Weekly Sales Analysis, 20 August 2011 - PlayStation 3 Price Cut - News
by William D'Angelo , posted on 27 August 2011 / 12,266 Views
Overview
3DS hardware sales remain above 300,000 in its first full week of the price cut and the PlayStation 3 received a $50 price cut at the beginning of the week which saw sales rise a little over 50,000. For the first time all year, total hardware sales are up year on year. Despite the increase in hardware sales, software sales are down both week on week and year on year. There are two debuts in the top 40, which is down from three last week. Software milestones this week: Mario Kart Wii passes the 28 million mark; Just Dance 2 (Wii) crosses the eight million mark; Pokémon Black / White Version (DS) crosses the 12 million mark; and Wii Sports crosses the 77 million mark. No games sold over 100,000, which is down from one last week, and the top eight sold over 50,000, down from nine last week.
Worldwide Hardware
Week on week sales are up for the PlayStation 3, Wii and Xbox 360, flat for the PSP and down slightly for the DS and 3DS. The 3DS takes the top spot for a second week with sales of 311,000, which is down only 3,000 (-1%). PlayStation 3 sales rise this week due to a price cut of $50. Sales are up 54,000 (43%) to 179,000. The sales increase just 1,000 (1%) to 120,000 units sold. The Xbox 360 is also up slightly, 3,000 (3%) this week to sales of 119,000. The DS is down 6,000 (-5%) week on week, as it sold 107,000 units this week. The PSP sold 100,000 units, which is the same as last week.
Year on year sales are up for the PlayStation 3 and down for every other platform. The PlayStation 3 is up 11,000 (-7%), the Wii is down 21,000 (-15%), and the Xbox 360 is down 56,000 (-32%). The PSP is down 11,000 (-10%) and the DS is down 156,000 (-59%). Total year on year sales are up 78,000 (9%) only because of the 3DS, otherwise they would be down 233,000 (-27%).
For this week the gap between the three home consoles has grown, with the PlayStation 3 with a 43 percent market share, the Wii with a 29 percent, and the Xbox 360 with a 28 percent. The PlayStation 3 has been in sole position of first for the last seven weeks and been ahead of the Xbox 360 for ten weeks now. With the price cut the PlayStation 3 will remain in first for at least the next few weeks or so. The Wii is in second just 1,000 ahead of the Xbox 360. Compared with ten weeks ago PlayStation 3 sales are up, and Wii and Xbox 360 sales are down.
3DS sold more than the DS and PSP combined and more than three times than each of them separately. The gap between the DS and PSP shrinks even more this week, to just 7,000 units separating the two. The DS has a 52 percent market share this week for the current generation handhelds and the PSP a 48 percent. Compared with ten weeks ago the 3DS and PSP are up and the DS is down.
Worldwide Software
Two games debuted in the top 40 this week, down from three last week. Chou Jigen Game Neptune Mk-II (PS3) debuted at number 14 with sales of 33,000. The game launched in Japan, with no plans to be released elsewhere.
Growlanser IV: Over Reloaded (PSP) debuted at number 23 with sales of 23,000. The game launched in Japan, with no plans to be released elsewhere.
Other games in the top 10 that are not debuts include The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time 3D (3DS) at number one with sales of 83,000. Mario Kart Wii is at number two with sales of 83,000. Wii Sports Resort is at number three with sales of 79,000. Zumba Fitness (Wii) is at number four with sales of 75,000. Nintendogs + cats (3DS) is at number five with sales of 55,000.
Just Dance 2 (Wii) is at number six with sales of 52,000. Pokémon Black / White Version (DS) is at number seven with sales of 51,000. Rhythm Heaven (Wii) is at number eight with sales of 50,000. Wii Sports is at number nine with sales of 49,000. Monhun Nikkin: Poka Poka Ailu Mura G (PSP) rounds out the top 10 with sales of 39,000.
Week on week software totals are down for every platform except the PlayStation 3. The Wii takes the top spot this week with 1.24 million games sold, a decrease of 41,000 (-3%). The PlayStation 3 sold 862,000 games, an increase of 61,000 (8%). Xbox 360 software sales drop to 804,000, which is a decrease of 39,000 (-5%). The DS sold 744,000 games, a decrease of 40,000 (-5%). PSP game sales are down compared to last week with 413,000 games sold, a decrease of 53,000 (-11%). The 3DS sold 353,000 games, a tiny decrease of 5,000 (-1%). Total combined software is down week on week to 4.41 million games sold a decrease of 117,000 (-3%).
Year on year software totals are down across the board. The PlayStation 3 is down 457,000 (-35%), the Wii is down 341,000 (-22%) and the Xbox 360 is down 279,000 (-26%). The DS is down 481,000 (-39%) and the PSP is down only 2,000 (-0%). Total combined software is down 1.21 million (-21%) games sold year on year.
For this week the gap between the three home consoles software sales remain the same, as the Wii has a 42 percent market share, the Xbox 360 with a 28 percent, and the PlayStation 3 with a 30 percent. Wii software sales are at the top for a fifth straight week, and for the eighth time in ten weeks. PlayStation 3 software sales are in second this week and have not been in first since the week of July 16. This pushes Xbox 360 software sales to third. Compared to ten weeks ago PlayStation 3, Wii and Xbox 360 software sales are down.
3DS software sales drop at a similar rate to hardware sales. DS software remains well ahead of the PSP with the gap being at a margin of 1.8:1. Compared with ten weeks ago the PSP is up and the DS and 3DS are down.
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15 Weeks after a price cut and Wii's sales are back to old levels. PSP did it in 5. How many weeks will PS3 last? Sales have not jumped very much at all, PS3 only barely is managing sales higher then last year, and that won't last. In fact PS3's boost is almost identical to Wii's. I wonder what the heck MS is thinking to get the 360 to record sales this fall.
I guess what I'm trying to say is that this truly means that if PS3/360 can make another record year of sales, it will be their last. We are over the hill, bring on Generation 8.
You forgot that 3DS price cut has been advertised for 3 weeks before it went into effect, while PS3 price cut went into effect on Tuesday with no advertising whatsoever. PS3 has a lot of great software coming up and they will slowly increase sales as we get closer to holiday season.
One more thing, this week sales only include 5 days of PS3 with new price, so next week I expect sales to go up.
@Salnax-PS3 is 5 years old hardware and has had it's share of price cuts. 3DS is new hardware and that's it's first cut.
I know jkdudlacz is trying to defend to ps3 price drop but do you actually belive sales will be up a lot more than they are now? Im guessing next week ps3 tops out at 185,000. Anyway price drops aren't going to do much anymore as they used to. I bet you were expecting a huge blow up in sales lets say 250-300 K right?
Not only that: How can they manage a mere increase of 8% on software, selling 43% more consoles? A better, cheaper blu-ray player, that's wot you are!
I think that the PS3 numbers will benefit dramatically due to this price cut. How long will it take for MS to respond?
That price drop doesn't look like it had very dramatic effects. The 3DS price drop was not that much more, and look how it took off.
