Wii outselling PlayStation 3 'six to one'
By Darren Murph 
posted July 5th 2007 9:02AM
posted July 5th 2007 9:02AM
Considering that some retail locales in America are still having trouble keeping a fresh supply of Wii consoles in stock (whilst the PlayStation 3 units tend collect thin layers of dust), it's no surprise to see such dramatic sales figures surface. Sure enough, Enterbrain's latest report demonstrates that Nintendo's darling moved into 270,974 new households in June, while only 41,628 PS3s were sold in the same timeframe; just to compare, the even older Xbox 360 was able to sell 17,616 units. That brings the overall sales figures to date for Nintendo to nearly 2.76 million, while Sony has yet to break the magical one million in units sold. But don't count Sony out just yet -- it's coming back, remember?
this is like saying "A Toyota Corolla outsells the BMW M6 1000 to 1 in North America"
At $600 USD, naturally the sales number will be lower in compared to the cheaper Wii. Sony is still raking in billions a year from other divisions, so I doubt they care. Which explains why they are still a b!tch about doing things their own way (SonicStage; mentioned in a prev post).
No, that's not what it's saying at all. The key part you're missing is that the high class BMW has a much higher profit margin. They don't have to sale that many cars, as it's a luxury product.
The console market requires a large base to profit from software sales. A "BMW" in a console market will fail quickly due to a lackluster base. There HAS to be a large audience for software sales to succeed.
It's a basic lesson in business, and I learned it in 1994 when I shelled out $400 on a discount 3DO. I'm not making that mistake by gambling with a $600 PS3.
yeah but the investors care and even sony has to answer to the investors
Have you seen the reports of sony actully having a loss of 1.87 or so BILLION?? Not to be brash but maybe you need to check your facts as well as the fact that nintendo is right on the heals of sony in the net worth and return area and not just the gaming division but sony the corporate conglamorate as whole we now see sony having hard times.
You cant forget the battery issue as well. Yes sony has some good product out there but when you put all your chips in you tend to lose as sony did up to a point. Now with all of its other divisions yes they cant make up part of the loss but it will take a more than couple of years to make back the continued loss the incure on the ps3. Regaurdless of blu-ray if they do not drop the price and get the games out the will continue as we see now.
As for sony doing things their way and forcing their way at such a large expense is exasperating. They are insane to think that a normal joe can afford a ps3 let alone content for it. Some people are less fortunate than others and can barely pay rent let alone get a ps3. Sony has got to get out of the holier than thou mode and start listening to its consumers or they will lose them too.
Maybe they could raise the price somewhere else to decrease the loss per system? Like add 100$ to their tvs,computers, etc? Are there laws to prevent that?
They seriously need to do something about the current situation:
PS3 expensive>less people are willing to buy it because of cheaper alternatives>low system sales>low software sales>developers don't want to publish game on it>people not really interested in buying it because of the lack of game> since not many sales cant reduce price of system>PS3 expensive ......
@CowboyGA
I'm surprised to find another person that had a 3DO as well. I actually enjoyed the console for about.. five minutes haha. But I think with what you paid $400 for then, compared to what you are paying $600 for now, it's actually a good deal.
It's the same old lifecycle ...
Company struggles and innovates through imagination and enthusiasm. Product stikes a chord with users. Everyone wants one.
Company rakes in cash and entrenches as a standard in the minds of users.
Company becomes used to being top dog. Becomes arrogant and lazy. I.e. money and technology replace creativity.
Company creates dull hi tech product.
Company becomes angry cos users are stupid and dont buy product.
Company hits doldrums.
The posts here have been spot on with regards to Sony's blundering. But, I have noticed posts saying, "Sony gambled and lost". IMO, SOny didn't gamble at all. Based on the overwhelming success of the PS2, I would say they had every reason to expect success and then ruined it with lousy follow through and poor planning (no games for example).
While the Wii blasts off into video game history, it is easy to remember that it is Nintendo that took the huge risk-- they admitted defeat in the console wars, went back to the drawing board and came up with a completely new and revolutionary game system. I don't think anyone predicted the Wii being the monster it is.
Also, in regards to there being different audiences for the systems: I disagree. I am a gamer, but I am a PC gamer and haven't owned a console in ages. I always felt the games weren't as good. I am considering getting the Wii because I am also a parent, and the people I do know with the Wii have told me how much fun it is to get the whole family involved and playing which I think is great. So, while a hard core gamer, I am a PC gamer. I feel until consoles reach the quality of PC games, they will never quite dominate the games market.
When the PS3 debuted, I actually thought we were reaching that point and was considering picking one up, but I never buy something new. Version 2.0 always has the bugs worked out of 1.0--- but now I see Sony struggling and I see no point in buying a PS3 now. I will wait it out and see if the games ever come along and if the experience ever surpasses PC games. Once that happens, I'll be the 1st in line for a new console.
Nintendo was visionary here-- Sony was too narcissistic staring at its past success, and it seems the Microsoft had a better gameplan. Just as Sony usurped Sega and Nintendo, I wouldn't be suprised to see another company surpass Sony. Maybe we are seeing it happen with the XBOX? Hmmmmmmm.....
No problems finding a PS3 online but as for a Nintendo Wii as you can see everywhere is out of stock in the USA:
http://www.nintendo-wii-consoles.com
However over in the UK there are loads of Wiis in stock to buy - this is probably because Nintendo would rather sell a Wii in the UK for USD $360 than a console in the USA for only USD $250. At the end of the day both Nintendo and Sony want to make money, though it looks like Nintendo is doing a much better job at the moment.
Tsk tsk absolutely nowhere in that article did engadget bother to mention these are only Japan sales figures. With that in mind there really ought to have been some explanation of the lack of interest in PS3 in Japan.
The US sales figures if I recall are a little closer - Wii 2 to 3 times that of 360, 360 around 150,000 / month and PS3 around 70,000 / month. Anyone have the exact May figures as reported for the US ? Haven't seen anything from europe for a while, and to be honest, they tend to just be UK figures which are very misleading.
The average gamer in the UK has a lot more disposable income than the average gamer in say Spain, Finland, Italy or Poland...my guess is overall in europe PS3 is suffering from the same issue - price.
If the Wii is outselling the XBox at a rate of 5:2 (2.5:1), and the XBox is outselling the PS3 at a rate of 15:7 (150,000:70,000), then...let's do the math...the Wii is outselling the PS3 in the US at a rate of 75:14, which is a little better than 5:1. So the sales figures are just as ugly for Sony here in the good ol' US of A.
If you look at it this way, Sony's price is competing with the price point MS has set by adding a 360 premium and the HD DVD drive together. So MS set the price this high and Sony is competing at the same price point.
Good riddance.
The only game company that INNOVATES is Nintendo.
Sony has done nothing, NOTHING but steal from Nintendo.
Nintendo made the first game console and they haven't lost their magic yet.
As for the Xbox? Well I guess some people consider trying not to get a red ring a game.
Troll, Nintendo didn't make the first game console, just the one that became the first explosive success.
Also, the did lose their success for a while. When the GameCube failed to be a monster hit in the U.S., many of us thought it was the end of the big N. It was the handheld division that kept them afloat. Now that they're vying for #1, it's viewed as a great comeback.
nintendo innovative? you mean because of all the mario knock off games right?
Miles, although you seem to be a complete moron, your comment about XBox was HILARIOUS.
ENGADGET NEEDS TO GET THEIR INFORMATION RIGHT.
If you read the article, it says "IN JAPAN" in most cases when talking about sales figures. So the Wii is selling six times the PS3 IN JAPAN ONLY. No real figures for the rest of the world.
What makes me rant is that they say the 360 only sold 17,000 units; they leave out that the sales are JAPAN ONLY.
ENGADGET NEEDS TO HAVE LESS BIASED NEWS ARTICLES.
I think Sony has one the BIGGER war, meaning the Blu-Ray vs. HD DVD (MS, Toshiba). This is evident in recent news when Blockbuster decided to back Blu-Ray only. That was a major blow to HD DVD. This will be a sweet victory after losing the Betamax war.
How about Toshiba getting the adult industry onboard for HD? Sony and Disney refuse to touch adult films and *poof* say goodbye to billions. Sony grabbing Disney and Blockbuster is smart, but Id say the whole thing is far from over. I'd hate to see the ps3 turn into a paperweight, but price still drives the market.
Hmm, I'm wondering how important it really is to see porn at that high of definition. Do you really need to be able to count each and every pubic hair?? I mean just DVD quality is already quite sufficient IMO.
The Wii's price is deceptively low... for $250 you get the Wii, Wii sports, and 1/2 a controller (that's right, HALF). You can't even play everything on Wii sports until you buy the other half of the controller. Then you gotta buy 6 more pieces because, let's face it, it's not much good for anything besides parties. The controllers are also quite expensive. Oh and downloading games costs $'s plus requires you to buy more accessories to even use them.
So after buying all that the Wii actually costs about $450... Had I realized that when I bought it, I might have just sprung for a PS3 instead... it's a much better value.
Now that's just a blatent lie - every Wii sold comes with one WiiMote and one Nunchuck attachment.
That's all you need to play every game on Wii Sports - boxing uses both parts.
So, either your Wii didn't come with a nunchuck and you should complain to either the store or to Nintendo to get it - or, you're lying about owning a Wii.
Mine did not come with a 'chuck... maybe the package was missing it. It was a madhouse in the store when I got mine. Oh well, that's $20 bucks I could've saved but it's too late now. Even so, that's a minor discrepancy and my overall point is still valid.
"Can't we all just get along?"
PS2 has been steadily outselling all consoles (in the US) the last time I checked (which was April I think).
Think about it: better graphics than Wii, cheaper, better games, more games, etc.I bought a Wii and it's really fun for parties, but not much else. And of course 90% of the games look like they're meant for 5-year-olds. I still use the PS2 way more.
But does it really matter? I don't get why it has to be a WAR... I like Wii for parties, PC's for LAN/MMO gaming, Playstation for couch-gaming. There's no war! I'm not forced to abandon all platforms and just use one of them.
@silentk
It has nothing to do with Sony. Disney didn't want porn being produced on *their* replication lines. That's all there is to the story. The BDA has publically stated there is no prohibition on porn. Vivid is also producing on Blu-ray.
Wii is outselling the ps2.
I looked up the figures and yep, Wii jumped ahead in the US market and knocked PS2 down a notch (finally).
This is good news and bad news at the same time. It means there will be more games for the Wii (and thus a higher possibility for something good). But it also means there will be less development for teen-to-adult oriented gaming systems. Less Halo, more Mario Party.
As a big Nintendo fan, yes, I do see a chance that the Wii's staying power might fade out as 360/PS3 reach new heights in graphics and other departments. In fact, I'm kinda scared. But that won't matter if Nintendo finds it's "Nintendogs" for the Wii. As we saw with the DS, its sales were decent until Nintendogs came out and started obliterating the PSP. They then released the DS Lite and the handheld game was over.
All Nintendo needs is that one Shigeru Miyamoto (or any of the fine creater @ the big N) brain child that will drive Japan insane. Wii Health has alot of potential, but I'm not completely sure (although we do have a lot of weight conscious people in the US). If Nintendo would stop being so damn stubborn and release a full 3D adventure, Pokemon MMORPG (I pray BioWare will have something to do with this)for the Wii then the Wii is here to stay. That is all they need. Sales will spike. PS3 wouldn't stand a chance in Japan. American Wii sales would get a nice boost. But alas, Nintendo will never give us that game we all want.
If Nintendo THAT game that is just TOO MUCH FUN (for the entire family)comes out, then I don't see the Wii leaving that top spot on the console NPD charts.
But until then I'll enjoy my slightly dusty Wii (dusty, that is, until Strikers, Prime, and Smash come out), PS2 and my 360. I can't miss out on that Xbox Live goodness. Why be a fanboy when you can enjoy the best of each console. I would buy a PS3 if they cut the price by a Benjamin (after watching Casino Royale on B-Ray, I'm almost sold). I would have definitely bought one this fall either way if Devil May Cry 4 (prob one of my 5 fav franchises, incl. MGS) was exclusive. But why would I go out of my way to get one if it's headed towards my more inexpensive 360, with the same visuals (presumably. We'll have to wait and see) and with achievements? Rachet&Clank and Drake's Fortune (which looks flippin' sweet) are swaying me to the PS3, but if I find out MGS4 is eventually DOES come the 360...then what's the point? The only other factor left, for me, is FFXIII, and I know that is NOT coming to 360.
Peace
Actually, if Squeenix told me Kingdom Hearts III was coming this fall, then Sony can have my $600. I wouldn't even care. I loves me some HD Keyblade Mickey Mouse action.
Really, this whole "Wii vs. PS3" thing is a pointless debate. I've got them both, and they've both completely failed to come up with a consistent stream of quality content. I've gone back to my DS and 360 and pretty much abandoned my Wii and PS3 altogether. I'd say that at this point it's a loss for Sony AND Nintendo.
The problem with that is that the video games market is much larger than when the PS2 was released. Thanks in large part to the PS2. The PS2 also sold out consistently in the first six+ months of it's release. The PS3 on the other hand is doing ok but considering the size of today's video games market it's headed for no better than second place. Let's face it, all of those people buying Wii's are or were potential PS3 buyers. I think the Wii's motion controller can be gimicky but it can add to a game as well. It's all in how one uses it. For certain games such as bowling, tennis and golf it just makes a lot of sense. For other games such as fighting games the traditional controller is obviously a better fit.
Here are the May sales data alexhrose71.
May'07 sales.
Nintendo Wii: 338,278
PlayStation 2 187,765
Xbox 360: 154,932
PlayStation 3: 81,604
Total sales up to May'07.
Xbox 360: 5.6 million
Nintendo Wii: 2.8 million
PlayStation 3: 1.4 million
To CowboyGA and riggs.
Nintendo has consistently been the most innovative games company as far as hardware goes. They don't always go for the most power. Rather they go for innovation in control scheme. Let's check out some of Nintendo's contribution to the video games scene. Cross controller. Check. Shoulder button controls. Check. Self centering analogue stick. Check. And before you say Sony had it out first, it was indeed released first by Sony but it was copied from Nintendo who had announced it a year earlier in conjunction with their N64. Motion control.
Now, most of the technologies Nintendo has introduced has been around. It's not completely new technology, but what is nowadays. It's how they put it all together into one well integrated package. Much like Apple and their skill in creating a great for their products. And lest I forget, Sony's lone contribution to the gaming scene hardware wise is analogue buttons for pressure sensitive controlling. Which has largely turned out to be a non factor. Some of Sony's studios has also produced some excellent games.
The Wii motion controller can turn out to be a gimmick. There is absolutely no question of that. However, I have faith that one of Nintendo's many talented producers from Shgeru Miyamoto on down can make something creative out of it.
thats all fine and dandy bud the PS3 costs 3 times as much and the Wii is foryour little sister or girl friend want to play cooking on, Nintendo had me with the N64, I don't know where they went after that, my Wii just sits there collecting dust but i clean the PS3 every day
You guys do realize, the PS3 is selling about exactly how the 360 was selling its first time around. This is a fact, go do your research on how many consoles were sold the 360's first month, 2nd month, 3rd month, 4th month, up until June. Then see the PS3's 1st month, 2nd month, 3rd month, etc. You will see there is absolutly no signficant difference.
But alls people see right now, is OHhhh 360 selling more then PS3, PS3 must suck,... just realize the 360 has been here a year ahead... and when the PS3 is here next year, it will sell the same as the 360 right now.
I aboslutly love both the 360 & the PS3, no bias opinion here, just trying to level out criticism where its due
Now, you want to talk about the Wii... Thats a whole different story, so far, its doing better then any console has in the entire history of console (Keyword : So Far)...
Again, backed up numbers.
To make a long story short:
Who cares which console is best, they all offer their own unique features...So buy the console that has the 1 or 2 games that makes it worth ANY price.
Wow, no idea where your getting your information... hope its not nextgenwars, we all know that place is whack and inaccurate!
The best source for EVERYTHING related to console numbers is, and always has been www.VGChartz.com
With the wii you get last generation graphics with next generation control method, with ps3 it's the opposite, get both.
Lower the prices, Sony. $500 pricemark is just ridiculously insane for a game console. Not that I'm not willing to pay, but when you are behind in that market, you have to something ummmm....smart? Or even smart-ass smart.
Isn't it amazing that people will rather spend $599 on an iPhone than on a PS3.
My colleague claims a million iPhones were sold in 6 days, is that true?
Why not a headline like "Wii outselling Xbox 360 15 to 1" or "PS3 outselling Xbox 360 2 to 1"?
On top of the biased headline, they fail to mention that these are the Japanese sales figures and actually allude to them as being the American numbers in the articles first sentence. Goes to show how inaccurate, misguided, self-absorbed and downright crooked enews can be.
Isn't the PS3 about six times the price of the Wii though? lol.
Does anyone see any similarities between the PS3 and the Sega Saturn? The price is higher than the competition, it's expensive to make and almost impossible to cut costs on (like the Saturn), has a processor that's harder and more expensive to program for (than others) and 3rd parties are all but refusing to release games for the system exclusively (Capcom, Sega, Namco/Bandai). Plus the ads are terrible just like the Saturns were. I dunno...maybe it's just me. But I see a whole lot of parallels here.
- John
Sony's future in the gaming industry is looking grim. Although they scored majorly with ps1 and ps2, the ps3 simply isn't updated enough to make it worth the price. A major problem with the ps3, besides the outrageous price, is the lack of games! I'm shocked that I am still not able to find a game that would make this gigantic eyesore worth owning and looking at... but that's the way it stands. Nintendo is revolutionizing the gaming industry with the Wii, and at this rate Sony is destined to fall behind clinging to the tedious and tired Playstation franchise. Clean up your act, Sony. Show that you know your customer base by getting some good games out and maybe your sales will turn around.
because for the price of a ps3 you can put a wii in every room of your house