Analyst: It's Not Too Late For PS3 This Cycle

While the budget-priced Wii has been outselling both PS3 and Xbox 360 since its release, the latter two have been duking it out for the number two spot aggressively in 2008, with Ad Age proclaiming that Sony may "be finally turning the corner" with PlayStation 3.

NPD analyst Anita Frazier says that regardless of how it may seem at the moment, the next-gen race is far from over.

[SecretAss]

I don't think its too late for the PS3.
Both consoles are gonna sell a lot and produce many good games.

[aliveinboston]

The PS3 has been outselling the 360 by more than 35% this year.

2008 Sales:

PS3: 5.0M
360: 3.7M

[Robearboy]

Bit of a naive thing to type considering the larger install base the 360 had before this start of this year

[player911]

Thats something most Sony Fanboys fail to realize is that EVERYONE already has/had a 360. The 360 came out so early that most people already own a 360 and have since ALSO purchased a PS3.

If you think about it, with the 360's already large install base already implanted, it is quite impressive that they still sell this many consoles.

The PS3 is new and since it was released so late, many gamers have had time to save up to buy another console.

Everyone I know who plays games owns a 360 with a few also owning a PS3. I don't know anyone who ONLY owns a PS3.

So I'm not hating on any console but that's how it is. The time gap between consoles allows people to purchase both. IMO it favors the interest of both companies to do it this way.

[Serg]

Well, I don't know anyone with a 360 but I know plenty owning a PS3 (My friends who used to own a Xbox360 were happy to sell it and get a PS3, sending it in for RROD repairs and whatnot every few months can really get on someones nerves), I guess you live in america, well see there is a world behind the border... PS3 has outsold the XBOX in Europe and correct me if I'm wrong but xbox sales aren't good in Asia either. Ye ye, I know, Microsoft says they are ahead of PS3 by 750000 consoles, but MS said the number of consoles they shipped (included sold, still in the store, repaired and RRODed ones), considering every xbox360 owner had to turn in his console approximately 3 times, this number isn't anywhere near reality. It is true that it has a larger installbase in america, but sold consoles outside of america surprisingly do count and therefor the Xbox360 isn't that wide spread.

I do realize the PS3 isn't selling that good, but so was the PS2 when it first started, insane Price, not a very good set of launchtitles, and yet the best selling console in the world.

Time will tell, my personal analysis: When games become bigger and bigger, MS will have to think of something because a 4 DVD box as a game isn't acceptable. PS3 Exclusive titles already use the size-advantage of BluRay (Metal Gear Solid 4, Killzone 2, Gran Turismo 5, there may be a lot more that I don't know about) and MS already begins to cut content in order to make it fit on a DVD9 (PGR) or extends it on 2 DVDs (Forza 3).

And I really hope MS won't make that mistake again and put a half baked console on the market that wasn't tested enough to see if it overheats to be "the first" on the market.

[Light Yagami]

Of course it's not too late. I am Justice! There are so many rotten things in the world today. And I'm here to fix it.

[LightningPS3]

Because those idiots shot themselves in the foot. This gen is turning out to basicly be a price war between PS3 and XBOX 360, because they are basicly the same product.

And Sony right away put themselves out by $200 dollars, they have fought but this still haunts them today. XBOX 360 is getting ready for another price drop, and it's gonns start smacking the PS3 again.

Poor PS3. Bet you if they could do it over again, they would of not DARED priced the PS3 at $600 at luanch. And they wouldn't of not DARED with Blu ray. Even they know it's a bust now.

Sony knows what's going on, but there crappy decisions are still costing them. I'm sure they regret it so bad.

[pwnsause]

??? are you high tonight?

[Enterprise-E]

I laughed. I cried. Mostly laughing.

[THAMMER1]

Oh snap! No you did not say " XBOX 360 is getting ready for another price drop, and it's gonns start smacking the PS3 again."

I broke my sternum laughing.

[thehitman]

post u being sarcastic?

[Genesis5]

Lightning how do you research, create and implement all new technology for old technology prices? PS3 wasn't build out of exsisting hardware it's a brand new machine. It's called progress.

[SL1M DADDY]

If you had any understanding of how powerful Sony's fan base was then you would have never thought for two seconds to post the dribble you just slapped up on N4G here. Stop with the flame bait and get a life.

[barom]

Lol, funny how you say it's about a price war. If it really was about the price. X360 wouldn't need to lower their price as they are cheaper than the PS3. Not to mention that PS3 has been neck in neck in terms of sales so far this year (so far PS3 sold better 3 out of 5 months). It is and always has been about the GAMES (for most of us anyway).

On a sidenote I'll just add that the value per dollar for each machine is way higher on a PS3. Wii is basically just a GameCube with new controllers (which they technically could've just added as a peripheral for the GC). X360 was such a rushed machine, parts that should've been included (by law) is not even there. Which is why RROD occurs and disc scratching when you move the 360. PS3 includes WiFi, Blu Ray and techincally a PS1 (some even a PS2). It's sturdy as a mountain and you could even use it as a computer (by installing linux). Probably should also mention that online is free.

[Isaac]

You assume Sony did not know it would be a very tough market if they priced it at 600. You also assume the loss they have taken has not been worth it for the Blu-ray victory.

[GarandShooter]

As barom stated you have to look at the value. When you add the cost of the 360, wireless adapter and HD-DVD drive (prior to it's failure) you come up to more than $600.00. (and my 360 only has a 20 gig HDD, my PS3 a 60 gig)

And everybody assumes Sony is off their gameplan. They're Japanese. Maybe, just maybe they still have some of that slow and methodical approach their culture has been known for, as opposed to the instant-gratification-rush-eve rything-to-market American approach. Sometimes the run in guns a-blazing approach only gets you killed.

It really bugs me when ignorant morons fail to account for potential cultural differences.

[Angelitos]

Poor Xbots

Poor Xbots, by the end of next year for the PS3, PS3 owners will have GOW3, FF13, FF13 Verses, GT5, Killzone 2, Resistance 2, Socom Confrontation, LittleBigPlant, HOME, White Knight Chronicles, Heavy Rain, Uncharted 2, Infamous, L.A. Noire, and there is a whole bunch more. Poor Xbots, the PS3 is only messing around at this point.

Poor Xbots

[Madgunner]

Good list

[WIIIS1]

You mean that PS3 is a mess at this point - 2 years into its lifespan with a disappointing library of games, incomplete online service, generally inferior multiplatform games and game installation travesties.

[PopEmUp]

lol please go home and tell your daddy or momma that to prepare yourself a new 360 or else you be left without a single 360 to play this holiday, because of the simple reason that your 360 will be going to the repair shop real soon

[sleepyk]

disappointing library of games- MGS4, Uncharted, GT5:P, Resistance & Motorstorm disappointing? Try the Wii's 3rd party lineup, which is disappointing. Or 360's so-called hit, Halo 3

incomplete online service- which can be fixed at a speed more capable than XBL bulls**t service

generally inferior multiplatform games- Burnout Paradise, DMC4, GTA4, GRID looked better and run better on PS3

game installation travesties- beats the hell out of switching disks because PS3 games only does the installation once.

[DavidMacDougall]

I will give you that microsoft has got alot of good stuff in there store and because most games are made on the xbox they look better but its still failing !!

[juuken]

Oh WIIIS1, you ignorant moron. I'm pretty sure that Rome wasn't built in a day. The only reason why the 360 has this stuff already is because of the fact that Microshaft rushed it out of the market. The PS3 is set to have a ten year lifespan. How long did Microshaft set the 360 to last? If their original XBox couldn't last, what makes YOU think the 360 will last?

Like I've been saying all along, Microshaft are messing with experts. Sony knows what they're doing, and when the time comes, the glory days of the PS2 will visit upon the PS3.

[Closing]

WIIIS1 is just a troll, and not worth arguing with. Trust me.

[butterfinger]

The PS3 is only in its second year and going strong! Anyone that says the war is over for any console is nothing more than a blind fanboy. Each console has a great chance of jumping up in sales, but I would dare to say the PS3 still has the most untapped potential and definitely more highly anticipated titles on the way in the future. We will have to wait and see what happens.

[SpecialSauce]

......maybe they can get out of sixth place passing the ps2 and DS shouldn't be too hard but i think the psp will be a bit hard for the poor little 3fixme.

b4 u xbots come in and star gettin all pissy, i'm just kidding

[n00bzRtehgey]

lol

[pwnsause]

yea lol, its true the 3fixme is getting pwned in the 3 of the 4 corners of the world.

[n00bzRtehgey]

lol no

[-Maverick-]

lol yes

MAke that 4 of the 4.

PS3 wins EVERYWHERE. Xbox 360 even got beaten in the U.S in January, February, May, and now June....not mention EVERYWHERE else all over the world...every month.

No one wants Xbox 360 and it's a fact. PS3 is still going to win...it will be Wii-priced in not too long either, when the consoles get cheaper PS3 is going to be winning for a long, long time. : )

[DavidMacDougall]

"lol no"

Nice defend that consloe with all your brain power !!!

[pwnsause]

lol you're dumb, go read up on the stats lol

[SpecialSauce]

notice how she doesn't pay much attention to the 360 o well not many analyst do.

[-Maverick-]

3fixme is a turd and fails.

[SpecialSauce]

how dose a price drop prove ur console is better? if you have to rely on a price drop to save ur console that shows how good the xbox really is. that price drop has nothing to do with u (assuming u already own an xbox) so it doesn't increase how much fun u will be having with ur xbox at all. u talking about a small little price drop meanwhile we on the PS side are backing are console up with the amazing line up it has for us this year. so have fun with ur price drop i think i will be playing the awesome games coming out for my ps3.

[ChrisGTR1]

...actually your wrong. whats this amazing line up of games the ps3 has? resistance2 and lbp?? thats it? thats the amazing lineup? cause i honestly cant think of any. and btw socom looks like a ps2 game so i wouldnt call that amazing.

[badz149]

so, can you please tell us what is the amazing lineup for 360 instead?? gears2? halo4? ermm...that's it, right?? you're fooling yourself with your comment when this year, PS3 have MGS4, LBP, R2, motorstorm2, and also SOCOM! I think I'll include SOCOM because from your logic, I'll state it clearly to you that Halo3 looks just like Halo2, which was a last gen game!!

[aliveinboston]

Microsoft rushed the 360 onto the market in order to grab an early lead in marketshare by being the only console on the market. It was a one year window of opportunity that failed to produce the desired results for a number of reasons.

Apart from cut-back capability (no standard hard-drive on all 360s, no Blu-Ray or HD-DVD standard, no standard wifi, etc...) and a nickel-and-dime pricing strategy (pay extra for features that should be standard) the biggest problem was the inability to market the product effectively and make it appealing to all gamers. Marketing and product strategy has never been Microsoft's strong point and again we see them fail.

Instead we see them doing well with the "hard-core" gamers (blood and guts types) but that market is easy to excite and limited in size and they're already well on their way to market saturation. With the upcoming announcements they will try to completely change the Xbox360's image in order to try and appeal to different segments but in doing so they might end up simply alienating the one segment that's been loyal to them without actually increasing the 360's appeal among other consumers. The shocking quality problems have not helped.

However, it's make or break time. With sales so far behind the PS3 they have to do something dramatic ... make a big change.

[Merritt]

I'd rather buy a cheaper console that can produce better games than the 4-D wonder. Oh wait...I already have.

[player911]

your whole argument is horribly wrong.

PS3 sales is still behind the 360. If you are looking at sales per month and completely disregarding that the amount of 360's ALREADY in homes, then your ignorant. Of course sales will be lower. You are comparing 2 highly sought after machines, one being older then the other.

As far as what the 360 includes, well gaming on WiFi is retarded because of the nature of WiFi and its horrible latency. Any hardcore gamer will always choose a solid physical connection over a spotty WiFi.

And for an HD drive... why would the 360 need a HD drive? So lazy gamers don't have to change the disc once after 30 hours of gameplay? If you mention the ability to play HD movies then sir, you are surely a moron. The 360 prides digital downloads. Including a built in HD or BR drive would be them shooting themselves in the foot.

And what about the Arcade and the lack of a HDD. Well lucky for 360 owners, the 360 doesn't require a HDD to play games. So the point is invalid. The only reason Microsoft ships them without a HDD is to create a system that can compete with the Wii's Virtual Console at a low price. Which is a better deal; a Harddrive-less Wii or a Harddrive-less 360?

What the 360 offers is what is important. A standard for online gaming with cross-gaming voice communications, in-game IM and text messaging, as well as tons and tons of other features. What the 360 offers is next-gen graphics with tons of support with tons of quality games with more AAA titles on the horizon. The 360 offers this today. Not mid-2009.

[Merritt]

Well said Player, well said. Bubbles for you.

[badz149]

I have to disagree with you for almost everything you said!

PS3 outsold 360 heavily worldwide thus the gap is only around 5 million at the most right now! even greenburg said that the gap is around 5 millions in his speech earlir this year! yo do know that 360 was around 10 million+ when the PS3 was launched, right? in NA, 360 is stronger but the world id bigger than just NA, buddy!

gaming on WiFi is retarded? you made yourself look rather retarded with that comment! I've been using WiFi since i bought my PS3 and online gaming is not a problem for me! I have several friends with PS3 and none of us having problem using WiFi. I was in Aussie but now I'm in Malaysia and I'm still on WiFi, no problem at all!! do you know where Malaysia is? I'm using 1Mbps connection (the best we got here!) with wireless router for my PS3, PSP and laptop! but be it online gaming, downloading demos and video chat using both PS3 and PSP, all work flawlessly! if WiFi is retarded, why do M$ selling those WiFi add-on? think about it!

HD drive not needed? 360 was a rushed product at the time when the original Xbox was beaten dead by PS2. M$ wanted to counter and wanted to do it fast! adapting HD drive at that time will consume more time and will screw up their plan to release early, so that was why the DL DVD drive! I don't want to type more about this rush decision. - RRoD and it's already their 3rd year!

HDD less 360 to compete with Wii? arcade is the successor of the Core SKU and core was released a full year ahead of Wii! do you think ardcade id to compete with Wii? than you're wrong! the truth is, arcade SKU was released to compete with PS3! it's priced cheaper than Wii in EU but the Wii still outselling it heavily! M$ is fine with it because the main target is the PS3 since the very beginning! they know that they will never steal the Wii's thunder but selling more than PS3 is crucial! and HDD is not needed? burnout paradise needs HDD to play online and the up coming Soul calibur 4 needs HDD! all other games didn't mandate the install because M$ force devs not to! a lot of 360 gamers will agree that HDD-less was a big mistake! you talked a bit about digital download, and we know there are a lot of games with DLC! can you tell me again that HDD is not needed??

your last point is what the PS3 gamers call 2.40 and the latest 2.41! XBL is already in it's 6th year and you pay $50 a year for it! if it is not superior than any other service like PSN and Steam, which are free, what is the point of that $50?? but the PSN is improving and that $50 looks more irrelevant than ever! don't forget to thank Sony later if M$ decide to drop the price if any!

[ThanatosDMC]

Damn all these analyst predicting things from their asses.

Seriously, i wouldnt be surprise if this same analyst flip flopped his/her prediction months or weeks or days ago...

[mistertwoturbo]

You said it best. Break it down homie.

"Analysts predicting things from their asses"

That's why they're called ANAL___ysts

[aliveinboston]

easy to prove.

[SpecialSauce]

thats two games u named from PS long list lets see u name two from Xbox cuz i got to tell u all i can think of is gears 2. Socom not amazing of course this is coming out of a 360 fanboy's mouth so of course ur opinion is very biased.

PS3 games:
MGS4
GRAND TURISMO
RESISTANCE 2
KILLZONE 2
LITTLE BIG PLANET
MOTOR STORM 2

all just off the top of my head.

[mistertwoturbo]

There will be more revealed at E3.

[harrisk954]

GOW3
FFXIII
FFVXIII

[player911]

don't you guys read any articles here at N4G?

360 Lineup
Gears 2
Fable 2
Banjo-Kazooie
Infinite Undiscovery
The Last Remnant
Too Human
Forza 2
Halo Wars

Tons of great games in there. There is also Viva Pinata 2, but I don't know about that one. Also Square also has Star Ocean coming out in 2009.

[afghani]

Well, i will agree with this guy who said that there a still a lot of untapped potential in the ps3 and 360 it seems has actually reached its peak! Cuz i think that gears wont push many 360 and the people who bought the first title will mostly be the ones who buy the sequel to this game.

But i still think that the ps3 needs to be cheaper if sony wants to reach the masses. And the "pepperspray" sony will most like introduce during the e3 will save a lot of ground for them;) U know the wii-like controller?

But a last question..how much does the ps brand generate in terms of profit for sony annually? I mean what are the costs of ps3, ps2 and psp and how much does sony profit from this consoles when sold to costumers?

May god bless America and its peace loving people in the white house;)

[player911]

But consoles never cease to amaze me. Just look at some of the current PS2 games. You'd be surprised at what they can crank out and tweak.

Hopefully Sony lowers the dev kits or no one will unlock the PS3's full potential.

[juuken]

It's never too late for the PS3.
...Sony's just getting started.
Let the PS2 days commence.

[jif86]

Sony are only just getting into 2nd gear with 2.40, Home will be third gear....after that, who knows? Only that PS3 will crush the FeeFixMe.

That said, it is already outselling the FeeFixMe EVERYWHERE IN THE WORLD!!!

[avacadosnorkel]

Sorry, I think it's a done deal the Wii wins this round. However, I think Sony will keep the PS3 as it's main system the longest and maybe its final 2-3 years on market at a low cost might sell a bunch?

[timmyrulz]

^^^^^^sad loosers, you would think that their lifes depends on the ps3 outselling the 360, you want to hear yourselves you frikin weirdo's

[ThatCanadianGuy]

And yet your in a PS3 article...

You always have nothing positive to say about Sony or PS3.
And you think your Mr.bigshot yeah?
Mr.King turd of sh!t island?

You should take a few moments to look back on your old comments,reflect upon them.Then,tell me who's a sad loser.

[felidae]

when crossplatform games are better on the ps3 and there are enough great exclusives i will buy a ps3 again.

but for now .. it's just not like that.

[Ps3Fanboy777]

From a company POV its over. What can they do to move more consoles? The remaining people left are casual users which will either get a 360 or a Wii.

They took to dang long, my computer is already far beyond what i see on consoles, I would imagine we will see another console out shortly. THis will be the shortest generation.

You can say you wont buy it now but when pictures around the net pop up and everyone starts talking you surely will..

Good Luck Sony, youll need it!

[jif86]

Poor Xbot.

[silverchode]

the ps3 will probably outlive the 360 and sell more eventually

[player911]

The 360 was out 2 years before the PS3. So Microsoft will introduce their next console long before the next Sony Console.

The sad thing is that it probably won't be very much longer. Then the new MS console will be THE console to own.

[GarandShooter]

The 360 was out a year prior to the PS3 - November 2005 vs November 2006. What was Microsoft's projected life cycle of the 360? All the X-onlys better hope that Sony doesn't threaten MS as that may cause them to rush to release and we all know how that went for them this generation. They have got about a billion reasons to NOT rush out their next console. As far as it being THE console to own, that remains to be seen. I for one, will own both.

[silverchode]

do you fanboys get paid by sony or microsoft, if not then dont get so into like your life depends on it. cant u guys see how stupid you look arguing over a console that its profits will never reach you.

[SpecialSauce]

cuz making one or two comments about an article we read proves that are life depends on it. i love to argue and n4g is the best way to do it.

[DFresh]

It's not even close to over this console war has just begun.
E3 will start to determine who will make the big leap and get ahead in the software line up in this console war.
Already Sony has the lead, followed by Microsoft, and then Nintendo.
Sony is the victor.

[UnDone14]

Too late for PS3?? The system hasn't even been out for two complete years. Sony is JUST getting started...

[Axelay]

Analyst, i like this job, you can say anything.
Of course it's not too late for the xbox360 or PS3 to win.
But nintendo already win because they have already sales more wii than gamecube and win a looooot of money.

[Yawnier]

The real battle is between the 360 and PS3.

[karlostomy]

But....

It isn't catching up fast enough!

MGSIV has been and gone. Where is the sales explosion?
KZ2 is delayed. Will it deliver?

Will the ps3 equal the 360 sales before 2012?

I don't think so.

Don't forget the 360 is poised for a price drop every year.
Soon it will be cheaper than the wii.

game over man game over!

[Mutley416]

Really, good point it`s just getting started...During it`s life cycle we will see some excellent games and tech along the way, as Bill Cosby once said "Stick around you just might learn something"...lol