Xbox 360 shipped nearly 14 million units over the last fiscal year for Microsoft as the business grew 45%. The console and the Kinect camera have clearly propelled Microsoft forward in 2011, but in the end, a number of analysts still see Sony's PS3 edging out Xbox 360 on a global scale (despite a year's head start for Microsoft in the console wars). IndustryGamers surveyed several leading games business analysts to get their respective takes on the evolving console battle and who will end up in second place behind Nintendo's Wii. Here's what they had to say.
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@below Well I am just making a point about the article. I don't care if PS3 ends up third place as it has already taken first place as far as games go and games that resonate with me. The problem is that some xbox users defend their system of choice with sales and that is wrong. what shoudld matter is if the system is providing you with games that you really want and Microsoft has been lacking in that department with its focus almost entirely on Kinect. SALES DON'T MATTER unless you are a shareholder or an extreme fanboy that needs something to boast that their system is somehow superior because of it.
@superlupe I still have my 80 gb fat ps3 with backwards compatibility and I see no need to replace it with a slim console that has less features. On the other hand you have an xbox slim that has finally added wifi and is a lot less likely to RROD. so I think it would make sense to replace the fat one with the slim version so please use some common sense before spouting bullshit.
For some, I suppose it is sales. I find it interesting, but that factor doesn't shape in to my purchase (unless it is really bad and affects third party support or experience).
My point was that games alone isn't necessary the only appeal for everyone clearly as the Xbox 360 is still selling like hotcakes. Early in PS3's history, it was sold largely because of being the cheapest and highest quality Blu-Ray player.
Also, if all MS is selling are replacement, then it doesn't explain the strong software sales. As mentioned in the article, many of these used systems end up as second or third hand purchases.
Finally, the article is actually an estimate by an analyst that concedes he has been wrong multiple times in the past. It's not the actual numbers.
there is obviously something of interest on all 3 platforms that continue to garner the $$$ from consumers.
Pick your side if you will but dont deny that consumers are not fans like we are. They buy what they want and enjoy it without the 2nd guessing of others telling them they bought the wrong thing.
I work with a few people that bought their respected platforms for their reasons. Not anyone elses. I dont downplay what they do because it isnt my place. I tell them about the stuff they probably havent heard of for their platform.
Gaming is just to damn fun overall to pick a side.
That is xbox fate...
The bottomline is that Micrsoft dominates North America and Sony dominates Japan. When it comes to Europe, Micrsoft has sold commendable numbers in Europe, but it hasn't penetrated all of the countries that Sony has since the ol' PS2 days.
No matter how you many analyst bring up RROD and all the supposedly dead systems being replaced, the Xbox Live active members is now 40 Million+. Kinect did 10 million in only two quarters.
In the case of software, Micrsoft's dominant install base is exactly where it needs to be. North America and Europe dominate software sales. This is why Microsoft can sell Halo 3 and get 11 million in sales..Halo Reach and get 8 million in sales..and Gears of War and get 6 million a pop. All on the strength of America and Europe.
It's the exact same for PS3. Call of duty dominates PS3 sales (as it does the 360), with almost no sales from Japan. But, where it hurts Sony IMO is the fact that the biggest non-Japanese Sony exclusive franchise like Uncharted, Killzone, Little Big Planet, etc. get little interest from the Japanese user base. The majority won't even sell 200,000 in Japan. Where the Euro/NA market push millions.
So in the end, all 3 consoles found different ways to achieve success. At this point in the game the 360 sales have no effect on the PS3 and vice versa. None of em' are going to stop the Wii from ultimately reaching 100 Million install.
For the record all my 360s from original first year to my Elite to my Slim all work just fine. My PS3 slim and my Wii have never had problems as well. (knock on wood)
Support whatever system you own..there are just too many great games to be mad about whose going to win this fake war at this point.
Evil
confirming .. 'all' ur 360s from the 'original first year' to ur elite. to ur slim all work fine?
how many original first year xbox360s do u hav? to ur elite. to ur slim?
and ur saying none of them broke down?
and ur saying none of them broke down?'
That's exactly what I'm saying..don't believe the hype that EVERY Xbox must die just because a fake poll and a bunch a fan kids said so.
I bought my original first year Xbox and have since bought two white ones as gifts. I bought my black Elite as an upgrade and absolutely loved it. But, bought a Slim not too after it dropped and never looked back.
When PS3 unvieled the Slim I simply couldn't resist. Absolutely love it. I never liked the fat models, but only was going to buy one to be BC with Shadow of the Collosus. Fast forward and SOTC is coming in HD! (Life is good).
I own every console..just like every gen. But hands down this was the best console gen ever.
Evil
"That's exactly what I'm saying..don't believe the hype that EVERY Xbox must die just because a fake poll and a bunch a fan kids said so. "
Are you kidding me? RROD was a freaking epidemic. Former Xbox 360 designers came out and even said so.
Polls were done by reputable magazines and what not all said that failure rate was as high as 50 percent. Hell even the law makers in UK forced MS to extend their warranty to cover RROD.
thats how bad it was. LoL. only fankids like you are trying to defend 360 with bs.
It'll probably stay in the lead through the beginning of 2012. The reason I'm predicting that is because there is both a Halo and Gears game coming out in fall. While Halo Anniversary is a remake and won't do the numbers of a "real" Halo, it will do well.
The fact that Xbox Live will be built into future versions of Windows is a brilliant move on MS's part. I'm wondering why they didn't do that sooner.
Oh yeah...before you PS3 fanboys accuse me of being a 360 fanboy, let me just say that I've been playing my PS3 almost exclusively since I bought it a few months ago. Which reminds me...gotta get back to God of War!
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Last time I checked, the Wii was a gaming console. Whether u like it or not, it is still #1.
@KSENSE: 1. Bullsh!t.
2. I havent seen a fat ps3 in freaking years like a lot of other people unless its on a used console shelf... I guess a lot of PS3 sales are fat PS3 owners buying the slim...right ?
Whats your spin on that ?
What matters the most are games either way. This must be your way of spewing damage control.
Have at you.
but .. i also went through 3 broken xbox 360s at the same time frame.
rrod. disk tray broken. the console not reading games.
were the problems i had.
Don't worry though, if MS want to post big numbers they can just give away more 360's with PC's... and cars... and toilets....
@KSENSE: 1. Bullsh!t.
2. I havent seen a fat ps3 in freaking years like a lot of other people unless its on a used console shelf... I guess a lot of PS3 sales are fat PS3 owners buying the slim...right ?
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WAKE UP CALL there are gamers still use phats. If you pay close attention to specially videos that show devs working on playstation alot of them in background what so you see running. PHATS, why because they look better more vents , apart from added extras. If they could put reduced chip's in the phat we bring them bavk out id buy one. I have gon threw 3 PHATS
YLOD replaced with sony that second hand had fault sent back got another after a year i sold that on to get a slim. I MISS MY OLD PS3.
-We are watching
by the way, lol@the fanboys always jumping on selling articles, the only thing they can play (forgetting that selling with powerfull marketing, it's just sad for them....exclusives, functionalities, free online, 3D, best hardware and motion controler, etc are way better for real gamers)
Last I check MS is still second and where is your data for this year to back up what your trying to say or you just talking out your a**?
Your fantasy land more like it...
blu-ray - more storage less speed... - subjective
cell - single core cpu with limited cache - outdated
256 mb ram - outdated
7800gtx w/256 Vram - outdated
wireless-g - outdated
2 usb 2.0 ports - outdated
still listing games for 480i on back of game - outdated
Really trying to grasp your idea on best hardware because it is really difficult to do
Just because a game company says it's the shiz, doesn't mean it is fact. That goes for all companies, looking at you MS when you stated that there would be no reason for IE to go above 6, lol.
1) had a high failure rate, in which people bought multiple consoles
2) release a year ahead
3) Had more sales because of the dropped support of xbox (unlike sony who still supports ps2)
I mean I dont care about the sales..sales are sales, so what? I just care about the content and quality and thats what matters mostly. Knowing that the ps2 is still supported, I can rest assure Sony will continue to cater to the ps3 for a long time too, and Im glad :)
Agree or Disagree if you Agree
Crap figures for a crap article.
And in answer to your point that the 360 has a much larger installed base... much larger? How do you define "much"? ~4 million is a large number but in terms of units sold/shipped/whatever, in business is next to nothing, especially when you compare that the gap was ~8-10 million units when the PS3 launched.
So on that factual basis, the PS3 has been selling faster and better each year than the 360 has and software sales (multiplatform) are no longer much higher on the 360 like they were a few years ago.
You deal in facts, so explain to me how none of that is relevant?
Anyway, I know you probably get sick of seeing these articles, but it's the fault of the media who spread this bull when it suits their agendas. In fact so much of the hate has been spread by media sources and flamebaiting authors.
"why do you pretend that 360 fans don't do the same things that PS3 guys do".
Can you show me where he said anything like that anywhere in his comment? I didn’t see where he said anything close to, “Xbots don’t do this”.
I always see you getting so defensive when people call out the Sony fanboys, but I think you imagine a lot of it. He just made a comment about this article, and you swoop in like Captain SDF, and start putting words in his mouth. To be honest it’s unnecessary.
I also want to point out that Sony catching up with MS at the tail end of this generation is not anything to brag about... Unless you’re a Xbox fanboy. Sony has been dethroned after 2 gens of complete domination, anyone that argues that is lying to themselves. If anyone is the king now it’s Nintendo. I guarantee that if anyone was told that the big 3 would be in this position before this gen started, they would have been laughed out of the room.
You are right about this site though, it is over run by the Sony side. This is the site we’re on so there is no reason to bring up other sites. I hate it when people do that.
Guy A : “This is N4PS3G.”
Guy B: “You should have been here 5 years ago, it was a 360 troll heaven”
Guy A: “Why do you PS3 people act like this?”
Guy B: “ Because Ya’ll started it”.
I hate when people blame their actions on someone else.
So because some fanboy douche bag acted like a douche 5 years ago you are going to act that way now? You hated this guy when he did it, yet it doesn’t bother you to act that way.
F%^ing hypocrites.
Oh, and by the way, to me 4 million is a hell of a lot when you consider the giant Sony was. They went from undisputed heavyweight champ, to equal in one gen. No matter which way you flip it, that’s is a huge win for MS, and I don’t mean that like Sony is doing bad. They are both kicking ass, and that can only be good for us as gamers. I bet we would all have hated it if MS would have failed and Sony would have keep the same attitude they had at the start of this gen.
still hasnt happened
@below: sorry dude that sucked. The world = The world NOT EU + Japan only. And USA + EU + Japan (+ any other country) = World = 260 STILL ahed of PS3.
Spin it all you want it wont change anything, I promise :)
Im not a fanboy I just tell it as it is.
That goes for anyone else making excuses for Microsoft. They had a lead start and yet they can't overtake the Wii *or* beat the PS3 once and for all.
Hilarious.
EDIT?: Just keep spinning, just keep spinning...spin, spin, spin. :)
Are you seriously deluding yourself into believe the PS3 can't overtake the 360? The 360 had a headstart and YET the PS3 sold over 50 million consoles? They can't even overtake the Wii!
Wow. Spin some more.
Almost 6 years in and the PS3 is uncapable of overtaking the 360 though Sony sold 220 million consoles in the past as undisputed champion compared to MS's 25 million xbox's and MS is the one who has to make excuses ?
What delusional world do you live in ?
Anyway, I know I just wasted my last bubble responding to such a dump post but hey no biggie lol.
XBOX/XBOX LIVE FTW!!!
Wow, who is being delusional and spinning? because i think you're spinning out of control. I don't care about sales but i do find it funny that the sony brigade year in and year out always praise and chant that the ps3 is catching up to the 360.
It has been 6 years and we still get these articles. And by your logic the ps3 hasn't beat the Wii also, with all its blu-ray, the cell, and excluuuusives. So i wouldnt even go there.
.
Did the PS1 & PS2 sell 100+ million in a day? A year? NO!!!!
PS3 is on track to do the same (or similar) numbers and it hasn't even dropped to $199. Starhawk isn't even out, Uncharted 3 isn't. Resistance 3 isn't. And Versus XIII isn't (will be huge in Japan).
So you think that a console that has already sold 50+ million in 5 years won't have sold close to 100 million in another 5 years? Given Sony's track record?
No-one is saying that the 360 hasn't sold HUGE numbers. They are saying that when all is considered, Sony are not that far behind, and looking at how they chopped the lead down by over 5 million since launch, by the time another 5 years has passed, is it so hard to believe that they will no longer hold that lead?
Some will say that by that time is would be too late, but then what the heck is point in counting numbers in the first place if any sort of lead doesn't count?
Just think about what you're saying.
Almost 6 years? Really? I could have sworn the PS3 was released in November of 2006. That would make it less than 5 years in, certainly not "almost 6 years".
Passing of 360 for the past couple years is right. For get the units the EXCLUSIVES
Some ppl need to engaged there brain think what they buy there systems for.
Plus not everybody needs to rebuy a new system every year. Maybe just maybe reason why sony hasn been in leed isnt cos not selling but there consoles havent played up half as much. So why need to pay for one unless for another reason.
See way i see it ms finally got off there as@ and actually acknowledged there was a fault. But took them 2 years to do something solid about it. That was the elite.
Then when ps3 launched ppl didnt get breakdowns till at least about 2 year into it for some that is. That was from everyday use. Unlike my old white 360's 6 consoles but cos no ps3 we bought another console 360.
At least when the phats did get ylod. They didnt blame consumer or try defend it. They went back did a redesign.
I look at what the service provides me and make my own choice, I don't get convinced by commercials and friends telling me what to get, I make my own decisions and think for myself.....
Sony console has more going in the media department. Not to mention, all the 3d/VR stuff that Sony has aggressively been putting on the market has made the PS3 even more attractive.
1.) Fantastic online gaming for those that like to compete as well as an online community.
2.) Motion control gaming for the casual gamers that also allows for great party games.
3.) Netflix, Hulu, Facebook and more for those that use their consoles as a media hub.
im glad people are beginning to see that the wii is just a novelty.. it would've started a bad trend for next gen had the wii continue to succeed.
Um yes. Many people I know bought atleast 2 x360s. One to game on and one as a replacement incase it RRODs. It's really much more convenient to just swap the HDD and keep gaming than to wait several weeks to get your x360 back from MS.
I know it's crazy but it has happened a lot I would presume.
And what is this active userbase bs? I mean a lot of market research is done to get the "sold to consumer" stuff right and we are still debating about it.
There is no, ABSOLUTELY NO, way to count , estimate or whatever an active userbase. The problems start with the definition of active.
the rumbling of footsteps of kinect fans are coming... hold on tight!
Japan: (roughly sold)
360 - 1.5 mil.
PS3 - 6.7 mil.
Europe and other countries will always be battlegrounds, but the PS3 has already won these territories this gen.
The PS3 has lost the states this generation.
Yes, the 360 had a 1 year head start, but we're 5 & 6 years into this generation with the 360 still about 3 mil. ahead of the PS3.
It's been a lot more competitive this time around with all 3 doing very well.
Next gen, I'd like to see cocky Apple enter the console scene just to see them get crushed by Sony and Microsoft.
So many of you crack me up with the vitriolic attitudes you display toward a piece of electronics, and the people who are its users. I am a gamer who chose the 360, for my own reasons, and that does not make me hate people that are affiliated with, or love Sony. Hate is ignorance, and I endeavor not to be ignorant. Being an American, I think competition is the impetus that drives, and moves, our shared hobby forward. The gaming world would be a sad place without Sony, but the same could be said for Microsoft and Nintendo. There are 6+ billion people on this earth, and that means there is plenty of room for growth in the gaming industry, as well as room for all three of the console giants.
I wish there were more people with this kind of perspective on things!
use your head sending a system to MS for most of the kids in this generation is way to long to wait so some bought a new one while they waited. Some alot used bestbuy warranties to return 3 of them(Which is awesome because i got to keep all 3 20gb HDDS)
QWERTZY can you sound anymore emotionally attached to your console? i mean the emotion for 360 on your behalf is outright overpowering.
Second, when you talk about winning or place I think that we havent evolved in our thinking yet. Up until the ps2 a game systems only value and way to make money was games, so how many systems you sold represented how many people would buy your games meaning the more you sold the more money you made. But now especially this generation our consoles are multimedia boxes that make money in way more ways than just selling software at a store.
I propose when you think winner we think of which company makes the most money off of their product. Tey never release those numbers but i think as far as consoles go Nintendo probably would be in last place, they sold the most of a cheaper product, and sold less software than either Sony or MS and have no revenue for movie download and downloadable games or dlc. This is why they had to jump out of this generation and release anew system already.
If you remove NA then the PS3 is killing the 360.
The point is each console needs support from every country in order to be successful.
Why do you think M$ spent so much money in Japan. They knew that without Japan there was no way that they could maintain their lead over the PS3.
You cant remove NA because its the biggest and most valuable market. And actually MS is proving right now that they dont need Japan. If the 360s numbers from Japan were taken out of the equation everything would sretty much still be the same.
First we are talking worldwide and remember US doesnt buy PS3s. If you remove US the PS3 is killing the 360. But US is part of the world so I guess you do have to count them. But US is totally out of whack with what gaming is and have shown a blatant bias against the PS3 so even though we have to count their numbers this leave the results skewed.
i'm sorry but i just had to do it...
anyways
You do know that Nintendo makes $$ per console sold since release. also Look how many Mario Kart sold. 20+ million, which is the 4th highest selling game on the Wii, 3rd if you dont count wii sports.
What you would like to potray is that I think the 360 should be outselling the Ps3 in every market....NO. I what I am saying is that since the 360 launched they have only moved around 1.5 million units in Japan.....adjusting for tastes and branding the 360 based on what it delivers should have sold more than they have if the market was a uncorrupted market.
Look at the UK the Ps3 is beating the 360 in sales but the 360 atleast has sales. The system is not a piece of junk sure you can have your bias and opinion but the 360 in it truest form delivers a one of the best entertainment experiences you can find. In fact if you look at it the Ps3 has actually statrted implementing features the 360 had, PSN store and throphies to name a few.
As far as nintendo goes it was speculation...but still look at the Halos and CODs and Gears, and Fables and other 3rd party games that sell 1-2 mil. Nintendo doesnt have that. Not to mention revenue from digital media and xboxlive membership fees. If nintendo was doing so well with the Wii why not ride it out until they really stop selling Wiis because the Wii is still selling. This tells me that despite all their consoles being sold they are still leaving lots of money on the table.
Maybe the Japanese are smart, they didnt/dont want to deal with RROD or pay for online? Espcially after the TALES game that went onto PS3 a year later, I doubt they have any trust in MS... And PS3 sold ~ 6million there. ~1.5 vs ~6 million is not that much...
compared to ~20million(ps3) to ~32 million(360) in the US
thats 12 million difference compared to only 4.5million difference
Each Nintedo game is sold at at 50$ [x 20+ mill for mario kart, thats over $1 billion for 1 game]
Mario Galaxy sold 8+ million. MG is the NINTH highest selling Nintendo game. so between the 3rd/4th highest selling game (Mario Kart) to 9th highest selling game (MG) the sales between ~8million to ~27 million
Even with that said the 360 does enough things right to have gained more sale than 1.5 mil. That number is like the system launched 3 months ago....its been out for 5 going on 6 years.The 360 is atleast good for half a million a year no matter what region or preferences. They should have sold atleast 4mil 3mil would be respectable. Its like watching a sports game and you see the referee cheating for one team with bad calls. In the first quater your looking at the players like come on get it together but by the half your like this game is BS. That whats happening in Japan...their market is BS.
ATM Japan is more into handhelds than consoles. Becasuse more (J)RPGs and other Japanese games are going/went into the handheld market instead of consoles.
And you cant say Japanese are against american products, look how popular Iphone is over there...
Sony spends it's money on getting more developers which benefits both them and their customers in the long run (they just picked up two more recently in the past month or two) while MS spends their money on timed exclusives and mass marketing which provides MS with sales boosts.
This is why MS has been out in front for so long, and people are proud of that?
they couldnt be more successful if they tried. Also, they charge an insane amount for multiplayer, and have few first party studios. They are getting money by the truckload.
Just saying...