Sony refuses to give up on PS2 in wake of sluggish PS3 sales
By Sean P. Aune
Sony announced a new version of the Playstation 2 for this Christmas. This odd occurrence happened today, October 26th… the seventh anniversary of the system’s release.
Just yesterday it was learned that Sony has an $841 million loss in their games division, mainly based on sales of the PS3. So what would anyone do? Announce on the very next day you were coming out with a new version of your last generation console!
Hitting store shelves now, the SingStar Pop bundle comes with a white version of the Playstation 2, the SingStar Pop, two microphones, and all the rest of the usual accessories. The bundle retails for $149.99, putting it firmly in to the price category that shows Sony is targeting families with this set, and a mere $20 more than just the basic PS2.
According to Bloomberg.com, the PS2 was the third best selling gaming console in September with sales of 215,00 units. The same article also states that Sony has 160 new games slated for the aging system to be released by March of 2008.
One can view this either on the longevity of the last generation system, or the fact that consumers or no longer so concerned with the newest technology, but value. While the PS3 may be a marvel of new technology, it’s hard to argue with a back catalog of approximately 1,500 games for the PS2, and a good number of them available for $10 or less in used game’s bins.
Just as Microsoft is learning consumers weren’t ready to give up on Windows XP, it seems they also weren’t ready to give up on Sony’s PS2.
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October 26th, 2007
The housing market is in a slump right now. The economy is actually in a downturn. Who the heck would want to pay for an overpriced PS3 during a bad time? You buy flashy gadgets when the economy is prospering, not when the housing market is busted.
October 27th, 2007
Sluggish PS3 sales?
Say who?
In Europe, PS3 is outselling the 360, DESPITE the flagship Halo3 being out.
In Japan, Ps3 has outsold 360 every single month, by a massive factor (15x)
Globally, PS3 doubled it’s sales this quater over last quater, and it’s not even holiday season yet.
In the first year sales, globally have been 6 million, whilst up against Wii and 360. The 360 only managed to achieve 6 million sales in the first year, with NO competition.
October 27th, 2007
The PS3 has sold as many units as the 360 did at the same point after launch.
That’s a fact. If you say its selling sluggishly or badly you are an idiot. Its selling very well with no real reason yet for anyone to buy it.
http://i21.tinypic.com/14b01oh.jpg
October 28th, 2007
HAHA! BLORGE.com should be BS.com.. as other commenters point out, there is no ’selling badly’. The only ’selling badly’ is the X360, thats the funniest bit. After only a week from Halo3.. sales have slumped everywhere.. how come you dont report that? Hrm?
October 28th, 2007
From the Bloomberg article I linked to:
“Sony is capitalizing on PlayStation 2’s appeal as a low- priced alternative to Nintendo Co.’s Wii and Microsoft Corp.’s Xbox 360. The PS2 ranked third behind those consoles in September with sales of 215,000 units. Tokyo-based Sony’s newest console, PlayStation 3, was fourth with 119,400. Xbox 360 was No. 1 with 527,800, followed by Wii with 501,000.”
When the PS3 comes in 4th, even trailing it’s older brother by almost 100,000 units, I qualify it as “sluggish”.