Analyst declares PlayStation 2 "on its way out of the industry for good."
Approaching nearly a year since the launch of the PlayStation 3, something is happening that Sony could have never expected: one of its home consoles continues to sell well, as does the software that it plays. What few, including Sony, could have guessed is that it would be the PS2 leading the way, rather than the new technology-packed PlayStation 3.
Last month, the PlayStation 2 sold 215,000 consoles, once again outpacing the PlayStation 3 which moved only 119,400. For casual gamers, the draw of the PlayStation 2 may be its low price and extensive library – two characteristics that the PlayStation 3 has yet to display.
The PS2 still exhibits surprising market strength in its seventh year, though Sony would like to think that it is all a part of their plan, as the games company has boasted that its PlayStation platforms were all designed with a 10-year lifecycle in mind.
One particular analyst at the Deutsche Bank observed a slight dip in PS2 performance in the September NPD sales figures, and noted that it could mean the beginning of the end for Sony’s most successful platform yet.
“PlayStation 2 software sales fell 47%Y/Y to $85mn, representing a deceleration from the 33% Y/Y decline last month,” declared Deutsche Bank analyst Jeetil Patel. “While this substantial decline was inevitable, it is currently unclear whether the drop reflects consumer transition to next-gen software or weak spending patterns amongst the low-end consumer. Needless to say, with tougher comps ahead for PS2 software sales, we think that the PS2 may finally be on its way out of the industry for good.”
Whether or not the PS2 is on the way out, Sony still intends to sell plenty of it to consumers this holiday season. SCEA announced late summer that it will be bringing this November a special edition Ceramic White PS2 console bundled with SingStarPop and two microphones. With both Guitar Hero 3 and Rock Band set to appear on the PS2 also, the old console appears to still be relevant in the eyes of publishers.
In fact, a report from Nielsen GamePlay Metrics finds that as much as 42 percent of all console use was on the PS2.
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