Stranger than fiction: Is PS3 about to win the console sales war?

CVG: Once an absurd notion, Kutaragi's final console could outsell the Xbox and Wii with a last-gasp flourish

[bicfitness]

Well they're allowed to sell it in China now (as of Nov 2012), which will help. Furthermore, Sony has always done well in pan-European countries. The Wii is effectively dead, and MS won't have much success outside of US/ UK with post-720 Xbox 360 sales (and will they still support it with software too, is another question). So yeah, with at least another two price cuts to go - one around the PS4 launch, one a few years later - its easy to see how Sony will finish first for last gen.

A real limp of a start, but Sony always said it was a marathon and not a sprint. Still, its good to see them going into next-gen with a bit more focus and less hubris (PS4).

[dedicatedtogamers]

It wouldnt surprise me if PS3 "won", though of course some will always change the definition of winning to soothe their fanboy souls. It won't be total consoles sold. It'll be something silly like "increased percentage of market share" that supposedly determines the winner. People counted out Nintendo back in 2006 with the Wii and look what happened. Today, people are counting out Sony, but we'll see

[darthv72]

there was never really a starting point we can assume there is no finish line either.

all the systems came into the market at their own times and there wasnt any kind of goal to aspire to reach other than their own individual goals.

It isnt like they all decided the first one to 100mil wins. each company has their own sales goals and from the look of things. Nintendo's wii bested the previous system releases (NES, SNES, N64, GC) and MS has certainly surpassed their previous xbox sales by a considerable margin.

Sony still has time to sell the PS3 so it could very well reach the numbers of the PS1 or even PS2 if sony keeps it on the market long enough.

they are all winners this gen. No spin, no derogatory comments. Just the pure fact that all 3 are selling (sold) to an ever increasing tough industry crowd is proof this was (if not THE) best console generation I have been part of (and I been around since pong).

[Kalowest]

"People counted out Nintendo back in 2006 with the Wii and look what happened. Today, people are counting out Sony, but we'll see"

Something can be said about MS, no one thought they would stay in the game console business for long. As a gamer that owns all 3, I'd say all 3 did a great job this gen.

[silverbeld]

@darthv72

All winners?

Why can't you just admid the Xbox losing this gen again.

[insomnium2]

We all knew PS3 would end up first. Even the xfans knew deep down. That's why they were so hell bent on fighting it.

[Godmars290]

@darthv72:

There wasn't ever really a starting point because MS jumped the gun.

They may have needed to to get ahead of Sony, But overall the move wasn't all that good for the industry.

I wouldn't have been good for them if they hadn't had the money to repair the damage of RRoD.

[Syntax-Error]

WHAT?! There's no one counting out Sony? Save that shit for your fanboy blog. Since Sony had that press conference last month it has been Sony all day every day. No one said anything negative except that they showed a bunch of tech demos. The negativity was about MS just as this article headlines by giving Sony the console wars of next gen BEFORE THEY EVER GET STARTED! How's that for flame baiting

[pixelsword]

The stupidest thing anyone can do is be dismissive of any console; the Wii smashed everyone at first, Microsoft took America by storm, and now Sony might sell the most this gen?

With Sony's big PS4 reveal, obviously Sony is not taking the other two consoles lightly, but the irony is that fans of Sony just might.

Just everyone remember to support all of the devs/exclusives that is talked up

[Skip_Bayless]

The Wii is not a current generation console. Please ignore articles like this.

[BlindGuardian]

this is not news, PS3 has outsold the 360 on all but one year when they were both in the market at the same time

if what happened with last gen consoles when this one hit, MS will dropped 360 as soon as they get the 720 out of the gate and the sales will drop to almost zero, while Sony will keep selling PS3s for years to come

will the PS3 overtake the 360 lifetime sales with one year less on the market? 100% certainty (if it hasn't happened already)

will the PS3 overtake the Wii's lifetime sales? tricky question, Wii's sales numbers will be almost zero by this time next year but the gap is huge, they will probably end up very close, but which one ahead is almost imposible to tell now

[SHORYUKEN]

PS3 #1
Wii #2
360 #3

This Positions is so familiar like it does before.

PS2 #1
Gamecube #2
xbox #3

My predictions

PS4 #1
WiiU #2
720 #3

I love doing this!

[Welshy]

@SHORYUKEN

As much as i have faith in Sony in terms of long term support over Microsoft or Nintendo, i think you're getting SLIGHTLY ahead of yourself if you think the Wii U is going to outsell the next Xbox.

[SHORYUKEN]

@TheFaceless

WiiU still not showing their true powers and they already sell millions.

Once they release Zelda and new Mario then it will kick xbox @ss again.

[badz149]

Deal with it

[Azurite]

I read an article in late January which said China -may- life the ban.

Haven't read anything about since then, doubt they've lifted the ban yet though since we'd see more news about it in that case.

[shutUpAndTakeMyMoney]

Sony definitely won the hardcore gaming war.. Shame MS dropped new AAA IP xbox support after 2010.. Alan Wake was awsome!! Got it on steam!

[Grap]

even if Sony win the sales war. u have to give MS a big credits selling nearly 80M with their second gen console compete with Nintendo and sony who has so much experience in this industry.

[AlphaJunk]

what is makes a game hardcore and what are examples of games not being hardcore?

[maniacmayhem]

Didn't you just rag on another poster for their never ending troll service of Sony. Saying how they have nothing positive to say about Sony and should be marked for trolling every time?

http://n4g.com/news/1186742...

How is this any different from what you do?

[GusBricker]

This all comes down to Japan. MS has no shot in hell of ever winning a worldwide console war without getting a piece of the Japanese market.

They've tried their damnedest, but we all know, they had no chance in the first place.

[darthv72]

has been completely overused this console generation. That term was coined by the type of person who played games on a regular basis. not specifically the type of game.

If you were someone who was dedicated to playing games on the various platforms back in the day...you were considered hardcore.

it seems so many have lost touch with that aspect and have turned the phrase into something more associated with the "game" rather than the "practice" of gaming.

By simple definition, a casual gamer is someone who plays games occasionally. on a semi regular basis and the games can be anything from simple puzzle types to graphic intensive types.

the hardcore gamer is someone who plays games on a consistent basis. the games can range from simple puzzle types to graphic intensive types.

It centers around how dedicated the person is to playing games. NOT the games themselves. There are some casual killzone players out there just as there are some hardcore angry bird players out there.

i think what the majority of the self proclaimed 'core' dont understand is that we are ALL in the same hobby and we can ALL respect that hobby even if we dont ALL play at the same level as the next person.

[AlphaJunk]

@darthv72 - great post and exactly what I was getting at - I was hoping someone that plays and knows what a "hardcore" game is and isn't would attempt to explain the stupidity behind such a term. I get so tired of hearing these dorks on here call a particular game "hardcore."
Back in the day when video games were getting big, there were Super Mario Bros. tournaments where people played hours, but I'm sure these goof-balls wouldn't consider that a "hardcore" game; or even further back when arcades were huge people stayed for hours playing Pac-Man and Galaga for that matter. Lame people on here.

[darthv72]

while there are some "goof-balls" and "lame" people on this site. it really isnt their fault they misinterpret things.

Its the association of the term over the course of many console generations that has conditioned them into believing the "hardcore" phrase is by virtue of the game and NOT the player.

It is somewhat disrespectful to those who had to earn that designation by way of being very dedicated to playing games in general. I dont proclaim myself to be a hardcore gamer anymore. I dont deserve to fit into that crowd because i dont dedicate the amount of time i once did when i was younger.

I still consider myself a gamer however because I do still play but by no means would I fall into the casual association either.

I just find it funny how even the execs at the companies misuse the term as well. As if to say they know that to be respected by the gaming community, they have to talk the talk even if they dont walk the walk.

[Dead_Cell]

Lol, pwned.

[BitbyDeath]

"By simple definition, a casual gamer is someone who plays games occasionally. on a semi regular basis and the games can be anything from simple puzzle types to graphic intensive types."

I dunno the world has changed.
Casual gamers are kind of extinct using the old definition. Even my Grandma plays games on Facebook regularly. Does that make her a hardcore gamer? Or how about all those on the trains, planes and buses who constantly play games on their phones while travelling? Are they hardcore?

Casuals should be based on the amount of types of games they play IMO cause the world is now a different place.

[BitbyDeath]

Ignore/delete this comment.
Double post.

[darthv72]

"Casuals should be based on the amount of types of games they play IMO cause the world is now a different place."

I agree. These are different times we live in. But which is it? Amount or type? There is one thing to have a fascination with something like games and then there is another with having an obsession. the association of the terms is where it falls apart.

The old days of the hardcore gamer was the obsessive nature of wanting to play games all the time. It didnt matter the game or what platform so long as there was that addictive desire to play.

These days, things are perceived differently. Maybe your grandmother is a hardcore facebook gamer if she is constantly playing the various games available.

Just because she isnt slaying zombies or kicking some multiplayer ass does not mean to discredit her desire to find entertainment in the games that appeal to her.

And that is the word of the day kids...appeal. People of all ages and types find things that appeal differently. I think there has been such a lack of respect for the industry as a whole because we see an increase in a certain type of game here or a decline in others there.

Yet we are all on the same side when it comes to enjoying the various things this industry offers. There are simple games that do not appeal to me but i can respect others who like them. But maybe that sense of respect comes with age.

I am 40 now and i can look back and see what a punk i was when i was younger but i never lost sight of respect for the craft (gaming).

[BitbyDeath]

"But which is it? Amount or type?"

I'd say the "amount of type" because Facebook being one category is as casual as the FPS craze. (eg. Those that only play COD).

So someone who plays multiple types/genres is more hardcore than someone who plays just 1 or 2.

[nukeitall]

@BitbyDeath:

Then who decides the category?

What if I play Facebooks games, then I jump on iOS, then on Android, then I play Minecraft on Xbox 360, and then finish off with some Wonderbook. Each I play only a little bit.

Does that make me a hardcore gamer?

Hardcore gamer should and always has been about how much time and "real genuine" interrest in games.

[BitbyDeath]

@nukeitall,

There is casual gamer and casual games. Not to be confused with one another. Most of what you listed were casual games because they generally only hold your interest for a short period of time.

So yea, maybe a combination of both time and genre diversity as i'd think someone who only sticks to one or two genres would also be casual.

[Tapani]

Misinformation.

The first time they suggested the ban to be lifted was 2012 September and Ministry of Culture squashed the rumor/suggestion immediately.

The latest rumor was sparked again by China Daily: http://www.chinadaily.com.c...

I'm sure the ban will be lifted within the next 3-4 years and that's when the gaming industry will be finally tilted back to Asia. And most likely it will stay there as the new middle-classes rise and have buying power to support the supply.

The funny thing is why you got so many agrees. It merely suggests that most people have no idea what is really happening in the gaming industry (or in the world) and buy everything they hear just like that.

Edit: Just to add, console hardware sales number does not really represent anything, but something to do cheap PR about.

Software sales, licensing fees, digital sales and other revenue streams (such as PS+ and MS memberships) are equally if not even more important than simple overall hardware sales numbers. If you want to pick a winner, then pick the one that makes most money overall.

All in all, this "article", once again, is irrelevant and is not even journalism. Just keep feeding yourself with this silly "information" and you will never know nothing of the real world. Sorry for the cynical touch, but I'm slightly tired of these articles and these "opinions". Especially when I see this crap on a renowned gaming website.

[bicfitness]

I'm going off the information listed IN THE ARTICLE. I read the article (step one), I commented on it, appropriately. It is not my job to fact check the information that they post. Take it up with CVG if you believe that information is incorrect. Your argument is misplaced.

I do however agree that China is the next major superpower, particularly in terms of economy and/ or the gaming industry. The writing has been on the wall for that shift for some time.

[Tapani]

It is your own responsibility to be educated/enlightened enough not to believe every single word that is written online.

My comment is not misplaced if we are after the truth from an objective and factitive perspective.

If we are after something else, such as feeding ourselves with misinformation to feed the N4G bubble you are living in, then sure, it's misplaced! ;)

[bicfitness]

It is a bit ridiculous to expect someone to question every piece of information published by a major media agency. That sort of proactive investigation is usually reserved for the greatest of tin-foil hat speculators, which is what you are sounding more and more like you are. Your comment is misplaced because you are attacking me, when you should be attacking this truth that you are supposedly after. Take it up with CVG. Get mobilized, start a campaign if you like.

Also, at what point in the article that you linked or in another piece that you would like to submit does it say that the ban will be lifted in "3-4" years as to your personal speculation. It sounds as if it will be lifted sooner than that. And that's going off the information that you, yourself put forth. For someone that is so aggressively focused on transparency and realism in their news, you seem to be able to conjecture and fabricate as well as the sources you deem unreliable.

Regardless of your semi derailing of this argument, the FACT remains that even without China, if the PS3 keeps on that trajectory, selling more than the Wii or 360 each year, it will likely crawl to 1st place after several more years and a few price cuts anyway.

Edit: A short lesson in N4G etiquette. "Agrees" and "disagrees" can happen with or from various parts of a post. It can be an overall concurrence or rejection of sentiments contained therein, or it could be related to specific points of reference in a text. Its not all or nothing as you are trying to make it out to be. While persons might not agree with the point that you've isolated and continue to harp on, they may very well agree with everything (or the preponderance of) what was said. Enough to click "agree" at least.

Its not that hard to figure out. Its a black and white voting system for statements that are shades of grey. People have to pick one absolute, even if they're not 100% committed to what they are agreeing to.

[kayoss]

@bicfitness
"That sort of proactive investigation is usually reserved for the greatest of tin-foil hat speculators..."
This was AWESOME!!!

@Sharp
Dude, we still waiting for your rebuttal to bicfitness reply.

I have to agree with bicfitness. When most people who dont have time to do research to determine facts and speculation they read the news. They depend on the news to do all the research and get the fact.
For example, if a scientist were to publish a piece about how bacteria react to a certain chemical and published is findings. How would you go about "educate/enlightened" ; yourself when you dont have to tools or know how? You have to assume what the scientist publish is fact.

[Tapani]

I base my information in the discussions I had with people in the gaming industry (Tokyo Game show, biz meetings etc.) when I was working in the financial industry in Asia. I read daily business news (it's my job) about companies and their financial statements. Plus, I had my own small gaming company and did a lot of research before I was planning to launch it. (Sadly, I didn't have enough time as other interesting challenges arouse). I do also read www.gamesindustry.biz and most of the comments there to get an insight what people in the industry think and do. On top of that I read Japanese and Chinese biz+gaming websites daily.

The way I see it: The gaming journalism is an entity living its own reality, well, rather fantasy. I doubt most of the people writing on these websites have a degree in journalism (Note: not necessarily required to do good journalism) or understands how any industry works from a financial point of view. Gaming companies only goal is to make money, not to sell X number of units at a loss (PS3 wasn't profitable from the beginning). No matter how "customer centric" they claim to be, it's all about money. Of course the overall units sold represents their customer reach to an extent, but it's more important how that customer behaves after receiving the product.

My question (hypothetically) is: What's the point of selling 100m consoles if your competition sells 50m and 2x the software + other paid services? These X number of hardware sold figures do not matter, therefore all these articles do not matter. And eventually, all these opinions on them do not matter. All the data under that superficial analysis matters.

I think (personal opinion!), to get to an X number of units sold is a symbolic value that serves a good PR trick to try and convince stockholders and potential customers that there is another upward trend going on (keep investors desperately on-board). So that the initial crazy investment in R&D and that silly PS3 design (plus TV division and other consumer electronic divisions) would be forgiven.

Personally I give props to the new CEO as he managed to turn the sinking boat into a barely floating one. But selling X amount of PS3 won't recoup the losses. The licenses/blu-ray association fees, software/digital/PS+ and DLC etc. might help them, not the X number of units. PS+ is a key component and I'm sure they will be extending that with PS4.

SONY has also sold it's DeNa shares and US and Japan HQ buildings to create a cushion for the new losses (R&D of PS4 + bad sales of other divisions). So basically, this is their last chance.

All that how many units X consoles sells is irrelevant in the big picture. It's just news made for the gamers so that CVG can make money by getting readers (ad revenue).

I have nothing against anyone here personally, but I just try to correct some of the information if they are pulled out of what not. I provide my own worthwhile or worthless opinions while at it.

[bicfitness]

This article is about the PS3 outselling its competition IN HARDWARE UNITS once the tally from this past gen is completed. You've covered almost every possible deviation on the subject matter aside from the meat of the article itself. Kudos for your mental contortions.

A few issues of contention with what you have said:
- I wasn't aware that the PS3 had any attach rate or software selling issues. In fact I'm pretty sure its right up there with the 360 at 7-8 software units per hardware unit sold. Why even mention this?
- I find it amusing that you list your various "credentials" and "qualifications" as if visiting a variety of NA and Eastern gaming and news sites makes you any more informed than any of the posters here; who - myself included - read just as many and varied sources of news each day as you do, if not more.
- Pertaining to the last point, listing Chinese news as if it is somehow more credible than what is found on N4G or elsewhere, when it is a KNOWN FACT that Eastern news from mainland China is basically as skewed and controlled as you can get, does not support any arguments you are trying to make very well.
- All in all, you're veering from accusatory, to paranoid to pure hyperbole and based on your assessment of SNE you don't have any firmer a grasp on their business restructuring than you seem to have on anything else. SNE has gone from $9/ share to $15 and climbing. They're hardly on "their last chance" as you've put it.

Armchair analysts like you are exactly the reason why my portfolio is doing so well.

[Why o why]

Lol how'd you like them apples.

Sony Ms or Nintendo don't know or care about my life I'm just a punter to them. What some do more than others is give me more of what I want which is games of high quality varying in genre. 1St or last doesn't change anything even now. So yeah well done Sony but thanks for dealing with my needs better than the rest. Story done

[N4g_null]

Great post sharp and good luck some thing is brewing in the market again and no I don't like what the rock is cooking. The industry is not responding.

[brish]

Didn't the wii sell the most consoles? Didn't the wii sell the most games?

If the winner is defined by install base, or game sales then the wii won the console war this generation.

[Tito08]

I wouldn't really say Wii won since it was the console with the worst 3rd party support and sales. Maybe casual-wise, but not for the most part. Handheld wise they are the winners, but I liked the PSP more!

[Wh15ky]

Is this generation over already?

[awi5951]

I find this whole topic silly bragging you won a race after everyone else has gone home is nothing to be proud of. You do know the last Ps2 game came out in 2012 and who cares. Microsoft and nintendo would have moved on and stopped support when sony passes them Gen over. Microsoft and nintendo dont have to wait for Sony to catch up, the lights on the track have been turned off it's time to go home.

[Wh15ky]

"I find this whole topic silly bragging you won a race"

The silly thing is calling it a race.

[OlgerO]

Wow just imagine that China opens up as a console market. that would mean more then doubling the potential people the consoles could reach!!

[H3ADWOUND81]

Yeah but don't forget, the majority of people living in china ain't got a pot to piss in.. It'd be interesting to see some unit sales figures, no doubt..

[hiredhelp]

Sony lets face it have always dominated console market since PSX days never have i seen such a libary on a console than the first playstation. Then PS2 another dominator against nintendo sega.
Sony have always been very inovative and have always had gamers in mind and casuals example of that of casuals sony first to intro duce dance dance games. Eye toy with eye pet.
To me the reason why sony yet again dominate PS4 if for same real reason they have always been about gamers and the games.
Ps3 was slow take off but kaz stated idk some couple years maybe ago the ps3 will over take the 360 he was right many people beleaved sony fail MS win but once price reduced redesigned the system bought studios come out more first part games people started moving across.

GAMES EXCLUSIVE GAMES thats whats gonna win it for them infact to me they already won.

[psn_arakouftaian]

Plus if you did the maths you will have figure it out

[showtimefolks]

it on pace to sell 129 million consoles according to gaming analyst reports followed by xbox360 at 117 and wii at 107

its amazing at where ps3 started with a huge price point to now maybe against selling the most for 3 straight gens for sony

[50Terabytespersec]

Considering the massive collapse of the US economy and the European countries. The PS3 did very remarkably well for the most expensive system on the block.

[360ICE]

Sorry, but that is highly likely to be misinformation. Everyone seems to believe the ban has been certified for the Chinese market, though, because of a generally misunderstood report released by Reuters last year.

Read more about it here:
http://www.forbes.com/sites...

As for CVG, they ought to take that information down.
And as for PS3, China and consoles in general, I sure hope they get moving with lifting that ban. They have to rely on tablet and mobile games. That's some kind of living hell.

[Shadow Flare]

"But here we are today, with an estimated 77 million PS3s sold worldwide, about 23 million units behind the market leader, the Wii - and enough potential in the console to carry on past Nintendo's high-flying system.

Let's get the clearest fact out of the way: the Wii is not going to sell many more units."

This is something I've thought about for a while. The possibility is there. PS3 is steam rolling at the moment, I think it sold about 1.2million in February globally, if my memories right.

With Wii effectively dead, and Sony showing ps3 continued support with games like GT6 (possibly) and Beyond,.....why not?

If all 3 consoles hit 100 million units sold, this would make for quite a remarkable generation

"(amazingly when you think about it, the ps3 still costs far more than what the Wii did at launch in 2006)."

Well written article btw. It has very sound reasoning which actually shows it will definitely overtake the wii's total sales. Further price cuts and Sonys continued support will be a big part of that.

"In April and August 2006, Sony reduced the price of its PS2 to $129 in the US and £99.99 in the UK - the console went on to sell more than 40 million units at this low price point. Then in 2009, the PlayStation 2 RRP fell below $100 in the US and at similar prices worldwide, picking up another 15 million sales thereafter."

PlayStation - Number 1 console, 3 generations in a row

[shivvy24]

wow it has been an awesome generation , All 3 consoles being succesful

[InTheLab]

What kills me is how many articles there are about how mobile gaming is taking over despite coming off the most successful generation of gaming since...well...ever.

[nosferatuzodd]

Indeed nicely put sir Shadow Flare bubble for u man

[Bumpmapping]

Not strange just FACTS PS3 been whooping 360 @ss WW all gen.M$ had America all gen keeping them afloat with a year head start....once Sony announced the slim the PS3 was selling like hotcakes forcing M$ to jump on Kinect gather some casuals to keep up with PS3 sales.

Kaz and Ken where right 360 was nothing to be worried about they should be proud they got the last laugh....

[MultiConsoleGamer]

No.

And to win anything it must first recoup all of its financial losses, and that's not going to happen.

We will also never know the truth about sony's sales numbers because they've only pushed shipped figures, combined ps2 and ps3 shipments for 2 years, and channel stuffed 3 hardware revisions.

PS3 will not sell another 25 million units. Xbox 360 will not stop selling.

[Moonman]

I disagree bigtime. PS3 has GTA V, The Last Of Us, Gran Turismo 6 and many more. PS3 isn't even $199. PS3 will reach 100 million. 360 won't beat PS3. Nintendo could squeeze maybe 5-10 million more sales out of Wii.

[dredgewalker]

You need games to push more sales and honestly the PS3's advantage is that it still has games being developed for it exclusively along with the multiplats. The 360 will still sell but without any big game to push it, the PS3 will outpace it in sales. But on the brightside this console generation has been the most successful one considering they all exceeded the 50 million mark. MS, Sony and Nintendo did a good job in competing with each other.

[roshi1987]

It is not like it's in Sony's best interest to keep shipping units that arent being sold on the front end. Such a shit argument.

You make no point at all. Why cant it sell more? Your only reason is that they give us shipped numbers?

Get out of here fanboy.

[kenshiro100]

I know you would love to see Sony at the verge of bankruptcy but it's not going to happen.

Sorry.

And I fully disagree with your poorly researched assessment.

[GreenRanger]

Ah, who cares?
Gamers these days care way too much about sales.

[NobodyImportant]

I don't care who "wins" teh salez.

...but I care about sales in as much as I want the console manufacturers to get decent enough sales that they all stay in business and continue to compete with each other and provide gamers with great game experiences.

[Tetsujin]

@GreenRanger

Majority on this site are share/stock holders, didn't you know? /s

[Root]

Hey 360 fanboys made this about sales back in 2006, not gamers, so it's no surprise that now the shoes on the other foot PS3 fanboys will shove it back in their face.

[ginsunuva]

Exactly. There is no war! MS fanboys created this bs to make themselves feel better about no games.

[awi5951]

What about those first 2 years of the ps3 at 600 dollars and no games.

[Lvl_up_gamer]

Well the 360 is grossly over priced. It is about $100 too much. I have no idea how the 360 is selling so well when it not only hasn't had a price cut in the last 3 years.

The 4GB model should be $99 by now. Instead it's $199.

The 360 is an 8 year old console with 10 year old parts.

The PS3 has had 3 different model changes with features and components removed in order to bring the price down.

The PS3 is probably the best priced console for what it is offering hardware wise in comparison to the 360.

Clearly right now MS doesn't care about market share since not only is the market pretty much 50/50 with Sony but MS is looking to get as much out of the 360 price wise while MS focuses on the launch of the next gen Xbox. If MS cared about the market share, they would have reduced the price of the 360 by now to be more competitive and aggressive.

Sony will capture the overall market share this gen by the time holiday season starts if MS continues to over price the 360.

Drop the 360 by $100 and MS will once again capture majority of the market share.

[dedicatedtogamers]

It IS $99...with an Xbox Live Gold contract. I imagine MS will continue this practice with the Xbox 720.

[XabiDaChosenOne]

Lol at this guys damage control.

[etownone]

It's not damage control, it's the truth.

How many price has the ps3 had compared to the 360$

7 years later, the 360 should be at $99/$199, 4gig/250gig.

For anyone to say Sony won this gen is delusional, they lost dominance and market share to the 360/Wii, and they suffered massive losses in the game division for many years.

[kenshiro100]

Can you just congratulate Sony for once? Give me a break man...you're just piling on more damage control. And please stop with this market share/dominance crap. Despite setbacks, the PS3 still remained a contender.

[Hicken]

Oh, my. Refusing to face reality, huh? Tough, I know, but you've gotta do it.

The 360 was getting outsold by the PS3 before the PS3 saw its first price drop. It's also been outsold by the Wii since that console released. It has been the slowest selling console this generation, and there is absolutely NOTHING to indicate that will change.

... well, I guess the Wii is selling slower now, but even at its current rate, its lifetime rate is still much faster.

Or is it convenient to forget that the PS3 and 360 are about even despite one year's difference on the market?

Tell me: why can't the 360 sell faster than a more expensive console, if it's so much better? A best, a 360 price drop will only maintain its current sales rate; what's to stop Sony from doing the same and STILL outselling the 360 like they're doing right now?

Only your denial of reality, it seems.

[Grandmaster-B]

By the power of Raw - hail Cell.

[gazgriff2k12]

depends on your definition of winning.
nintendo have made the most profit.
sony may end up selling the most systems.
microsoft have gained the most market share and made profit on xbox live. everyone's a winner.
my prediction for next gen i see nintendo failing with wii u (very sad) and selling a shed load of 3DS. i see microsoft making the most profit and ps4 selling the most units looks like vita is already a fail (very sad). as for the others (steambox, ouya) i see failing i believe only apple will be able to join the console race and be successful.

[NobodyImportant]

I see Microsoft getting the most sales if they can capitalise on Kinect 2.0 and hover up all the casuals that have fled the dying corpse of the Wii.

I see PS4 being the best hardware and most powerful. But most powerful don't normally "win" the gen (popularity wise).
See
N64 lost to PS1
Gamecube and XBox lost to PS2
PS3 and 360 lost to Wii.

I think the only gen where the most powerful console won was the SNES.

I keep thinking the Wii U will fail. I've seen no games that I'm remotely interested in (as a gamer).
Apart from the Zelda HD concept.
And the Monolith soft game...
BUT
If they release a new casual rubberbanding Mario Kart with all the blue shells etc then that might get a few sales. The gamepad can use the accelerometers to function as a steering wheel and perhaps the centre screen can act as a rear view mirror/map of the course.
And who knows what they have up their sleeve.

[first1NFANTRY]

It was never a question of how but when?

People should really have more faith in a corporation that has been relevant for two decades of innovative gaming.

The winner of this gen will be the longest supported platform.

[josephayal]

As crazy as it sounds the PS3 could end up at 130 million

[GribbleGrunger]

'Is PS3 about to win the console war?' Nope.

'Will PS3 'eventually' win the console war?' Yep.

The headline seems to imply that the result is very near but it's not. Unless the Wii is discontinued then it's going to take at least another 4 years to find our answer. You CANNOT apply the phrase 'about to win' here. Great article marred by a manipulative headline.

[Roper316]

This has been the story that has been told for ages, remember the story of the turtle & hare?

Slow & steady wins the race!

Also while Sony may delve into things like Move for the casuals and spend a year or so on that demographic they never forget who the bread & butter is over a long term period which is why they always shift their focus back to the core.

MS & Ninety should really take notes because they forgot who made their systems & games what they are & it wasn't the kiddies or seniors who they are both focusing on.

[Karpetburnz]

I have always said PS3 will end up at 115+ million life time sales. And its definatly on track. Since Xbox 360 is getting little support from Microsoft now, I wouldnt be so sure if it even reaches 100 million.

[GribbleGrunger]

Yeah, 115 - 120 million feels about right, but we can't discount the Wii numbers that also sell during that period. I'd say by the time this generation ends the PS3 will be about 10 million ahead of the Wii and about 15 - 20 million ahead of the 360. That's IF the 360 and the Wii are not discontinued of course.

You have to remember that the PS3 will sell for at least another 12 years. The PS2 is STILL selling in some territories, even though the press have reported it's been discontinued. China is a HUGE 'if' so it's pointless assessing that territories influence on sales at the moment.

[GribbleGrunger]

EDIT: Not '12 years', SIX years. Doah!

[MikeMyers]

I can pretty much guarantee they will not be still making PS3's in 6 years time. PS3 sales will fall rapidly after the end of 2014. mentioning the PS2 as some sort of guideline is really stretching your optimism.

http://www.gamingtarget.com...

"Five years and nine months from the time the PS2 launched in Japan was all it took for the system to surpass shipments of 100 million units. For comparisons sake, it took the PSone nine years and six months to become the first console to have 100 million shipped units."

By comparison the PS3 was released over 6 years ago and has sold roughly 75 million. The PS2 was also launched in Japan first and then 6 months later in the rest of the world.

Times have changed a lot too since the PS2 era. We have seen way less 3rd party exclusives which really helped the PS2 out and the PS2 dominated the market. The PS3 isn't. So why would 3rd party developers continue to support the PS3 and drop the Xbox 360? You seem to think they will discontinue the Xbox 360 and Wii but not the PS3. Developers will shift to the new consoles, as will Sony after 2014.

[DivineAssault]

Its very possible that PS3 wins.. It will still be supported until 2015 so we will see.. Wii might have won but only cuz of causals going crazy over it (my own mother bought one) so im pretty sure PS3 will surpass 360 if it hasnt already & as for the wii, it beat it by far already imo

[Hydralysk]

Edit: Nvm, that'll teach me to skim titles.

[solidworm]

Thats crazy shit right there. Hardly ever play ps3 anymore but ive gotta say they deserve every sale they get. TLOU will resurrect my interest for a while and obviously we are nearing the end of the ps3 as a benchmark system but after all the craap Sony have had to take this gen Ive gotta say THEY WERE RIGHT ALL ALONG lol.

[MegaLagann]

No, even if the PS3 ends up selling more than the Wii in the long run, the billions of dollars Sony lost this gen does not make them the "winner".

[DEATHSTROKE-cro-]

so, when Wii sells 100 million, Nintendo is the best company in the world, but when Sony sells 100 miliion PS3's, Sony is shit.

it doesn't matter PS3 came one year latter with 600$ price.

it doesn't matter Wii wasn't HD, didn't have blu-ray, online was shit, special/bad version of third party games....

Sony made most new IP's and great games this gen and that makes them the winner this gen for a lot of people. I wanted games and that's what I got with PS3.

[MegaLagann]

I never said Nintendo is the best company in the world because the Wii sold 100 million, I never said Sony or the PS3 were shit, so thanks for putting words in my mouth. And how many new IPs Sony made this gen wasn't the topic at hand. The topic was can the PS3 still win the console war, and yes it's plausible for the PS3 to eventually outsell the Wii, but my point was even if they do they still lost billions of dollars on the PS3 and put Sony in even more financial woes. And since the topic was sales, selling more may be another feather in Sony's cap, but it doesn't negate the fact that they were bleeding money for years, unlike Nintendo and even Microsoft who have made money this gen. If you want to talk about the winner based on how many games they made or what they're metascore was then yes Sony was the winner for a lot of people, but again that wasn't the topic and I see my point flew over some people's heads. I know the disagree button is going to get trampled again because everyone is in love with Sony right now and how dare I say one tiny little negative thing about them even though I defend the PS3 and especially the Vita all the time, but I guess that's the price to pay for voicing an opinion.

I also find it funny i'm accused of being a Sony hater when the PS3 was my favorite system this gen.

[awi5951]

Wii was a gamecube repackaged it made money from day one nintendo never sold their console for a loss.

[HappyWithOneBubble]

PS3 already won with its awesome exclusives.

[C0MPUT3R]

Lets see here SONY's fiscal year ends March 31, 2013, and lets say it stays at 77 million PS3s. (13 Million Fiscal Year.) Conservatively this is about what they should do in the next 4 years.
.
Yr 7: 10 Million (87 Million Total)
Yr 8: 08 Million (95 Million Total)
Yr 9: 06 Million (101 Million Total)
Yr10: 05 Million (106 Million Total).
.
And those are pretty conservative numbers being how the PS3 just sold over a million units this Feb. WW.
.
They still have great games coming out, and still haven't hit $199 yet either. AMAZING.
.
Its not that hard to see really it is going to get to 100 million fairly easily.
.
The real question is how many over 100 million will the PS3 sell? 5, 10, 15, or 20 Million?

[Arai]

PS3 came out on November 11th 2006, so 2016 would be 10 year cycle.
Unless they use the EU release date then we're looking at 2017.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wik...

Gotta give it to Sony though, as much as this generation has been "messy" for them in a lot of ways.
They've achieved a lot as well and everything they learned this generation will pave way for what will be the PS4.
Which is a good thing and any gamer, any real gamer will see that's the system to get.
They've always delivered enjoyable games, refreshing games and idea's while staying true to their audience.

[jalen247]

All indications point to PS3 eventually selling more than the Wii in a few years.

PS3 is just getting started sales wise...it hasn't hit the $199 price point unlike the 360 and the Wii.

[Felonycarclub8]

Ps3 will sell over 100 million in its 10 year lifecycle, once ps3 drops on price and continues to deliver great games just like the ps2 did in its time. Xbox360 had a year head start and look how close they are now in sales, plus it seems Microsoft is already dropping support for its Xbox 360 and concentrating on Xbox 720 which is not a bad thing I really hope they make good games and take advantage of their new hardware. I really hope they have free Internet with the next one cause that's what kept me from buying one.

[ElementX]

Do people still care?

[MysticStrummer]

Do people care about the beginning of a marathon but not the end?

[ElementX]

Depends, does a marathon last 6-7 years? I used to pay attention but I lost interest.

[Deku-Johnny]

The PS3 had the potential to outsell the Wii and then Sony announced the PS4, once that console is released at the end of this year PS3 sales will die down and there is no way they will shift over 20 million units in just under a year. Face it, whether you're a Sony fanboy, MS fanboy, Nintendo fanboy, PC fanboy or whatever else you want to call yourself Nintendo is the winner this gen.

[ufo8mycat]

Nintendo the winner?

From a company perspective sure.

Definitely not from a core gaming perspective. Nintendo was DEAD last.

Games is what matters and the PS3 clearly is ahead of the competition.

[Deku-Johnny]

In terms of winning a generation quality of games means nothing. Hardware sales is the only thing that matters and in that sense Nintendo came first. I know you wish Sony was the winner but you can't let your opinion get in the way of facts.

[Tito08]

@ Deku-Johnny: If you think quality of games means nothing, then there wouldn't be any meaning for 3rd party companies to support them, the Wii sold for the sake of selling, and the games that sell on it are for the most part the same old tiring first parties, few 3rd parties but for the most part are shovelware. I would say both PS3 & 360 won this generation because both already succeeded, combine it with the sales of great first party & 3rd party games... Both consoles have being heavily supported, 3rd parties found better sales on both. You might say that since Wii is pretty much a casual console, but that's just it. Look at Resident Evil for instance, as much as Nintendo keeps paying Capcom to make RE exclusive, Capcom knows their real market is on PS, same goes with Monster Hunter... Quality of games helped the first Xbox outsell GameCube, it helped PS2 to reach 150 million, and it helped PS1 beat N64..

Nintendo pretty much didn't win anything. And this next gen coming, I wouldn't be surprised if WiiU gets nothing more than just ports of PS3/360 by 3rd parties, they now want that hardcore gamer back, casuals are nothing more than a bunch of soccer moms who just bought it and leaves it all dusty all the way through December, so pretty much dust is pretty much what sells the most on Wii!

[Xer0_SiN]

you figure, it was destined to happen. sony said themselves, this is a marathon, not a sprint. the ps3 has NO signs of slowing down, thanks to its implemented 10+ year life cycle. the wii is dead. the 360 following close behind. the same thing will happen next gen too, but this time sony will sprint the whole marathon LOL. wii u? not even on sonys radar. nextbox? even if microsoft releases a system very competitive to the ps4, which i kind of doubt; sony would still be on top. why? because microsoft is going to use the bluray format. sony OWNS bluray technology. talk about royalties on every nextbox sold. sony is sitting in a VERY comfortable place right now.

[rammstein91]

ps3 has stronger hardware than x360 but games are developed on xbox due to easy dev-friendly stucture after that games are ported on ps3 with difficulties of cell cpu,that makes blurry graphics so everyone thinks xbox is better,that is completly wrong which is proven by the great exclusive titles like gow iii.ps3 has bluray,longlife hardware,better controller which includes gyroscope and rechargeable battery,psn and
the most important part is the exclusive games;gow,uncharted heavy rain,ico and shadow of the collosus,journey,gran turismo,mgs 4,motorstorm,Resistance,Ratche t & Clank,LittleBigPlanet Killzone,Infamous,Heavenly Sword,last of us,beyond two souls...

[ufo8mycat]

To be honest, there are multiplatform games that don't look as good on PS3 compared to 360, but the thing is, its still the SAME game. The gameplay is still the same.

Like you mentoned, all those PS3 exclusives also that Sony delivered.

Its pretty clear which system won the war.

[GABRIEL1030]

The winner of this generation is the PS3 owner. Exclusives IP's, great third partie support, nice PSN discounts, AMAZING Playstation Plus service,aditional app's like Neflix, incredible games like Killzone, Last of Us, GOW, GT5, MGS4, Uncharted, Deus Ex, nice online ( I made a lot of friends), the machine is at half of it's launch price ( U$ 249 USD with hard disk 500 GB, controllers with battery, Blue Ray, with game bunddle and courtesy of PLUS). I buyed the PS3 six months ago with PLUS, is the best purchase that I made in videogames.

[jessupj]

I concur.

As a PS3 owner, I feel like the real winner.

Sony have done an amazing job catering to me, the core gamer. And it looks like it will get even better with the PS4.

I have no hesitation continuing to support Sony next gen.

[SOULJER]

Ken was a baller. He commanded respect.

[N0S3LFESTEEM]

Obviously Super NES is the real winner here... If you were born post-1996 GTFO.

[SITH]

Sure, if it outsells the Xbox and wii for the length of time they have outsold it. Then it can have a cookie.

[Max-Zorin]

Congrats to the people that's actually swimming in those checks.

[triplev16]

If it's still for sale worldwide over the next several years the PS3 will continue to sell and help offset some of the costs associated with development of the PS4. I wonder if there will continue to be new releases for the console two years from now other than maybe multiplats? Interesting times ahead.

[tiffac008]

There is a possibility to catch or overtake 360 but I am not sure about the Wii since that is a 20+ million lead and the next console generation around the corner.

Oh well let the business people handle the sales data. Lets enjoy more gaming!

[just-joe]

In terms of units sold, in time perhaps. Profit wise, not so much. Sony all around is lost a lot of money year after year (even the gaming division).
http://www.joystiq.com/2012...
http://www.ign.com/articles...

I really hope they can bounce back from this.They had a lot good games this gen.

[5eriously]

All you have to do is lie to the typical American consumer and you are made. Milo anyone? Where is it, where are all the rest of the exclusives? Where are all the new IP's. All Microsoft are is about marketing. They even had the American consumer scrambling for their hardware during the RROD saga. Give it to them, Microsoft knows how to market and lie just like a typical insurance salesman.

[MadMen]

When the new systems launch lets say Nov 12th or whenever

Then what ever the numbers are prior to the launch of the next gen, declares the winner you cant call a shot while its still going(although they have 10 yr plans, that's not relevant)

We know the Wii won 1st. Well see about 2nd, also remember to gauge a cycle by its market share from the gen before vs now that says alot about who is starting to shrink.

So we shall see what the final tally is come holiday 2013

[xc7x]

Microsoft needs to stick what it does best,stay with PC's and drop from consoles,ya can't lose a second time and expect them to compete again.

[Dagobert]

It's all about that PSTriple, not that Gaylo or Tears of War shit.

[jay2]

i'll laugh. so many people wrote it off as last pkays. slow and steady wins the race

[jakmckratos]

Wii sales are pretty much dead. Another price drop and I can see people getting the PS3 just for a free, cheap Netflix connected device. It'll prob still sell 20 million units this year and another few million even after the PS4 release. It's not ridiculous to think it will sell 100 million units by the time it's done. Look at PS2..I think they finally stopped selling last year! They've already caught up/ overtaken Xbox 360 sales which after the disgusting amount of hype MS put into how the 360 will kill the ps3 they should kill themselves especially with a WHOLE year lead and consistently being the cheaper device! I don't care if they even surpass Wii sales...everyone knew the PS3/ 360 was the better console after the drought of decent Wii games following Brawl.

I'm so happy Playstation became the device that could.

[ps3_pwns]

This is a turtle race. the one who laughs last laughs the hardest. Longevity of a console matters. the return of the king ps3/ps4 come back king.

[Morgue]

Depending on what year you were born and system your parents bought you, everything seems next gen. My parents bought me an Atari so for me it went to the Intellivison. Comodore 64, Amiga. NES. Master System, Snes, Genesis and so on.

For me. The experiences got better and when the 3DO hit I was like whoa... The. PlayStation 1 and it was game on. I've played some good games on the Xbox and the 360 but for me it's SONY.

I don't own stock, care about sales. It's a out the experience.

[Drainage]

duhh it will. in 07 , many of us said PS3 was the future. Of course we were right . we arent delusional