Pachter: PS2 software sales to become 'almost irrelevant' in 2009

by Griffin McElroy { Jun 30th 2009 at 6:30PM }

Despite the fact that the PS2 saw a sizable price cut just three months ago, Michael Pachter is claiming that the system is nearing the point of complete insignificance. In Wedbush's "2009 Interactive Industry Report," Pachter explains that he expects "PS2 software sales to decline sufficiently (around 64%) to be almost irrelevant to overall software sales growth, with PS2 software comprising less than 4% of overall software sales in 2009."

Sony's probably not ready to give up on its most cost-efficient console, but as history has proven, nothing gold can stay in the fast-paced, constantly evolving world of video gaming hardware.

Tags: decline, irrelevant, pachter, sales, wedbush

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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)

InFaMoUs1- @ Jun 30th 2009 6:32PM

well duh..

InFaMoUs1- @ Jun 30th 2009 6:33PM

it's 2009 what did you expect to happen

Ashkental @ Jun 30th 2009 6:36PM

The retirement of the PS2 is prolly coming next year as it complets 10 year life cycle...

And i'm really expecting some kind of PS3 Backwards compability with it ;D

But on the other side, ps2 still sells A LOT here in brazil and probably on India and other in-development countrys, just now Sony was given the rights to produce PS2 here, i don't think they're going to give it up that soon...

InFaMoUs1- @ Jun 30th 2009 6:39PM

I still love my PS2 but this isnt something new to me. Most new PS2 owners probably buy used games anyways because there is such a abundance of great used games at a much cheaper price than buying a new one.

Spartacus @ Jun 30th 2009 6:45PM

Ashkental,

I don't think Brazil weighs too heavily on Sony's mind considering that, what, 90-some-odd percent of games are pirated there?

Markez @ Jun 30th 2009 7:02PM

In 2009 I certainly don't expect PS2 software sales to DECLINE 64% for godssakes. That's loony. That's an incredibly huge decline he's forecasting, what on earth is the compelling event that is going to happen that is going to cause the masses that are still buying PS2 software to all of a sudden stop? Bueller?

I am a more than satisfied slim PS2 owner, but I don't buy software for it. So for all those people still gobbling up PS2 software, I just don't follow at all what could possibly make them stop in such steep percentages in what remains of this calendar year.

ianmusial @ Jul 10th 2009 12:50AM

Agreed.

I would assume with such consoles out like the PS3, Xbox 360, and Nintendo Wii, no one would really care about the PS2 anymore.

They should focus on the errors and bugs of the PS3 and let the PS2 rot.

CzAr @ Jun 30th 2009 11:18PM

Working at Gamestop, I can say that PS2s and PS2 games are still selling pretty well.

Shagittarius @ Jun 30th 2009 6:36PM

Patcher knows about irrelevant.

tuck @ Jun 30th 2009 7:46PM

HA!

But seriously, the only thing bold he has ever said was the Sony was ripping people off with the PSP Go! It was also one of the only things he was right about.

I laughed so hard when he said the new xbox would launch in 2015 that I audibly farted.

Cheesus(Crust) @ Jun 30th 2009 7:27PM

You know what else is irrelevant?
KHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAN!!!!!

Saria the Cat @ Jun 30th 2009 6:38PM

So, where do I sign up to become a bajillionaire games analyst? I have tons of superfluous graphs and figures ready to go.

ArchiGamer @ Jun 30th 2009 6:43PM

1. Get a fancy suit and glasses(makes you look smarter)
2. Call yourself an Analyst
3. Sate the obvious
4. PROFIT!!!

Leroy_Octopus @ Jun 30th 2009 6:44PM

First you have to say something like “I predict the Atari Jaguar will be irrelevant in 2009”.

Deadpool @ Jun 30th 2009 6:49PM

5. Join Cobra kai.
6. SWEEP THE LEG!!!
7. Victory...

ArchiGamer @ Jun 30th 2009 6:55PM

Number 3 should be ''state the obvious" not "sate the obvious."

DAMN KEYBOARD!!

Markez @ Jun 30th 2009 7:04PM

8. Sate the hungry financial industry with superfluous graphs, figures, and analyst shenanigans.

Markez @ Jun 30th 2009 7:05PM

9. Sate the obvious (while we're at it)

DangerMouse @ Jun 30th 2009 7:11PM

10. Break some combos.

Leroy_Octopus @ Jun 30th 2009 7:13PM

Markez
+1 for use of the word shenanigans.

Markez @ Jun 30th 2009 7:13PM

WHOA WHOA WHOA THERE, DANGER MOUSE, YOU ARE WALKING A FINE LINE THERE MY FRIEND...

I just don't know what to think... *whimpers*

oOWallaceOo @ Jun 30th 2009 7:13PM

The Pachter System:
Make yourself two dice. On one put PSP, PS2, PS3, 360, Wii and DS on each of the sides. Then on the second dice put Upgrade, Price-Drop, Low Profit, High profit, rumour and roll again.

Wiizer @ Jun 30th 2009 7:19PM

11. DO IT AGAIN!

LET'S DO THE TIME WARP AGAAAAAIN!

ArchiGamer @ Jun 30th 2009 6:47PM

I like how the tags for "irrelevant" and "patcher" are close to each other. Coincidence? I think not!

TM @ Jun 30th 2009 6:51PM

wasn't Patcher the guy bitching about the psp go?

InFaMoUs1- @ Jun 30th 2009 6:56PM

no that's all of us

Popfrogs @ Jun 30th 2009 9:55PM

Higher price? Check. Smaller screen? Check. Lack of UMD drive forcing downloads? Check. Less value for more money? That's a big check.

For the very first time in my life, I actually agree with Pachter.

HDpurist @ Jun 30th 2009 6:53PM

I love the PS2 slim. Held off on the original fat PS2 and bought the slim around launch for $175. Amazing little console - does a tonne of things. But I would agree, it's pretty much dead these days.

I bought the PS3 60GB at launch and it has complete backwards compatibility (hardware emulated) and the only time I used it a lot was to play FFXII when it came out. Since then, I've used it occasionally for the odd nostalgic PS2 game.

Kspraydad @ Jun 30th 2009 6:53PM

Thanks for stating the completely obvious Pachter...hopefully you too will become "almost irrelevant" in 2009.

Fx.Dr @ Jun 30th 2009 7:36PM

I'm holding out for "completely irrelevant". He needs to spend less time smoking his tea leaves and more time reading them.

KaptainK @ Jun 30th 2009 6:55PM

patcher is such a queen....

Hyams @ Jun 30th 2009 7:00PM

Solution: port MGS: Peace Walker to the PS2.

Would make me happy too, because I hate the PSP, but really want to play Peace Walker.

HDpurist @ Jul 2nd 2009 7:00PM

Why the PSP hate? The PSP kicks serious ass man...well atleast the PSP-1000 which I have. But if MGS Peace Walker did make it to the PS2 I would totally play it (on my PS3 though hehe) instead of the PSP version and so would millions of others.

Premature ejaculation man @ Jun 30th 2009 7:03PM

I want to be a game analyst analyst. My first bit of analytical work is that Game analysts don't do much.

NOW WHERES MY MONEY?

seamonkey420 @ Jun 30th 2009 7:19PM

here's my $0.02 :P

Heavytoka @ Jun 30th 2009 7:17PM

That's because everyone and their Grandmother have a PS2 lol

Heavytoka @ Jun 30th 2009 7:17PM

I actually think I have 3 of them in a box

Pensier @ Jun 30th 2009 7:47PM

I just bought one(for someone else) right before Devil Summoner 2 came out. I also bought 2 Devil Summoner 2 copies and a bunch of PS2 games that day. Even now I'm still buying a bunch of new PS2 games.

Rahzel @ Jun 30th 2009 7:46PM

this guy getting kick-backs from microsoft or something? all he seems to do is bitch about sony

DangerMouse @ Jun 30th 2009 8:20PM

Sony did it to themselves. It's not his fault Sony keeps screwing up. And i fail to see how PS2 sales being irrelevant in 2009 is a bad thing. If anything, it's good news for the PS3.

joe @ Jun 30th 2009 8:10PM

i know im jumping on the band wagon but why does does this guy come out with such bullshit? a monkey could predict this. in fact its not really a prediction its fucking fact, a fact that everyone knows, we don't need this idiot repeating what people already know.

Preston @ Jun 30th 2009 8:20PM

I'm going to go out on a limb here and guess this is almost certain confirmation the PS3 will be getting backwards compatibility restored.

zero2dash @ Jun 30th 2009 8:26PM

I wish I got paid 6 figures for saying something that is common sense yet acting like it took me hours and hours with dozens of calculations, pie charts and spreadsheets.

Michael Pachter is the new Jack Thompson. Ignore him and he'll go away too.

Popfrogs @ Jun 30th 2009 9:56PM

Too late. Joystiq posts every single time Pachter opens his mouth, or farts, or both. It's hard to tell.

Darlaten @ Jun 30th 2009 8:33PM

It certainly doesn't take a genius to point out that the PS2 will, finally, start to decline with consoles sales and game sales diminishing. Hell, it's been ten years. In any event, aside from bashing Patcher and is continued understatements of irrelevant comments, I'll comment on the ramifications for Sony.

Personally, I would think that the diminishing impact of the PS2 largely no longer matters. In part, with increasing movement of people to the PS3 and PSP sales along with the quality of games that are coming out for the system now. I hope that Sony begins to shift all of its focus on the latter systems instead of focusing on the PS2 so that these two systems get their full attention, i.e., marketing, financial resources, etc. I've been convinced that while the PS2 was still the "main" system for Sony, both the PS3 and PSP systems would suffer from lack of attention. This also holds for companies such as Best Buy and Futureshop which, until recently, had a larger PS2 section then it did for the PS3 in various stores in Vancouver.

So my question to the fanboys/girls - do you think it is better for Sony to focus solely on the PS3 and PSP instead of dividing its attention to the PS2?