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Sales of PlayStation 3 jump-started 135 percent since price cut

In response to the latest console hardware sales numbers reported by NPD Group, Sony contacted DailyTech and other media with its own internal data on PlayStation 3 sales.

According to Sony’s data, PS3 sales have increased by more than 135 percent at the company's top five retailers since the new $499 price was announced two weeks ago on July 9.

The surge in PS3 sales helped to send total PlayStation hardware up 161 percent, software up 15 percent and peripherals by 60 percent.

"The new price on the 60 GB PS3, coupled with our very strong software showing from E3, is certainly paying dividends in terms of impressive sales across the board at retail," said Jack Tretton, president and CEO, SCEA.

Tretton continued by outlining the upcoming lineup of promising PS3 software: "This jump in sales bodes very well for us heading into the fall as we launch an impressive arsenal of hardware and software, leading off with the new 80 GB PS3 in August along with the unveiling of highly anticipated games such as Lair and Warhawk. That will be followed by Heavenly Sword in September and six more exclusive first-party PS3 games in October, including Ratchet & Clank Future: Tools of Destruction."

Overall console sales in June saw an increase across the board for all systems. PS3 sales were up 21 percent over May's figures, with 98,469 units sold at retail. Furthermore, PSP was up 31 percent year-over-year, selling 290,108 units at retail, while PlayStation 2 once again remained one of the best-selling consoles on the market, with unit sales of 270,763 for the month, up an impressive 44 percent from May.

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I got mine
By SandmanWN on 7/24/2007 10:34:14 AM , Rating: 3
Yes Sony, you did a good thing. Now try not to be a dolt and mess it up. Unfortunately I hear the 60gb PS3 is out the door soon and we will be left with a hacked up 80gb overpriced machine without the emotion engine.

I, like many other people, took this opportunity to get my PS3 before the price goes back up. And I can vouch that I had to go to several stores just to find one in stock.




RE: I got mine
By vdig on 7/24/2007 10:48:26 AM , Rating: 4
The way I figure it, there are three reasons for the increase in sale:

The first is some people find that the product is more affordable and that they are getting their money's worth with this cut.

The second is that people are hearing that this cut is only until all 60GB units are depleted. Upon reaching that point, the 80GB version will retail for the old, slow selling $599 USD price. I don't think Sony will like the sales trend after they hit that point, unless the PS3 titles start coming fast and hard.

The third is that a few of those buying know that the PS3 60GB units will be the last ones to have the PS2 chip in it. This generates a bit of fear in those that require legacy in obscure or technically hard to emulate titles, making them buy before it sells out.

In my opinion, this effect will be quite temporary, unless they decide that when the 60GB units sell out, eventually, they bring the price of the 80GB units down to the $499 price. Even then, I need to see more marquee titles on the shelves to be the lure, something where Sony can only do so much on their own.


RE: I got mine
By retrospooty on 7/24/2007 10:59:26 AM , Rating: 3
yup, I think you hit the nail on the head.


RE: I got mine
By HakonPCA on 7/24/2007 11:57:11 AM , Rating: 4
Also don't forget that right now you get 5 free Blu-Ray DVDs Free with any player, which of course would include the PS3

Just another reason sales might be higher right now.


RE: I got mine
By Hawkido on 7/24/07, Rating: 0
RE: I got mine
By cubby1223 on 7/24/2007 12:07:36 PM , Rating: 2
...

but you still get the physical product, regardless if they are counted towards sales or not.


RE: I got mine
By Hawkido on 7/24/2007 12:25:53 PM , Rating: 2
Hackon was alluding to the free movies distorting movie title sales. I believe the tracking firms are doing their best to prevent freebies from distorting this... I know Neilson (SP) only tracks sales tickets with a cost associated with the title.


RE: I got mine
By cubby1223 on 7/24/2007 12:32:52 PM , Rating: 5
He was saying the free movies are increasing PS3 sales.


RE: I got mine
By clayclws on 7/24/2007 1:16:21 PM , Rating: 2
Hawkido, I think you misintepreted. Hackon was saying the freebies will increase the PS3 sales...nothing to do with Bluray vs HD-DVD, or Nielsen or whatever tracking that you are talking about.


RE: I got mine
By Hawkido on 7/24/2007 1:55:18 PM , Rating: 2
Oops my bad... I though the HD-DVD vs. Blu-Ray movie sales debate was his target.

Well, I don't know if I would buy a PS3 just because it came with 5 movies (freebies usually suck). It might change my mind of where I bought it, but not if I bought it.


RE: I got mine
By samadhifc on 7/24/2007 7:24:24 PM , Rating: 2
quote:
freebies usually suck

You get to choose one from each catagory:
1) a. The Guardian, b. Pearl Harbor, c. Invincible, d. Chicken Little

2) a. Corpse Bride, b. Phantom of the Opera, c. Blazing Saddles

3) a. Stealth, b. Resident Evil 2, c. Underworld Evolution, d. Stir of Echoes

4) a. The Italian Job, b. Black Rain, c. Babel, d. Devil's Rejects

5) a. Kiss of the Dragon, b. Omen 666, c. The Transporter 2, d. Species, e. Hart's War, f. The Last Waltz

Personally, I'd go with 1c, 2c, 3a, 4a, and 5c but that's just my two cents. Your tastes may vary.


RE: I got mine
By doctor sam adams on 7/25/07, Rating: 0
RE: I got mine
By augiem on 7/24/2007 12:36:08 PM , Rating: 2
I almost went out and bought one for that very reason. Future loss of PS2 compatibility is probably a major factor here. I don't want to lose access to my library of PS2 games years from now (even though I never play them! ;)

But then I thought about it... I could just buy a backup PS2 now or wait until good emulators for the PC are developed.


RE: I got mine
By encryptkeeper on 7/24/07, Rating: 0
RE: I got mine
By Alexvrb on 7/24/2007 8:35:53 PM , Rating: 2
Excellent catch. Without showing overall sales for all retailers, its just a meaningless percentage. Not to mention that a 135% percent increase in sales isn't as impressive when the number of units being sold was pretty low.


RE: I got mine
By ruibing on 7/24/2007 11:04:51 AM , Rating: 2
I also agree that Sony should keep this price, even for the 80GB one. I got mine this weekend from Amazon and ordered over $100 of accessories (HDMI cable, second controller) and games immediately with it (just some PS2 greatest hits I've been wanting to play for awhile like FFX, God of War, Kingdom Hearts). I won't be bringing the system to school with me so I'll get some PS3 and some more PS2 games in the winter when I come back home for winter break. I think they will end up making more money with games, accessories, and a bigger following if they can stomach losing $100 more on the system. And they should add in a mini-USB and HDMI cable (can't be worth more than $2 if they get them in bulk), then people can stop one of their complaints against the system.

I think $499 was worth it. It is basically an entertainment system. With singstar, littlebigplanet, and eyetoy, it can also be a good fun system. There's also the final fantasy, mgs, and all the good ps2 games I'll now be able to play (this is the first console I ever bought).


RE: I got mine
By ATC on 7/24/2007 11:11:05 AM , Rating: 5
I wouldn't count on the 80gb PS3 staying at 599. Yes, with both the 60 and the 80 being on shelves at the same time, the 80 must be higher priced, but there is no way it's staying there once the 60s are gone.

The only reason Sony cannot put both at the 499 mark is because the 80 would cannibalize sales of the 60. It's as simple as that. And you're dreaming if you think Sony would publicly say that. It would be akin to MSFT announcing a date and a lower price for the new 65nm 360. That would halt sales of the current 360s.


RE: I got mine
By zaki on 7/24/2007 11:24:26 AM , Rating: 1
i am not sure whether it was reported on this site or another, but apparently the same people that saw the 60 gb PS3 price cut coming, are now predicting that the 80 gb ps3 will also be dropped down once 60 gb stocks are depleted.

i think that is good news, as far as the ps2 hardware game emulator thing goes, i really couldnt care less- and this is coming from someone who has played ps2 games for as long as anybody else. really the whole point of the new ps3....is the new ps3.

If removing the ps2 chip means that the ps3 will cost less, then thats just fine with me, because i (like so many others) already have a half-dead ps2.


RE: I got mine
By encryptkeeper on 7/24/2007 12:53:02 PM , Rating: 1
i am not sure whether it was reported on this site or another, but apparently the same people that saw the 60 gb PS3 price cut coming, are now predicting that the 80 gb ps3 will also be dropped down once 60 gb stocks are depleted.


It's probably better to wait and see. Even if Sony could afford to do it right away, they wouldn't want to. Dropping the 80 immediately to $499 after the 60s are gone would piss off a lot of users who jumped on the price break. I'd like to see what sales numbers this 121% increase is compared against. You can bet with Sony (or any company in this situation) that the facts of increases are twisted figures.

BTW where are all the people that were bitching about Nintendo changing it's hardware so damn much?


RE: I got mine
By Timeless on 7/24/2007 3:23:29 PM , Rating: 2
I don't understand your reasoning here. People would be mad that Sony cut the price on the 80GB version when they have the 60GB version? What are 60GB buyers really missing that makes them mad? 20GB harddrive or retard software emulation? To me, dropping the price to $449 USD would be a better choice for the 80GB. 20GB is hardly that much more space and the 80GB buyers are stuck with a cripled PS3 that can't play some PS2 games.