Ever since Sony launched the PS3 Slim and dropped the price tag to $299 USD in September, it almost appears the console’s mystique has transformed into what it should be – a killer and affordable piece of hardware. Sure, it seems every month that the NPD Group releases sales figures we find Nintendo dominating the U.S. market, but it’s clear that since the PS3 Slim launched, Sony is making some headway.
After all, just about everyone and their grandmother, nephew, and little sister has a Wii or DS kicking around. The PlayStation 3 has always been thought of as the “hardcore” console full of bells and whistles like a Blu-ray player and the free PlayStation Network; plus, the PS3 doesn’t seem to break down nearly as much as its “red ring of death” counterpart.
April was the weakest month for PS3 hardware sales, with December the clear winner. Since the Slim launched, Sony has sold more than 4 million PS3s in the U.S. Here’s a look at the PS3 sales figures since the PS3 Slim launched:
April – 180,800
March – 313,900
February _ 360,100
January – 276,900
December – 1,360,000
November – 710,400
October – 320,600
September – 491,800
So what does Sony need to do to continue its growth and break further into Microsoft and Nintendo’s market? Well, that’s open for debate.
On one hand, the addition of the PlayStation Move may attract a whole new audience looking for an HD Wii. While a lot of gamers are not all that interested in Move, if it can help sell more consoles, the motion controller will be a good thing for the overall gaming market (the more people that own the console, the more publishers and developers are willing spend on making great games). We should not forget that even if you didn’t care for Wii, the Move may offer something completely new and innovative.
Above all, Sony will need to keep its head on straight and cater to its fan base by continuing to provide great software. E3 is just weeks away, and we are likely to hear about the upcoming year’ (and years’) biggest titles, but we already know there are two huge games that should come out this year – LittleBigPlanet 2 and Gran Turismo 5 (here’s hoping).
So what do you think is the answer for Sony to continue to sell systems? Is it Move? 3D gaming? Software? An enhanced PSN? Or, maybe you have some other ideas you’d like to share. Leave us some comments below and let us know what you think Sony has in store for the rest of the year.