360 numbers are great, but the bump is probably completely generated by repeat buyers of the system. I suppose it's only natural that when you launch a system that is originally a shoddy design and then release a slim that is significantly better in terms of its design (RROD resolved, 250 GB HDD included, WiFi included, MUCH quieter), the fervent fanbase is going to jump on that. Especially when that fervent fanbase has already been known to buy many iterations of 360's already given the high failure rate of the console.
Not to say this didn't happen when other consoles received a redesign, but I think the effect is much greater on the 360 side in the US given the advantages of upgrading. With the PS3 slim, for instance, you would be downgrading in most instances thanks to no backwards compatibility and less memory reader/USB ports. There truly was very little incentive to upgrade outside of aesthetic reasons. So there were probably significantly more new buyers when the PS3 Slim / Price drop hit.
It's also interesting to see third party sales...PS3 is inching up considerably. Just look at NCAA capturing almost an even split on the PS3 versus the 360. So, despite the large sales of hardware this month for the 360, there wasn't anything to really boast about on the 360 side for software. PS3 continues to eat away at the 360's share in the US for many third party titles. Which does more to bolster my point about most of these sales being to repeat buyers.
As far as PS3 coming in second this gen world wide, it's inevitable, and it'll more than likely happen sometime next year. Those who say it ultimately doesn't matter are only partially right in that assessment. And it's also funny hearing those same people that gloated about the PS3 being a 'failure' and in last place with all sorts of memes (LOL PS3 is dead, LOL PS3 haz no gamez) are now coming out and saying it doesn't matter. Of course it matters. True, from a third party support standpoint it doesn't matter to a large degree, but Microsoft is going to have to pony up more money in order to keep certain titles or DLC exclusive, and the momentum going into next-gen will be on Sony's side, and that can certainly be a problem for Microsoft.
Furthermore, it's amazing to see that even amidst all this discussion of PS3 vs 360, let us not forget that the PS2 outsold the 360 last quarter. Sony has been able to establish themselves in developing markets, which will allow them to see a PS2 --> PS3 transition in these regions as the PS3 gets further into its lifecycle.
Microsoft has done well in the US, but they've really failed to broaden their market globally other than the UK. In terms of financial successes and losers, it's a toss up. Both Microsoft and Sony have lost billions of dollars this gen, but Microsoft has only done it in support of one platform. The PS3 in comparison is a cornerstone of nearly every single major Sony electronics device; Blu-Ray players, Blu-Ray discs, Televisions, 3D televisions, etc. In other words, investment in the PS3 has undoubtedly paid off in these other peripheral divisions, so it's difficult to quantify the true losses. And in the future years, Blu-Ray disc sales alone are projected to make them hundreds of millions of dollars annually.
Going forward, Halo Reach will sell well, and 360 sales will probably be around 500k for the month of September as well, but it's ultimately going to be up to Kinect to push sales to new owners rather than repeat buyers. And after that? Who knows. Depends on if Kinect has any sort of legs.
PS3 really doesn't have anything to worry about sales wise. This month the PS3 sold better than the Xbox 360 did last year at around this time, so if I were to look at holiday sales for the PS3 in the US this fall without any sort of price cut they will probably be slightly lower than last year, but still incredibly strong. 700k November and maybe a 1200-1300k December. Around what the 360 did last year. 360 this year will probably be flat or slightly up for November and December. And world wide the PS3 will make huge gains on the 360.
2011 is where things get interesting, and I'd argue that if Sony can manage to pull the $199 card out of their hat next fall then they will have their highest sales yet...around 17 million or so in one year whenever PS3 gets to 199. Their lineup next year is also absolutely stacked with releases, even more than this year.
