Console Sales Through Sept 07

[BreakABone]

Most of these won't be shocking, but it does give a fuller picture. And with NPD later today, it is a warm up I guess.

http://blog.wired.com/games/2008/01/...-europe-p.html

U.S. (LTD) (NPD Group)

Wii: 4,955,400
360: 7,022,900
PS3: 2,105,500

Japan (Week ending September 30 / LTD) (Media Create)

Wii: 24,143 / 3,614,197
360: 5,215 / 415,491
PS3: 13,105 / 1,169,666

U.K. (LTD) (Screen Digest)

Wii: 1,190,000
360: 1,550,000
PS3: 450,000

Australia (Q3 / LTD) (GfK: Q1+Q2, Q3)

Wii: 61,027 / 167,565
360: 40,467 / 222,028
PS3: 27,533 / 82,261

Spain (LTD) (GfK)

Wii: 244,000
360: 149,000
PS3: 218,000

Germany (LTD) (GfK)

Wii: 361,000
360: 316,000
PS3: 135,000


Italy (LTD) (GfK)

Wii: 129,000
360: 267,000
PS3: 150,000

And some analysis of said numbers. Mostly in regards to the battle between PS3/360.

Okay, there are the numbers. So, what do we have? Besides a headache, I mean. Xbox 360 has a commanding lead in the U.S., but from what we know of Europe's sales, PlayStation 3 is catching up there. It's not at all there yet -- the only figures we have where PlayStation 3 has actually passed Xbox are in Germany and Spain -- but from what we can see of the monthly sales, it's making moves towards the front.

Calling anything beyond that just isn't possible given the limited amount of data that we have. But we know that the U.S. and European hardware markets are roughly equal, so: If everything goes perfectly, and if other European countries not included in this data set also swing for Sony, then eventually -- maybe in a year or two -- Sony's advantage in these countries, greatly aided by the 360's bottoming out in Japan, might get it over the top of the U.S., U.K., and Australia and take the silver medal. It's well within the realm of possibility.

But what then? Wii is still dominating everywhere; that point's not in contention. It's not as if the war over second place really means that much. Certainly it means more this generation insofar as the Wii has placed itself nearly outside the realm of hardcore gaming. There's still a big audience of people who want the best graphics humanly possible, and Wii isn't providing any competition with Xbox in that regard. So there's a serious chance for competition, there.

Ultimately, PlayStation 3's saving grace might just be the fact that Xbox hasn't come close to repeating in Europe or Japan (especially Japan!) the huge success that it has engineered for itself in the U.S. This could have a significant effect on where developers put their resources, if they know that for example an Xbox version of a game might sell best in the U.S. but they'll need a PlayStation 3 version for their investment to be as lucrative in Europe.

While things seem to be all over except the crying in the U.S. and Japan, Europe is the battlefield to watch in the coming months. Hopefully we'll receive better reports from the front, so I never have to do this again. I need a drink.