European Console Sales (2009 Edition)

[catisfit]

SCE Australia chief Michael Ephraim: PS3 hits 500,000 units in Australia (well, this used to be the European and Other sales thread).

420,000 direct sales, 80,000 in Bravia bundles.

 

[obonicus]

So that's like... USD500,000,000 in revenue, right? I shouldn't make jokes about expensive consoles.

 

[Arwin]

That doesn't seem too bad, considering the price and that Australia has 20 million people?

 

[catisfit]

Australia was a March 2007 launch. Figures from 2 weeks ago put the 360 at 630,000 (March 2006 launch).

Current prices:
360 Arcade AU$299 (US$239)
360 Pro AU$399 (US$319)
360 Elite AU$534 (US$427)
PS3 AU$699 (US$559)
(http://dstore.com.au)

So that's like... USD500,000,000 in revenue, right? I shouldn't make jokes about expensive consoles.

The 60Gb launched at AU$999 (US$800)...

 

[liolio]

Some datas for the first five months of 2009 in France:

• Ventes de consoles en France sur les 5 premiers mois de 2009 et évolution comparé à la même période en 2008 :
  
  • - 1. DS : 700 000 (+8%)
  • - 2. Wii : 307 000 (-35%)
  • - 3. 360 : 176 000 (+50%)
  • - 4. PS3 : 160 000 (-35%)
  • - 5. PSP : 104 000 (-37%)

In France too Ms is the only manufacturer making progress.

 

[catisfit]

They're a lot cheaper than Jan-May 08. One price cut towards the end of that period and another in September, only 50% movement, suggests a substantial increase in price inelasticity.

 

[liolio]

They're a lot cheaper than Jan-May 08. One price cut towards the end of that period and another in September, only 50% movement, suggests a substantial increase in price inelasticity.

I found more here the user base in France for the various systems:

1 - DS : 7,4 millions
2 - Wii : 3,2 millions
3 - PSP : 2,3 millions
4 - PS3 : 1,4 million
5 - Xbox 360 : 1,3 million

It looks like Sony may be wrong when they say that european costumers are not that much price sensitive, here an interview on the matter.

 

[DuckThor Evil]

They're a lot cheaper than Jan-May 08. One price cut towards the end of that period and another in September, only 50% movement, suggests a substantial increase in price inelasticity.

So a 40% drop in price (Pro 400e vs 239e) get's a 50% sales increase and it suggest you that?

 

[liolio]

So a 40% drop in price (Pro 400e vs 239e) get's a 50% sales increase and it suggest you that?

Actually it's more than that as MS did some special operation this fall and during this spring (a 40 euros rebate).

 

[DuckThor Evil]

Actually it's more than that as MS did some special operation this fall and during this spring (a 40 euros rebate).

Well yeah it's probably hard to figure out the average price paid per console. Elite rises it a bit, since it wasn't available at launch, but in anycase I don't see what catisfis does and imo price elasticity is not very good metric for these kind of goods, which have markets that get saturated. It's better to be used for fuel, food etc.

 

[rekator]

They're a lot cheaper than Jan-May 08. One price cut towards the end of that period and another in September, only 50% movement, suggests a substantial increase in price inelasticity.

Take in note, that France is a Sony Land by past, so despite high price many gamers that I known want only a PS3 in 2006, and the half of them got only a 360 now.
So a Head to head for MS is a great victory in France. Personnally I thinks that PS3 got always some steps ahead 360 in France.

 

[liolio]

Here the user base figure for United Kingdom

DS – 9.4 million (including 300,000 DSi sales)
Wii – 5.4 million
Xbox 360 – 3.9 million
PSP – 3.3 million
PS3 – 2.2 million

Actually it makes some previous Eurogamer and Microsoft claims more credible.
In Europe (real Europe) Ms must lead by at least a million units and it's digging the gap if french figure are any indications.

 

[RobertR1]

           Wii  NDS  DSi  PS3  PSP  XB360  Total  
27 Jun 09  5.4  9.1  0.3  2.2  3.3  3.9  24.2  
31 Jan 09  5.1  9.0        1.9  3.2  3.3  22.5

Over the last 6 months, the 360 has sold 600,000 units while the Wii and PS3 have sold 300,000 units.

 

[obonicus]

Isn't the Wii more expensive than the Premium 360 in the UK?

 

[Teasy]

           Wii  NDS  DSi  PS3  PSP  XB360  Total  
27 Jun 09  5.4  9.1  0.3  2.2  3.3  3.9  24.2  
31 Jan 09  5.1  9.0        1.9  3.2  3.3  22.5

Over the last 6 months, the 360 has sold 600,000 units while the Wii and PS3 have sold 300,000 units.

Only 1.7 million consoles and handhelds sold in the last 6 months in the UK? Seems a bit low.

Edit: Actually its 5 months, still seems low however.

 

[Shifty Geezer]

Isn't the Wii more expensive than the Premium 360 in the UK?

Yep. 60 GB XB360 Premium is £160 at Play. Wii is £180.

 

[Rangers]

           Wii  NDS  DSi  PS3  PSP  XB360  Total  
27 Jun 09  5.4  9.1  0.3  2.2  3.3  3.9  24.2  
31 Jan 09  5.1  9.0        1.9  3.2  3.3  22.5

Over the last 6 months, the 360 has sold 600,000 units while the Wii and PS3 have sold 300,000 units.

Major sea change versus Wii regardless of prices (which have been such for a while). Did not expect that at all.

Combine the Wii's weak Japanese sales, dropping but still high US sales, and this nugget together, it's painting a increasingly troublesome picture for Wii.

It also makes me wonder whether Natal is even worth it. Imo the hardcore market will prove to be a better and stronger one anyway, and it appears signs of that are showing up.

 

[Shifty Geezer]

Wii hasn't had a price drop since release. PS3 hasn't had a price drop since release. XB360 has and is cheaper than these two platforms. So you're comparing sales of two consoles at their launch prices versus one that has matured to its mainstream price. That's hardly a like-for-like comparison. When Wii and PS3 get their price drops, then we can consider if demand is stagnating, or if it was just market saturation in a particular price band.

 

[Rangers]

These are the same prices these consoles have been for many months, right?

The "Wii is cheaper than 360" thing doesn't seem to be anything new in Euroland. Seems Ive been hearing it for months if not years. 360 outselling Wii is new.

Also, hasnt PS3 dropped $200, two $100 drops, since release? That's the case in America. Last time I looked on Amazon UK seems the translated prices were around $400 for PS3 and $230 for 360 pro. I think PS3 launched at well more than $400 there. If you look at it the PS3 has actually dropped more absolutely and in percentage terms than 360 has since launch. A 360 pro is 299 now and began at 399. Arcade 299>199. I guess both the Arcade and PS3 have dropped 33%, depending how you look at it.

Also, tangential, at some point I dont think it matters why the consoles are the prices they are. It only matters how many units they sell. We know PS3 cannot afford a price drop, or one is rumored very soon. In the end it matters how many boxes are shifting, each and every day. We dont know if the PS3 receives a price drop tomorrow, or two years from now. We dont know what price 360 or Wii will be in one year either. We just go with what we have each day.

Personally I feel like Sony lost any chance at a WW 2nd place this generation over the past year because of their price point, at a crucial time, the 2nd/3rd year of the generation. These are more figures that just bear it out. But that's not as interesting as 360 outselling Wii..I've never heard of that in any market before, in the absence of supply constraint.

 

[rekator]

In France only the Wii didn't have official decreased price. PS3 past from 600€ to 400€, 360 pro 400€ to 240 €.
But we saw some rebates for the Wii last Christmas in some retailers but it's more for catching the customers than else.