Microsoft: PS3 is hemorrhaging at retail
- Posted March 20th, 2009 at 15:38 EDT by
- 95 Comments
Microsoft's Aaron Greenberg, who apparently never ceases to amaze people with his ridiculously inept media bites, has claimed that PlayStation 3 has started hemorrhaging at retail. He's come to this conclusion due to the assumption that former PlayStation 2 owners are now fleeing to the Xbox 360, despite the fact that the Nintendo Wii has almost doubled both consoles in sales.
"You can't underestimate that we're half the price of the PS3 at a time when consumers were looking for great value," Greenburg told Gamasutra. "The PS3 was down in February two percent even with the launch of Killzone 2 -- that's months of year-over-year declines. Xbox continues to head north while the PS3 is heading south. We're gaining share.
"But what we hear from our partners is that it's not just PS3, it's also PS2 down 62 percent year over year," he continued. "With that business declining, and with the PS3 business declining, it's been described to me as hemorrhaging at retail right now, and it just keeps getting worse.
"What we're finding in our research is that a large portion of the volume we're driving with Xbox 360 purchasers is actually PS2 owners choosing Xbox for the next generation. We're switching people from the PlayStation brand over to the Xbox brand."
Furthermore, Greenberg goes on to iterate that Street Fighter IV sold more copies on the Xbox 360 than the PlayStation 3. By NPD's calculations, however, the 360 format sold roughly 40K more copies on a gaming platform that has seven million more consoles in North America than the PlayStation 3. Apparently Mr. Greenberg doesn't understand that the PS3 version sold at a substantially larger attachment rate than the 360 version he's trying to push into the limelight. Despite that failed logic, Greenberg went on to discuss Resident Evil 5 sales.
"We're hearing the same early returns for Resident Evil. Not only is [Resident Evil 5] selling more, but we did a limited edition Elite bundle with that as well -- so we've obviously benefited from having this deep partnership with Capcom, and we're excited to have the Resident Evil franchise for the first time ever on our platform.
"That follows in the steps of [franchises like] Grand Theft Auto -- and we all know Final Fantasy is coming -- that have been historically associated with PlayStation."
North America isn't the world, Mr. Greenberg. It wouldn't be unreasonable to assume that Resident Evil 5 and Street Fighter IV sold more copies on a worldwide scale on PlayStation 3 than they did on the 360.
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Comments
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liquidus118
- 11:41am EDT - March 20th, 2009
- 2
Wow, Microsoft say PS3 sucks? Wow, didn't see THAT one coming.
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O_G_H
- 11:42am EDT - March 20th, 2009
- 3
You say what he says is inept, but I don't see any ineptness. I can easily see a PS2 user getting a cheap Xbox 360. Everytime someone buys a cheap 360 for their kid, it's an advertisment for the kid that doesn't have one. Not only that, but a PS2 owner can't look forward to backward compatability. All the proof you need for where Sony's heading is in the PSP. The most powerful, most expensive, mass hate...no games (although the PS3 hasn't reached the "no games support" stage yet).
The point he made about Killzone 2 was cutting as well. THE PS3'S 1ST PARTY LINE OF GAMES IS NOTHING SHORT OF INCREDIBLE!!! (Heavenly Sword, Uncharted, Eye of Judgement, Gran Turismo 5: Prologue, MLB The Show, Resistance 1 and 2, Ratchet and Clank, Killzone 2...etc.). But with people being as non-discerning and cheap as they are, NOT EVEN GAMES ARE BRINGING PEOPLE OVER.
I think people are getting that the PS3 is the BEST upgrade, but they are also seeing that if they upgrade to a 360 (from a PS2 or Wii), that's good enough for them, too. Still, the PS3 sells well for being so much more expensive (than the $200 console). I'd really like to know what the Elite sales are.
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SamuraiClarke
- 11:45am EDT - March 20th, 2009
- 4
What exactly is the dictionary definition of 'hemorrhaging'?
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Fiddlesworth
- 11:46am EDT - March 20th, 2009
- 7
If I was him, I'd be worried that the $200 more expensive system is selling 70% the amount of my system, too.
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iriishslay3r2009
- 11:47am EDT - March 20th, 2009
- 8
all microsoft do is buy theyre way to success so what do they know about the gaming industry
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PTearGriffin0123
- 11:48am EDT - March 20th, 2009
- 9
Well the fact is XBOX is cheaper. But thats why us PS3 owners are much more classy. We demand the features and quality. Hence why more Americans have XBOX's, cause we are CHEAP and make CRAPPY products......sadly......
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edward_moffet
- 11:51am EDT - March 20th, 2009
- 11
you know it never fails when it seems ps3 is at it's peak and has no where to go but up there's an influx of BS in the media
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dwightkshrute
- 11:54am EDT - March 20th, 2009
- 12
guess he disregards the fact that the PS3 has gained a lot of momentum over the year, and is getting way more exclusives than just halo wars and ninja blade
oh and PS3 gets ninja gaiden 2, ooohhh what, another 360 exclusive going to our side along with the others, eternal sonata, lost planet, only a matter of time before we get more muahahahahah
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iriishslay3r2009
- 11:56am EDT - March 20th, 2009
- 13
well sony are known for high quality expensive hardware so soon enough when games get really complex and technical microsoft will be begging sony to sell blu-ray to them and sony will flaty refuse.either that or microsoft will copy blu ray and call it rrod-ray :P
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O_G_H
- 11:56am EDT - March 20th, 2009
- 14
By the way, there's no price drop coming.
Sony WILL NOT DO IT. That's not their "added value" business model. Again, look at the PSP. I think fans need to start accepting that. Even if there is a price drop (which there isn't), there's NO WAY it will be $100 like they're saying. No way.
If they aren't going to drop the price, they should add INCREDIBLE goodies to the bundle. Like 3 vouchers for their own 1st party games (think: Killzone, GT5:P and MLB09 theshow for free...whatever, buyer's choice). Maybe packing in the textpad for Home, too. ADD COMPONENT CABLES TO THE DARN BOX!! Make it feel like a new owner SHOULDN'T have buyer's remose for spending $400 or $500 (although I have to say, since I use ALL of my PS3's features, it's worth every penny). But I know most people don't even KNOW what their PS3's do.
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r_e_f_l_e_x
- 12:02pm EDT - March 20th, 2009
- 15
Just because your console is cheaper and sells more, doesnt mean it is better. SONY has taken the risk to make a TRUE next-generation console and i thank them for pushing the limits of this form of entertainment. If it was up to these other companies, nothing would ever progress.
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mortada
- 12:05pm EDT - March 20th, 2009
- 17
take it easy jerk,arrogance and overconfidence wont get you guys anywhere,and deep partnership with capcom,hey just a reminder re took it`s very first steps on sony`s platforms,you think that with such crappy words you `ll be able to raise the 360`s holders` morale,well you are wrong ps3 with God`s welling is gong to crush the 360 under it`s feet like a bug! so go to he//,idiots!
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teevanator
- 12:25pm EDT - March 20th, 2009
- 19
haemorraging sales? we are, seeing as haemorraging could be interpreted to mean "gaining quickly"depending which way you look at it. he really does have a poor grasp of words.
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roflmuffins8
- 12:33pm EDT - March 20th, 2009
- 21
This guy needs to get his facts straight. SF4 has sold at a larger game-to-console ratio than on the 360, so they shouldn't be bragging there. Also, Resident Evil sales are leading on the PS3 worldwide, not the 360, so he shouldn't be bragging there either. Microsoft keeps trying desperately to prove their superiority, but ultimately the 360 is an RROD piece of crap with no good exclusives planned for 2009.
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darkknight88
- 12:34pm EDT - March 20th, 2009
- 22
Who cares what Microsoft says. All they do is talk out of their Red ring of death(ASS) Sony will dominate. I can see happening already.
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mikeghtmare
- 12:52pm EDT - March 20th, 2009
- 23
lol, Sony might be bleeding money at retail, but they are bleeding money from broken 360s and with their warranty, so they should focus more on what's wrong with their unit and not with their competitors.
I know a lot of people that have switched from 360 to PS3 or went directly to PS3 because of the RROD issues; I'm sure if they had actually addressed this right away they'd be in a much better position... I would go as far as saying that if they had fixed this after their first year they would have pretty much won the so-called console war. -
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markwesker
- 12:58pm EDT - March 20th, 2009
- 26
lol he fails to also see that to get those sales they had to cut the price of the S***box to the bone and most sales which they keep claiming are just replacements for rrod. sony unlike microsoft still have room to move with price cuts n extended life of the ps3.
plus we have the best exclusives and arnt stingy with given more royalties to developers.
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DarkNemesis
- 1:03pm EDT - March 20th, 2009
- 27
"What we're finding in our research is that a large portion of the volume we're driving with Xbox 360 purchasers is actually PS2 owners choosing Xbox for the next generation. We're switching people from the PlayStation brand over to the Xbox brand."
Well I doubt this, because:
1. All the RPGs have flopped on the 360 and PS2 owners support RPGs.
2. Japan is a huge reason for the PS2's success and the 360 is not popular in Japan dispite all the RPG games once again.
3. If most PS2 owners migrated to the 360 then the console would be over 50 million by now and the Wii would not be the highest selling console.
As a PS2 owner,I own the PS3 and will never support the 360.Also the only thing that MS has going for their system now are multi plat games as he stated in the article.The cheap price is why people are buying the 360,not because they wanted it over the PS3.Shooters are still the highest selling games on the Xbox,not even Halo Wars is being successful.
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Sylar |
Spikey456- 1:15pm EDT - March 20th, 2009
- 31
I dont wanna flame or start any flaming but all this guy is doing is stating the obvious. The 360 is cheaper, yes (we all know this ;) ). ps2 is going downhill, yes, since its been out for like 10 years 0_o. Copies of a 360 game have sold more copies than a ps3 game, yes, they would because they have sold more consoles than sony. I dont think people buy two of the same game do they? Plus the rise of sales from killzone 2 wouldnt be that evident in february anyway, since it was released near the end of the month <_<
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iceveiled
- 1:15pm EDT - March 20th, 2009
- 32
Okay so picture a playground. You have the smart nerdy kid (PS3) and the bully (360). The bully is always trying to intimidate the nerdy kid, shoving him around, hurling insults, etc. The bully seems confident but once you get to know him you realize he's just insecure and intimidated by the nerdy kid's smarts.
The nerdy kid just rolls with the punches and keeps on doing what he does, but the bully goes home at night and cries. Then he red rings.
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Acid-Hippie2007
- 1:22pm EDT - March 20th, 2009
- 34
More garbage from Microsoft, PS3 is doing much better in other countries, and no the USA isn't the only country in the world.
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lordAlucard |
sympozium_666- 1:23pm EDT - March 20th, 2009
- 35
Like Ben Dukta mentioned attacking the competition doesn't appear to be part of the agenda obviously it is for Microsoft. Heck maybe Microsofts scared of the exclusive lineup
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Kurupt-The-Don
- 1:27pm EDT - March 20th, 2009
- 36
lol...im gonna tell Kratos to slash u into pieces..then u will show some respect for sony!!!
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DarkNemesis
- 1:34pm EDT - March 20th, 2009
- 37
On another note,if I had a 360 and only a 360 then I would be disappointed in Microsoft.Why? Because all they are doing is talking about sales and multi games while Sony has been showing off exclusive after exclusive.
All I want to hear about as a consumer is about new exclsuive games coming to the system.When Sega and Nintendo used to compete back in the day,they did it with software line ups and not sales.
The Dreamcast died,but it's a classic console and was better than both the Xbox and the Game Cube because of the innovative games.My brother has a 360 and wants a PS3,but he's waiting for the price drop.When I showed him the GOW3 trailer,he almost fell out because he wants it so bad.
Microsoft has it's priorities out of order.Just somethign to think about for those that support the Xbox.
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BlueDragoon0
- 1:36pm EDT - March 20th, 2009
- 39
"North America isn't the world, Mr. Greenberg."
Enough said.
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iceveiled
- 1:47pm EDT - March 20th, 2009
- 41
This is why I refuse to buy a 360. Childish bullying by the execs at M$. That and I refuse to buy hardware that is knowingly and intentionally poorly manfactured. In all honesty I could care less about the 360's exclusives:
HALO (let's face it, after the first title this franchise is barely mediocre and the most overrated franchise in gaming history).
Gears of War (I have no problem waiting a year for the PC port of Gears 2. Admittedly they are fun games but not worth buying a 360, especially if I have a more than capable PC)
Fable (I'm sorry, but Molyneux is sort of clown. I have no interest in playing Fable 1 with prettier graphics).
Sony didn't rub it in Microsoft's face when it became clear they picked the right optical drive technology. Why? Because Sony is a classy company. Let Microsoft employees make their stupid remarks all they want. They are just an older reflection of the idiotic child morons clogging up Xbox live bandwidth.
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supamariobrotha
- 2:15pm EDT - March 20th, 2009
- 43
this guy can suck sony's d**K always talking sh** fix your crappy system before you even begin to gloat. i pray for the day microsoft stops making systems so it can be nintendo and sony like back in the day just die already 360 and arron greenturd
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a_stray_bullet10
- 2:31pm EDT - March 20th, 2009
- 45
great value? ur xboxs cease too function in under a year with old technologies and mediocre games.
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Armageddon867
- 2:36pm EDT - March 20th, 2009
- 46
I don't care anymore the 360 has FFXIII because PS3 has FFXIII versus, and if the combat system is the same as Kingdom Hearts it will be a must buy for me.
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darthrazorback
- 2:56pm EDT - March 20th, 2009
- 47
For the most part, what he is saying is true. Though, the bit about Killzone 2... come on, dude. Talk to me in March.
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