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[KillerMan91]

Always exciting Powerhouse™ 3DS vs PSP race

         3DS 2013   PSP 2007   NDS 2007
January      145        211        239
February     189        176        485
March        230        180        509
April        113        183        471
May          114        221        423
June         225        290        561
July         150        214        405
August       130        151        383
September    220        285        496
October      452        286        458
November     770        567       1530
December    1100       1060       2470
            3838       3824       8430
                        
         3DS 2014   PSP 2008   NDS 2008
January       97        230        251
February     155        243        587
March        159        297        698
April        106        193        415
May           97        182        452
June                    337        783
July                    222        608
August                  253        518
September               238        537
October                 193        491
November                421       1570
December               1020       3040
             614       3829       9950

 

[Xis]

I don't get why people assume huge jump in sales from kinectless SKU - even if you don't care about titanfall and kinect $450 for that was miles better deal than $400 for just console.

For some people, having Kinect in the box was an active negative. As in, an XB1 with Kinect is worse than an XB1 without Kinect, even at the same price.

 

[FiggyCal]

People also tend to forget that last generation was especially long. The PS2/Xbox were the "lead platform" for Sony/MS for a combined 10 years before being replaced and having primary development shifted to new consoles; the PS3/360 were the primary platform for 15. Thus, the PS3/360, combined, had 50% more life as the leading system for their manufacturers.

Neither of those are true. The PS2 -> PS3 era did not have many cross gen titles. And though we're now seeing more cross-gen early on right now, the transition from PS3 -> PS4 is already mostly in favor of the PS4. How many new exclusives were announced for PS3 and 360 at E3? Unless I'm completely missing your point, all evidence points to the fact that primary focus is already on next gen from both the consumers and developers. And no, it's not safe to say that the console market has been stagnant or shrinking (with the exclusion of the wii) because not enough time has passed to dismiss the entire generation yet.

Edit: I'm pretty sure I missed your point. Sorry if I did.

 

[shinra-bansho]

People also tend to forget that last generation was especially long. The PS2/Xbox were the "lead platform" for Sony/MS for a combined 10 years before being replaced and having primary development shifted to new consoles; the PS3/360 were the primary platform for 15. Thus, the PS3/360, combined, had 50% more life as the leading system for their manufacturers.

I think it's reasonable to sort of see these two effects as cancelling each other out (PS2's long life, PS3/360's much longer time in the sun). As such, I think we can safely say that the console space has been stagnant or contracting since the launch of the Xbox 360, if the Wii is simply removed from the conversation.

I tend to prefer looking at annualized sales rates. Total console hardware has returned to TTM unit growth, despite the Wii U's shortcomings. I don't expect they'll ever reach the heights of the music game boom and Wii boom though, obviously.

There certainly has been a contraction, I don't think it's necessarily a bad thing to identify the source of that contraction. Anymore than it's a bad thing to identify the source of that expansion. Nintendo giveth, Nintendo taketh away.

 

[Axass]

Look at the install base for each system. There are literally millions more 3DS's out there.

I know, I wasn't really asking why, more like voicing my dissense for the fact. ;_;

 

[BruceLeeRoy]

Wow Wii U has a definite chance of outselling X1 next month.
How crazy.

 

[SmokyDave]

Always exciting Powerhouse™ 3DS vs PSP race

Crazy numbers. Just crazy.

 

[Majanew]

What did you expect?? There's like 70 million more people with a 360 than an XONE isn't there?

So what happened with Watch Dogs and Wolfenstein? XB1 version outsold 360 version.

 

[maxcriden]

Dave, you must be having a terrific day with this news. Congrats!

 

[maabus1999]

Wow Wii U has a definite chance of outselling X1 next month.
How crazy.

Not sure I follow? MK8 legs? While I don't expect a massive spike, this months XBO numbers were deflated due to the early "new SKU" announcement most likely (value argument aside).

 

[Tom_Cody]

Always exciting Powerhouse™ 3DS vs PSP race

         3DS 2013   PSP 2007   NDS 2007
January      145        211        239
February     189        176        485
March        230        180        509
April        113        183        471
May          114        221        423
June         225        290        561
July         150        214        405
August       130        151        383
September    220        285        496
October      452        286        458
November     770        567       1530
December    1100       1060       2470
            3838       3824       8430
                        
         3DS 2014   PSP 2008   NDS 2008
January       97        230        251
February     155        243        587
March        159        297        698
April        106        193        415
May           97        182        452
June                    337        783
July                    222        608
August                  253        518
September               238        537
October                 193        491
November                421       1570
December               1020       3040
             614       3829       9950

This is so depressing.

 

[robjoh]

I know NPD is for North America. But what is the latest WW shipping numbers for the three consoles? I am mostly curios, because I wonder if we are heading for a PS2 type of generation with one console dominating.

PS4 7 millions in April?
WiiU ~6 millions? Date?
XboxOne ???

 

[Psycho_Mantis]

Always exciting Powerhouse™ 3DS vs PSP race

         3DS 2013   PSP 2007   NDS 2007
January      145        211        239
February     189        176        485
March        230        180        509
April        113        183        471
May          114        221        423
June         225        290        561
July         150        214        405
August       130        151        383
September    220        285        496
October      452        286        458
November     770        567       1530
December    1100       1060       2470
            3838       3824       8430
                        
         3DS 2014   PSP 2008   NDS 2008
January       97        230        251
February     155        243        587
March        159        297        698
April        106        193        415
May           97        182        452
June                    337        783
July                    222        608
August                  253        518
September               238        537
October                 193        491
November                421       1570
December               1020       3040
             614       3829       9950

This is no longer a race.

 

[BruceLeeRoy]

Not sure I follow? MK8 legs? While I don't expect a massive spike, this months XBO numbers were deflated due to the early "new SKU" announcement most likely (value argument aside).

Well the real bump for MK will be June plus though MS dropped the price and will see a surge I just don't think there was any software accompanying the drop for it to do anything spectacular.

 

[mrklaw]

Poor sales all around. PS4 still leading and holding steady. Hopefully June will provide some respithe from the monotony, but with no major game releases I don't see much in the way of a recovery outside of the 5 week month and summer holiday boosts. I don't think the Kinect-less SKU is going to do very well, it hasn't exactly lit up any online rankings and in the most analogous market (UK) there was no mention of it this week by UKIE as a special event like a system seller or a price cut that boosts hardware which points to weak sales.

For the UK at least, June might be a bad month for XB1.

While people might think the new cheaper SKU would spike demand, you have to consider the context of the marketplace.

Prior to this you had titanfall bundled, and then on top of that retailers were piling additional games or discounts to try and move stock.

So now although you have a slightly lower headline price, you're getting a lot less for it (i.e nothing), so the perceived value may be less than the various offers already on the market.

So I think you might need a month or two with this new version on the market, for retailers to then start applying bundles/discounts to it, to get it to a position where it is more desirable than the earlier 'kinect included' bundles.


Its a bit like when a new slim version of a console comes out, and retailers are discounting old stock. For a period the new model feels overpriced until things settle down.

 

[mangochutney]

No Xbox* PR this month? Was there really nothing positive to say?

 

[Opiate]

I tend to prefer looking at annualized sales rates. Total console hardware has returned to TTM unit growth, despite the Wii U's shortcomings. I don't expect they'll ever reach the heights of the music game boom and Wii boom though, obviously.

Well, of course this year is better than last year; there are nearly 2x as many systems being sold to the consumer at different price rates.

Or, put differently: if this year's hardware was down YoY, then that really would indicate catastrophic collapse, because revenue in the year new generations start should be considerably above the year before, when the only thing on the market is the old generation and most buyers already have that.

There certainly has been a contraction, I don't think it's necessarily a bad thing to identify the source of that contraction. Anymore than it's a bad thing to identify the source of that expansion. Nintendo giveth, Nintendo taketh away.

I don't tend to think of them as "Nintendo" gamers, as those are the people who are still buying Wii U despite the system's clear failure. I think in terms of demographics; those people are mostly women, children, and the elderly. Those consumers are still buying games, but they've almost entirely abandoned consoles at this point. I think Sony or Microsoft might have been able to keep these sorts of gamers in the fold if they'd made a serious effort to do so, but apparently they either didn't want to or didn't expect they could seriously compete with Google and Apple (Sony has competed with Apple in several markets in the last decade, and been absolutely crushed in every instance so far).

 

[maabus1999]

Well the real bump for MK will be June plus though MS dropped the price and will see a surge I just don't think there was any software accompanying the drop for it to do anything spectacular.

Maybe. Not seeing it on the few sites that do show sales ranking however (mainly Amazon if you semi-trust it).

It may create an increased floor for the Wii U long term though due to the quality of titles coming, but the device is still too expensive.

 

[Gentleman Jack]

Wow Wii U has a definite chance of outselling X1 next month.
How crazy.

Didn't get get a new cheaper XB1 SKU this month? How is it even a possibility?

 

[Tommy DJ]

No Xbox* PR this month? Was there really nothing positive to say?

When the Xbox family + Wii U together got outsold by the PS4, what positive thing can you say?

 

[robjoh]

I don't tend to think of them as "Nintendo" gamers, as those are the people who are still buying Wii U despite the system's clear failure. I think in terms of demographics; those people are mostly women, children, and the elderly. Those consumers are still buying games, but they've almost entirely abandoned consoles at this point.

I just want to point out that those groups actually were present also at selling PS2. Singstar was a huge hit for my female friends here in Sweden. There were a lot of kids games on the PS2. So I tend to agree that it is not only Nintendo takes and gives away.

Maybe. Not seeing it on the few sites that do show sales ranking however (mainly Amazon if you semi-trust it).

It may create an increased floor for the Wii U long term though due to the quality of titles coming, but the device is still too expensive.

Does Amazon in USA sell Nintendo hardware?

 

[Femmeworth]

Always exciting Powerhouse™ 3DS vs PSP race

         3DS 2013   PSP 2007   NDS 2007
January      145        211        239
February     189        176        485
March        230        180        509
April        113        183        471
May          114        221        423
June         225        290        561
July         150        214        405
August       130        151        383
September    220        285        496
October      452        286        458
November     770        567       1530
December    1100       1060       2470
            3838       3824       8430
                        
         3DS 2014   PSP 2008   NDS 2008
January       97        230        251
February     155        243        587
March        159        297        698
April        106        193        415
May           97        182        452
June                    337        783
July                    222        608
August                  253        518
September               238        537
October                 193        491
November                421       1570
December               1020       3040
             614       3829       9950

Wow. The handheld market.

 

[thuway]

June is a month with multiple wrenches thrown in for good measure. I think it'll be much healthier overall for every one involved. Factors like: The Xbox One price drop, Wii U Mario Kart number's sales impact, Destiny White PS4 Bundle, and the post E3 buyer's will all have some quantifiable significance.

June should give some level of indication of what to expect for the Holidays.

 

[DC1]

Wow Wii U has a definite chance of outselling X1 next month.
How crazy.

Noooo. The One will sell real close to 200k (monthly purchase trend+folks that held out because of the announced price drop).
If you're right my new pic will sure enough be...'Sho nuff'

 

[Bundy]

June is a month with multiple wrenches thrown in for good measure. I think it'll be much healthier overall for every one involved. Factors like: The Xbox One price drop, Wii U Mario Kart number's sales impact, Destiny White PS4 Bundle, and the post E3 buyer's will all have some quantifiable significance.

Wait, what?

 

[maabus1999]

Well, of course this year is better than last year; there are nearly 2x as many systems being sold to the consumer at different price rates.

Or, put differently: if this year's hardware was down YoY, then that really would indicate catastrophic collapse, because revenue in the year new generations start should be considerably above the year before, when the only thing on the market is the old generation and most buyers already have that.
.

I've stated this earlier in the thread but I don't think it can be over stated that we now have observed multiple cross-gen titles in the U.S. (and UK) with 80% next generation adoption rates. Which seems good at first glance until if you look at those titles in aggregate which says 80% of console gamers who are BUYING software already own a next generation console of their choice... And being there are titles still being announced as cross-gen (which were in development at least a year or two prior to the announcement), I don't think the industry expected this to happen at this speed (or in other words the collapse of last gen's sales). My assumption is the core gamers have mostly moved on and the other market segments are just...gone...from the console space.

Growth is a serious concern her from the hardware side right now.

 

[maabus1999]

June is a month with multiple wrenches thrown in for good measure. I think it'll be much healthier overall for every one involved. Factors like: The Xbox One price drop, Wii U Mario Kart number's sales impact, Destiny White PS4 Bundle, and the post E3 buyer's will all have some quantifiable significance.

June should give some level of indication of what to expect for the Holidays.

Destiny Bundle is September. Won't see that until October.

 

[Plinko]

Maybe. Not seeing it on the few sites that do show sales ranking however (mainly Amazon if you semi-trust it).

It may create an increased floor for the Wii U long term though due to the quality of titles coming, but the device is still too expensive.

Amazon doesn't sell Nintendo hardware.

 

[fierce1289]

Can someone summarize the sales for the month? I know much is unknown but PS4 #1, Wii U 60k, Vita just below it, XBO just above it? No known total sales for the PS4?

 

[maabus1999]

Does Amazon in USA sell Nintendo hardware?

Indirectly yes through fulfillment. But Wii U is on Amazon Prime which basically makes it an Amazon product since they will take responsibility for returns, shipping, etc...

 

[shinra-bansho]

Well, of course this year is better than last year; there are nearly 2x as many systems being sold to the consumer at different price rates.

Or, put differently: if this year's hardware was down YoY, then that really would indicate catastrophic collapse, because revenue in the year new generations start should be considerably above the year before, when the only thing on the market is the old generation and most buyers already have that.

I wasn't really referring to revenue, part of that is up because of the more expensive new hardware obviously, simply unit sales. I don't think it was a given that there would be a return to a positive trend; old hardware is declining fast. And there's a point of comparison here with the handheld market which didn't see TTM unit sales reverse their negative course despite new hardware launches.

I don't tend to think of them as "Nintendo" gamers, as those are the people who are still buying Wii U despite the system's clear failure. I think in terms of demographics; those people are mostly women, children, and the elderly. Those consumers are still buying games, but they've almost entirely abandoned consoles at this point. I think Sony or Microsoft might have been able to keep these sorts of gamers in the fold if they'd made a serious effort to do so, but apparently they either didn't want to or didn't expect they could seriously compete with Google and Apple (Sony has competed with Apple in several markets in the last decade, and been absolutely crushed in every instance so far).

I wasn't really referring to "Nintendo gamers" simply where the expansion and collapse came from, namely Nintendo's consoles.

I think Microsoft did try to attract a broader market with their system with all the functionality that people on here didn't tend to favor, but they simply weren't willing to incur the cost needed to get it to a mass market price.

I think Sony is simply following the same old product diffusion strategy they've used before. They'll aim to target families, children, other markets later in the cycle with SingStars and Wonderbooks, it's basically the purpose of SCE London Studio these days, when they can reduce costs and provide a more mass market product. Whether that will work in this day and age, I don't know.

 

[KillerMan91]

Crazy numbers. Just crazy.

Yeah. In the end Japan is probably only place where 3DS will outsell PSP and even that will take still several years. Worldwide no chance. At the moment Nintendo really has kinda bleak future outlook... Completely irrelevant in home console market and while still dominating handheld market that market is contracting heavily.

 

[Synth]

So what happened with Watch Dogs and Wolfenstein? XB1 version outsold 360 version.

The 360 version of those games didn't release later, after the XB1 version had already sold to a huge percentage of the console's userbase, leaving it with very few potential new buyers?

 

[The Maverick]

Always exciting Powerhouse™ 3DS vs PSP race

         3DS 2013   PSP 2007   NDS 2007
January      145        211        239
February     189        176        485
March        230        180        509
April        113        183        471
May          114        221        423
June         225        290        561
July         150        214        405
August       130        151        383
September    220        285        496
October      452        286        458
November     770        567       1530
December    1100       1060       2470
            3838       3824       8430
                        
         3DS 2014   PSP 2008   NDS 2008
January       97        230        251
February     155        243        587
March        159        297        698
April        106        193        415
May           97        182        452
June                    337        783
July                    222        608
August                  253        518
September               238        537
October                 193        491
November                421       1570
December               1020       3040
             614       3829       9950

I remember, not even a year ago, that folks were saying the 3DS would land around PSP LTD in the end. Not a chance.

Also, Titanfall numbers on Xbone are disappointing. Donkey Kong numbers are extremely disappointing. Lightning Returns is just lol at this point. Looking forward to June numbers. I think the Xbox numbers may surprise, and not in a good way.

 

[BruceLeeRoy]

Noooo. The One will sell real close to 200k (monthly purchase trend+folks that held out because of the announced price drop).
If you're right my new pic will sure enough be...'Sho nuff'

Ha its a good pic to have.

I can see the argument for both sides.

 

[Neuromancer]

Wow Wii U has a definite chance of outselling X1 next month.
How crazy.

Oh my god I hope so, that would be hilarious. Come on Nintendo, you can do it!

 

[Lexxism]

I remember, not even a year ago, that folks were saying the 3DS would land around PSP LTD in the end. Not a chance.

Can't blame people when it has a lead around 10 million units. (at least for worldwide)

 

[Mpl90]

As promised earlier, here you have first two May-to-June datas for home consoles last gen

Xbox 360

2006
May - 221,000
June - 277,000

Weekly sales change - 0,27%
MOM change - 25,34%

2007
May - 155,000
June - 198,000

Weekly sales change - 2,19%
MOM change - 27,74%

PS3

2007
May - 81,000
June - 99,000 (month prior to 60 GB price drop - $599 --> $499)

Weekly sales change - (2,2%)
MOM change - 22,22%

2008
May - 209,000
June - 406,000 (MGS4 launch + bundle)

Weekly sales change - 55,41%
MOM change - 94,26%

Wii

2007
May - 338,000
June - 382,000

Weekly sales change - (9,6%)
MOM change - 13%

2008

May - 675,000 (Wii Fit release)
June - 667,000

Weekly sales change - (21%)
MOM change - (1,2%)

 

[x-Lundz-x]

Wow. The handheld market.

Well maybe now people will start to take mobile seriously as what is killing the handheld market.

Kids love smartphones, and they were a big majority of handheld sales, especially Nintendo devices.

I love my Vita, it's an amazing device but I don't expect Sony to put out another on after the Vita is done. The numbers are just not there anymore.

 

[BadWolf]

Having WiiU outsell X1 if even for a month would be a thing of beauty.

Mind blown at those 3DS vs PSP numbers.

 

[QaaQer]

I strongly disagree, as this is sort of an attempt to reframe the discussion and make consoles this very specific concept of "basically a Playstation or things that expressly mimic the Playstation."

But even if I were to agree to your premise, in that case, the contraction began last generation, as the PS3+360 has sold less than the PS2+Xbox+GC. The Wii was responsible for virtually all of the growth last generation. Using your definition, the console space has been contracting since ~2005.

How do you frame the discussion, as I am unsure of what is being argued?

Are people saying that the console space is growing? If so, then they are wrong; whether it be playstation/ps-mimic space or blue-ocean space. The companies themselves have told us this:

Or are people arguing that the wii shouldn't be included because reasons? Well that doesn't matter either because revenue is shrinking however you dice the market.

* * *

On a more personal note, the only real discussion that matters to me is will the type of games I like still be viable going forward? The contracting console market and the concentration of development efforts around teenage boys leaves me pessimistic.

But on the plus side, I've found Candy Crush has given me enough dopamine over the last month to not be bothered.

It is also a great experiment in self-discovery as I have decided not to pay King or any f2p company anything because I refuse to go down that road. So the feelings that arise when I run out of replays, or I have to wait 24 hrs to do my next quest (as I don't link these games to my facebook, so no free passes), is pretty fascinating to say the least. I'm starting to understand that my gaming comes from a need for dopamine (?) as opposed to looking for fun. And if I can get that from some f2p match 3, just how important are console games to me? I'm looking forward to finding out as I'd prefer not to have to pay for games or consoles or nvidia cards. edit: the cooldown periods are also great for enforced moderation, I'm a bit ocd.

 

[KillerMan91]

Can't blame people when it has a lead around 10 million units. (at least for worldwide)

PSP shipments as March 2008:
40.43 million

3DS shipments as March 2014:
43.33 million

2008 was also peak year for PSP hardware sales (14.1 million) and while Nintendo is forecasting 12 million for 3DS this year so far that forecast looks to be complete fantasy as they barely did 12 million last year and they are way down yoy in US and Japan. 3DS could fall behind PSPs pace late this year.

 

[airmangataosenai]

Wow Wii U has a definite chance of outselling X1 next month.
How crazy.

It's amazing how people continue to say this. XBO sales were depressed because of the bundle/price drop being announced so early. They forfeited sales in May to build hype in June. Wii U will be lucky to hit 100k in June, XBO will almost certainly be over 150k,

This was realistically the only month this could've happened and Wii U didn't do it. It didn't even beat the Gamecube, continuing a streak that has lasted the entire 19 month span of tracking thus far.

 

[CoG]

No MS press release this month other than Keighley's tweet? That's alarming.

 

[Frillen]

So how much do think the Vita will sell in the June NPD? I can see it fall to somewhere between 20k and 30k.

 

[Nirolak]

Wow Wii U has a definite chance of outselling X1 next month.
How crazy.

...During the Xbox One's price cut month when a slice of the Wii U Mario Kart sales are already account for?

 

[zeromcd73]

Always exciting Powerhouse™ 3DS vs PSP race

         3DS 2013   PSP 2007   NDS 2007
January      145        211        239
February     189        176        485
March        230        180        509
April        113        183        471
May          114        221        423
June         225        290        561
July         150        214        405
August       130        151        383
September    220        285        496
October      452        286        458
November     770        567       1530
December    1100       1060       2470
            3838       3824       8430
                        
         3DS 2014   PSP 2008   NDS 2008
January       97        230        251
February     155        243        587
March        159        297        698
April        106        193        415
May           97        182        452
June                    337        783
July                    222        608
August                  253        518
September               238        537
October                 193        491
November                421       1570
December               1020       3040
             614       3829       9950

Can't wait for 4DS, and hopefully Nintendo don't screw it up like they with the 3DS.

 

[SmokyDave]

So how much do think the Vita will sell in the June NPD? I can see it fall to somewhere between 20k and 30k.

Anecdotal reports would suggest that the stock situation is utterly fucked again*. I'd say less than 10k.


*Seems to be backed up by a quick search of US online retailers.

 

[x-Lundz-x]

No MS press release this month other than Keighley's tweet? That's alarming.

They gave up May, nothing to say really. Next month fully expect them to say something along the lines of how happy they are at the renewed excitement with the XB1 with the new SKU and give out some BS pr numbers like we saw triple the growth in sales from last month etc....

 

[zeromcd73]

Anecdotal reports would suggest that the stock situation is utterly fucked again*. I'd say less than 10k.


*Seems to be backed up by a quick search of US online retailers.

Do we know if they're sold out or are they just not stocking the system any more?