UK sales: Wii and DS up top; 360 besting PS3 at the bottom
by Christopher Grant 
{ Jul 2nd 2009 at 12:45PM } 
And here, courtesy of UK retailer GAME's first-half fiscal statement, we find data from GfK Chart-Track for sales up to June 27th, 2009. Unsurprisingly, Nintendo is in the lead with the DS, having sold 2.7m in the past year, bringing its total up to 9.1m units (that includes 300,000 DSi units sold since launch). The Wii is in second place with 5.4m, up 2.3 from last year. And then we get to the main attraction: 360 and PS3 sales.
You'll recall that in February, Microsoft claimed the 360 bested the PS3 in overall European sales by 1m units, citing GfK Chart-Track data again. In the UK, the Xbox is siting pretty with 3.9m units, up 1.7 from last year, while the PS3 is at 2.2m, up 900k from last year (and, coincidentally, right where Microsoft would've been a year ago). In between the "big boys" is the PSP, with 3.3m consoles sold, up 500k from last year.
It's weird: despite their genetic differences (three stomachs? gross!) the video game shopping trends of UK citizens sound an awful lot like those in the States.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Chin-Paaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhh!!!!!!!!!! @ Jul 2nd 2009 12:49PM
Oh no, I don't think I'm going to be able to enjoy my console as much after finding out it sells less than the competition. : (
The Dark Wang(Ohyeahcola in disguise) @ Jul 2nd 2009 12:57PM
I know right.
The Dark Wang(Ohyeahcola in disguise) @ Jul 2nd 2009 12:58PM
Stare into my name to see your future.
Paul @ Jul 2nd 2009 1:05PM
haha! I can't even look at my ps3 anymore....
tenor77 @ Jul 2nd 2009 1:44PM
I find my self-worth through the approval of others via hardware sales specs.
I NEED HELP!!!!!!
Saria the Cat @ Jul 2nd 2009 1:49PM
I've never understood console fanboyism. Why do people treat this stuff like passionate team sports?
Joystiq fangirlism, on the other hand, I've got down pat.
JaxDaxter @ Jul 2nd 2009 2:49PM
True though your comment is. Some people are interested to see how a console is selling. Admittedly people's opinions on the actual console should not change with sales, but that doesn't mean it's not interesting to find out how your console or other consoles are selling
Silencio @ Jul 2nd 2009 6:01PM
@ saria
You don't understand console fanboyism? People want to believe that they spent their hard-earned $200-$400 in the best way possible, thus defending their console of choice, or necessity, against all threats to it's superiority. I'm just assuming most/all fanboys aren't polyconsolers. Would you be one of those? Maybe that's why you don't understand. It's rationalization. It's denial. It's our fantasy, don't fuck with it. ;)
WINterfang @ Jul 2nd 2009 12:51PM
I miss the list, I'm too dumb and lazy to read the whole article looking for numbers.
I.AM.IRON.MAN @ Jul 2nd 2009 12:54PM
i hear that.
if its not available in list form... i don't know it!
K1LLER HORNET @ Jul 2nd 2009 8:12PM
XBOX 360 still going strong after 3.5yrs
Mark @ Jul 2nd 2009 12:54PM
"shopping trends of UK citizens sound an awful lot like those in the States."
Hardly surprising as you speak our language, so all these American websites spouting Microsoft sponsored PS3 hate and FUD, influences UK gamers buying decisions. Elsewhere in Europe it's not so easy to brainwash gamers because of the language barrier.
What's intestesting in those numbers, is that 360 was 2.2m 12 months ago, PS3 is 2.2m today, but 360 has been out 16months longer. Surely that means PS3 has caught up 4 months worth of sales? (even more impressive in a slowing market).
I.AM.IRON.MAN @ Jul 2nd 2009 12:55PM
+1
Storm Eagle (P:FoXGameR, X:PullingADrifter) @ Jul 2nd 2009 12:57PM
Who are you? Who are you? Who are you?
That's a smart assessment, "Mark".
copa @ Jul 2nd 2009 1:00PM
What kind of special-ed math are you using, Mark? For an apples-to-apples comparison, look at sales for this year.
Xbox 360: 1.7M
PS3: 900K
That means 360 is continuing to outsell the PS3 2 to 1. You can extrapolate that out as far as you want, but that's not a winning formula for Sony.
Badboy1979 @ Jul 2nd 2009 1:18PM
@copa - Exactly.
@Mark - The thing is, the 360 maybe have been out 16 months longer and the PS3 may appear to have caught up on 4 months of sales but you have to look at the fact that the initial months of any console's sales are normally going to be higher than a competing console that has already been out for a year simply because no one has the new console and there's a giant leap in purchases (from zero to millions) when it launches while the other console is selling gradually since it's been out for a while. If that makes any sense how I said it.
As Copa said the important thing to look at is that the PS3 is still losing ground to the 360 in the UK. And, of course, the Wii is still way out ahead of both.
protofunc @ Jul 2nd 2009 1:41PM
@Badboy
Dude, i agree with you and copa, but hell... that was one long-ass sentence.
Killiam XXIII @ Jul 2nd 2009 1:53PM
I agree copa.
Usually PS3fanboys are really good at pulling out numbers out of their asses, but this guy "Mark" just fails terribly at it.
Markusdragon @ Jul 2nd 2009 3:06PM
If I recall, those four months (and probably more) were caught up in the first few days when Sony made the surprisingly profitable and yet oddly panned amongst the gamer community tactic of actually providing enough consoles upon release.
But any point you made is invalidated by your rantings about 'Microsoft sponsored hate' and brainwashing. Seriously, you're an embarrassment to all the level-headed people called Mark in this world. For shame. Tear up your membership card and get out of my sight.
Caveman @ Jul 3rd 2009 12:44AM
@ Markusdragon
LOL, that was great. Loved that last sentence.
stormtrooper190 PSN= (im not telling you that) @ Jul 5th 2009 3:07PM
@ copa:
are you telling us the sales frome the UK,Euorpe,US,asia or the hole world?
Storm Eagle (P:FoXGameR, X:PullingADrifter) @ Jul 2nd 2009 12:56PM
It's good to see that the covenant attack has stopped...
For the moment.
il_duce620 @ Jul 2nd 2009 12:56PM
Seems like there should be a Nintendo logo on Big Ben instead, eh?
deanb @ Jul 2nd 2009 1:04PM
Well there should be, but you know how it is.
all hail 360
maveric101 @ Jul 3rd 2009 1:56AM
maybe because the 360 logo is circular, like a clock?
copa @ Jul 2nd 2009 12:56PM
DS: 9.1 M
Wii: 5.4 M
Xbox 360: 3.9 M
PSP: 3.3 M
PS3: 2.2 M
PSP Go: 0 preorders
SaltyGary @ Jul 2nd 2009 2:11PM
Can I please call attention that this guy has a Sony Pony for an avatar and gets no grief. I type out Sony Pony on 4 comments and there is nothing but disdain for me. I call hypocrisy!
Pyjamarama @ Jul 2nd 2009 1:06PM
Xbox doing well in the UK outsold the Wii in the last 6 months http://www.gamegroup.plc.uk/gg/media/releases/2009/2009-07-02/, a trend for the year or a bump on the road for the Wii?
Larry @ Jul 2nd 2009 1:30PM
I think you point an interesting point. The 360 outselling both the Wii is the real story on that chart.
Mazrael @ Jul 2nd 2009 2:27PM
Perhaps people are finally realizing that the Wii isn't where the games are.. most times I switch mine on, there is new firmware.. edit my Mii, maybe play Wii Sports for an hour.. then turn my 360 on.. hell, I even lent mine out.. a few months ago. At this rate I'll forget I own one. I play my PSP far more then the Wii...
Mr Khan @ Jul 2nd 2009 2:41PM
keep dreaming, friend. Keep dreaming
Ashitaka @ Jul 2nd 2009 3:26PM
lol at the wii khanboy
Fallen Heero @ Jul 2nd 2009 1:01PM
wow thats quite wierd, most people I know have ps3's really. Compared to last generation though, it seems as if theres more of an equal spread of people who have xbox 360's and ps3s which is good. The majority of people have wii's and thats quite obvious but its interesting to see that the ps3 isnt doing as well. Its definately in need of a price cut.
Also before someone calls me a fanboy, i only own a 360 in terms of current gen consoles. I've just become much more unbiast about consoles. Its more important to me that people enjoy there consoles and just share that experiance with friends.
The Baron @ Jul 2nd 2009 1:57PM
We don't buy less consoles because there's less of us, it's because keeping three stomachs topped up with food is damn expensive.
The Baron @ Jul 2nd 2009 1:57PM
^- was not meant to be a reply
Jason Statham (Aka Vegeta) @ Jul 2nd 2009 2:25PM
So you know personallly thousands and thousands of gamers?
That's crazy.
Bebe @ Jul 2nd 2009 1:02PM
The " MAIN " reason people are buying more Xbox is because is hacked. Play free games. that is all there is to it. I got an Arcade just to Mod it and play free games.
Chin-Paaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhh!!!!!!!!!! @ Jul 2nd 2009 1:05PM
Ah hah, so console pirates do exist in addition to PC pirates!
And I thought they were only a legend! I must document this in my parchment!
Nick @ Jul 2nd 2009 1:46PM
Look at DS and PSP sales and you're looking at a lot of pirates there (Wii, too). When I had my DS I had an M3DS Simply and there is a very large community on the internet for it all.
deaftly @ Jul 2nd 2009 1:58PM
Oh! Thats why 360 games are always outselling the ps3 version, because its haxed!
Chin-Paaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhh!!!!!!!!!! @ Jul 2nd 2009 1:04PM
One issue is the snowball effect.
Some purchase an Xbox 360 and then their friends will purchase the 360 to play with their friends online and share games with each other and their friends and their friends, etc, etc. That is probably one big factor in a consumer picking one console over the other no?
Mark @ Jul 2nd 2009 1:06PM
Nah, most of them sales are RROD replacements.
On the ground numbers are alot closer. You would have to be a total moron to buy a 360 right now, it's old hat, the games aren't getting any better, and it's just spewing endless FPS games and franchise rehashes.
I don't know a single person wanting a 360, but I know plenty waiting for a PS3 pricedrop or a slim.
Girugamuk (Moptimus Slimed) @ Jul 2nd 2009 1:13PM
"I don't know a single person wanting a 360"
probably because they've already BOUGHT one
copa @ Jul 2nd 2009 1:23PM
"On the ground numbers are a lot closer."
You are awesome with numbers, Mark. :)
___________________________________
Howard Stringer: OK, Andrew, give me the numbers for the UK this year.
Andrew House: Well, in the UK the 360 sold 1.7 M units and the PS3 sold 900K units.
Howard Stringer: Good God, that's terrible!
Andrew House: No, no, not at all, the numbers are much closer on the ground.
Howard Stringer: On the ground?
Andrew House: Yes, you know, in the street.
Howard Stringer: What the hell are you talking about?
Andrew House: Well, Mark. None of his friends want to buy a 360.
Howard Stringer: So they are all buying PS3's?
Andrew House: Well, no, but they would if we came out with a $200 slim unit. Probably.
Howard Stringer: Who the hell is Mark?
Andrew House: You know, he's on the ground. A real person. Someone who rolls in the hood.
Howard Stringer: And the 1.7M who bought an XBox 360?
Andrew House: They are... er, in the air. Those numbers don't count.
Howard String: You are so fucking fired.
Sinister Rouge @ Jul 2nd 2009 1:23PM
"I don't know a single person wanting a 360"
That settles it then. These figures are a proven lie!
Dakar @ Jul 2nd 2009 1:26PM
"Nah, most of them sales are RROD replacements."
The RROD rate was around 33%, so if *every* person who suffered a RROD bought a 360 instead of getting it repaired, then 360 sales are inflated by 33% at best, which is not "most" of their sales.
Further, is you eliminate 33% of current 360 UK sales, you are left with nearly 2.6 mil XBOXs, which is still more than Sony's 2.2 mil.
That's your "best" case scenario.
R.F.E.F. Red Fury (UltraS Sur) @ Jul 2nd 2009 1:32PM
Who's this "Mark" guy? Is he the PS3Fanboy version of Sprinkles?
Where's Sprinkles BTW?
WINterfang @ Jul 2nd 2009 1:40PM
@Copa.
Thanks for that...just thanks.
Chin-Paaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhh!!!!!!!!!! @ Jul 2nd 2009 2:11PM
I emailed Chris Grant and he banned Sprinkles again. He tells me to email him every time Sprinkles shows his ugly head around again and instant ban.
Jason Statham (Aka Vegeta) @ Jul 2nd 2009 2:28PM
"Nah, most of them sales are RROD replacements."
Remember the days when trolls use to try? Me neither.