PlayStation Network garners 1.3 million users
by Ludwig Kietzmann 
{ Apr 20th 2007 at 6:57PM }
A Gamespot report reveals the first usage statistics for the PlayStation 3's online network, the astonishingly named PlayStation Network. According to Sony, over 1.3 million users have signed on to the free service, 600,000 of them being based in the United States. All together, users have downloaded 3.7 million pieces of content. "Users have downloaded 3.7 million pieces of content!"
Thank you. It's not explicitly mentioned how many of said pieces are PSN games, but individual sales data for Blast Factor, fl0w and others may be released at a later stage. Comparing overall statistics to those of Xbox Live shows Microsoft's service in the lead with six million users (an unknown percentage of those paying for a Gold subscription), but it's to be expected given the PS3's comparatively recent launch. With some strong online titles and more free services, the PSN stands every chance of overcoming its growing pains and becoming more competitive. Of course, consumers would stand to benefit most if things stayed neck-and-neck. After all, Xbox Live's no good to us dead.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Judd @ Apr 20th 2007 7:04PM
"All together, users have downloaded 3.7 million pieces of content.
'Users have downloaded 3.7 million pieces of content!
Yes! Enough with the Star Wars references, bring on the Airplane! jokes.
GJM @ Apr 20th 2007 7:09PM
I'm guessing they're waiting for someone to guess that all this Star Wars related stuff is due to the 30th anniversary? Well there you go. Now what?
Rubang B @ Apr 20th 2007 7:16PM
So that would be 41.14% of PS3 users. Not too shabby. I wonder how many of the 6 million XBox Live users are using the 9.68 million 360s as opposed to the 24 million XBoxes. Microsoft will never give us the full breakdown!
sinh @ Apr 20th 2007 7:20PM
Note: 1.3 million PSN accounts does NOT equal 1.3 million UNIQUE users.
I have 7 PSN accounts, they're free, and since there were so few people on it, all the good names were still available. Since they're free, there's nothing really to discourage this, so who knows how many unique users there really are...? Probably not even Sony.
Rubang B @ Apr 20th 2007 7:20PM
And Wikipedia says Star Wars was first released on May 25th, so this can't be the 30th anniversary yet. My guess is they're either having a Star Wars quote-a-thon for Hitler's birthday and/or the anniversary of Columbine, or they're all goofed up from smoking drugs.
zachary.chamberlain @ Apr 20th 2007 7:26PM
I'm a huge Star Wars fan and ummm I'm embarassed to say I don't understand the Star Wars reference :(.
cos @ Apr 20th 2007 7:26PM
Rubang, you don't need a PS3 to be a one of the 1.3mil PSN users.
Just go here to create a new PSN account:
https://account.np.ac.playstation.net/accounts/register/beginNewAccountRegistrationFlow.action/
Rubang B @ Apr 20th 2007 7:36PM
Oh so in that case 1.3 million free meaningless accounts out the 13% of the planet with internet access... the planet has 6.5 billion people... so that's 845 million people with internet access... so 0.15% of people with internet access have created free PSN accounts. There, I fixed my previous numbers.
Mitochondria @ Apr 20th 2007 7:48PM
Now Now kids, let us not hate on the ps3 and mock there numbers. Even though i prefer my 360, let us show them the grace that is...something. I suppose it's quite possible that the Ps3 might match the numbers of XBL one day, the quality is what matters most.
Ludwig Kietzmann @ Apr 20th 2007 7:46PM
Alright, I admit it. I made 1.3 million accounts. Once I made the first one... I just couldn't stop.
scott @ Apr 20th 2007 7:57PM
I don't think its even possible for the amount of ps3 owners to go higher then the amount of xbox live users
Rod Munch @ Apr 20th 2007 8:20PM
This article seems remarkably pro-Playstation for Joystiq.
Rubang B @ Apr 20th 2007 8:26PM
I wish NPD or somebody could somehow break down the numbers of PSN accounts, XBL accounts (gold vs. silver), unique Wii shop channel users, and unique DS and PSP online users, so we could get into some great online penetration flamewars.
At the rate the DS is selling, I'd assume that the DS would have the most unique users after the new online Pokemans and Zelda this year. Methinks Halo 3 will give a decent boost to the XBL, but will mostly replace Gears, Lost Planet, and Halo 2 for the FPS crew. Too bad nobody gives out these kind of numbers so I'll never know.
Rubang B @ Apr 20th 2007 8:27PM
Munch, That's because this news seems remarkably pro-PlayStation for Sony.
C. Grant @ Apr 20th 2007 8:36PM
Rod Munch: Their bribe check finally cleared, so expect a lot more totally BIAS Sony news coming soon!
Matt B @ Apr 20th 2007 8:38PM
LOL Ludwig. Thanks for the article. but I'm one of those accounts so you can't lay claim to all of them. :P
MthdDirector @ Apr 23rd 2007 12:51AM
I wonder if that 3.7 million pieces of content number includes autoupdates?
Roy Russell @ Apr 20th 2007 9:31PM
Are they also accounting for user accounts created by QA Departments? I create at least 3 Sony Online account profiles a day for testing purposes. These accounts do work when testing our online games on titles that have released. At least with Xbox there's a seperation between xbox live tester accounts and xbox live retail/home user accounts.
mccomber @ Apr 20th 2007 9:47PM
On the other hand I've already got an xbox live account, but no xbox... 1.3 million PSN members is a damn fine number for the amount of time it's been available. I somehow doubt those chiming in with multiple accounts truly represent a majority, or even signifigant minority as well.
orAngeMicro @ Apr 20th 2007 10:48PM
they're all goofed up from smoking drugs
AHAHAHAHAHAHAH! that is funny ass shiat! i may be prematurely pulling out my jumping to conclusions mat but it seems to me ur not a fellow toker. happy 420 dude!
Purple Haze @ Apr 21st 2007 12:47AM
I might be missing something but i don't understand how thats a star wars reference.
Judd @ Apr 21st 2007 1:29AM
Yea, this one didn't have a Star Wars joke. I was just pointing out how the "all together now" joke is from Airplane! I mean there might have been a Star Wars joke, but I doubt it. It would have had to be very subtle.
Exidor @ Apr 21st 2007 1:36AM
Actually, the "no good to us dead" bit is from Empire. Boba to Vader about Han being put into carbon freeze.
makeseven @ Apr 21st 2007 1:45AM
yes, well done Exidor.
YOU BEAT ME TO IT!!
i always loved that line...vadar goes on to tell them they will just give him the money if he dies. lolz. i LOVE this star wars stuff!!
Purple Haze @ Apr 21st 2007 1:52AM
Yeah that ones not so obvious, I bet many people in many movies have said that.
Jim @ Apr 21st 2007 1:27PM
1.3m unique users? Wow, not bad.
Extinction @ Apr 21st 2007 1:46PM
I like how the 360 fanboys complain you can create free PSN accounts so the number is worthless, despite the fact you can do the same on XBOX Live. I myself have 3 accounts.