PlayStation 2 outselling Xbox 360 in US

Like a good soccer match, the monthly sales battles between the Xbox 360 and the PlayStation 2 have a lot of exciting back-and-forth. So far, however, the PlayStation 2 has remained in control of the match, outselling the Xbox 360 in six of the seven months since the Xbox 360's debut. The situation is a strong reminder that Sony's PS3 gamble, while huge, has a little more cushioning than is commonly recognized.

Since the release of the Xbox 360, Microsoft has averaged 246,000 console sales each month in the US, while the PS2 has seen an average of 473,000 units-a number bolstered by an estimated 1.5 million sales in December alone. Leaving out December, Sony's average drops to 302,000 per month, still outpacing the Xbox 360 by a healthy margin.

[Wotbot]

The console is cheap now and has a sh#t load of games, it kind of makes sense really.

And based on this information it’s a good sign of things to come for the 360, as the PS3 will have fewer games and will be more expensive.

[Shadow]

While that's certainly possible, this means that Sony is going to have a much larger userbase, and it also means that these late adopters are going to be much more inclined to buy a Sony.

Also, its also likely that they might pick-up a PS3 for the backwards compatability, especially considering they are still purchasing and playing new PS2 games.

[Silver360]

The late adopters are less likely to buy any next gen system at all. Why spend money when you just brought a game system?

[ACE]

theres a lot of people of there heads lol buying a ps2 over a 360 thats madness lol!!

CRAZY STUFF

[Shadow Flare]

sony has a much larger fanbase and the fanbase will generally like playstation gmaes. As an earlier article showed on this website, a survey proved that people would buy a ps3 despite the price, 'because they want it'.

And the xbox 360 shortage is over. They've been in good supply for a while now.

All i'm saying is, shouldn't the xbox 360 be selling more than a ps2? Hahaha the ps2 is like a 6 year old console, the 360 is like 8 months or something, and ps2 still outsells it? 8 months is enough time for microsft to sort out any problems about supply or whateva they had. It just show people prefer playstation.

Hahaha

Makes me laugh, some xbox fanboy a while ago claimed 360 was selling more than ps2. Cough where's your proof? got my proof, in this article! Geez, how embarressing for microsoft

haha

[Capt CHAOS]

Not good, I don't understand why the Xbox isn't selling better in there..
Well I do actually, but just a shame..

[clayton]

Actually this is very good news for microsoft, both consoles are at different points in their lifespan, one is $129 and one $299(core). When a next-gen console beats out a last-gen console that is way cheaper, like microsoft did in may this shows that the 360 is selling well and will continue to do so. It is more bleak for Sony, since their next gen dvd player will be released in november to replace the PS2.

[andy capps]

The PS2 has outsold the Xbox 360 6 months out of 7. I don't see how that's good for MS, and I'm not trying to make a joke out of it.

[XboxKing]

I see what your saying so think of it like this

PS2 vs PS3

[Shadow Flare]

People Love PlayStation

You must be joking to think this article is good news for microsoft

[greenlynxx]

Of course this makes sense. It takes consoles time to game momentum. We are talking about two consoles that dramatically different in price, $400 vs $130 dollars. We are also talking about completely different type of gaming consumers. Most of the people who are buying PS2's at this point (unless they are replacing a broken one) are either very casual gamers and/or are just getting into gaming. This is the perfect time to buy a PS2 for this type of consumer since everything is cheap and there are tons of games available. I really don't think this comparison is apples to apples.

This comparison is like saying DVD players are outselling HD DVD or Blue Ray players. Can we really be surprised at this?

[clayton]

Why would they purchase a PS3 if they just purchased a PS2, wouldn't it make since to wait and buy the PS3 since it is backwards compatible.

[bernie]

A few of my friends who had sold their PS2's in anticipation of a PS3, were so disappointed with Sony's PS3 showing at E3 that they decided it wasn't worth the money and repurchased a PS2.

[Joe Schmoe]

This is not the case with everyone I know but my brother just went out and bought a new PS2 because his broke and he still plans on buying a ps3 when it comes out. Some people just dont want to go with out that and he was in the middle of the game Champions of norath. Great game by the way as a multiplayer

[Capt CHAOS]

Especially since it looks the PS3 may contain PS2 hardware to ensure backward compatibility..

[Anerythristic26]

People that waited 6 years to buy a PS2 for $130 will have no impact on the Next Gen sales charts. It is also confusing why they would compare a 129.99 6 year old established console to a 399.99 investment. Poor article. I thought it was poor when they announced that 360 outsold PS2, they are not competing. If you think because someone buys a system a little over 100 dollars they are going to buy a system a little over 600 dollars , take your meds.

[MONTY 187]

It is probably from people replacing broken ps2's. We all know what they are like!!

[THELANDSOFSAND]

lol

that would explain alot

[jimferguson2006]

My nephwes are on their third PS2 because its cheaper to buy than repair. I don't know of anyone who's on there original ps2. They've all had drive problems.

My guess would be that since all the gamers now know when the Ps3 going to come out and that it will be backwards compatible, the buy replacements for their broken ones, until the PS3 comes out rather than changing platforms.

This is where the hacking community could make itself usefull buy making a emulator that would use the XBOX 360 play PS2 games;)

[Aflac]

pieces of crap keep breaking

[Shadow Flare]

broken ps2's or whateva only happened really when the ps2 launched. They dont break anymore, well not like you putting it anyway.

Even if they did, isn't that saying something?

"Man, my ps2's broken. crap. Hey maybe i'll go buy that new xbox 360 if my ps2 keeps breaking. Actually no, i'll just buy another ps2"

PS2 outsells xbox 360 EASILY

end of story

[FamoAmo]

As long as 360 is selling more than the ps3 MS is in good shape. These people buying ps2's are either people who don't play games all that much and liked the 130$ price tag or they are replacing old ps2's and are Sony loyalist who will never abandon Sony!! The december 05 figure was b/c the 360 was sold out. If the 360 had 1.5 million availible in December MS would have sold them. Parents bought what was availible. Once the 360 has more killer games GOW, Prey ect... out arounf October the 360 will sell like hot cakes!!

[THELANDSOFSAND]

um ok, one is like 8 years old and costs $90 and one is less than a year old and costs between $300 and $400.

This is like saying toasters sell more than xbox- PS2 is NOT in the same league- it is cheaper, older, has more old cheap games and it available EVERYWHERE, ALL THE TIME. I have yet to see a single 360 at my local walmart, so I don't know how people can say the shortage is over. Yet I see stacks of 20/30 ps2's for sale everytime I go in there.

This is the only reason that PS2 are selling more- it's dirt cheap and available everywhere.

So sure, the last generation is still selling well, but frankly, who cares? That battle is over- PS2 won. What is more interesting now is the next-gen sales, in which 360 have a HUGE lead over sony.

of course, I would be far more impressed if this was a news article about the PS3 selling more than the 360, because that's a fair fight. though I'm not holding my breath for that news story!

[OutLaw]

Can't say it better myself. They are two different systems from two different times one already established itself as a good system and the other one developers are just starting to get to know. Lets see how everything is when all those games start to flow in for the 360 around august to December, then we'll see what people prefer. Also it's not about the PS2, but the PS3 that needs to prove itself.

[Shadow Flare]

what were sales like of the already established Nintendo 64 (Nintendo bein a very prominent and well known company at time) and the newly released ps2?

It basically comes down to this

EVERYONE LOVES PLAYSTATION
NO-ONE IS INTERESTED IN XBOX

I guarentee that xbox's whole fan-base is within this website lol

[Phytonadione]

because it wouldn't be much of a contest to compare the PS2 sales with the original Xbox sales. That'd be like taking stats on a boxing match between George Forman (in his prime) and Pee-wee Herman (in his prime).

[Shadow Flare]

haha man, pee wee herman? haha, geez that got me crackin up. pee wee herman oh man. such a funny comment man

seriously tho he's right.

comparing ps2 sales to xbox sales is a bad enough, but ps2 is outselling xbox 360 easily. Thats a disgrace. No reason a ms gamer can give can justify this cos this shouldnt be happening

it never happened with:

sega genesis - PS1
N64 - PS2
PS1 - PS2
gameboy color - gameboy advance
gameboy advance - nintendo ds

If this isnt a sign that xbox 360 will fail, i dunno wat is

[Moostache]

AS long as the flow of good games for the 360 continues to pick up speed this year and into 2007, I don't care if PS2 sells another 100 million units.

I own both systems and I have played my PS2 exactly one time since March. I have to admit though that being able to go out and pick up a few games for the PS2 that I missed out on playing - like God of War and Resident Evil 4 - for less than $20 a piece is nice - if I ever got bored of playing the 360 that is, and with downloadable expansion packs, online play and a growing back catalog of games on THAT system I want to play, it may never actually happen. It was the same thing when PS2 came out - I hada ton of PS1 games that I thought I would go back and play, but I never did....

The PS2 is not even in the same league as the 360, so if people want to buy cheap, older systems and it serves their gaming needs more power to them. I'll just keep on playing my 360 and enjoying that platform.

[LK]

who cares about ps2. the ps2 compared to the xbox360 is like comparing apple and oranges. there not even in the same category. all this says is people are going to wait another 6 years till the ps3 hits $150.

[Marriot VP]

it's simple really. The 360 still can't meet the demand from consumers. Because of that you rarely see them on shelves because every console that ships is sold. Therefore this fact means nothing because the only factor that makes this true is the lack of supply and the much higher demand.

Also to note the 360 did beat PS2's sales another month before but it doesn't matter. All this is, is a race to see who can supply the most consoles. And because PS2's are just lying around in stores and never sold out they have the clear advantage.

not everybody can get a 360 right now, but everybody can get a PS2 at any store.

[Phytonadione]

I see the 360 at a lot of stores here in the U.S.. But then again, not sure what kind of stores you guys have over there.

[Droidbro]

i bought a 360 and i enjoy it. i dont care if either company sells another console. as long as games keep coming out.

[Anerythristic26]

I am really glad that 360 owners see this story doesn't matter. " Did you know that Ford sells more cars every year than Aston Martin? "

[Asylumchild]

hahahhahaha PS2 dont brake its because ur to stupid to unplug your system u just leave the red light on and let it burn out you need to unplug it to make it last long and id like to mention why do we need to buy a $20 FAN to put on the 360 I think we should get it for free because of MICROSOFTS MESS UP

[Aflac]

wow a whole 3% of 360s defective THATS A LOT!!!-ya right

no one is retarded enuff t leave the red light on, genius.

u just posted the most retarded comment of all time

[ps3willrule]

hahaha in my earlier post on a different comment page all these 360 fanboys didn't beileive me...theres ur link retards!!

[ps3willrule]

i keep hereing about this momentum rite usually the momentum to buy systems is at the begining of the system life but u can't blame MS the head guy for marketing IS FROM SEGA DREAMCAST LMAO we all know how that went...

[ps3willrule]

well sony seems to be buliding there userbase making them more likely to purchase a ps3 i can't beleive u 360 fans r trying to push this off as normal its not!!!! when ps2 came out ps1 sales dwindled and so did last generation system which were the competitors...this is a sad one for MS...o well there is alwayz windows vista or wait thats delayed..

[greenlynxx]

I said it above and I'll say it again. Which format do you think will have higher sales initially DVD or Blue Ray/HD DVD? Almost without question DVD. This will be the case almost without question despite the fact that the new formats new and "better". This is the case because it does take time for new products to gain momentum. New products are new, more expensive, are lacking content in contrast to the older formats. The fact that the 360 is doing as well as it is is a testament to the product. A comparision between all three new consoles is considerably more telling that a comparison of last gen to new gen consoles.

[Grown Folks Talk]

why am i going to buy a ps2 in june, then turn around and buy a ps3 in november? what sense does that make, especially when the ps3 is supposed to play ps2 and ps1 games? that's like buying a 5 year old nvidia graphics card because it's really cheap, then a few months later buying the top of the line new card that comes out, when you could have just waited and spent your money on the new, better card. a very select few who are just now buying a ps2 will buy the ps3 anytime soon.

[ps3willrule]

lol that is teribbly pethetic a new next gen system can't even kill a last gen competitor...very sad...expecially when its there territory....when are 360 fanboys gonna learn that u got the guy that killed dreamcast marketing ur system....sony has to big of a fan base even if the ps2's broke seems like there sticken with sony...360 will b a loss just like x-box was.

[Anerythristic26]

Alot of the PS3 fans that post speak in broken english. This is simply out of curiosity. Are any of you Japanese? I can just tell English is your second language , you might be Italian for all I know.

[PS3Lord]

that you need to go back to grade school... ahha you are just sadd.. hahaha sadd ...

[Anerythristic26]

Why is your English so poor? Simple question. What is your first language?

[Phytonadione]

it'll give a general profile. And your first comment was an insult to the Japanese people. Though most Japanese have a horrible American/English accent, their grammar is probably on par with the average U.S. high school student. They start studying English in grade school.

[ps3willrule]

don't get your panties in a bunch just because were stating obvious facts and its making the x-box 360 look terrible. What ever though u'll see in November... do u honestly think if ps2 are doubling sales of the 360 its going to get better. You guys r mental caeses blowing bill gates for all i know. have fu marketing theses facts with your dreamcast leader fuk ups.

[Marriot VP]

ps3lord, your probably the most worthless fanboy around. Read my comment, 12.

For a laugh...
www.news4gamers.com/UserProfi le.aspx?UserID=1401

[ps3willrule]

Paul cerula actually thinks MS will prevail this generation when they lost horribly last time and are losing millions again and ps3 isn't even out yet...thats comedy rite there

[Marriot VP]

I NEVER SAID THAT, get out of your fantasy world fanboy

[Jay da 2KBalla]

Well I'm laughing at your ass because sony is going to lose billions just go check out what merrril lynch said. The amount of money that sony is going to lose is hilarious.

[Phytonadione]

My friend worked for Merril Lynch and he told me that sometimes the "insider" info would actually be "in the company" info. Basically, he was telling me that they like to "contribute" to the buying or selling of stock by releasing questionable data. If you took a stats class at college, you would understand the ability to use mathematics and stats to back any kind of claim. Hell, just look at what Sony does.

[ps3willrule]

don't get your panties in a bunch just because were stating obvious facts and its making the x-box 360 look terrible. What ever though u'll see in November... do u honestly think if ps2 are doubling sales of the 360 its going to get better. You guys r mental caeses blowing bill gates for all i know. have fu marketing theses facts with your dreamcast leader fuk ups.

[Jay da 2KBalla]

if by obvious facts u mean bullsh*t den yea you are doing a hell of a job.

[EnforcerOfTheTruth]

PS2 is outselling 360 cause it's cheaper? I got to tell you PS1 didn't outsell PS2 at any time ;-) Poor, poor Crapbox360 get's owned by a last gen console LOL

[Jay da 2KBalla]

This is just in the US and japan. Did it ever occur to you that 360 is in 30 diffent countries and maybe they didnt supply as many 360s to the US as they usally do? hmmmmmm. Use your small ass sony f@g boy brain.

[Phytonadione]

I'm not sure which article you're reading but the one I read only mentioned sales in the U.S.. And as I have (as well as a hand full of others here) already mentioned, there are a pretty good supply of 360s in the stores, at least where I live.

[LightWarrior393]

Man this is kinda funny, but really like as I scrolled down the comment page it went from gamers who 1. didn't care 2. thought on this a bit and found out that it truely didn't mean crap or 3. had some worries, but it wasn't them bashing on anything. Till now it's all the PS3 Fanboy's bashing and trolling out ever little detail when for all I care continue what your doing for no one CARES!!! I say stop reading past comment 13 everything past then is full of Trolls and Fanboys well cya everyone

[PS3 Owns All]

We're not bashing u 360fans. It's ALL of u 360 fans that come here and bash. Bash because ur ALL worried that Sony WILL win the war too easily. Microsoft already revealed their big guns. (Halo 3) and Sony has'nt had the PS3 completed yet. How the hell are u going to compare over 5million units sold to 190 MILLION units sold! That means that the 360 must sell almost over 40,000,000 units A YEAR in order to keep up with the PS2. And I doubt They will sell 40,000,000 in 1 year. HIGHLY doubt it. While the 360 is too busy dealing with the last gen console PS2. LMFAO! The PS3 is coming soon to OVER DO it LMFAO! 360 is owned!

[Jay da 2KBalla]

um How many units has ps3 sold? thought so

PS SERECT lol

[ps3willrule]

does it matter they don't need to launch ps2 is ownin 360 fuk up

[96impala]

Look don't get it twisted, yeah if the ps2 is outselling the 360 look at the obvious, Availability! The 360 has been selling out since launch and soon as retail get'em in they sell out again, so now people looking to buy a console can't get a 360 but wait what's that shelves loads of ps2's for 129.00 plus racks of games new and old, some dirt cheap. So of course the ps2 is selling well. Don't get me wrong i love my ps2 but i remember when i first got mine at launch that there werent any good games for it but over time plenty became available. Same for the xbox, and the 360 so you can kill all that sony one sided bull ishhh. The 360 is indeed the new king.

[EnforcerOfTheTruth]

but the 360 isn't selling out. Just compare the ship and sales numbers and you will see the sad truth.

[THE TRUTH]

yeah if the ps2 is outselling the 360 look at the obvious, Availability! The 360 has been selling out since launch and soon as retail get'em in they sell out again, so now people looking to buy a console can't get a 360 but wait what's that shelves loads of ps2's for 129.00 plus racks of games new and old, some dirt cheap.

This post is almost laughable... seriously. I can find a 360 at every Gamestop, Game Crazy Best Buy, Fry's, Walmart, and Target in Las Vegas and California and your telling me thats a good thing? There are only a few possible reasons for this...

1. People have played and/or heard about the 360 and are not impressed with the system and/or the games, another way to put it would be THE HYPE IS OVER!!!!!!

2. Thus far fans of the origional Xbox are the only ones purchasing these (in my opinion) almost Next-gen systems, the rest are waiting for the wii and PS3 to come out.

3. That some casual fans are mad at the way MS just put a total halt to the origional Xbox's games and support while sony has certainly handled the translation into the Next-Gen (from PS2 to PS3) much more respectfully and loyal. (this is a point which I feel no one on this site has really expressed!) Ms did give a slap in the face to everyone who owned a xbox and did not move whole heartly to their so-called Next-Gen, these gamers represent the casual fan. Sony on the other hand is keeping the support with the PS2 and not forcing them to go Next-Gen so quickly by cutting the cord just yet..... (this is something we as gamers need to think about)

If you choose to argue any of this please be civil, that is all we as fans of this site ask.

[ps3willrule]

rite keep thinkin that while ps2 outsells 360..and u can see the made 10 million units oly sold 4 soooo they are on shelves dumb fuk..hell everywhere i go i see them on shelves.

[96impala]

imagine me listening to you sony fans and all you do is live in your own reality and web of lies.....please. I got a ps2 that i love, but i love my 360 more couldnt care less about betamax and vapor ware and you eitha.

[THE TRUTH]

you are listening the evidence is in your reply. Ps2 outselling 360 is an absolute embarressment to M$ the dust is starting to clear and as far as the 360 goes, it might as well be over just like the hype. M$ played their hand early and on this table two pair just doesn't get it done. People want games and M$ had a year to provide them, instead they kept them locked up to prepare for a war they can't win..... If you can beat the PS2 please explain to me how they will beat the PS3 and Wii?

[Wotbot]

What they are not telling you is that all the PS2's bought are replacments.

This is a joke, but then again it could be true. I have had 2 PS2's.

[Brooklynite]

good stuff sony. u know what people foward to on the ps2 god of war 2

[miamicanesruleall]

microsoft fanboyz r hurt.. if 360 was outpacing ps2 in sales there would be no end to the ridiculous comments in this section.. suck ur thumb..lick ur wounds.. and crawl into bed microsoft babies

[Daewoodrow]

Why would anyone buy a previous gen console now? Even Sony fanboys should be saving for the PS3. But i'll speculate based on the article.
As for the confused people here, the previous article said that in that month 360 outsold the PS2.
You know what this tells me? That the PS3 would have been outsold by the PS2 had it been released now, too. Consumers don't like thinking, and to the consumer lower price= good. Not many people save tech geeks invest in the future.
PS2 sales wont cease. They will gradually fall off, and 360 sales will pick up. Those who said the hype is over and the 360 is doomed obviously failed their business studies classes. All sales follow a bell shaped curve.

This is no indication to me of who will win this gen war, there's no point arguing it. We will find out in two-three years.

I'm a 360 fan. I don't buy sony. If anyone has anything intelligent to say, do so, but don't try and impose your beliefs on others.

[TheMART]

That's all true.

Laggards in the life cycle of the PS2 are now buying a PS2. Those are people that can't afford the newest consumer hardware. Which are the innovators.

Laggards are a large group of less earning people, that want to have fun but to a low price. Also the group that doesn't buy a lot of games. Or only games in rebate. Or second hand market or copy.

Those customers are the ones that a console maker is not targetting on in the first time of a life cycle. When the cash cow status is there and on the hardware the losses are not so big the laggards can be interesting.

Intelligent post. Just saying: the PS2 is outselling the 360 so it's doomed is so simple.

It's the same as saying: "Man Mitshubishi cars outsold BMW/Mercedes/Ferrari (name the car you like on top level), it drives just as good really for so little money it's just as beautifull, it goes just as fast and other people look me sitting in my Mitsubishi just as they're looking to a real expensive car. Is that really true? Nope. The experience of a Ferrari is so much better then the Mitsubushi. Yup, both they drive, but the Mitsubishi I would drive to the grave yard for cars for sure. I rest my case.

Right. What you pay for is what you get.

[96impala]

Like i said, you live in your own reality, deciet and web of lies. The ps2 didn't have many games it's first year either, look at it now. Same with the original xbox. I mean it happens but then it all falls into place there will be racks and racks of games for the 360. So what you are saying and trying to impose is meaningless, i witnessed the same thing with the ps2 i had it since launch. Your point is pointless.

[kingboy]

this goes to show games do the talking.with people prefering an old gen than the new 360 really shows the power of the brand and the value for it

[andy capps]

I'm still on my first PS2 that I've had since launch. The thing has moved with me four times, and still works. I am looking forward to boxing it up though at the end of this year, as I'm just getting tired of looking at the same electronical equipment for six years. :)

[Gh0stDrag0n]

I think I'll go out and buy my first PS2 now. I have every console to date but the PS2. Nintendo's consoles have been rock solid, no problems with any of them, I'm on my third PS1 (all power supply problems), and my 2nd XBOX (traded in for the HALO edition). Hopefully Sony has all the bugs worked out of the PS2 by now.

[96impala]

I had mine since launch as well and just recently i had to change the controller, i was still using the one that came with the console since 2000. I love my ps2, and i'll have it til it breaks. I love my 360 and just like the ps2 the games start slow but will increase.

[TheXgamerLive]

Someone is lieing here or changing the peramiters. We have ps2's collecting dust at my store and have for 8 or 9 months while we havent been able to keep XBOX 360's on the shelves!! Were getting in an average of 16 every 8 days and guess what there gone in 2 to 3, some of the base units last for 4 or 5 days. We get in 4 ps2's on average according to shipping.recieving logs, 4 every 32 days and we already have 11 sitting in the racks so why and how could these numbers be true? B/C there not.

[ronin_oni]

This is great for Sony as a company, and indifferent to a hinder for Microsoft for two reasons. Sony as of Quarter 4 of last year (or around that time) is manufacturing the PS2 for less than the $130 price tag, this means they are making a PROFIT off every PS2 sold. Microsoft of course sells their new system at a loss (as will Sony for the PS3). Here's the difference; These 'late consumers/ replacement buyers' are not buying the old XBOX, nor the new 360. They are purchasing and thus backing the Sony brand name for their video games. This helps Sony as it will dampen their inevitable PS3 launch losses come November. The second reason this is going to help Sony in the long run (by that I mean 3-6 years from now) is that all these late consumers will only know the Sony brand name for video games, not the Microsoft name. Thus, they'll once again turn to Sony's PS3 for their next-gen dive into games. Think if you went on vacation to a foreign country for the first time and order a soda to drink. What's the first name that comes to mind? That's right, Coca-cola. Same deal here.

[dpballes]

I think a fair analogy would be reliable sedans vastly outselling high preformence sports cars

[Say's you]

That Merril Lynch said about Sony lol come on he was even wrong about Sony's PS3 "price" point saying its goings to cost $800 dollars when really it wasn't even close to that and now your going to belive him on this one wow

like Sony is going to lose billions of dollars over this one in your dreams you ugly little prick you are such a "joke" even Merril Lynch wont get this one right at all some times I think why is he even in the analysing biz knowing that he sucks at analysing everything that Sony doe's.

[jinn]

price plays part