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[bloke]

PS2 - 7.1 million
Xbox - 1.7 million
No GC numbers

Surprising numbers for Xbox, almost half of all European sales are UK based.

BY THE end of this year one in four households will own a PlayStation2, according to a study of the computer games industry. An estimated 7.1 million families will own a PlayStation2 by the end of December, up from 5.4 million last year...Sony’s console is by far Britain’s most popular. Its main rival, Microsoft’s Xbox, is owned by 1.7 million households — four times below the penetration achieved by PlayStation2.

http://business.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,9071-1245223,00.html

 

[Prine]

Wow @ Xbox numbers. Should be over 2 million by the end of Xmas season.

Wish we had some GCN number for comparison.

 

[sonycowboy]

So, Xbox tripled to 15k and Sony doubled. Given that the PS2 was selling 15-20k / week on average, that would be 30-40k / week now.

Price cuts propel UK sales of Xbox, PS2 -sources

Thu Sep 9, 2004 07:23 AM ET
LONDON, Sept 9 (Reuters) - Last month's back-to-back price cuts by Sony Corp (6758.T: Quote, Profile, Research) and Microsoft Corp (MSFT.O: Quote, Profile, Research) have boosted sales of their PlayStation 2 and Xbox video game consoles in Britain, retail sources said on Thursday.

Weekly sales of Xbox more than tripled to just over 15,000 units per week since Microsoft decided on August 18 to drop the price by 23 percent to 99.99 pounds ($178.70), a retail source said.

The source added that sales of market leader PlayStation 2 doubled in the same period since Sony retaliated with a 25 percent price cut of its own to 104.99 pounds.

Most UK retailers have dropped the PlayStation 2 price tag a further five pounds to match Xbox at 99.99 pounds. "It appears they have found the magic price at that level," the source said.

Sony and Microsoft could not immediately be reached for comment. Neither company has provided a sales update since discounting their consoles in Britain and continental Europe in August.

Britain, the world's third largest video game console market behind the United States and Japan, is a crucial territory for the console makers, particularly in the run up to the all-important Christmas period.

Concerns have been mounting that demand for consoles would weaken this year as gamers spend money on new games, but wait another 18 months for the next generation of consoles to hit the market.

The console makers have instituted a series of price cuts over the years to boost sales just as demand slackens. Analysts view the August price cuts as the last significant discount before new models hit store shelves in 2005 or 2006.

Nintendo (7974.T: Quote, Profile, Research) , which stayed out of the latest round of price cuts, has experienced languishing demand for its GameCube console, sources said.

"They've kind of disappeared," the source said of Nintendo's GameCube. "It's become a two horse race."

 

[sonycowboy]

Wow @ Xbox numbers. Should be over 2 million by the end of Xmas season.

BY THE end of this year one in four households will own a PlayStation2, according to a study of the computer games industry. An estimated 7.1 million families will own a PlayStation2 by the end of December, up from 5.4 million last year...Sony’s console is by far Britain’s most popular. Its main rival, Microsoft’s Xbox, is owned by 1.7 million households — four times below the penetration achieved by PlayStation2.

The numbers are forecasts for the end of the year, already taking the price drop into account.

 

[jedimike]

If 99 pounds is the magic price point for MS and Sony.... how much is the GC selling for?

 

[Project Midway]

If 99 pounds is the magic price point for MS and Sony.... how much is the GC selling for?

I think around 70-75 pounds at the moment.

 

[jarrod]

Surprising numbers for Xbox, almost half of all European sales are UK based.[/url]

Actually it's about 40% of console sales (far less when PC & handhelds are added). The UK makes up almost 50% of XBox's EU numbers though (and only 25% of PS2's sales). It was Sega's strongest EU region also by a wide margin (and has always been weak for Nintendo).

 

[Broshnat]

Actually it's about 40% of console sales (far less when PC & handhelds are added). The UK makes up almost 50% of XBox's EU numbers though (and only 25% of PS2's sales). It was Sega's strongest EU region also by a wide margin (and has always been weak for Nintendo).

Yeah, that sounds about right. In Germany and France, GC is stronger than X-box, while in the UK it gets a bit of a battering. UK is moat similar to the US really. I think that PS2 is also more than 25% uk, more like 35 really.

 

[Solid]

PS2 - 7.1 million
Xbox - 1.7 million
No GC numbers

d00med

 

[Pug]

Xbox is being pushed very hard at the moment and the Halo2 POP's are in loads of retailers already.

 

[Brodequin]

The numbers are forecasts for the end of the year, already taking the price drop into account.

BY THE end of this year one in four households will own a PlayStation2, according to a study of the computer games industry. An estimated 7.1 million families will own a PlayStation2 by the end of December, up from 5.4 million last year...Sony’s console is by far Britain’s most popular. Its main rival, Microsoft’s Xbox, is owned by 1.7 million households — four times below the penetration achieved by PlayStation2.

Not sure. To be picky, but note that it says 7.1 families WILL own a PS2 vs Xbox IS owned by 1.7 million.

 

[radioheadrule83]

I think around 70-75 pounds at the moment.

It's not sold cheaper than £99 by any high store... sure it's the equivilent of £75/79 considering there's a game bundled but people still walk into GAME, Gamestation or HMV/Virgin etc and see PS2/XBox/GC all at £99... I think they need to make £75/79 the official price point in light of the other hardware cuts...

and lets see that GBA SP cut over here. £10 less than an Xbox?!

 

[Project Midway]

oh ok. I dont live in UK, I just checked few online stores, like specialreserve, play.com and amazon.

 

[jarrod]

Yeah, that sounds about right. In Germany and France, GC is stronger than X-box, while in the UK it gets a bit of a battering. UK is moat similar to the US really. I think that PS2 is also more than 25% uk, more like 35 really.

Yeah, GameCube's also ahead in some smaller markets too (Italy being one). XBox rules thanks to their healthy UK market though (which is also what propelled Sega ahead in Europe) with smaller markets like Spain and Sweden endoring XBox as 2nd.

The UK is only 25% of Sony's market going by these numbers though, as their PAL installed base is about 30 million for PS2.

 

[Project Midway]

Also here in little Finland Xbox sales are way, way better than GCN sales. GC advertisement and shelf-space have been shrinking all the time. I would guess its the same everywhere in Scandinavia. GCN is clearly a kids-only console here. And since most of the kids like PS2 better...heh.

 

[jarrod]

Yeah, all of Scananavia seems to favor XBox over GameCube... sorta strange as Nintendo had some good success with NES/SNES/N64 there iirc.