PS3 worldwide sales eclipse Xbox 360.

[ToyfareMark]

Interesting.

www.gameinformer.com/b/news/archive/2013/01/10/playstation-3-worldwide-sales-eclipse-xbox-360.aspx

While the general perception is that this generation has been "won" by Microsoft -- largely due to the Xbox 360's dominance in North America -- analyst firm IDC's data now shows a slight advantage for Sony's PlayStation 3.

In a new report entitled "Worldwide Video Game and Entertainment Console Hardware and Packaged Software 2012-2016," IDC says that Sony passed Microsoft's worldwide numbers in the recent holiday season. PlayStation 3's worldwide sales numbers now stand at 77 million, compared to Xbox 360's 76 million.

This near dead heat is surprisingly, considering that Sony got a late start in this generation, and has struggled to catch Microsoft in the U.S. and Canada. It's also worth noting that -- despite the previous conventional wisdom -- the video game market in this generation was robust enough to support not one, but three, successful home game consoles (including Nintendo's Wii).

Source: IDC via Digital Trends

I would say Sony should thank Japan for turning their nose up at the 360, but I don't think the PS3 has done too well in Japan either. Regardless, its a bit amazing that the PS3 even caught up to the 360 let alone passing it considering how much of a rough start it had.

[Hurbster]

Sony is a heck of a powerful brand-name in Japan. I think in comparison to XB360 sales in Japan the PS3 sold way more. I also think that at the end of this generation the sheer grunt of the PS3 is now showing. It was always more difficult to program for but as devs got used to the cell projects slowly became PS3 led rather than 360 led. Personally I don't think Microsoft should really devote much time and money to cracking Japan with the next XBox, it's plain they are still pretty xenophobic.

[King Ghidorah]

It's a shame they have no business sense.

[Koda, Master Crunchyroller]

Really for the last few years the 360's lead was essentially just the amount of 360s sold during its year long head start.

I think what finally led to the PS3 jumping over the 360 is a two fold thing. First the 360's lack of exclusives finally caught up with them and PS+ is now a far better deal than Xbox Live Gold can ever hope to beat currently.

Those two things in my eyes are what finally swung the PS3 into second place.

[Hurbster]

And Kinect is a big fat failure. Seriously - it's rubbish. And totally not designed for the smaller apartments that you get in places like Japan.

[Koda, Master Crunchyroller]

Jan 11, 2013 12:18:35 GMT -5 Hurbster said:

Sony is a heck of a powerful brand-name in Japan. I think in comparison to XB360 sales in Japan the PS3 sold way more. I also think that at the end of this generation the sheer grunt of the PS3 is now showing. It was always more difficult to program for but as devs got used to the cell projects slowly became PS3 led rather than 360 led. Personally I don't think Microsoft should really devote much time and money to cracking Japan with the next XBox, it's plain they are still pretty xenophobic.

Except even the PS3 didn't do well in Japan. It did do better than the 360, but it still wasn't a huge success there. The freaking PSP was more successful in Japan than the PS3.

[Cyno]

Not surprised given that PS3 sales were far stronger in Japan than the 360 (not that PS3 sales were GREAT in Japan, but 360 sales were outright anemic there), and it was catching up in Europe and North America while the people who wanted 360's already had them. With price drops and the increasing number of HDTV's and popularity of Blu-Ray, the PS3 was well suited to be a late bloomer and it's become just that.

[Cyno]

Jan 11, 2013 12:23:26 GMT -5 Koda, Master Crunchyroller said:

Jan 11, 2013 12:18:35 GMT -5 Hurbster said:

Sony is a heck of a powerful brand-name in Japan. I think in comparison to XB360 sales in Japan the PS3 sold way more. I also think that at the end of this generation the sheer grunt of the PS3 is now showing. It was always more difficult to program for but as devs got used to the cell projects slowly became PS3 led rather than 360 led. Personally I don't think Microsoft should really devote much time and money to cracking Japan with the next XBox, it's plain they are still pretty xenophobic.

Except even the PS3 didn't do well in Japan. It did do better than the 360, but it still wasn't a huge success there. The freaking PSP was more successful in Japan than the PS3.

That's not a knock since the PSP for awhile was the most successful platform in Japan after the DS. Japan loves Monster Hunter to a ridiculous degree.

[Koda, Master Crunchyroller]

Jan 11, 2013 12:22:40 GMT -5 Hurbster said:

And Kinect is a big fat failure. Seriously - it's rubbish. And totally not designed for the smaller apartments that you get in places like Japan.

Kinect is better suited for non gaming purposes. Seriously Kinect IS an amazing piece of technology, just.......not when used for games.

What sunk Kinect gaming wise is MS's insistence that it be a controller free gaming experience. If Kinect had a wand controller like the PS Move, it would've worked, IMO.

A big problem is no controller = limited movement on Kinect. Nearly every game is on rails because that is the only way to move your character with Kinect.

But sales wise Kinect is not a failure. It eclipsed 10 million units sold a long time ago.

[Cyno]

Kinect is amazing technology but in the wrong field. The homebrew applications I've seen for Kinect are nothing short of incredible and it's being wasted on tripe like Kinectimals and Not!WiiSports.

Dance Central is a lot of fun, though.

[Koda, Master Crunchyroller]

Jan 11, 2013 12:24:02 GMT -5 Cyno said:

Not surprised given that PS3 sales were far stronger in Japan than the 360 (not that PS3 sales were GREAT in Japan, but 360 sales were outright anemic there), and it was catching up in Europe and North America while the people who wanted 360's already had them. With price drops and the increasing number of HDTV's and popularity of Blu-Ray, the PS3 was well suited to be a late bloomer and it's become just that.

Another thing that helps the PS3 is it is THE lead platform for Netflix development as it is the non-PC device that has had the most Netflix use according to Netflix themselves.

[Free Hat]

Can't say I'm surprised. The PS3 has been outpacing the 360 in monthly sales since like 2009.

[Bishblast]

And rightfully so... this comes from a person who has had a PS3, 360, and Wii for the last 4 years.

[Cyno]

PS3's internet stuff being free for everything non-gaming is a HUGE advantage over Xbox Live. I still prefer Live Gold for gaming because I think you get what you pay for there and it's still better than PSN in terms of latency and stability. But there's no reason for the media stuff like Netflix to be Gold-only when it works just as well on PS3 for free.

And the Netflix interface on 360 is total crap, too. PS3's is way better.

[Koda, Master Crunchyroller]

Jan 11, 2013 12:33:17 GMT -5 Cyno said:

PS3's internet stuff being free for everything non-gaming is a HUGE advantage over Xbox Live. I still prefer Live Gold for gaming because I think you get what you pay for there and it's still better than PSN in terms of latency and stability. But there's no reason for the media stuff like Netflix to be Gold-only when it works just as well on PS3 for free.

And the Netflix interface on 360 is total crap, too. PS3's is way better.

Honestly Gold is only worthwhile for the multiplayer and even then PSN isn't a bad online experience. And it is free.

Add in the free games and huge sales discounts you get with Plus and I can't see how anyone can really justify paying for Gold when its only advantages are slightly better online connection and party chat.

[BK From WV]

I hate the PS3 and I don't know why. I had a PS2 for years and loved it but I do not like the PS3 at all. A couple of my friends have one and I just do not care for the gameplay. Again,I can't really explain it. One of my friends was the same way as he had one for about 2 months and got rid of it. I'm not bashing anyone who likes them so please don't think that. I just don't care for them. I know the 360 isn't anything phenomenal either but I do like the feel of it better. I do not care for the Kinect though. I wanted to like the PS3,I really did. After years of having a PS2,it seemed like a no-brainer for me. For some reason though,I just don't.

[TheDarkestKnight]

Isn't this actually a slightly misleading figure? I've read it's merely units shipped. As actual sales to the consumer it wouldn't be this high. Plenty of consoles are sitting gathering dust in stores.

[Malcolm]

Jan 11, 2013 12:49:39 GMT -5 BK From WV said:

I hate the PS3 and I don't know why. I had a PS2 for years and loved it but I do not like the PS3 at all. A couple of my friends have one and I just do not care for the gameplay. Again,I can't really explain it. One of my friends was the same way as he had one for about 2 months and got rid of it. I'm not bashing anyone who likes them so please don't think that. I just don't care for them. I know the 360 isn't anything phenomenal either but I do like the feel of it better. I do not care for the Kinect though. I wanted to like the PS3,I really did. After years of having a PS2,it seemed like a no-brainer for me. For some reason though,I just don't.

That doesn't make sense at all. The gameplay itself should be the same across platforms. It's not like there's some kind of motion control gap...

[Koda, Master Crunchyroller]

Jan 11, 2013 12:55:46 GMT -5 Malcolm said:

Jan 11, 2013 12:49:39 GMT -5 BK From WV said:

I hate the PS3 and I don't know why. I had a PS2 for years and loved it but I do not like the PS3 at all. A couple of my friends have one and I just do not care for the gameplay. Again,I can't really explain it. One of my friends was the same way as he had one for about 2 months and got rid of it. I'm not bashing anyone who likes them so please don't think that. I just don't care for them. I know the 360 isn't anything phenomenal either but I do like the feel of it better. I do not care for the Kinect though. I wanted to like the PS3,I really did. After years of having a PS2,it seemed like a no-brainer for me. For some reason though,I just don't.

That doesn't make sense at all. The gameplay itself should be the same across platforms. It's not like there's some kind of motion control gap...

Maybe he means the controllers?

[Malcolm]

Jan 11, 2013 13:00:57 GMT -5 Koda, Master Crunchyroller said:

Jan 11, 2013 12:55:46 GMT -5 Malcolm said:

That doesn't make sense at all. The gameplay itself should be the same across platforms. It's not like there's some kind of motion control gap...

Maybe he means the controllers?

Which also doesn't make much sense considering he liked the PS2 which has a near identical controller...