply around this time of year. Its the kind of thing that keeps people from dumping their stock. If they did actually sell that many units, kudos to sony.Most of the sales would be in Japan.As is ALWAYS the case, the most sales would be in the U.S.My bad. I thought that the ps3 had sold a lot more than they have in Japan. It's still annihilating the xbox 360 there though.
  
  Originally posted by scum101: It is a little like that.. 3.8 million in a global marketplace of 4 billion adults.. not exactly a stunning figure in context. But how many of those 4 billion adults can afford food and shelter, let alone luxuries like gaming consoles.
  
  Quote:I don't doubt that it does because the sales of the PS3 are not @ 38 Million. But that is no different to how MS requires PC gamers to sign up to Xbox LIVE! to play "Games For Windows Live" Online as well as the 360 Forums and not to mention probably* Zune accounts too (but that would be pretty negligible I guess so it's of no consequence ultimately). Either way it's not just "Sony" who does it.
  I doubt many people would have Zune Live though, I don't even know anybody with a Zune ;). It would be interesting to see how many ps3 psn users there really are.

  8.1.2010 19:40 #15

• Oner

  Originally posted by scum101: I use the evidence of my eyes while out shopping....My wallyworld told the same tale when I was buying my essentials 2 weeks ago.. wii games empty shelves.. temp out of stock.. 360 games.. plenty waiting.. no buyers.. didn't see any in baskets.. ps3 games.. actually apart from the latest.. had dust on them.. tested with the tell all "finger swipe" test.
  
  That is the only shop for 6 miles that even sells them.. unfortunately my friend wasn't on the counter so no chat until next timeThat's a pretty limited scope/view of things if you go by your 1 wally world and that 1 salesperson as your source/thermometer for the state of all things "Tech"!
  
  
  Originally posted by chris4160: Originally posted by scum101: It is a little like that.. 3.8 million in a global marketplace of 4 billion adults.. not exactly a stunning figure in context. But how many of those 4 billion adults can afford food and shelter, let alone luxuries like gaming consoles.I agree.
  
  Quote:Originally posted by Oner: I don't doubt that it does because the sales of the PS3 are not @ 38 Million. But that is no different to how MS requires PC gamers to sign up to Xbox LIVE! to play "Games For Windows Live" Online as well as the 360 Forums and not to mention probably* Zune accounts too (but that would be pretty negligible I guess so it's of no consequence ultimately). Either way it's not just "Sony" who does it.
  I doubt many people would have Zune Live though, I don't even know anybody with a Zune ;). It would be interesting to see how many ps3 psn users there really are.I think I know 1 person who bought a Zune o_O! But I would definitely be interested to know that PSN User data as well. Along with exactly how many working 360's are in consumers hands.
  

  
  
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  9.1.2010 08:47 #16