SCEE chief: PS3 to overtake Xbox in Europe by summer
by Kyle Orland 
{ Jan 24th 2008 at 1:58PM }
Despite the PS3's late start in Europe, SCEE chief David Reeves has confidently predicted to MCV that the system is poised to overtake the Xbox 360 in cumulative European sales by late summer. "In terms of installed base in some of our major markets, such as France, Spain, Germany and Italy ... our current cumulative installed base is now higher than Xbox 360," Reeves said, adding that the PS3 outsold the 360 in all PAL territories 3-to-1 last week.
Is such a turnaround possible in the time frame Reeves suggests? A quick look at VGChartz (graph shown above) does show Microsoft's European sales lead on the PS3 recently getting cut in half, from roughly 1.8 million units in July '07 to only 0.9 million units in January '08. The narrowing came almost entirely during the highly competitive holiday season, though -- since then, PS3 and 360 sales have run roughly parallel.
Of course, the whole Sony/Microsoft battle might be meaningless, considering the Wii utterly dominated European sales through the 2007 holiday season. Then again, we suppose there's some pride in battling for the silver. Just ask Mitt Romney after the Iowa caucuses.
Is such a turnaround possible in the time frame Reeves suggests? A quick look at VGChartz (graph shown above) does show Microsoft's European sales lead on the PS3 recently getting cut in half, from roughly 1.8 million units in July '07 to only 0.9 million units in January '08. The narrowing came almost entirely during the highly competitive holiday season, though -- since then, PS3 and 360 sales have run roughly parallel.
Of course, the whole Sony/Microsoft battle might be meaningless, considering the Wii utterly dominated European sales through the 2007 holiday season. Then again, we suppose there's some pride in battling for the silver. Just ask Mitt Romney after the Iowa caucuses.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
samfish @ Jan 24th 2008 2:06PM
Seems reasonable to me.
I personally don't expect the Xbox to beat the PS3 in any region when all is said and done.
Jonah Falcon @ Jan 24th 2008 2:08PM
I say that rabbits will be 20 feet tall next month.
See? I can do it too!
kbomb1upc @ Jan 24th 2008 2:10PM
Yes it does look reasonable. Seems like Sony is doing something right... Next Japan............
copa @ Jan 24th 2008 2:15PM
Samfish isn't just making stuff up. He's using complex statistical analysis, shown here:
http://www.sonydefenseforce.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/12/prediction.jpg
Vidikron (FU) @ Jan 24th 2008 2:22PM
I think it will be close in N. America. Overall, I fully expect the PS3 to surpass the 360 worldwide at some point. Largely due to the fact that the 360 simply doesn't sell well consistently in Japan.
Worst Review Ever @ Jan 24th 2008 2:31PM
Why the fuck is Vidikron making a sensible argument?!
samfish @ Jan 24th 2008 2:33PM
Haha, I've been called a Sony fanboy AND I agree with Vidikron?
I expect I'll find dogs and cats living together at this rate!
Negativecool @ Jan 24th 2008 3:00PM
Sony: "To second place we race! CHARGE!!"
borland502 (SDF - Macross Ring) @ Jan 24th 2008 3:32PM
@samfish
I never thought you'd be accused of being a Sony fanboy, let alone a devotee of that particular site. Although it truly will be Armageddon if Fernando is accused of pro-Sony bias.
A brave new world indeed...=p
Mr Khan @ Jan 24th 2008 3:56PM
Really, the only thing keeping 360 afloat in PAL is UK. The Brits love it, but mainland Europe (particularly Spain and Portugal) are much more supportive of Sony products
This generation is really divided along regional lines. The most robust support for Wii comes from Japan, for 360 from America, and for PS3 from Europe
Dave @ Jan 24th 2008 8:56PM
If true, that most certainly has more to do with Blu-Ray now looking like the clear favorite in the HD media wars--and the PS3 being one of the few players capable of newer Blu-Ray features.
No way is any non-Japanese gamer (or non-fanboy) buying this thing because they feel it's a better gaming platform. Sorry.
Jonah Falcon @ Jan 24th 2008 2:07PM
Note to Sony: The Wii belongs to Nintendo, not you.
SolidSnake2K7 @ Jan 24th 2008 2:10PM
What does the Wii have to do with the article. Its about PS3 and 360 sales in Europe not Wii.
kbomb1upc @ Jan 24th 2008 2:16PM
Note to Jonah Falcon: Nintendo wants its KY back.
Co @ Jan 24th 2008 2:12PM
"Of course, the whole Sony/Microsoft battle might be meaningless, considering the Wii utterly dominated European sales through the 2007 holiday season."
Thnak. You.
GRANTED @ Jan 24th 2008 3:27PM
also meaningless is: europe.
saying the PS3 will beat the Xbox in Europe is like saying Memphis will win CUSA. Yeah it will probably happen, but who cares it's Conf USA!
baby sea tuna @ Jan 24th 2008 4:04PM
Granted: I don't understand your analogy.
colin @ Jan 24th 2008 4:23PM
GRANTED, you know memphis is the #1 ranked team this year, and undefeated. nobody can stop us.
Rob @ Jan 24th 2008 5:05PM
GRANTED: That's a bit of a nasty comment isn't it? I mean, what do you know about me to say that I, all my family, my workplace, my neighbourhood, my friends and everything I know are worthless? Come on now, think these things through a little. Ever been to Europe?
Ryan @ Jan 24th 2008 5:34PM
Maybe it's closer to Hawaii winning the WAC in football, since Memphis is actually a legitimate team.
Nonetheless, I think his point is that if you look at the numbers of consoles sold by region, most regions are negligible compared to the US. Think of it like this. Even if the 360 sold ZERO consoles in Europe, the number of consoles sold by the PS3 in Europe still wouldn't even come close to the amount they're trailing by in the US.
GRANTED @ Jan 24th 2008 5:34PM
well, i'm first generation american and i visit germany and poland yearly so the way you should take it as nothing more than me ragging on memphis (as a duke alum), and implying (masochistically) that the ps3 probably won't beat the 360 in worldwide sales despite an improving trend in europe.
trust me, i hate america much more than i hate europe lol.
colin @ Jan 24th 2008 9:09PM
Duke eh? I bet you just can't stand to be outranked by a state school known affectionately around Memphis as "tiger high" ;) Let us have our glory ... lord knows you guys have had it forever.
Poisoned Al @ Jan 25th 2008 7:11AM
@GRANTED, Also meaningless will be the American dollar when the US economy disappears into a big, black hole of despair. Lets see how many units shift in a depression!
Marty @ Jan 24th 2008 2:12PM
While the fanboys on both sides of the fence will argue, taunt, and bicker over sales numbers, I think it's still remarkable that after the terrible first Xbox, Microsoft was able to turn things around so well. Even if they don't "win" the battle against Sony over the next few years, they've snatched an amazingly large chunk of the market away from Nintendo and Sony.
And it should go without saying that, even more remarkable, Nintendo managed to turn around from the weak Game Cube and climb back on top of the market with Wii, even with it's inferior technology and various dry spells of software.
Jerk Face @ Jan 24th 2008 2:26PM
I can't read a comment from you without thinking about the "Spah's sappin' mah cosplay!" line you pulled a few weeks back, and then consequently laugh my ass off.
But you're right about both companies really making a comeback this generation. And I'd say that there is no way that any of the big three are losing the 'console war.' All three companies have grabbed a piece of that proverbial pie.
Korova @ Jan 24th 2008 4:13PM
Now lets see who actually makes more money on their consoles and relateds this generation. So far Nintendo is Ninja, while MS and Sony are the knights who say "Neeh!"
Marty @ Jan 24th 2008 4:18PM
@Jerkface - I don't think I will ever live up to the monument of my previous comment... given the picture, my love for TF2, and my avatar, it was a perfect alignment of the planets that will not happen again for a while. XD
fischju @ Jan 24th 2008 2:16PM
When will the number of good games surpass that of the 360?
Prick @ Jan 24th 2008 2:29PM
They are still waiting for any statistical numbers about the good games on ps3.
Kujel @ Jan 24th 2008 3:15PM
Never Sony only makes shit and the ports are even worse.
GRANTED @ Jan 24th 2008 3:34PM
enjoy my burnout paradise port and ill enjoy your orange box port.
rasgueado @ Jan 24th 2008 2:17PM
Who cares. I don't get any of that money.
hvnlysoldr @ Jan 24th 2008 10:20PM
You should have bought stock.
arrrgh @ Jan 24th 2008 2:21PM
europe?!?!?! is that place STILL around?
T3H WICKERMAN (TMNT DF) (BWF) @ Jan 24th 2008 2:24PM
no it is not. The europe is a lie.
JakubK666 @ Jan 24th 2008 3:35PM
Yeah...we decided that USA is a bullying prick so we now live on Europa.It's peaceful and very relaxing without USA having their shitty wars everyday.
If you're a sensible American who hates their government feel free to join.We're having a Halo 3 LAN Party next Wednesday.
FidliousWong @ Jan 24th 2008 3:48PM
Europa is one step shy of Britiania... Which scares the shit out of me. The Elevens will have their revenge!
Korova @ Jan 24th 2008 4:17PM
Can this be anti-US/anti-MS bias from europe?! That is very principled (or they like to watch Hollywood movies in HD more than play games).
JakubK666 @ Jan 24th 2008 4:47PM
I meant the Jupiter Moon btw...but on the second thought that is still way too close.
And I'll still stick to my opinion that America is a bullying prick towards the rest of the world.Don't worry, not your fault; just that bloody government.
Emophia @ Jan 24th 2008 5:30PM
FidliousWong, that is the first Code Geass releated thing I have ever read on Joy stiq, you have my eternal love.
And a +1.
Jerk Face @ Jan 24th 2008 2:21PM
PS3 fo... for the win? It feels strangely taboo just to say it.
T3H WICKERMAN (TMNT DF) (BWF) @ Jan 24th 2008 2:23PM
It is better for (e)nos heads to keep their mouth shuts in the long run. That being said, I kinda want a PS3 but I will hold out until it gets a larger hard drive or offers the ability to upgrade its memory.
KayRazy Ken Kutaragi @ Jan 24th 2008 2:25PM
Sorry dude but you will never buy a PS3 if you wait for a CLOSED system to upgrade its memory. FYI it has the SAME amount of memory that the 360 has.
As for the larger HD, just go out and buy one and put it in.
Banzai
Shadowcast @ Jan 24th 2008 2:30PM
Why? they've already upgraded the PSP's RAM, why would they not do so with the PS3 as well once they get around to the inevitable slim version?
T3H WICKERMAN (TMNT DF) (BWF) @ Jan 24th 2008 2:35PM
Im not talkin bout a 360s 20 gigglebyte since it can upgraded to a 120 gigglebyte willis. I like to use the thought of using these systems to download shows and movies. My old 20 giggle on the 360 filed up fast between all the arcade games and shows. I want to know I can use this supposedly better machine to do the same. So if they are going to stick with a 20 or 40 then maybe its not for me. These multiple skus are driving me nuts by the way. CLOSED GIANT ENEMY CRABS FOR MASSIVE DAMAGE!!! KEN!
Tony @ Jan 24th 2008 2:47PM
You can use any 2.5" hdd or any fat32 external hdd. I myself have a 500gb external hdd for ps3 so it can now play divx movies. Or you could always stream everything from your computer.
GRANTED @ Jan 24th 2008 3:41PM
a 250 gb sata drive is cheaper than the 120 microsoft 1st-party accessory. but to be honest, there's not a lot of need for storage: the psn games are few and pretty weak overall, so unless you plan to use the PS3 for media storage (divx movies would be my choice), there's no real need for a lot of storage yet. but, like others have said, just switch up the HDD if you want more. i doubt i'll ever fill up my 60gb, unless psn comes out with xbl-quality downloadable titles.
Nate @ Jan 24th 2008 3:48PM
As someone else said, any old laptop hard drive can be put into the PS3. Not only *can* you, but it's 100% supported by Sony. You can get a 320 gig hard drive for about as much as the 120 gig XBox hard drive costs. And it's as easy a a few screws and a few button presses.
Also, as others said, you can hook up any old USB hard drive enclosure to it for media storage.
KayRazy Ken Kutaragi @ Jan 24th 2008 2:23PM
This is even more remarkable if you take into consideration that the big AAA titles that the Playstation brand is known for have not even come out yet.
As for the Wii, yes it is selling like hotcakes however, it is in my opinion NOT competing with the 360 and the PS3. No, it is competing with the PS2 and the PS2 still has it beat by a cool 100m+.
By the end of 2008, the Wii craze will be dieing down (most fads last 2years) and the PS3 will surpass the 360 in worldwide sales.
Boy, I made a great system dont you think?
Banzai
Worst Review Ever @ Jan 24th 2008 2:26PM
You...you really are THAT krazy aren't you?