GameStop details U.S. and European console install base

@TheHungryPanda you know the PS3 sales in Japan probably cancel out the gap we have in NA right? not that i really care who "wins", but worldwide the gap is like 3 mill, which isnt "pwning"

@TheHungryPanda

I didn't see numbers for Asian and Latin American territories, but okay.

@Assmar

Impressive for the PS3 as well, if you consider that it launched 15 months later than the 360, with a ridiculously stupid high price tag.

@TheHungryPanda

Seriously, get out more: The PS3 leads the 360 in worldwide sales.

http://www.gamasutra.com/view/news/33854/Analysts_PS3_Passes_Xbox_360_Worldwide_Nintendo_Successor_Within_A_Year.php

@BLipp18
>the PS3 sales in Japan probably cancel out the gap we have in NA right?
Not really. The PS3 has sold about 4 million more in Japan than the 360 there. Both great systems though.

@guttertalk
correct. at least someone on here knows what's going on. ps3 is number 2 behind wii.
i don't know why people care so much, but if someone is going to be a douche about sales numbers, then they should know the ranking of the major three. wii > ps3 > 360

@sigma8
I should clarify that I really like their actual hardware though... Plus the embedded OS software. The Readers are really nice--except for the Desktop app. Love the PS3 and PSP. Nice TV's, obviously. Predictably, their weakest product is probably their laptops, which are priced like Macs, but designed like cheap netbooks.

But you know there's trouble when you read a big article in Wired about Howard Stringer, where he says he's betting the company's future on 3D.

@sigma8

Hey, I won't disagree with you. They seem to have a knack for making bone-headed decisions from time to time. =P

@Ezio Auditore da Firenze
Meh, I don't have too big of a problem with it. At least they are consistently boneheaded. Predictability = lovability. What's with Google going all closed-uppity with Android? That's worse. That's betrayal!

@BLipp18 and everyone else that ripped me a new a-hole

Sorry, I didn't mean 'the world'. I meant NA and Europe. Also, I wasn't commenting to be like 360 > PS3. I could care less which console out sells the other. I like my 360 and PS3 for different reasons and I think people should buy the console they will use more.

@kentuckyfried so smart but yet their grand army was whooped by a bunch rag tag farmers .

@guttertalk

1. There's no real source given for Strategy Analytics' data, so who knows what the real numbers are.

2. Console sales figures are a white elephant anyway. What matters is actual profit on units sold, and profits made from game sales. Sony lost a lot of money for a long time on every PS3 sold, so much that I don't think the system is even in the black yet.

@notoriousEIC

You're right: a data analysis company probably has no data when it says it has a report that backs up its numbers.

And how much did the RROD set back Microsoft? Oh yeah, $1 billion.

http://gizmodo.com/#!5015483/microsofts-1-billion-xbox-360-recall-problems-caused-by-chip-cheapness

@guttertalk
That's a nice report put forth by Gamasutra. And while I normally do use Gamasutra as one of my end all resources for game industry information, occasionally they have been known to . . . not get the whole story. I believe this is one of those rare occasions.

Firstly, their numbers are taken second hand from a single retailer, Gamestop, who themselves have 'processed' the numbers handed to them from NPD and IDG. Exactly what maths Gamestop have processed those numbers through, is anyone's guess. But under the circumstances, not something to be taken purely at face values as Gamasutra apparently has. And since NPD, Chartrack and IDG no longer provide these numbers direct to the public, there is no way of verifying what, if any changes Gamestop may have applied to these numbers before publishing them to their own shareholders for their own gain.

Secondly, let's say for the sake of argument the numbers provided by Gamestop are 100% on the up and up, and can be taken for Gospel. They still only are tallies taken from North America and Europe. Those numbers do not contain data from other global gaming hot zones like Japan, or Korea, or Australia, or Brazil. The numbers tallied by Gamestop simply do not include any numbers from anywhere else in the world outside of North America (not including Mexico) and the European Union states. That's A LOT of gamers out there simply not being accounted for. And Gamasutra should have at the very least printed a disclaimer to this fact, when they wrote up their report.

But thirdly and most interestingly, is how the numbers provided in the Gamasutra report do not quite jive with the numbers posted directly from Sony or Microsoft - Gamasutra's numbers are literally off by millions of consoles. When getting the official count directly from the horses mouths, this is what both Microsoft and Sony have to say about their global sales data.

Global PS3 Unit Sales According to Sony - 41 million (announced in March at GDC):
http://www.gamesradar.com/ps3/playstation-3/news/ps3-sales-reach-41-million-units/a-20110303134653710067/g-20060314115917309058

Global Xbox 360 Unit Sales According to Microsoft - 50 million (announced in January at CES):
http://www.gamespot.com/news/6285921.html?sid=6285921&subj=6285921

As I stated before, normally I go to Gamasutra to get the 411 on what is going on in the games industry. But as reliable as they are (and they are probably one of the most reliable sources out there), from time to time, they don't get the whole story. So it does help to have multiple reputable sources memorized almost, before jumping the gun to finalize conclusions.

@Tachyonic Cargo

That 41 million units Sony quoted for the PS3 was a mistake during a presentation where old data was used. 47.9 is what Sony officially listed at the time. http://gamrconnect.vgchartz.com/thread.php?id=125404&page=1

@guttertalk

The PS3 does not lead the 360 in world wide sales.

All that article says is that some analsysts think it will overtake it in a year or so.

@This Little Man Says His Name Is

He might have misinterpreted another Gamasutra article, which claimed the global install base of the PS3 had passed that of the 360.

"According to the company's data, the Nintendo Wii continues to enjoy the world's largest install base with 75.5 million active units worldwide, but the active install base of PS3s reached 43.4 million at the close of 2010 versus Xbox 360's 42.9." http://www.gamasutra.com/view/news/33854/Analysts_PS3_Passes_Xbox_360_Worldwide_Nintendo_Successor_Within_A_Year.php

Close enough to be virtually even. It is interesting that the 360 would be at the same level, however, given that it has definitely moved more lifetime units. It's pure speculation, but the 360's early gen hardware problems certainly come to mind.

@pokota

Which only illustrates my point all the more. The numbers Gamasutra/Gamestop are running with, are still off by millions of units.

@pokota holy shit someone just quoted a forum post on vgchartz as factual information. they used joystiq as a source.

you sir are no scholar.

@Assmar This isn't really directed at you, but the tons of people screaming about how the PS3 is number 2 for (insert reason). Look, who gives a shit? I don't. But since you all want to argue and make up numbers, here: http://www.vgchartz.com/home.php

Worldwide:
360- 52.8 million
PS3- 49 million

Americas (As in North and South America)
360- 31.1 million
PS3- 19.3 million

Europe:
PS3- 23.3 million
360- 20.2 million

Japan:
PS3- 6.5 million
360- 1.5 million

Also you should note that in the past 9 months the 360 has outsold the PS3 on a monthly basis. At the end of the day its close worldwide, and anyone not too poor to afford both doesn't give a shit. Have fun with your pissing contest, fangirls.

@Jack Kevorkian

Er .. no.

The linked discussion simply points out that something is wrong. Sony's corporate website, which is linked from there, shows 47.9 million units. This would be your "factual information". I didn't think I would have to list each individual step, but live and learn.

http://www.scei.co.jp/corporate/data/bizdataps3_sale_e.html

Also, and math. It's pretty easy to see what happened, actually. Whomever was tasked with retrieving the numbers just added all the last columns, which meant Q1 and Q2 for 2010 were excluded.

As for the numbers not meshing with other tracking services, I'm not saying those services are necessarily right, but Sony's corporate numbers almost certainly track sales on the wholesale level, not on the retail level.

@pokota
Sony never retracted or corrected the 41 million announcement, fanboys only assumed.

The reality probably is something like 41 million sold to consumers, 47.9 million shipped to retailers.

@ijustw1n
I want your console

@TheHungryPanda

lol apparently everyone in this comments section that is at 60 comments and counting.

@dagamer34 The DS launced at $150. An extra $100 is hardly enough to make it no longer be a system you can save up your money for.

@Agies

$250 will easily be too close to "console pricing" in 2012.

@dagamer34

The 3DS will be a success with the Nintendo name on it alone. Even at the price it stands at one thing American consumers will do is purchase what they want. Looking at the system and Nintendo's hand held track record I think its going to be a beast along with the DS.

@MEMgrizzlies7

Oh, snap.

You called a handheld that's 6+ months away from releasing a 'No Games Portable."

That's so clever! How did you come up with that?!

@dagamer34
3DS = fail.
Inevitable 3DS hardware refresh = success!

The only question: what will they call it? I'm going to guess it'll be the 33DDSS. The logo will be a busty nazi.

@sigma8 Actually, the logo will be the just the letters. In 2D, they will look like 33DDSS, but if you wear red/green 3D glasses, they will BE IN 3D!!!

@Agies
Actually, that can be. The DS enjoyed a lot of success with casuals because it was cheap, and it's touchscreen aloud for mass market games like Brain age.

The 3DS doesn't have that advantage. It's more expensive then many people's smartphone/i pod touches, and it lacks the multitouch style screens that are now very common.

Nintendo bet the farm on 3d. We'll see if it pans out for them in the end.

@MEMgrizzlies7 News flash. NGP hasnt been released so its not even in the running yet. Dumbass troll.

@mrantimatter
Nintendo bet the farm on fun games aimed at a wide market - like they always do. 3D is the sales gimmick that has it in the news now (and I'm sure will continue to be used to push sales in future too), but the main reason to buy a 3DS is that you need one in order to play the latest Nintendo portable console games. Which will of course be advertised, come from popular franchises, etc etc.

To put it another way, what system's the next Pokemon going to be on?

I don't think 3DS is guaranteed to repeat DS success exactly but I think it's very likely to do very well.

IMO the big question mark is about third party support for violent and high-budget 'hardcore' games - basically will those initial games sell well enough to get the system a presence in this area or will they sell badly enough to put third parties off making that kind of game, as happened for DS.

@Ezio Auditore da Firenze O I see because the fanboys (and girls) will come out of their caves for their annual "console war" uhm yes
http://i230.photobucket.com/albums/ee95/frank14725/random-funny-pics-sdf5-12.jpg?t=1301361577

@Ezio Auditore da Firenze
Is that a pretty pony?

@littlepunkryo That is sort of funny. I mean people here are comparing the PS3 and Xbox numbers to say one is better/more popular than the other. Meanwhile, the DS sits firmly atop both these lists, and I'm sure it's high in the other big markets too.
It's hard to beat a Nintendo handheld.
Currently going through Etrian Odyssey 3 myself, and I have to say I'm really enjoying it.

@Magic Whiskey

Sony stated some time ago that the PSP sold 60 million, totally destroying all current consoles besides the Wii in worldwide sales. This news is less stunning than it is obvious (though I admittedly am half-asleep when manufacturers talk up sales numbers, the occasional surprising fact slips through).

@Nobledevil Gaming Optimist

Well, yay I guess.

@Magic Whiskey
It came out in 2004, giving it a nice headstart. Sadly, its software attachment rate is surprisingly low.