May NPD hardware sales – Nintendo DS and Wii still dominating
And there we all were thinking the games industry was out of reach of the recession. Not a chance. The NPD sales data for May shows that this industry is just as much at risk from the economic downturn as any. Having said that, Nintendo is still doing OK. Sales are down across the board but the DS continues to shine.
Spending on video games as a whole is down a whopping 23 percent from last year to this, dropping to $863 million, the first dip below a billion in two years. Hardware sales are down 30 percent, mainly due, no doubt, to less people being able to actually afford to buy one of the next-gen machines.
NPD U.S. Hardware Sales Chart – May 2009 (Courtesy of Wired)
Nintendo DS – 633,500
Nintendo Wii – 289,500
Microsoft Xbox 360 – 175,000
Sony PS3 – 131,000
Sony PS2 – 117,000
Sony PSP – 100,400
Nintendo
The DS may not have sold in the absolutely mind-blowing numbers of last month but 633,500 units is still impressive. I didn’t think the DSi would fly off the shelves in quite the way it has but three months after release it’s still managing to do so.
The Wii also dropped, from 340k in April to 289k in May. That’s substantial, especially when the Xbox 360 stuck and the PS3 saw a slight increase. I maintain my belief that the Wii is starting to find its natural level of interest, an interest which is starting to wane, but the fact remains the Wii is still dominant over the competition.
Microsoft
One-hundred-seventy-five-thousand last month, 175k this month. That’s nothing if not consistent. It means Microsoft is clearly on a steady-as-she-goes path but it also means nothing it’s done has helped shift any more consoles. Maybe the promise of Project Natal will change that trend, even if the technology is possibly racist.
Sony
May was good for Sony for just one reason – the PS3 jumped back over the PS2, which means the poor number of units being shifted is at least a little less embarrassing. Going from 127k to 131k isn’t going to get anyone excited though. And the PS2 and PSP both dropped.
Conclusions
May isn’t exactly the hight point of the year for the video games industry, but this one was even worse than most. If this recession is set to be as long and hard as some analysts are suggesting then hardware sales could continue to fall or remain stale for months to come. How depressing.
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June 12th, 2009
Wow, I’m surprised to see the PSP so low.
If it’s this low now, how bad is it going to get with the Go? What Sony is thinking, pitching that thing at $249…that’s completely out of control.
Though with the line up this year and next, things should pick up. Can’t wait for Resident Evil PSP.
June 12th, 2009
just depressing times. i had a dream my ps3 slept with my blow up doll and then ran out on me
June 12th, 2009
What were you more upset about? Losing your PS3 or the blow up doll?
June 12th, 2009
I was more upset about the Red Ring of Death and getting the E74. If i were to lose my PS3 i would be devastated losing all my saved data and well the system itself plus my four new Killzone 2 maps.
June 12th, 2009
Damn Ivan, you were doing pretty well over the past couple of days. I guess it wasn’t going to last forever.
June 12th, 2009
Good going sony. Your overly expensive de-humidifier has gone from ps5th to ps4th. Ha ha.
Well done Ninty, MS and … oh well anybody that isn’t sony.
June 12th, 2009
With every passing month those day-dreams of the PS3 fanboys seeing their beloved console catching and taking 2nd place in the sales numbers just get further and further out of reach.
Wake up, it ain’t going to happen
(and $50 off by X-mas is changing nothing either).
June 12th, 2009
Sales Numbers doesnt really matter to me as long as I get best games out there.
but lets look at the numbers in a different way just for fun.
Nintendo – 923,000
Microsoft – 175,000
Sony – 334,400
*also PS2 outsell the 360 3-1 in japan, and PS3 has been outselling the Wii 2-1 and the 360 5-1*
June 12th, 2009
I would bet that all of the price cut/PS 3 slim rumors aren’t helping things either. Everyone is expecting a price cut in August now, so I don’t think sales are going to pick up anytime soon. Sony should really put a gag order on these jackass analysts.
Infamous has become the fastest selling new exclusive IP on PS3.
June 12th, 2009
@ Roca…
At first I didn’t think there was anything ‘fun’ about your spin on the sales figures. But now I get it.
From what I can tell sony is STILL getting its ass kicked by Nintendo and the only way to outsell Microsoft is to have 3 times the number of consoles on the go.
Ha ha, now that is fun!
ps2 outsells 360 2-1 in japan – WOW, no big feat there. Everything outsells the 360 in Japan.
And how many times is the Wii and 360 outselling the ps4th in the rest of the world?
But I have to say the ps4th will become the biggest selling console as soon as those killer IPs are released like GTA4…oh wait, little big planet…oh wait, errr…killzone 2…oh wait……now lets see what have we left…..errrrmmm… oh yeah GT5. Maybe!…oh wait…nah! Ha ha ha
June 12th, 2009
“And how many times is the Wii and 360 outselling the ps4th in the rest of the world?”
-Actually the PS3 is beating the 360 in Japan and EU. Have fun playing Wii Vitality.
June 12th, 2009
I can’t believe Infamous only sold 175,900 copies. Why don’t you guys support your titles?
June 12th, 2009
harry sachz:
Well with that question i just couldn’t resist, too much temptation LoL. If i lose my Xbox 360 saved data for GTA IV, Bioshock, Gears of War and Sega SuperStar Tennis i will be really angry. But i would be more devastated if i were to lose my save data for Bioshock. I don’t care for my Call Of Duty save data is worthless to me. The 60GB PLAYSTATION 3 has a major issue for some owners it gets the Yellow Light of Hell after 2 years or 2 in a half which sucks because we have to pay Sony $161 in New York lucky i can and will pay it if i have too. Also the Xbox 360 has in-Game cross chat we still waiting for that damn shit we mostly get useless firmware like PSP lucky my PSP is hacked thanks to Dark_Alex.
harry a little give there by saying bad PS3 things LoL.
June 12th, 2009
Barnabe It’s already been reported that the 360 is ouselling the PS3 in EU by over a Million.
June 12th, 2009
I hate inFAMOUS because it has no online and it has awful lip sync voice over. Plus is too much free roaming i got bored. I like the fact that the game is easy on Medium and Hard i got %49 of all trophies done. I own it since the first day it came out. inFAMOUS will do better if Sony were to cared for ads like Microsoft.
Every damn game needs an online mode in order to drive more sells.
June 12th, 2009
Wii Vatality, don’t even know what that is, but if its for the Wii then FUN is guaranteed.
Mind I am a bit frightened. It doesn’t sound like a run of the mill FPS where square button = shoot and triangle button = run insanely fast etc…
Because god forbid a developer tries something new. And I would hate to have to get off my fat lazy ass to actually move or use my body to perform something with personal skill. I much prefer to push a button and allow the console to decide what happens on screen.
The future is analogue gaming! And sony is at the back of the queue. The public are speaking. Check out the figures above again. Ha ha.
Mind I am glad sony are stuck in their ways, as there are slowly catering to the ever shrinking niche retro style gamer market.
June 12th, 2009
@ CAD
I can’t believe Infamous only sold 175,900 copies. Why don’t you guys support your titles?
inFamous came out May 26 right?
so 175,000 for the month of may is pretty good (the game was out just 4 days during the month of may)
@ CAD:
“Barnabe It’s already been reported that the 360 is ouselling the PS3 in EU by over a Million.”
and the 360 was out a year ahead of the PS3
June 12th, 2009
I think anyone will admit that the PS3 is selling pretty well in comparison when you really think about it.
the cheapest model is $100 more expensive than the cheapest 360. If anything the 360 should be dominating the sales chart with the cheapest console on the market, but it’s not.
I’d like to see what the combined Japan/NA sales figures look for May.
June 12th, 2009
When are they going to show sales beyond the US shores ??
June 12th, 2009
inFAMOUS will do better if Sony were to cared for ads like Microsoft.
Dude i see adds all the time for inFamous.
Roca that’s actually 6 days. I know it’s the end of the Month but I thought this was a game that was going to sell.
June 12th, 2009
Infamous has become the fastest selling new exclusive IP on PS3.
Barbnabe that’s not true. I thought Metal Gear was.
June 12th, 2009
MGS is not new IP.
June 12th, 2009
“The 60GB PLAYSTATION 3 has a major issue for some owners it gets the Yellow Light of Hell after 2 years or 2 in a half which sucks because we have to pay Sony $161 in New York lucky i can and will pay it if i have too.”
It’s funny you said that because I live in Canada and we all know Canada is on the list for Pirates and Moded Consoles. Anyway it is true because there are so many Chinese in Canada and these guys got the hookup for what ever you need. But a friend of mine has a Modded Xbox original and the program went down the other day and this dude came over who know how to fix it and I was there with them and the guy was saying the PS3 suffers from the same overheating issues and that he has fixed quite a few PS3’s. I personally don’t think it’s a rampent as the 360 but it was intresting to hear. He also said the Bluray lense has a short life and that he has fixed those too.
June 12th, 2009
CAD see above ^^^^^^^ MGS4 has a “4″ in the title.
Also it was released on the 26th of the month and still managed to snag the 5th place spot on the charts.
Let’s see where the 360’s exclusive landed… oh yeah, that right….
June 12th, 2009
*oh yeah that’S right*
June 12th, 2009
“Infamous has become the fastest selling new exclusive IP on PS3.
Barbnabe that’s not true. I thought Metal Gear was.”
CAD how stupid you are, being a fanboy is look like an idiot. METAL GEAR SOLID 4 is not a new IP. a new IP is new franchise and a completly new game (not a sequel). come back when u learn something about gaming and stop being a fanboy mayb then you going to start making sensee
June 12th, 2009
Wow…brain fart. The cheapest ps3 is $200 more expensive than the cheapest 360. That makes my point that much better. The 360 is not selling twice the amount over the ps3.
June 12th, 2009
Come on, let’s be fair here, it doesn’t matter how you cut it, the 360 is outselling the PS3….even if it should be selling more.
June 12th, 2009
“CAD how stupid you are, being a fanboy is look like an idiot.”
my favorite line out of that.
“is look like an idiot”……classic.
June 12th, 2009
CAD:
here is a lesson, the following titles are NOT new IPs, so their sales number dont count:
-Killzone 2
-Resistance 2
-Metal Gear Solid 4
-Ratchet and Clank
-Gran Turismo 5: Prologue
-Motorstorm: Picific Rift
here are some NEW IP
- Uncharted: Drakes Fortune
- Motorstorm
- Heavenly Sword
- LittleBigPlanet
- Resistance: Fall of Man
- Eye of Judgment
- Valkyria Chronicles
- inFAMOUS
June 12th, 2009
lol @ phranctoast
i meant to say:
being a fanboy is “making you” look like an idiot.
June 12th, 2009
just because its outselling the ps3 doesnt mean its better;
just because there are alot more Hondas in the streets doesnt mean its better than “Rolls Royce” or “Land Rover”
June 12th, 2009
Ahh its this time of the month again
When people brag like the numbers actually make a difference to them…
Good job on opening yet another can of whoopass big N!
June 12th, 2009
^^i agree, the number crunching is getting old. But here are some facts:
-Wii is nutting all over the 360/PS3 combined….
-360 is selling decently
-PS3, using the “years/sales” ratio, is doing decently, in that, its sales curve on a bar graph has always been steadily climbing, with nary a dip or plateau.
-360 had hit a plateau( i think it was between the 17-20million mark) until it dropped its price, which of course gave it’s spike.
Overall, i think all systems are doing pretty decent, with the Wii of course dominating and the 360 being no slouch..and the PS3 just being the tortoise it is, and climbing, ever so steadily lol.
In the end though, the 360 has only managed to keep its ~10million lead “headstart” from when it launched, and at one point had actually lost its huge lead, which was cut to about 6.xx million units, until recently…Not bad on Sony’s part for able to keep up, and even lessen the 10million+ lead the 360 started with…
June 12th, 2009
Oh Fuck Roca you are the Thorn of this site. Just because I happen to miss the “NEW IP” That makes for a stupid fanboy that looks like an idiot. Go somewhere else PLEASE
June 12th, 2009
And take Phranctoast with you
June 12th, 2009
“it doesn’t matter how you cut it, the 360 is outselling the PS3…” …in the United States. Everywhere else, the PS3 gets more sales.
Not that it really freaking matters when it’s this close. “THE COMPANY THAT MAKES THE BOX I LIKE IS SELLING MORE BOXES THAN THE COMPANY THAT MAKES THE BOX YOU LIKE!!!”
Ugh.
-Arvis
June 12th, 2009
“I can’t believe Infamous only sold 175,900 copies. Why don’t you guys support your titles?”
Why dont you start supporting yours first,
Valve’s Assasins
Ninja Blade
Battlestation
the 3 of them combine sold 11 copies TOTAL.
June 12th, 2009
“Good job on opening yet another can of whoopass big N!”
Are you talking about the can they opened up on the loyal gamers they betrayed this gen, SW?
-Arvis
June 12th, 2009
And if 175900 copies is satisfactory for you then that is just lame for a new IP
June 12th, 2009
‘Are you talking about the can they opened up on the loyal gamers they betrayed this gen, SW? ‘
With the exception of Mario Kart, I’d say all thier first party stuff has been on par with other generations. Thats pretty much how I’ve viewed Nintendo consoles since the N64 – all about first party franchises.
@CAD Just because its new and websites may have hyped it, doesn’t mean its gonna sell. I didn’t think it was very good based on the demo and didn’t buy it. Big deal.
June 12th, 2009
“Not that it really freaking matters when it’s this close.”
Au contraire Arvis, it gives Xbox users some bragging rights, no matter how small the gap
As has already been pointed out to you CAD, 175900 is for the last week of May.
And anyway CAD, why were you getting in a strop in the other thread about people hating the 360, when you’re the first one in here having a pop at inFamous sales, and then making some lame jab at a PS3 hardware fault which, I think we can all agree, pales in comparison to 360 hardware gremlins.
June 12th, 2009
CAD:
Why are you still fighting over this numbers you don’t even own a PLAYSTATION 3 yet. And we all know this game is gonna sell over 2 millions like all PS3 exclusives. Plus at least we get new IP.
June 12th, 2009
just because the game has sold 175,900 doesnt mean its going to stop there.
June 12th, 2009
Seriously screw Vincent Valentine! Has anyone actually unlocked him? I have the code to the safe, but it’s f-ing impossible. I bet only like 2 people ever unlocked him. How did he get his own game?
June 12th, 2009
I dont think M$ has any new IP announce yet.
while Sony many of them like White Knight Chronicles, Demon’s soul, ModNation Racers, Eye Pet, Heavy Rain, Under Siege, Agent, The Agency, MAG etc.
June 12th, 2009
if you got the code its easy just beat the boss after you open the safe, then open the locked door the baseman. thats it. he is my favorite character.
June 12th, 2009
Arvis:
“it doesn’t matter how you cut it, the 360 is outselling the PS3…” …in the United States. Everywhere else, the PS3 gets more sales.
Not that it really freaking matters when it’s this close.”
Except that after the big price cut last year in Sept it isn’t anymore in Europe and the only market where the PS3 beats the Xbox is Japan (and even that’s been patchy).
Unfortunately no-one seems to publish monthly numbers in Europe but last time I saw figures Xbox had moved a full 1 million sales ahead.
h**p://uk.gamespot.com/news/6202709.html
I don’t see anything happening since that report appeared in Dec to alter this situation…..
…… and I am pretty sure that if Sony could have gone back to making their previous big claims about leading sales in Europe they would have done long before now.
Right?
June 12th, 2009
…but I can’t get the safe open. It’s pretty frustrating. I just left it. I’ll go back later.
June 12th, 2009
I don’t remember Vincent being difficult to unlock. I remember it just sort of happening. I think Yuffie is a lot easier to miss.
@Happy: “I am pretty sure that if Sony could have gone back to making their previous big claims about leading sales in Europe they would have done long before now.
Right?”
Probably.
-Arvis
June 12th, 2009
@CAD Just because its new and websites may have hyped it, doesn’t mean its gonna sell. I didn’t think it was very good based on the demo and didn’t buy it. Big deal.
Well that is fair because I have not checked out Ninja Blade and some of the others mainly because I’m married and the wife wants all my time. Dame that women but I love her. But really I’m studying right now and have totally locked away the 360 for the month of June. That was one of the hardest things I’ve had to do
But she is also pregenant so I have to choose wisely now what I buy because that kid is going to suck my pocket dry. Oh growing up is hard.
June 12th, 2009
Don’t worry CAD, when you hit the back slope in your mid 40s you get to indulge yourself with whatever is current then.
Kids leave home, get a great TV & audio set up, get a motorbike, don’t have the ankle-biters wreck all your stuff anymore – or borrow it as they start to hit their adulthood.
It’s not all bad, you’ve just as ways to go to get there is all.
June 12th, 2009
Oh and you and the wife/partner don’t have to revolve your personal life around every whim & need of the kids either.
It certainly has its perks.
June 12th, 2009
Why are you still fighting over this numbers you don’t even own a PLAYSTATION 3 yet. And we all know this game is gonna sell over 2 millions like all PS3 exclusives. Plus at least we get new IP.
Well that’s good they need to reinvent the wheel because we all know how much shovelware was on the PS2. That really can’t be said for the PS3 though it is gorwing a decent library. But really i’m trying to keep it civil but that dame Roca keeps getting in my head. I’ve decided that I’m not going to reply to this kid anymore unless he decides/learns to carry on a conversation without insulting people.
June 12th, 2009
Happy I hear you dude. LOL
June 12th, 2009
And anyway CAD, why were you getting in a strop in the other thread about people hating the 360, when you’re the first one in here having a pop at inFamous sales, and then making some lame jab at a PS3 hardware fault which, I think we can all agree, pales in comparison to 360 hardware gremlins
I see what your saying but all I asked was why don’t you guys support your titles because 175900 is not a great # when I expected better from this game. I did not come in here saying for example: Ha the PS3d sucks balls and infamous sold like crap that game sucks. 20 Million PS3rds and that’s all it sold. That game is shit and…….. you get the jist. I’m talking about approach. Not insulting each other, pissing people off, and basically turing this discussion into an all out fight. Some people here don’t get that and resort to child like behaviour that is just not needed. It really annoys me.
June 12th, 2009
And I don’t need an explanation because most of you said you did not like it and I should have realized that from the thread when you guys said you did not like the demo. I was not trying to start anything but ask an honest question.
June 12th, 2009
YES!!! LIST WARS!!!! LIST WARS!!!!
June 12th, 2009
@ Ivan, I’ve never heard of this ‘Yellow Light Of Hell’. What is it and what is the cause?
June 12th, 2009
lol u guys really tryin 2 slag sony for a fault with the PS3??? lmfao RRoD RRod RRod RRod RRod, had that fuker 3 times now, got one again last week and the pompous shit on the fone sed my 3year RRoD warrenty expired… am i fuk payin 4 a repair, its now a coffee stand
June 12th, 2009
Wow Andrew_DS a big-N fanboy here……… fight the good fight
At least this generation I had a choice of which concole to get. Last time round I got a PS2 just because EVERYTHING
June 12th, 2009
Sorry, posted that before I was finished. It was supposed to be.
At least this generation I had a choice of which console to get. Last time round I got a PS2 just because EVERYTHING
June 13th, 2009
i hate the fact that sony came in this gen with a lazy attitude not showing off some killer games from the ps1
June 13th, 2009
new ip’s are risky
June 14th, 2009
@ oldschool,
“lol u guys really tryin 2 slag sony for a fault with the PS3??? lmfao RRoD RRod RRod RRod RRod”
Just so we’re on the same page, are you trying to say that Ivan is slanging off the PS3? Truth be told, neither IVan and I were not slanging anything, we were having a civil conversation.
Barnabee, where do you get the data saying that PS3 is selling more in Europe? The only place I know that displays this data is VGChartz (which has questionable accuracy) and it’s saying the contrary to what you are saying.
June 14th, 2009
2009 the year of the PS3………………..
Oh well
June 14th, 2009
well convo or not my 360 has coffee stains now lol
June 14th, 2009
Bah, another troll….
June 15th, 2009
trolls here !!!! Noooooooooooooo……..
June 15th, 2009
Harry:
Barnabee, where do you get the data saying that PS3 is selling more in Europe? The only place I know that displays this data is VGChartz (which has questionable accuracy) and it’s saying the contrary to what you are saying.
you said the 360 has a lead of 1million units over the PS3.right? well this is common sense. since the 360 was out a year before the PS3 it is just fair to say that the PS3 has been selling more ever since it came out since they are only a million units behind.
June 16th, 2009
Roca,
I normally ignore your posts, but i’ll bite this time.
I didn’t give a figure previously, but let’s look at current sales trends, shall we?
If we’re going to use the VGChartz data as our basis, you’ll notice that the European countries are broken down. The largest country in terms of gaming is the UK, which is on average has the 360 outselling the PS3 by approx 5k units a month. The other countries are selling pretty much neck-a-neck, with the difference between sales a few hundred.
I cannot see any evidence of PS3 currently selling substantially more units than 360. In fact, the only country where there is a large enough difference between units sold is the UK, which is selling more 360’s than PS3’s.
If you have a more accurate source of these types of figures, I am more than happy to refer to them.
But you still have Japan!
June 16th, 2009
Forget Xbox 360 who uses that thing. Back in the days when i used my Xbox 360 it was to burn houses or sometimes to wake up my neighbors and when the lights where out i used my infamous shining red light to light up my city. My favorite part was using my Xbox 360 to bankrupt the countries. Oh i almost forgot to tell you all my favorite letter in the alphabet which is E and my favorite number is 74. India has bad customer service well I’m in America let me speak to real American people for once. I love when my company in Redmond, Washington, USA tells me to say lies like i would ever have 30 million friends i rather have 22 million real friends.
Joker gotta love him he likes us that’s why we only get him LMFAO.
June 16th, 2009
Harry:
if you want you can ignore my posts. even though u make more sense than ur buddies Kev or CAD. but its ok anyways.
I dont care about console Numbers, at the end what matters its the games for the console right?
June 16th, 2009
Roca:
Numbers matter to Sony more then us. We mostly care about games and we got the best so i guess we getting a good treat we have so many hot exclusives. Soon there will be a whole stack of PS3 GREATEST HITS.
June 16th, 2009
@ Roca,
“I dont care about console Numbers, at the end what matters its the games for the console right?”
That contradicts your previous statement about numbers. I think you’re backpeddaling, my friend.
June 17th, 2009
this can’t be right….
sony and their mindless fanboy legions have been swearing since launch that the “150 million loyal ps2 owners” would propel the ps3 to new, unforeseen heights of sales…….
i love it when reality bitch slaps….
harry – did you expect roca or ivan to ever stand behind their statements? c’mon……
June 17th, 2009
kev:
Those 140 million PS2 one would soon get a PS3 or a PSP if they haven’t already. Microsoft first epic fail sold just barely 24 million. And was your PLAYSTATION Network name?
June 19th, 2009
ivan – change the record. the needle’s stuck. you’ve been saying the exact same thing since the ps3 launched and it’s STILL not happening….
it’s really bad news for sony that more people would prefer to stay in last gen with the ps2 than move onto the next gen’s ps3. kinda shoots kuturagi’s (and you fanboy’s) theory to pieces…..