PS3 Sales Jump 135% July 24, 2007
Read more Consoles , Gadgets , Games , PS3 , Xbox
That’s the news Stateside where SCEA (Sony Computer Entertainment America) is claiming that sales of the PS3 console have rocketed 135% at its key retailers in the past two weeks.
The reason, of course, is the recent lopping off of $100 from the price tag, taking it to $499 for the 60GB edition. Jack Tretton, SCEA president and CEO, said:
“The new price on the 60GB PS3, coupled with our very strong software showing from E3, is certainly paying dividends in terms of impressive sales across the board at retail.”
Of more note though is independent US console figures from NPD for June, showing PS3 sales up 21% over May to 98,500 units. While promising, let’s put this in context: the older Xbox 360 sold 198,400 units, up 28 per cent on May.
The NPD figures for July will be interesting for the PS3, no doubt greatly boosted by the price cut, but can Sony expect a similar jump in European sales where it has substituted a much-desired price cut for a better bundle?-Martin Lynch
Editor | Martin Lynch
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Sony do need to cut the price on the European PS3 but they also need to enable the 'Backwards compatable' option. Our version is the only one that can't play PS2 games. That, coupled with the price, means that a lot of people are importing them from the US/other countries.
Stop ripping us off & we will start giving you our money Sony...
There's a fair few of members on our site that have eBay'd their 360's this week in favour for the new 'starter package' of the PS3.
One guy even sent his 360 back 4 times, as it kept giving him the death lights. It isn't suprising what with the announcment last week that MS are gonna be paying out on repair bills that people have suddenly gone out and bought PS3's. I too will be getting one, although I'm hanging back for the 80Gb version, but I've heard rumours that us UK customers aren't getting, only US!!??
I understand that there are additional service and tax liabilities that will always make European consoles more expensive, but I keep wondering how companies here in the U.K. do not notice that their consoles aren't selling. Is it any coincidence that the only place in the world where you can find a Wii is the place where it costs nearly $400 off the shelf?
It's not about the tax liabilities nor the services provided. The European market is artificially inflated due to the belief that it is smaller than the Asian and American markets. The fundamental idea is that since they are going to be selling less units they have to maintain profit margins by selling them at a higher price.
The pricing is set significantly higher IMO based purely out of greed, the customer is not winning out in the UK market. Having said that I have noticed a slight trend toward price matching occurring with the likes of digital SLR cameras and some other niche electronics.
When you get the likes of Sony, Microsoft and Adobe selling their products at much inflated pricing you have to wonder exactly where their heads are at with trying to combat piracy and maintaining customer loyalty.
A regards to the story - good for them, if there is anything that the games console market absolutely requires to both grow and retain technological progression is a healthy market share race. GO SONY... erm MICROSLOTH... erm NINTENDO!!! This sort of thing is great for the consumer.
The PS3 sales for July were once again low and a big let down. THe Xbox 260 and WIii still out sell it by a large number. The issue is the issues with development, as well as developers delaying titles. Basically the PS3 is a mid quality Blu Ray player, since there are not very many games worth getting. Expect better sells some time in mid 2008.