Europe and Asia crucial to Xbox 360 victory more than ever
Microsoft and Sony are currently in a fight to dominate as much territory possible. Microsoft currently has a huge lead in the US with a larger Xbox 360 install base compared to that of the PS3’s. However, things are a bit hazy over in Europe and Asia as far as who has the lead.
Even though the PS3 launched in Europe 16 months later than the Xbox 360, both consoles are currently neck-in-neck in lifetime sales. Six months ago, Sony announced that the PS3 surpassed the Xbox 360 in total sales. Also, a couple months ago Microsoft announced that the Xbox 360 achieved a new milestone in Europe.
Europe: PS3 – tie – Xbox 360
Currently, you could say that Europe is in the swings right now with no clear leader between the two hardcore consoles. Traditionally, Europe has been considered ‘Sony land’ due to strong brand loyalty. Microsoft has been fighting an uphill battle attempting to build its own brand recognition in the video game industry.
Europe is extremely vital to the success of Microsoft as it is the second largest market for video games. According to GI.biz, a research compiled by Nielsen Games, indicated that Europe generated USD 11.4 billion in 2007.
Asia: PS3 Dominant
Technically, Sony is dominating in Asia, but with the recent price drop to the Xbox 360 the console has seen an unusual spike in Japan this past month. If the surge in demand continues, Sony may have a great deal to worry about.
Currently, Asia is the largest video game market in the world. Last year the Asian video game market generated $11.5 billion, a bit more than the European market and a lot more than the US market. Japan generated the majority of the sales in terms of the video game market in Asia.
Asia is considered to be extremely important to Sony. Apparently, important enough for the company to work out a deal with Square Enix to release Final Fantasy XIII as a PS3 exclusive in that territory.
Currently, the majority of the video game population in Japan is on the fence, with no defining RPG to hit the PS3. However, Final Fantasy XIII may change all of that.
US: Xbox 360 Dominant
Lastly, the US is considered to be the smallest territory in the video game industry. Last year, the US generated $10.7 billion, about a billion dollars less than Asia.
Currently, Microsoft has a vice grip on the US market. The install base for the PS3 is half that of the Xbox 360. However, it seems that the PS3 has been gaining some ground in the US this year. The PS3 managed to outsell the Xbox 360 last quarter by a marginal amount.
Despite the PS3’s small lead in quarterly sales it is not enough to close the 5 million unit gap between the two consoles.
Wrap-up
Asia and the US have always had a huge video game market, but it seems that the European market has become the key factor this generation. With the explosion in the video game market in Europe, its influence is greater then ever.
It is still too early to tell which console will be this generation’s PS2. Considering that the market is splintered more than ever, there may not be another console like the PS2 this time around. However, I suspect that we will start to see a clear winner between the hardcore consoles near the end of 2009.
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9 Responses to “Europe and Asia crucial to Xbox 360 victory more than ever”
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November 3rd, 2008
I don’t think there will be a “winner” this generation, nor may we ever have one in a subsequent generation.
November 3rd, 2008
Yea, I don’t think there is going to be a winner if Sony and Microsoft are serious about it. If Sony cuts the price and delivers more exclusives, MS will be in trouble. If MS pulls their shit together and gets some in-house first party developers, they’ll hold off aganist Sony. That’s all I have to say. The clear winner, right now … is the Wii. I know its not hardcore, but they’re selling like mad!
November 3rd, 2008
I agree. Unfortunately the Wii will be the definitive winner of this generation of consoles. I think that second and third place can go either way at this point. I should point out though that it is pretty impressive that the PS3 was released over a year later then the 360 and is already neck-and-neck in terms of sales.
November 3rd, 2008
Tatsujin,
I’ve said it a million times so I guess I’ll say it a million and one: “Toyota is not ‘winning’ against Ferrari just because they sell more cars.”
-Arvis
November 3rd, 2008
Arvis, I never read your posts and I am not going to go back and read them. So I don’t understand what you are claiming about. We can go on for days about MS and Sony sales. But why do you even give a shit in the first place? I honestly do give a shit because I want a bigger community to have around the PS3 so more people can play games and I won’t be alone and be saddist about it. If it really ends up in the third place for this generation then oh well. 2nd place, that’s great. First place, that’s better. But what I care about is the community. Yea I am a PS3 fanboy. You step on my mines, I’ll step on yours. So keep your thoughs clear.
November 3rd, 2008
Chris,
If that’s the case, how come the majority of multiplatformers look better on the ‘Toyota’ than the ‘Ferrari’?
November 3rd, 2008
I think he was referring to the wii as the toyota…
November 4th, 2008
more fanboy fodder, eh mike?
it’s funny you claim Asia as just japan when it’s clearly not. the monies made in “asia” due to software has a lot to do with the Korean online gaming populace (read: NOT japan).
yet you try to convince peope that “asia” belongs to the ps3…funny with no sales data from korea, the PI, or other asian countries.
and for the record, NA holds the lions share of console sales and IS the #1 largest single market for consoles. please go learn something.
twit…
November 4th, 2008
Oh yeah, oops. Apologies to Chris.