September NPD: Obviously Destined to Sell Tons

by JC Fletcher { Oct 19th 2009 at 8:10PM }

The new, lighter (in both price and weight!) PS3 continues to enjoy renewed sales in its second month beating out every console except for the invincible DS -- and the PS3 got pretty close to that impossible victory. The PS3's sales more than doubled in the last month! In fact, just about everything enjoyed a boost in September, with all the home consoles benefiting from recent price drops, and the PSP launching new hardware (NPD's September sales period ran through October 3). The only "loser" is the DS, which fell in total sales, but still managed to sell more than anything else.

In software (see the chart after the break), unsurprisingly strong debuts took place for both games with Halo on the box and games with Mario on the box. In fact, strong is a bit of an understatement for ODST's 1.52 million units sold. It's not quite 3.3 million units, but for a presumably lower-cost spinoff using an existing engine, it'll do.

In a weird bit of cross-platform fickleness, The Beatles: Rock Band debuted in the top 10 for Xbox and Wii, but not PS3 -- while Batman: Arkham Asylum's PS3 version made a second appearance in the top 10 to the exclusion of the Xbox.

-DS: 524K

29K (-5%)
-PS3: 492K

282K (+134%)
-Wii: 463K

186K (+67%)
-360: 353K

138K (+64%)
-PSP: 190K

50K (+36%)
-PS2: 146K

40K (+38%)

Check out the software sales chart after the break.

Halo 3: ODST - 360 - Microsoft - 1.52m
Wii Sports Resort (w/ Wii Motion Plus) - Wii - Nintendo - 443K
Madden NFL 10 - 360 - EA - 290K
Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story - DS - Nintendo - 258K
The Beatles: Rock Band - 360 - EA - 254K
Madden NFL 10 - PS3 - EA - 247K
Marvel Ultimate Alliance 2 -360 - Activision - 236K
Batman: Arkham Asylum - PS3 -Eidos - 213K
Guitar Hero 5 - 360 - Activision - 211K
The Beatles: Rock Band - Wii - EA - 209K

Tags: batman-arkham-asylum, halo-3-odst, npd, npd-monthly, the-beatles-rock-band

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 4)

Sherlock Homey @ Oct 19th 2009 8:15PM

I'm happy for the Bat.

iluvmyzune @ Oct 19th 2009 8:24PM

and justin on the podcast said odst would sell like 100k units. lol

Special Agent Steve @ Oct 19th 2009 8:31PM

It did sell 100k units. And an extra 1.42 million to boot.

Also, I'm pretty sure Justin was being sarcastic.

iluvmyzune @ Oct 19th 2009 9:03PM

@steve

didn't seem so

Tez @ Oct 20th 2009 12:15AM

Then you're an idiot.

thatguy @ Oct 20th 2009 5:53PM

lol at the stupid americans buying the dlc they already got with 2 hours of gameplay with the same shit just with neon light lmao

Cole @ Oct 19th 2009 8:15PM

I think the interesting stat this month is Beatles selling more than GH5.

qbert18 @ Oct 19th 2009 8:57PM

Yeah, Beatles is selling more, but is it fun as hell?

CheeziePotato [Respect Mah Authoritah] @ Oct 19th 2009 9:00PM

Hell is not fun, but it could be if it wasn't made by Activision.

MystileArmor @ Oct 19th 2009 9:00PM

Yes, yes it is.
I've even had people who weren't big fans of The Beatles come over and enjoy the hell out of it. The dreamscapes are stunning, yeah the gameplay isn't going to differ much from any other rhythm game, but for fans of The Beatles this is amazing. You unlock rare footage, pictures and more by 5 starring songs, there are achievements for the people who are into those and let's not forget.. IT'S A GAME FULL OF BEATLES MUSIC!

I didn't bother with GH5, even though there are a couple of songs I'd like, cause I know in a month they'll stop supporting it with DLC anyways.

deaftly (PSN,LIVE,STEAM) @ Oct 19th 2009 8:16PM

PS3 deserves it this holiday. Good job to Sony even though it only took em 3 years for captain obvious to slap them.

Spacesuit 501.... is my PSN ID @ Oct 19th 2009 8:45PM

lol ya...

Marius @ Oct 19th 2009 8:55PM

PS3 deserves it this holiday. Good job to Sony even though it only took em 3 years for them to reduce production cost

*fixed

R (Planeteers | Power of Penile Pulse) @ Oct 19th 2009 9:24PM

Sony has been struggling these past few years. They havent been in the black since they launched the PS3, right?

Id like to see them do well simply for the sake of keeping the competition up.

Annoying Poster @ Oct 19th 2009 11:08PM

sony still didnt do anything here. so theyre selling a few more units than usual, but they still lose money on all those units and CANT SELL SOFTWARE. most of these buyers are still people looking for a cheap bluray player, and this has been an ongoing problem for them since releasing the console. They are in the hole billions and will never make up for the investment because they cant sell their titles.

johnnynumber5 @ Oct 20th 2009 12:04AM

Actually Sony has been making a profit on each unit sold for almost all of 2009.

firelord @ Oct 20th 2009 12:55AM

@johnny
Source please?

johnnynumber5 @ Oct 20th 2009 5:28AM

@firelord

Couple of things:

http://www.totalvideogames.com/PlayStation-3/news/PS3-Manufacturing-Costs-Reduced-By-70-14439.html

You can clearly see the correlation between a reduction in manufacturing costs and the price drop. The company line was they weren't dropping the price until they achieved profitability.

http://g4tv.com/thefeed/blog/post/698657/sony-losing-money-on-each-ps3-slim-sold.html

This article states Kaz Hirai saying Sony loses (about $40) on each PS3 Slim sold but that the platform itself is profitable (revenue from PSN, controllers etc) ... looks to me that money lost on each box is from licensing of components, shipping materials and other cost not built into the cost of manufacturing if we are to believe the financial report in the first link.

Interestingly enough I sort of had my wires crossed with the profitability and cost reduction ... they still lose money on each box they sell ... but they're well on their way probably by Spring of next year to be profitable on the end user purchase of the box itself not just the platform as a whole.

The math worked out especially when the price was still $399 ... so actually it probably was profitable up until they did the price drop.

Abi @ Oct 20th 2009 10:00AM

Actually, Johhnyboy... Sony still operates at a loss with even the Slim. From Kaz' Hirai himself. http://www.businessweek.com/globalbiz/content/sep2009/gb20090925_707996.htm

Abi @ Oct 20th 2009 10:00AM

Actually, Johnnyboy... Sony still operates at a loss with even the Slim. From Kaz' Hirai himself. http://www.businessweek.com/globalbiz/content/sep2009/gb20090925_707996.htm

Abi @ Oct 20th 2009 10:02AM

Actually, Johnnyboy... Sony still loses money on every system including the slim. From Kaz Hirai himself. http://www.businessweek.com/globalbiz/content/sep2009/gb20090925_707996.htm

Abi @ Oct 20th 2009 10:03AM

I never posted 3 times, I swear.

SaMav @ Oct 20th 2009 11:57AM

Wow Abi, Did you even read Johnny's post? He clearly stated what you so retardedly stated 3 times. Why all three of your comments arnt whited out baffles me.

johnnynumber5 @ Oct 20th 2009 11:57AM

@abi

If you took the time to read my reply in it's entirety you'd see I linked to the same article and discussed what you just mentioned.

R (Planeteers | Power of Penile Pulse) @ Oct 19th 2009 8:17PM

360 was last of the big 3 in hardware sales, but still took the 1st, 3rd, 5th, 7th, and 9th spots on the software sales. Literally every other sales spot.

Nice.

tmacairjordan87 @ Oct 19th 2009 8:40PM

"Don't worry, in good time, PS3 software will be selling just as much"

Is that going to happen before or after they unlock the 4D capabilities? He brings up a valid point, ps3 software never has and still doesn't sell that well.

MystileArmor @ Oct 19th 2009 8:40PM

I sincerely hope everyone that calls an Xbox 360 "FAILbox" (and similar terms for the other consoles) catches something fierce and dies.

Grow up, every console has their pros and cons and that's the way it is. You prefer chocolate chip cookies, someone else prefers fucking snickerdoodles. Fuck off.

The Dark Wayne [Planeteer: Power of the Batusi] @ Oct 19th 2009 8:44PM

FUCK YOU I LOVE SNIKERDOODLES

WINterfang ( Now with the power to piss you off ) @ Oct 19th 2009 8:45PM

Why was R downvoted? He was just stating facts.

R (Planeteers | Power of Penile Pulse) @ Oct 19th 2009 8:46PM

Really? I mean, really guys? So desperate for a flamewar that we are latching onto this?

Dont blame me, jesus. Was just trying to be happy for the console I own, and yeah, it is kind of impressive that the last place in hardware was the first place in software.

Not my fault
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_QyYaPWasos

Wiizer ($299) Having BC On Your Launch Console? (Priceless) @ Oct 19th 2009 8:49PM

Oh gee, I'm so surprised to see you two FAILBOX goons reply here...

We'll see in October, Tmac. You'll be eating your words and I'll make sure to bring it up next month.

R (Planeteers | Power of Penile Pulse) @ Oct 19th 2009 8:52PM

Wiizer, I enjoy picking at butt acne more than I do reading your posts. You are the worst kind of fanboy, one that doesnt care about anything but FLAME ON! SOMEONE SAID SOMETHING I DISAGREE WITH ON THE INTERNET! THEY MUST DIE NOW!

Finito (PSN: Wretched_Walrus) @ Oct 19th 2009 8:54PM

Wiizer, stop being such an obvious fanboy. You look silly.

In Europe the software sales are pretty even, so why don't you go jerk off on that?

WINterfang ( Now with the power to piss you off ) @ Oct 19th 2009 9:00PM

wiizer your butthurt knows no limits.

tmacairjordan87 @ Oct 19th 2009 9:07PM

Wiizer, you do know that little time where you and all those other sony tools took over this site's over now right? They all either disappeared or stopped being assholes. You should follow them.

Kazper @ Oct 19th 2009 9:11PM

Look. Wiizer has derailed this, but to get back to a serious reply software sales are obviously mainly dependant on total install base - as such a month - or even 6 of good hardware sales aren't going to move much on the software sales. As such R is stating the obvious, and I'd agree he is a fanboy - the only reason to state it the way he did is in an attempt to belittle the hardware sales. Well that or being too stupid to figure out how those things are connected, but I really don't think so :p

Marius @ Oct 19th 2009 9:18PM

Wiizer dont waste your time R is a dedicated fanboy just look at the way he spins, just move on

MaxShrek @ Oct 19th 2009 9:19PM

what's a snickerdoodle?

MystileArmor @ Oct 19th 2009 9:53PM

It's a delicious cookie;

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Snickerdoodle

The Dark Wayne [Planeteer: Power of the Batusi] @ Oct 19th 2009 10:01PM

THE MOST DELICIOUS KIND EVER

Markez (attempting to call me less of a man because i knew so much about pans) @ Oct 19th 2009 10:37PM

Good lord, Joystiq, how many times, in how many different posts, are you going to let this fanboy say failbox before you finally ban him?

mahouneko @ Oct 19th 2009 11:55PM

Hey, I take offense at being labeled as a Sony tool. D:

Anyway. The report covers September. It is now October and I'm honestly curious about how well Uncharted 2 and Demon's Souls are doing. Also, when did Ninja Gaiden Sigma 2 come out?

Chris D.(PSN: Aggie_CEO | XBL:The Aggie CEO | Steam: Aggie_CEO @ Oct 19th 2009 8:18PM

Scribblenauts helped to keep the DS on Top...PS3 still the #1 console tho...but for how long is anyones guess....good to see Arkham Asylum doing the numbers its doing on PS3...hell if it does it again it might sell more on PS3 than on 360....Beatles:RB sold more on Wii than PS3?? damn....

tmacairjordan87 @ Oct 19th 2009 8:20PM

"Scribblenauts helped to keep the DS on Top"

Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story - DS - Nintendo - 258K

I don't see Scribblenauts anywhere up there...

Premature ejaculation man @ Oct 19th 2009 8:22PM

Wii has a much higher install base. How is that not surprising. Especially with the Beatles!

THE BEATLES

Finito (PSN: Wretched_Walrus) @ Oct 19th 2009 8:42PM

Mario & Luigi games are awesome. Just wanted to say it.

Obie @ Oct 19th 2009 8:46PM

Why are you downvoting Chris? It's because he's black isn't it?????

R (Planeteers | Power of Penile Pulse) @ Oct 19th 2009 8:58PM

Everyone upvote chris before we all get charged with a hate crime.

WINterfang ( Now with the power to piss you off ) @ Oct 19th 2009 9:06PM

lol he got upvoted again and just when I though the race card didn't worked anymore xD

PR0F3TA (PSN - PROPHETA) @ Oct 19th 2009 9:45PM

did i miss his fantom downvotes again? damn...

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