Less than one PS3 game per console sold at launch

Enterbrain, publisher of Famitsu, has revealed the the tie-in ratio of software to PlayStation 3 sales is 0.98 – less than one game per console.

The figure suggests that a portion of the 88,400 units sold were bought with the intention of selling on as part of the 'grey market', the unofficial channel for second hand machines via internet auctions and retail stores, which label the stock as 'used'.

[frostbite06]

Hell yah, no where else better to jack up the price then ebay

[Grown Folks Talk]

they're not going to buy games to sell with the console because they can't jack those prices up like they do the system. the attach rate will continue to be low until the internet scalpers release their shipments.

[DG]

people just like their $600 blue ray player.

[THWIP]

1.) The 360 was ALSO sold in large #s on eBay....but that didn't stop it from having a 3-1 attach rate.

2.) If the PS3 can't sell games, more and more devs will be defecting to the 360 and Wii; Sony has ALREADY lost a ton of dev support and exclusives, compared to last gen. It will get worse, before it gets better.

[Capt CHAOS]

What do they expect if they sell a gaming console that's also a media center, a web browser and a Blueray player? They should have stuck to a console and if they didn't want to shove blueray down people's throat, they should have had a version which was just DVD..

[PS360WII]

Specially 2.1 they may have just made the next psp... to many things in it they may have forgotten about marketing it for games also. Thwip glad you mentioned Wii might get some of the devs too ^^

[jedicurt]

No, they should not of had a dvd version. Blu-ray will be used for games aswell as movies. which means if they released a dvd only version, then you would not be able to play every game on it. then everyone would be complaining that there is no point in the dvd version because you can't play all the games

come on, sony is damned if they do, and damned if they don't

i will agree with the whole media center, and the PC concepts they have thrown at us, and i will agree that there really wasn't a need for a web browser. but blu-ray is the media they selected and i will wait and see if i like it before i criticize it.

you are right, sony should have focused more on promoting the game console applications of the unit. they should have been more open about the development over the last few years. but don't try and tell me that they would have been better off creating a unit that would cut off half of the games made for the console. that is just a ridiculous idea

[TOM]

I'm sure this has something to do with the ratio,but I would say that the lack of good games(read,all hte games suck). Xbox was sold in the same manner but the ratio was and is much much higher.Even at the time of release.

[BIadestarX]

If this was true, than people would wait to buy the PS3 until there are good games. How many people do you know that [want] would buy a game console and not buy a game on launch day?

[TOM]

I would say that at over $600 just to get it out the door ,its a possbility they just cant afford an aditional 60 or 120 for 1 or two games. But if the ratio goes up quite a bit then its clearly the ebay issue.If it was the sales will go up today,wouldnt you agree?

[Ugly American]

Bladestar, I got in line and bought the PS3 without too much thought of what games I would play. I just wanted to be able to say that I had one. I just picked up Resistance: Fall of Man for the pure reason that it is something I don't have on the 360.

[BIadestarX]

@Ugly American, you must have money then.
Not everyone goes and buy a console unless they are planning to play games with it. Thats like buying a car just to say you have one. Then again I've done things like that before, just not with $600.00.

[Ugly American]

I am a technology whore. I can't help it. Maybe I need to go to Amsterdam to break this addiction... maybe get hooked on prostitutes instead.

[Boink]

that just shows that games were not able to get ahold of the consold they wanted, which is just sad.

[God of Gaming]

Makes sense.. the console is 600 bucks... not everyone is made of money. Who will make out big on this is Gamefly and GameznFlix.

[potato]

bad sign for sony...

[Sphinx]

...when I bought my 360... and she's a penny pincher, but I still managed to get two games with my console... less than one on average is terrible.

[BoneMagnus]

The Japanese love them some gadgets, so it could be the bragging rights/prestige thing to just own a PS3.

Other than that, it makes little sense. $660 minimum to only play Ridge Racer? Unless there are other big titles coming out in the near future - BEFORE system inventories are to be replenished, then it makes little sense to lay out that kind of cash for the system.

[Grown Folks Talk]

when the 360 came out. people were buying games, ect before the system ever came out. i've yet to see a ps3 controller, game, or anything else in a store and the system comes out in 3 days.

[THWIP]

MS made the controllers, mem cards, games, etc available several weeks before launch, and people were buying them up quickly. The attach rate for the 360 is now well over 5 games (not including XBLA), which is pretty good for a year old, new-gen console. That number will likely double, through next Spring. The PS3 will have an even bigger software drought than the 360, and far less quality exclusives to look forward to.

[frostbite06]

That number will not double. I dont know much about attach rates, but has there even been an attach rate of 10 games per console, not that a lot of people including myself wont get more than 10 but in general.

[THWIP]

The PS2 reached an attach rate of over 12.4/1 by 2003
http://ps2.gamezone.com/new...

I think it's between 15-20 now.

[joemutt]

Then I bought COD2 two hours before launch while waiting in line. Even though I didnt know if I would get one or not.

[Tut]

"Figures for Genji and SEGA Golf Club, the two other launch titles, were not provided." - Enterbrain

Sooo... why compile a figure if you are NOT including ALL of the launch games?

Reporting like this is ridiculous, how can people even think that is credible? Even if those games sold like crap it would still boost the average to just over one game per console.

Jeese people. Read the ENTIRE story and not just some tiny blurb from another journalist reporting about a journalist's story who reported about another journalist's story.

[Cuthroat]

According to the statistical curve these games not included in the analysis were more than likely statistically irrelevent. It would be stupid to include every single thing sold and impossible.

[Tut]

Yes... 1,768 games is hardly statistically relevant. =)

Regardless, it won't take long to boost that figure to at least the one game per console.

[OC_MurphysLaw]

Look even if that attach rate were to be 1.5 games it still is very low for a system launch. Regardless of the reason this is NOT good for Sony devs. Sony has to be concerned about this. Now that said...that was only the first 100k on the launch. The US is going to be VERY tell tale. I would expect the attach rate to be higher in the US. I am guessing around 2 per console. It has to be higher or you are going to see many devs pull back their dev/and or pull back resources from PS3 projects and focus on consoles with a higher attach rate.

Remember, higher attach rate means a higher chance of a dev getting their game bought. THIS is a very big number for game makers to consider, especially when coupled with the number of units launched/in market.

IF this attach rate stays low, you really have to begin to wonder if price is one of the driving factors. I.E. little billy saved up enough to buy his PS3 and can only afford to buy one game....hell for that fact anyone not just little Billy. People may be willing to shell out for the PS3 but they may not be willing to blow more on multiple games.

[Bunnyslippers]

..a lot of people bought the PS2 for dvd movies and not games, at launch. And I think at the PS2 launch even less games were sold per PS2.

[power of Green]

No good games Japs just like the latest gadgets labled the most advanced. Even Amer are starting to become "got to buy the most advanced whores".

[Arkham]

You know, some people would question your (and other 360 fanboys') constant references to the "Japanese" people as "Japs".

Just a thought.

[THWIP]

...I'm assuming you mean uptight, insecure, morons, who have nothing better to do, than argue over political correctness. Why is it that it's perfectly o.k. to call Australians "Aussies", Polish people "Poles", and Canadians "Canucks"...but we can't call the Japanese, "Japs"?
Grow the f*** up, and stop trying to start a political debate in a freakin' games forum.

[CyberSentinel]

He abbreviated Americans as well, whats your point?

[Arkham]

"Japs" is an definitively offensive term. You mention "Poles" as a Polish comparison, which is innactuare. It would be "Polack", which is clearly frowned upon. "Aussies", "Canucks" and "Yanks" are not generally considered disparaging.

Educate yourself a bit before you blindly jump to the defense of ignorance.

BTW, "Jap" isn't an abbreviation, it's an insult. "Jap." is an abbreviation, but a thinking person would have avoided that in the context of his message. Oh right! We're not talking about thinking people here...

[THWIP]

Arkham, you're clearly one of biggest morons to post on this site; that you are attempting to teach ME something, is as laughable, as it is insulting.
Jap IS an abbreviation for Japanese (Perhaps YOU need to "educate yourself", as to the MEANING of an abbreviation). Perceived/implied connotations, DO NOT dictate the meaning of an abbreviation. If you want to talk about ignorance, talk about people such as yourself, who find a shortened form of a long word to be offensive....while thinking it's equal to an INTENTIONAL slur, such as "Polock".
"Japs" is only offensive, to insecure Japanese, who think it's an insult to have their names/titles shortened. Some people think it's a derogatory term, somehow connected with WWII; those people are too ignorant to realize that the slang term existed LONG before any conflict with Japan.
The fact is, Jap is the first 3 letters in Japanese...nothing more, nothing less. If someone intends to insult the Jap(anese) culture, they'll use a term like "Ricers" or "slant-eyes" or something stupid. "Jap(s)" is just a quick way of saying/typing "Japanese". Just because someone is lazy, don't assume they're a bigot...that just breeds more ignorance and hate.

[power of Green]

My girl friends from Osaka and she's Japanese"JAP"(Look like LUcy Lu but not as skinny). I was born here and im American"AMER". neither of us are old enough(27 and 25) to be affended by WII meanings. One of my good buddies is British and he's a "BRIT" and these are the terms i use in their presents. My brothers girl friends Jewish "JEW".

[power of Green]

Whoops!. I was a little mad. My girl friends brother is my best friend and some of you guy's might know him as REDMOND BOYZZ he's been in Japan visiting family.

[Arkham]

Please post again only after your return to the real world, and when have experienced a multicultural environment of adults who have something beyond a high-school level of maturity.

[CyberSentinel]

Awfully sensitive and self righteous coming from someone who refers to people as "tw@ts".

[BIadestarX]

No one that buys a console for him/her self do not buy at least one game. So, unless people are buying the PS3 to sell it or just to use it to play blu-ray movies things don't add up.

[OC_MurphysLaw]

PS3 is an interesting launch for a couple of reasons. One, the whole ebay thing has gotten WAY out of hand..and I think the percentage of sellers to actual buyers is higher than anyone realizes. 2nd, the PS3 is not just a game console..its a cheap blu-ray player. I mean you can get a pretty PS3 for $500-$600 or you can buy an actual blu-ray player for $1000 plus. So I also think their may be a higher percentage of "blu-ray" adopters in the mix in the Japan launch. I really don't think you can automatically assume that someone buying a PS3 is going to use it for games.

What would be interesting would be to see the attach rate of blu-ray movie sales. This number wouldn't be important at all for devs. but it would be an indicator to look at.

Rember, Sony is touting this as an entertainment system (computer) not a game console. They want this to be whatever it is you need it to be for your entertainment needs. Games, movies, internet, etc... So they are appealing to more than just gamers especially in Japan. This is a big change from the PS2 which was a "game console" that could also serve as a DVD player. The distinction is varied slightly but its significant in how it comes across to the consumer.

[BIadestarX]

"the PS3 is not just a game console..its a cheap blu-ray player. I mean you can get a pretty PS3 for $500-$600 or you can buy an actual blu-ray player for $1000 plus. So I also think their may be a higher percentage of "blu-ray" adopters in the mix in the Japan launch." You may be right... but if you are, how much do you think game developer will like this? Do game developers make money of blu-ray movie sells? I can see how Sony benefits from this. Even if the people adopt the PS3 as a blu-ray player and buy movies; Sony would make money. For the same of gamers this better not be case. don't expect lots of game developer support if the game attach rate stay lows.

[OC_MurphysLaw]

I totally agree...this is NOT good for game developers if it is the case. See my other post in here...I talked in length about attach rate of games being a very important figure for game developers to watch. Sony too has to be a little concerned about this as they cannot afford to loose dev support over an issue like this.

[PS3n360]

with so many recent ps2 releases ppl may be buying ps3 and playing ps2 games on it till next payday. I did buy 4 games at 360 launch but only cause my wife bought me the console for christmas. Also people who buy on ebay will run out and buy games once they have the beast in their hands. It is too early to release this stat I think.

[jedicurt]

How about we wait until the US release before we start comparing it to the 360 numbers

[Schmitty07]

I guess they just wanted the system, but wanted to buy a game later when there was better ones. You know the Japs and their pickiness.

[NextGen24Gamer]

Sony fans don't buy games like xbox owners do. The 360 has a 4.9 games sold per console ratio. A record which was previously held by....the original xbox. xbox owners are gamers. Developers love that. More money oppurtunities for their games. The ps2 had a 1.8 games sold per console ratio. Sony fans in general are cheap when it comes to games. Now, sony expects these cheap gamers to buy and over priced console. WOW. So now not only did they sell less than 100k at launch...they sold LESS than 1 game per console. WOW. This is worse than I expected. But, I don't feel sorry for sony or its devoted fans. Stop being fanboys and just be gamers.

P.S. Gamers buy more than 1.8 games folks. ha ha ha ha....

Or in the ps3 case.... 0.7 games.

So many of you who thought that the ps3 would outsell the 360 by launch. NOPE. The 360 is still number one in Japan as of Now. And Blue Dragan is highly anticipated by ALL japanese gamers. It should be an interesting developement within the next few months. Now don't get me wrong. I would be utterly shocked if the Japanese made Ps3 didn't surpass the 360 sales within a month or so. But, who knows. We shall see.

Sony fans should never talk about 360 gamers. At least we buy and actually enjoy next gen games as a whole. And developers have got to love that. And in return they will bless us with more and better games.

P.S.S. Sony fans....Yall better do better than 1 game per console if you want great games to come. ha ha ha ha ha

Thanks Microsoft.

[gta_cb]

I have always been a PS2 follower, but then about 1month ago, i went round a mates, and he had brought an XBox 360, i played it loved it then about 1week later i brought my own, i know that it was nearly a year after but ohwell, i also brought 4games with the XBox 360 then another 2 about 1 week later. and i am really pleased with the quality of games, and will be buying Call Of Duty 3 soon, i am soo pleased with my XBox 360 that i will not be buying a PS3 at least untill the price comes down, and we know that wont happen for ages, so i hope people see that the XBox 360 is a better choice, at least for now, then hopefully Sony will drop the price of its overpriced next gen games console.

[MicroGamer]

That doesn't really surprise me. A similar situation existed when PS2 launched in Japan. The thing then was that the PS2 actually cost less than many popular DVD players, so a lot of people picked up a PS2 strictly for use as a DVD player. It wouldn't surprise me if many people bought them to play Blu Ray movies this time around.