EA predicts PS3 to outsell Xbox 360 in 2008 - Wii still top
By Dave Parrack
When Electronic Arts recently released its financial report, it also published a supplement giving the internal estimates for sales of all the major consoles throughout 2008. While the Wii still dominates, the PS3 is predicted to gain a comfortable second place.
All companies like to forecast sales, and look at different factors which could impact on their business plans, and the games developer and publisher EA is no different. It has estimated worldwide console sales for 2008, to try and focus on the markets which are going to be the most profitable.
According to the estimates, it seems no-one is going to catch the Wii for the next twelve months, and Nintendo’s console is actually expected to pull further ahead of the chasing pack, selling 12-14 million units.
But then comes the change to proceedings. Although the PS3 has been slowly but surely catching up with Xbox 360 sales at the back end of 2007, and beginning of 2008, particularly in Europe, I still wouldn’t have forecast the levels of change to the situation that EA have.
The company thinks that although the Playstation 3, an Xbox 360 will tie in North America, shifting between 4.5 million, and 5.5 million consoles apiece, the situation in Europe, coupled with the obvious unpopularity of the Xbox in Japan, means that by the end of 2008, the PS3 could have sold roughly 3.5 million more console around the world than the 360.
Yes, ladies and gentlemen, it seems the PS3 is about to strike back, and start shifting a healthy amount of units. This is despite John Riccitiello’s claim that the PS3 is a pain in the ass to develop for.
Here are the full estimates from those funsters at EA (courtesy of Games Industry):
Nintendo Wii: 12-14 million
PlayStation 3: 9.5-11.5 million
Xbox 360: 6-8 million
PlayStation 2: 3.9-4.9 million
Nintendo DS: 14-16 million
PlayStation Portable: 6-8 million
The handheld market speaks for itself, with the Nintendo DS still kicking the Sony PSP’s butt quite vociferously, despite claims of a bit of a resurgence for the Playstation Portable.
So again, at least according to estimates from one of the games industry’s leading companies, 2008 will be the year of the Wii, but the big news is, the PS3 could be about to come good, and consign the Xbox 360 to a dismal last place in the battle for next generation console superiority.
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February 4th, 2008
this news is old,,,why do u copy this Dave.
February 4th, 2008
It might be a few days old OMEN, but as we hadn’t covered it, I thought it should at least get a mention.
February 4th, 2008
Actually, it was just picked up by most sites. Including teamxbox where the fanboys are going bonkers over this story.
It’s just an estimate people.
February 4th, 2008
I can estimate things too, would you like to publish them too Dave?
February 4th, 2008
Isn’t this the company that predicted wii losing?
February 4th, 2008
Yeah, go on then bigfella, estimate something worthwhile, and if it would make a good post, I’ll write it up.
However, as you aren’t a big player in the games industry, like I’m sure you’ll agree EA are, I’m guessing your estimates won’t be quite as educated or newsworthy.
Nice try though!
February 5th, 2008
I estimate that fanboys are never going to stop fighting, there will be no clear winner in this war, all 3 companies are going to make a crapload of money and Tristen is going to hit puberty soon.
February 5th, 2008
That’s actually almost worthy of an article bigfella, especially the part about Triston.
February 5th, 2008
Well I was due.
February 5th, 2008
sony ps3 will kick but. and the only reason the shitty wii is outselling ps3 is because its CHEAP if ps3 consoles were to be the same price of the wii u wouldnt belive how many people will buy it anyway my analysis is ps3(king) wii and 360 (shit)
February 5th, 2008
EA, huh? the same EA that predicted xbox live would fail in 2001 b/c “noone wants to play consoles online”? the same EA that stated they would never support xbox live? the same EA that predicted the ps3 would be in #1 position w/i 1 year of launch? does anyone really take EA seriously with them being so wrong on so many things game-related? it’s just funny that when people post these articles, noone has the cajones to post the facts once the “estimates” have been proven otherwise leaving trails of egg on EA’s face…. oh well… i guess estimating w/o accountability is the new thing… sounds like fun…
February 5th, 2008
This is why such estimates should never be made public but only go to those to whom these estimates are actually directed: the shareholders.
They’re the people that require such estimates. Not the gamers. The gamers are always going to laugh at/bash/go ballistic over every estimate that doesn’t support their console of choice.
And let’s finish the EA bashing by saying that this is the company that we keep buying games from to the point it keeps ending up at the top spot of software sales EVERY year. So who’s to blame? eh? eh?
Sheesh.
February 5th, 2008
I cant remember the last time I bought an EA title, so don’t blame me, heh.