IDC: Game consoles, discs to remain revenue mainstays for "years to come"

New report from IDC notes that PS3 surpassed Xbox 360 in global shipments (77 million vs 76 million) in December, and also states that Wii U should exceed 50 million sold by 2016

[stonecold3]

well there goes vgcharts thrown out of the window undertacking as usual ?

[TheGamerDood]

My favorite part is when they said that the PS3 out sold the Xbox. Sony is a beast boy!

[3GenGames]

Nintendo smashed both PS3 and 360 in console sales, plus they never sold at a loss. So really, Sony is just the first loser now.

[hawkeyejonjon]

@3GenGames 3DS was selling at a loss and wii u is selling at a loss so you are wrong.

[nix]

i'm here because "PS3 sales surpass Xbox 360" story got 'failed'.

Congrats Sony!

change the damn title and let's start the faboyz warz again!!!! q:

[Ravenor]

@Hawkeyejon

I think he means the Wii.

[hawkeyejonjon]

@Ravenor really? he should have said wii than because they practically means the company in general. Well when wii first came out it was selling at a loss

Edit: Wii/ Wii U/ 3DS/ DS started selling it at loss. Look it up. Am i saying its bad? no but if you state they never sold it at a loss, you are just lying to yourself.

[ceballos77mx]

Its funny how the wii matters now that Sony passed Ms, my head's spinning with the hypocrisy.

[AsimLeonheart]

Finally! The inevitable has happened and before the end of the generation unlike predicted by many XBOX fans. Congrats to Sony and PS3 fans and long live Playstation. Looking forward to PS4 now.

[TheGamerDood]

It's not just RROD that sold MS some hardware but all the bans that forced users to buy new, I'm sure they sold a ton of units for MS.

an oldie but goodie. xD
http://www.youtube.com/watc...

[miyamoto]

Well...

since N4G decided to make the first approved article about PS3 out selling the 360 to failure status I will comment on the subject again

it was only a matter of time
congrats Sony PlayStation and Nintendo

congrats Japan for keeping your ground against the Western Pressure Banzai!

PlayStaytion brand is here to stay

The diversity of games on PS3 proved to be the balance that it needed to soar up high.

Thank you PlayStation

for nurturing the video games industry by planting new seeds of new IPs, game ideas and not glorify the past when the future dries up

Thank you for taking and giving back to gamers new seeds to harvest in the future

and not just sucking and milking it dry like that other company
who only want to take & take but not give or contribute back,
who only wants to make money on what exists and is popular at the time.
who has no vision of the future as long as they can make money now and steal exclusives.
who's only way of winning is to see PlayStation lose also - what a giant enemy crab mentality.

but I am waiting for damage control

I will not be surprised if M$ will add 2 million to jack up the numbers as damage control yet again.
Like a regenerating video game boss.

That has always been their practice.

Oh, and thank you PlayStation 3 for showing Microsoft, the worlds biggest software company the world, and Nintendo, the oldest video gaming company in the world...

... that decent and effective Anti-Piracy methods can actually be done and the fight against video game piracy can be won

... therefore giving software makers hope for actually profiting from their investment and have good ROI.

One of the reasons many PC developers, like Epic Games and Crytek, jumped to PS3 is because of its tight anti-piracy.

Thank you for safe guarding the interests of all people who make great video games on PS3.

Hoping this continues to the next PlayStation Entertainment System.

Arigato gozaimasu, PS3

PS: PS4 launching on a high happy victory note is very crucial and very important for Sony. because it boosts everything up:confidence, morale, investors investment, gamers' support and positive anticipation.

[Perjoss]

I think Microsoft has done extremely well staying ahead on sales this long considering how big Sony was in the games industry and also considering that they only released their first console in 2001 compared to Sony releasing the PSX seven years before that in 1994.

Well done MS, and well done Sony

[tommygunzII]

Good for Sony, they deserve it.

[konnerbllb]

Microsoft's 360 has been the best selling console for almost 24 months now. It should be mentioned that during this period it has also been #2 in overall sales, behind the will and ahead of the ps3. I don't understand how sony could suddenly outsell MS. It doesn't make sense.

[Ezz2013]

"Microsoft's 360 has been the best selling console for almost 24 months now."

that's the USA numbers
while the article numbers are from Worldwide

[Grimhammer00]

In my 360 days I gamed with many who reported RROD ....after the 3yr warranty or they bought used consoles that RROD.

I also have local friends who bought 360 after the 3yr warranty issues....they too went RROD.

3....4....even 5 consoles later. So you better believe Xbox sales are influenced in part by rebuys.

No 1 reason was gamerscore related nonsense or Xbox live titles.

If your invested in the ecosystem your hooked.

[LightofDarkness]

Used sales don't count for shipped numbers, and they are generally not counted in sold-through numbers either (as those are tied uniquely to serial numbers in many cases).

[DarkBlood]

the day they stop doing physical is the day im GETTING TO THE CHOPPA GOOOOOOOOOO

[DivineAssault]

PS3 may have its flaws but theyre forgivable due to the fantastic ps plus offers & exclusives & blu ray.. i have a vita & have a pretty good idea which direction theyre going with their ecosystem.. especially since the new store update.. Im sticking with sony nx gen all the way

[cyclindk]

Only because they are being kept that way artificially. Steam is the prime example, but there are others, which blatantly show how, not only games don't need to be so expensive, but how they can be made available in a more convenient and more affordable package for the consumer.

It's win-win. The company keeps the customer locked in with their download service and there's no need to manufacture discs, shipping, all that, just servers.

But charging full price or worse for old games, or even new releases... pitiful.

[Persistantthug]

Also,
When are "old games" $60?

I mean, the last 3 games, all PS3 btw, I bought were BORDERLANDS 2 ($25), BAYONETTA ($10), and MORTAL KOMBAT COMPLETE edition ($20) for my little nephew's Christmas present.

So I really don't know what you mean, bro.

[cyclindk]

Well I don't keep track of the specific examples, but a title, previously released on disc, which later might appear on, say, PSN are generally priced HIGHER than their disc counterparts.

Additionally, "AAA retail launch games are typically $50 - $60 on Steam....same as console versions,"

--games purchased digitally have almost no reason to NOT be cheaper considering there is no manufacture, transport, or storage cost on the part of the publisher so it would make sense if those savings were passed on to the consumer in my opinion.

Amazon, at least, has taken advantage of this fact and offers "credit" toward future Amazon purchases. One day, despite their amazing discounts, I hope Steam to follow suit in this regard.

[cyclindk]

I think it was Mass Effect (PSN) or some game that released digitally a bit after the disc release and whereas the disc version could be found (new) for less, the digital version remained locked at, it was either 60 or 40, I can't remember.

Sony, I don't have the link, even stated more or less it was due to the "convenience" of download that the cost wasn't lower!! Ha!

[Persistantthug]

Mass Effect 1 did come to the PS3 approx 2 months ago and it's $14.99 in the PSN store.

Also, I know that digital games SHOULD be cheaper, But if you follow STEAM, then you'll notice that almost all AAA titles on STEAM come in at $50 - $60

-FAR CRY 3 is $50 on STEAM....same as XBOX 360 & PS3 on Amazon

-DISHONORED is $60 on Steam....360/PS3 is $40 Amazon.

-Assassin's Creed 3 is $50 on Steam....Same as PS3/360.

-Hitman Absolution is $50 on Steam...I can get that price for the console versions too.

[rhproject]

For some reason I can't post more, bubbles or something:

Owned PS3 since launch...

I just tried to verify now, but realized prices aren't posted on the online PSN (via computer), tv been broke for three months so no PS3 PSN access.

Um, Steam offers amazing sales and discounts frequently and Amazon offers credit and incentives, effectively reducing the price.

I was thinking mostly of Mass Effect 3, but like I said I am unable to check now. I believe Resident Evil 5, not PSN Plus version free game, but to the average PSNer was more expensive despite appearing much later yes?

There are countless examples I am now unable to check as you seem to be doing?

You want to prove you are objective? Then go find an example that SUPPORTS what I've said instead of only ones that support your claim because of your personal bias or chance I guess.

I have no personal interest one way or another apart from attempting to express what I have experienced with PSN and other download services and disc prices...

It's obvious from your comment that you're____ fill in the blank... (come on now).

[rhproject]

And here I can argue in YOUR favor as well, though this should be about facts not who's correct.

Steam is for PC and right off the bat, the vast majority of PC games reduce in price more quickly than their console counterparts and especially this generation. So that's one explanation.

Many prices DO indeed start out the same, but if you play on PC at all you'd see the clear difference in the download price market, between discs and downloads (not even considering PSN).

[bozebo]

Why will discs remain important?
I can see most people just buying digitally before the next generation in over, that is if they pass the savings along to the consumer.

[phantomexe]

I don't have alot of money but if buying digital was 10 to 15 dollars cheaper then going to gamestop and geting the hard copy.....i'd still go get the hard copy. Something nice about having disc in hand. i do however purchase alot of smaller games off of psn,xbox live and eshop. Take into account how many people would lose there job to if it went all digital. There more then likely china workers in a sweat shop some place.

[Dark_Overlord]

Some of us like the whole packaging thing :)

If the choice is between digital or boxed, I always pick boxed (regardless of price), I love having the boxes on display at home and yes I'm one of those who reads the manual too :D

[KrisButtar]

I never buy games digital, 1st I have dial up for Internet speed, 2nd when I buy retail games when I'm done with them I can sell them, if I choose. 3rd my friends can borrow a retail copy but not a digital one and vice versa

[bozebo]

Digital versions should be $15-20 cheaper. And when sales dry up they can sell more for as little as they want (>$10 for AAA titles), they can't make a loss at that point.

[phantomexe]

Guys no body wins or losses. Good sales is great for gameing. More money for the big 3 = more games for us.

[gustave154]

PS3 is gonna outsell the Wii at this rate... it isn't even $199 yet.

[wishingW3L]

Wii sales tanked at 97m and PS3 is at 77m. With all the Triple A exclusives the console is getting this year and a $50 price-drop I can totally see the PS3 reaching or even surpassing the Wii's numbers.

[AJ Hartley]

Not to mention the holy grail Gta , thats got to sell some system i will probably have to buy a new ps3 after im done with that game .

[DEATHxTHExKIDx]

Dosent matter as long as I have both Ps3 and 360 I win.

[vikingland1]

@DEATHxTHExKIDx
I completely agree with your post. Well said bub for you.

[Sucitta]

I have all 3 of the big boys and both of the handhelds. It's fun spending my hard earned caps on games instead of on beer, bars and tits, as do all the fanboys.

fanboy = poor money management and or child still dependent on mommys breast milk = )

[ABizzel1]

@Death

Just watched you anime it was pretty good. But you know 360 isn't as symmetrical as the PS3.....

*runs and hides*

[vikingland1]

Thats sad I get disagrees for enjoying both PS3 and 360. Thats just sad.

[Conzul]

It would be sad if you got bubbled down.

It is perfectly reasonable for people to disagree with what you enjoy when they don't enjoy it themselves.

That's what a "disagree" means.

[memots]

Vikingland

I get called Fanboy because i use my ps3 more than my xbox 360. What does this have to do with anything?

I prefer pc, Then my ps3 then my 360.
If 360 had free online i am pretty sure i would be using it a hell of a lot more.

[sway_z]

Sales no.s are just bragging rights....that being said

Wooooo Hoooooo!!!

Go Sony!!! - Never had a doubt..now give us PS4 by Christmas 2013 and market the hell out of that bad boy!!!

[AngelicIceDiamond]

Can we please get one thing straight? Sony surpassed MS in shipped consoles World Wide SHIPPED. I agree that is impressive because it came out a year later but N4G sees "77million PS3 consoles____ <<<(replaced the word Shipped with sold here)

Sony or MS didn't sale 7 and 6 in a month and N4G knows that. But ok, keep playing dumb N4G.

Sorry but I'm blunt, and I'll point out ridiculousness.

[poindat]

Why does it matter? Shipped is sold as far as Sony and Microsoft are concerned. They don't make any money off retailers selling to consumers, they make their money from selling ("shipping") to retailers.

Attempting to track units actually sold to consumers, if that's even possible, would be almost useless. It's good for determining how well a console is performing, but you can make a pretty accurate estimate from the shipped numbers anyway. If a high number of consoles are shipping, they are most definitely selling through to consumers rather than stagnating on store shelves.

[Hicken]

You realize how pointless saying this is, right? Since the only reliable numbers are shipped, that's what everybody goes by.

Well, I say that, but it's evident that some people still don't get it.

Pointless to be blunt when your point is... pointless.

[GraveLord]

Congratz Sony and PS3. Well deserved.

[memots]

I remember when ,

Quality was more important , then it got change to quantity , Then it was change to sales , then it was change to install base.

Well guess what .. All those are now in favor or Sony and their ps3. So what is the next spinning on this ?

I still prefer my PC but good job Sony, being knocked down all these years and still manage to outsell the rest of them.

[Clarence]

Remember when Arron Greenberg said this.

"What I can tell you is we remain confident that Xbox 360 will not only outsell PS3 for the full calendar year, but for this entire generation. It is similar to a game of baseball, it is not about just winning one inning, but instead being able to win the game by consistently delivering across all nine innings."

So much for delivering across all nine innings.

[Gaming Boner]

How is this not top of the page?

Vgchartz article about north America and xbox selling 80k more unit than the ps3 makes top of the page but this barely gets any heat ??

This confirms Sony Won vs ms this gen.