Two Piper Jaffray analysts project that
the Xbox 360 will lead the PS3 in hardware
sales—and nearly quadruple the Revolution's numbers—through 2008. They predict that Sony will release a
hard-drive-equipped PSP (probably to combat the iPod's audio/video capabilities) next year as well.
Based on a late-2006 estimated release date for both Sony and Nintendo's home consoles, the analysts "expect Microsoft
to sell 19.6 million Xbox 360 units, with the PlayStation 3 and Revolution trailing at 15.5 million and 5 million
units, respectively," through 2008. Despite Sony's late start, "the PS3 is expected to accelerate quickly and lead all
systems with 8.5 million units sold in 2008." The PSP and "the combined Game Boy line" (which includes the DS) should
also run neck-and-neck in 2006, 2007, and 2008. By 2008, "new revenue streams like in-game advertising and online
downloads will grow 500 percent."
You can find a related link (with a more easily digestible table for data) over at Next Generation's site
here, but
don't you think that more than 500,000 Nintendo loyalists, as well as curious mainstream adopters, will give the
Revolution a try in 2006 (which is what the overview says)? Just in case fanboys are biting at the chomp with this
news, keep in mind that these numbers are still analysts' projections (and nothing more).
[thanks, master x 24]
Engadget
TUAW