PS3 tops Xbox 360; Microsoft blames supply

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Todd Bishop's Microsoft Blog

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PS3 tops Xbox 360; Microsoft blames supply

Sony's PlayStation 3 beat Microsoft's Xbox 360 for the first time and came in slightly behind Nintendo's Wii in U.S. video-game console unit sales for January, according to numbers just released by the NPD Group market research firm. Microsoft hinted at the outcome yesterday when it reported that it had been experiencing Xbox 360 supply problems due to higher-than-expected holiday sales.

Here are the results for January:

Nintendo Wii: 274,000
PlayStation 3: 269,000
Xbox 360: 230,000

"We certainly believe that this is an anomaly, caused by the great demand we saw coming out of the holidays and continuing through January," said Microsoft spokesman David Dennis this afternoon. He noted the company is "working to do everything we can to replenish the inventory."

Microsoft is taking solace in the fact that "Call of Duty 4" on Xbox 360 was the top-selling game for the month, according to the NPD stats.

I have messages in to Sony and Nintendo representatives. More to come.

Update, 6 p.m.: In a statement to the media, Sony noted that the PS3 came out ahead of the Xbox 360 and pointed to progress in areas including movie studios' embrace of the Blu-ray next-generation DVD format, which the PS3 uses. Jack Tretton, Sony Computer Entertainment America chief executive, said in the statement that it's "definitely shaping up to be a breakthrough year for us."

Update, 6:25 p.m. Nintendo's statement: "In January we still sold every piece of hardware we could get into stores. Demand for Wii in particular continues to outstrip supply. Our January sales number reflects our commitment to make sure supplies were as strong as possible for the holidays. Nintendo diverted some of January's hardware supplies to sell in December."

Posted by at February 14, 2008 3:37 p.m.
Category: Video Games

Comments

#98620

Posted by unregistered user at 2/14/08 4:20 p.m.

supply problems? or maybe because the PS-3 is a great Blu Ray HD player out- of- the box and that format seems to have won the HD DVD war? Whereas, Xbox is not available with Blu Ray. A PS3 is a two-fur... Good game machine, excellent High Def DVD player (that is also BR software upgradable).

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#98631

Posted by unregistered user at 2/14/08 4:50 p.m.

I disagree while you can get an HD-DVD player along with a gaming console you can only get a few games exclusively on the PS3. I work for Game Crazy a video game store (as the name implies). PS3's have sold more lately but as the article says the 360 is not on the shelf to sell. In the past three months the store has sold about 80-90 360's and only about 20-25 PS3's. While I did like Sony's previous products they have not given their customer's a buying incentive by bundling it with a HD-DVD player. The reason that PS3 has not selling as well is because they are ignoring their primary market base for the PS3. Having an amazing system like the PS3 is nice but with no games for the platform is like having a Cadillac with no engine in it. In the next few months Microsoft will meet demand and take back their position. Also like many American's I am waiting for the format war to turn one way or another, but for video games I will stick with my 360.
Anonymous Joe

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#98645

Posted by unregistered user at 2/14/08 5:16 p.m.

The games argument is old now. There are plenty of games out for the PS3 now and more coming out. Find a new dead horse to beat.

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#98647

Posted by unregistered user at 2/14/08 5:29 p.m.

Its always funny to hear a non-gammer try to make a valid point about the PS3, the fact remains, they gamers are crapy and/or can be purchased for the 360. The games offered for the 360 beat the PS3 twice over, it makes sense the lack of video games for a video game console is a dead horse, who buys a console for the games your competly correct.

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#98663

Posted by unregistered user at 2/14/08 6:34 p.m.

Supply problems is a rather lame line. If you can only supply a market with 5 units and claim "we sold out so that's why they beat us" then don't you think you have problems? Rather than making excuses, if they can really outsell the PS3 how about they prove it by fixing the supply problems. Running out of stock is throwing market to the competition.

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#98944

Posted by 8bitjoystick at 2/15/08 2:55 p.m.

My theory is the supply shortage of Xbox 360s might be from the Chinese New Year vacations and all the Chinese assembly plant workers had the week off to play Halo and eat moon cakes. I am dead serious check the calendar dates and compare to the shortages. Chinese New Year is as big a really deal in Asia could affect production at the factories. It could just be as simple as the holiday break slowed production and the demand for Xboxes surpassed the supply. Happy Year of the Rat!

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#100773

Posted by unregistered user at 2/22/08 5:29 a.m.

Even if supplies where low on microsofties side that is an internal issue. Dont try and blame sony for microsoft blunders. Sony has been in the videogame industrie for over 15 years. They know what they are doing as can be seen by (Blue-Ray). This years is the year of the PS3. Just look at the exclusive list for xbots just added Gear of war 2 wich just like the xbots is going to be rushed to the market so that there is something for the BOTS to play. LOL funny hah the other are Ninja gaiden and fable HAHAHAHAHAH what a lineup. Its time to come to the darkside boys. In the last moth many of my XBOT friends have turned to sony mainly because of the dissapointment with RROD and many of them to cheap to pay for the Live service. They prefer FREE. Any gamers willing to join my friends list invite please state where u got my ID From Please.
PSN ID: CRAZFLESH

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#105299

Posted by unregistered user at 3/5/08 11:47 p.m.

I Have Both I Never Had The RROD But My Blu-Ray Shit The Bed After 2 Weeks Just Like The Ps2 Did With The Dvd Drive Watch To Many Movies And The Drive Wont Read The Games And If I Want To Play Games I will Play On My 360 If I want To Watch Movies I Will Buy Another Ps3 Or Standalone Player. I Pay For Xbox live Because We Get UPdates First Then The Ps3

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