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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