bit-tech.net

360 finally overtakes PS2 in US sales

Published on 14th September 2007 by Phil Cogar

While the Wii topples the charts yet again, the 360 has finally managed to surpass all the remaining.

Yesterday we told you about Nintendo's Wii leading the console pack with over nine million worldwide sales. That, of course, was unsurprising but something else came in as shock when Kotaku got ahold of the NPD Group's August sales numbers: Microsoft's Xbox 360 had finally outsold Sony's Playstation 2.

These numbers only account for one month but it's bound to make the Microsoft guys happy. Sony has trumpeted the fact that the PS2 has outsold the 360 ever since its launch.

There is no doubt that the recent price drop of the 360 made the console much more appealing to consumers.

Console sales in the US came in as the following:

Wii - 403,600
Nintendo DS - 383,300
Xbox 360 - 276,700
PlayStation 2 - 202,000
PSP - 151,200
PLAYSTATION 3 - 130,600

If you thought Sony wouldn't be trumpeting around about anything considering that they sat at the very bottom of the sales figures, then think again.

August was "a strong month for the PlayStation brand." At least according to Sony, that is. A "61 percent lift at retail over the past two months" and a total of £168.8 million in total sales are what Sony calls a good month for the PS3 and PS2.

Sony also stated "out of stock situations," people holding off on buying a PSP until the new revision comes out, and decreased supplies due to the transitioning of manufacturing the new revision as the primary reasons behind low the low PSP sales.

Discuss your thoughts over in the forums or in the comment section below.

20 Comments

Discuss in the forums Reply

devdevil85 14th September 2007, 16:11

Quote:

Originally Posted by Phil Cogar
If you thought Sony wouldn't be trumpeting around about anything considering that they sat at the very bottom of the sales figures

If you compare Sony to M$, Sony isn't at the bottom. It's only true when you seperate both consoles out by themselves.

bloodcar 14th September 2007, 16:17

Quote:

Originally Posted by devdevil85
Well if you add up PS2/PS3 sales Sony isn't at the bottom. It's only true according to this "chart".

Also, when you say 360 you are comparing a list of consoles that cost $299-$$479 to a console that costs $499-$599 (PS3) which I don't think is apples to apples; it's like saying Hyundai outsold Lexus when we all know that Lexus is making just as much for 1 of their cars as Hyundai is on 2 of theirs. Does anyone understand my reasoning here? It's just the same for saying the Wii is outselling the 360 when the 360 varies in price/features vs. the Wii which is almost 1/2 the cost so again it's tough to say who's really leading.

One manufacturer may be leading in units solds, but what really matters is who's making the most profit right?, so who racked in the most profit in August?, that's what I want to know.

You're comparing a PS3 to a Lexus and a 360 to a Hyundai... dude, that's not even a comparable comparison.

And as for profit, that would still be Nintendo on top. Nintendo actually makes a profit on all of its consoles sold. Microsoft and Sony lose money on profit sales.

themax 14th September 2007, 16:20

Sony profits from PS2, along with software sales. It doesn't profit from PS3, but does from PS3 software sales. PSP still sells decent. Chart wise, yes it looks like Sony is at the bottom, but they are raking in profits purely from PS2, possibly PSP, and software wise on PS3. Goodnews for Xbox though, finally overtaking a last-gen console on the back of a price drop. Wonder if it will keep that lead though over the heavily saturated PS2.

mcshaggy 14th September 2007, 16:23

Quote:

Originally Posted by devdevil85
One manufacturer may be leading in units solds, but what really matters is who's making the most profit right?, so who racked in the most profit in August?, that's what I want to know.

Well, it's well known that Microsoft doesn't turn a profit on the 360 console, and I'm fairly certain the PS3 doesn't turn a profit either... whereas the Wii is known to be generating a decent profit per console. So, in that sense, Nintendo is "winning". But, you can't look at that. Microsoft/Sony's 360/PS3 profits come from games, and of course Nintendo's main profit also comes from games. It's fair to say PS3's game sales probably aren't the best, while Microsoft is probably doing just fine. However, I think overall, the Wii is making a killing.

I hope I'm making sense, or I'm not blatantly wrong. Both are possible. I'm tired.

leviathan18 14th September 2007, 16:24

sony is making more money than MS in the gaming sector but nintendo is owning them big time wii+ds+gba (yes the gba still sells) and all of them give profit in hw and sw to nintendo

devdevil85 14th September 2007, 16:37

Quote:

Originally Posted by bloodcar
You're comparing a PS3 to a Lexus and a 360 to a Hyundai... dude, that's not even a comparable comparison.

And as for profit, that would still be Nintendo on top. Nintendo actually makes a profit on all of its consoles sold. Microsoft and Sony lose money on profit sales.

I was actually trying to compare 360 Elite/PS3 to Wii, so sorry for the confusion. Either way, I just edited it out of my post.

devdevil85 14th September 2007, 16:41

Quote:

Originally Posted by mcshaggy
Well, it's well known that Microsoft doesn't turn a profit on the 360 console, and I'm fairly certain the PS3 doesn't turn a profit either... whereas the Wii is known to be generating a decent profit per console.

You're probably right shaggy. Nintendo is making a killing, and it's not just on their novelty console, but also on the necessary accessories that go with buying one.

mcshaggy 14th September 2007, 18:03

Quote:

Originally Posted by devdevil85
but also on the necessary accessories that go with buying one.

Yep, I personally have a Wii remote and I don't even own a Wii. People are buying Nintendo Wii stuff left and right.

Also have to take into consideration the virtual console. Lots of extremely popular titles in there, people eating them up left and right.

devdevil85 14th September 2007, 18:52

Quote:

Originally Posted by mcshaggy
Yep, I personally have a Wii remote and I don't even own a Wii.

One word: WHY

Quote:

Originally Posted by mcshaggy
Also have to take into consideration the virtual console. Lots of extremely popular titles in there, people eating them up left and right.

Sure, but you've heard of ROMs though, right that you can grab for free? Either way you still have to pay a pretty penny for those older emulated titles....but I like how you pointed that out because that's probably another main reason for the Wii's success....are there a lot of older titles to choose from vs. o like let's say Xbox Live Arcade or the Playstation Network?

mcshaggy 14th September 2007, 19:14

Quote:

Originally Posted by devdevil85
One word: WHY

A lot of my friends have a Wii, and I have a bluetooth enabled laptop. My Mii stays on there, and I can play around with my remote on my laptop for fun. I also never have to worry about waiting for my turn at a friends house, since I have my own controller where usually people just have one or two with their console.

Quote:

Originally Posted by devdevil85
Sure, but you've heard of ROMs though, right that you can grab for free? Either way you still have to pay a pretty penny for those older emulated titles....but I like how you pointed that out because that's probably another main reason for the Wii's success....are there a lot of older titles to choose from vs. o like let's say Xbox Live Arcade or the Playstation Network?

Yep, personally I love the virtual console. Yeah you could get free roms, but the ability to play them natively on the Wii is just cool as balls.

proxess 14th September 2007, 19:49

Does the Wiimote work through bluetooth? I was thinking of getting one but I'm not sure how it works on a pc. Someone explain to me how it works, for both Win and Lin.

mcshaggy 14th September 2007, 20:09

Quote:

Originally Posted by proxess
Does the Wiimote work through bluetooth? I was thinking of getting one but I'm not sure how it works on a pc. Someone explain to me how it works, for both Win and Lin.

Yes, it works through bluetooth. There is software and drivers for both linux and windows. Google can tell you more than I.

ChromeX 14th September 2007, 20:32

Quote:

Originally Posted by mcshaggy
Well, it's well known that Microsoft doesn't turn a profit on the 360 console, and I'm fairly certain the PS3 doesn't turn a profit either...

to be honest mate its a rare console that makes profit, until a few years into production, most companies usually make there cash through game licencing. The wii might be an excepting because it doesnt use super dooper hardware... still, it seams to have worked for them!

mcshaggy 14th September 2007, 20:45

Quote:

Originally Posted by ChromeX
to be honest mate its a rare console that makes profit, until a few years into production, most companies usually make there cash through game licencing. The wii might be an excepting because it doesnt use super dooper hardware... still, it seams to have worked for them!

I know consoles don't make profit. I was just telling him that.

Veles 14th September 2007, 22:35

I thought the 360 was making profit per unit now?

The_Beast 14th September 2007, 22:49

you gotta love the PS2

DXR_13KE 14th September 2007, 23:08

Quote:

Originally Posted by Veles
I thought the 360 was making profit per unit now

me 2

bloodcar 15th September 2007, 00:13

Quote:

Originally Posted by ChromeX
to be honest mate its a rare console that makes profit, until a few years into production, most companies usually make there cash through game licencing. The wii might be an excepting because it doesnt use super dooper hardware... still, it seams to have worked for them!

Nintendo has made a profit on all of its consoles right from launch. And no, the Virtual Boy doesn't count.

mattthegamer463 15th September 2007, 00:57

I bet that several Sony execs are flipping their numbers graphs upside down and then trying to figure out how spin their new data to the press.

Im actually amazed that the PS2 is still selling so well. I know they have the slim remakes and stuff but I cant believe people are still buying them. Must just be because its so cheap.

completemadness 15th September 2007, 20:14

Quote:

Originally Posted by mattthegamer463
I bet that several Sony execs are flipping their numbers graphs upside down and then trying to figure out how spin their new data to the press.

Im actually amazed that the PS2 is still selling so well. I know they have the slim remakes and stuff but I cant believe people are still buying them. Must just be because its so cheap.

atleast you can buy sonys last gen console

its older then the xbox, and all xbox's and xbox related equipment is dang hard to find now

Still, second hand xbox for £35 aint bad :)