Anyone surprised Modern Warfare 2 on Xbox 360 is outselling PS3 2:1?
Recently the NPD sales report came out and it looks like all platforms are doing a smashing job across the board. The top performer by no surprise in Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2. The game sold a little over 2:1 on Xbox 360 compared to the PS3.
Dave posted the latest NPD results recently showing that both the PS3 and Xbox 360 did smashingly well in hardware sales. It also showed that COD:MW2 sold 4.2 on Xbox 360 vs PS3’s 1.87, which is a little over 2:1 ratio. I was expecting this, as the userbase for Xbox 360 in the United States is about 2:1 to the PS3 userbase.
Yes, the PS3 Slim is selling quite well considering its mono $299 price tag compared to Wii’s $199 and Xbox 360’s $199 to $299 range. However, current high sales does not equal high software sales as one has to account for the existing built up userbase.
It’s not like people already owning an Xbox 360 will stop buying games. I suppose since everyone else is doing a MW2 sales story I felt somewhat compelled to write one, but isn’t a story about how the PS3 version of Batman: Arkham Asylum is outselling the the Xbox 360 version against all odds, a bit more intriguing? Sort of like Rudy.
Related Posts:
77 Responses to “Anyone surprised Modern Warfare 2 on Xbox 360 is outselling PS3 2:1?”
Leave a Reply:
You must be logged in to post a comment. Don't have an account? Register today!
December 11th, 2009
It’s actually 2.25:1
December 11th, 2009
Nope, not surprised at all. The Xbox brand, and especially the 360, has been heavily developed upon FPS console culture. Nothing strange here.
December 11th, 2009
“The game sold a little over 2:1 on Xbox 360 compared to the PS3.” = >2:1
2.25:1 >2:1
But thanks for being splitting hairs. Great contribution!
December 11th, 2009
Putting MW2 aside, every month in the NPD software sales the 360 has a far higher sales rate than 2:1
PS3 users just don’t seem to buy as many games….for whatever reason.
December 11th, 2009
With Xbox & MW2 selling so strongly in the UK I’d love to see the numbers for here.
Interestingly for all that chat about Activision wanting to push up prices MW2 is now on sale at Amazon UK for under £30 – with free delivery.
(the regular brand new game price for Xbox is usually £40 – £45 here)
Game.co.uk are doing a new 120gb (Jasper) Elite with MW2 & Forza 3 for £199 ($325 US/$355 AUS) inc delivery.
Nice deal.
No wonder Xbox is said to be outselling PS3 in the UK by 3:1.
That’s got to be reflected in the MW2 sales too.
December 11th, 2009
CON
I’ve noticed that. A game console that has such die-hard fanboy fans and yet they just can’t sell so many games with it.
Very strange.
The weird thing is that judging by the Blu-ray movie disc sales they aren’t really into buying films either.
Unless it’s some garbage like Transformers 2 (which guarantee a sales spike as they could hardly be aimed more squarely at the average PS3 owner) they’re not so bothered about buying high def movies.
Maybe they just spend forever pulling themselves off for hours looking at porn using that odd half-ar$ed web browser they have?
December 11th, 2009
I am not surprised. After all the sony faithful wouldn’t bother buying a game as crap as Call Of Duty when they have so many “MUST HAVE EXCLUSIVES that make owning dream sony playstation a luxury”
Ha ha ha. Damn I laughed my nob off again!
December 11th, 2009
Andrew DS
You want to get that nob of yours looked at, it really shouldn’t er come off like that!
Tis very funny tho, all that PS3 this, PS3 that chatter and in the end their sales blip lasted 2mths before it began to slacken off.
I wonder if their numbers will end up, like last time, sliding right back as Microsoft & Nintendo respond?
December 11th, 2009
“which guarantee a sales spike as they could hardly be aimed more squarely at the average PS3 owner”
Authority on the average PS3 owner are ye now.
I See.
December 11th, 2009
Em, I’m quite surprised it’s selling 2:1 in favour of the 360.
How many really good exclusive titles came out for the 360 this year? I mean, I know I was chomping at the bit to purchase MW2 and AC2.
Sony has had a few exclusives out this year, exclusives that are finding favour with the PS3′s consumers. That may have something to do with it, I dunno.
December 11th, 2009
THEY ARE THE SAME MOTHERF***ING GAMES. GOD DAMN.
The exact same game is on both systems with pretty much equal quality. The game ends up being awesome. Win for gamers. There are roughly twice as many 360s in the USA as PS3′s. The only thing this tells is the attach rate of popular multi-plat games on either system, once you do console ratio vs game sales.
That was for the many fanboyish comments that will appear below this in rapid succession (there is already a few here). Message: Sales=popularity, but popularity does not always=quality, especially in the gaming industry.
Great article, but lots of people will miss the point of it completely and only see the title minus “Anyone surprised” and the question mark.
December 11th, 2009
SW
It’s hardly difficult to work out, it happens every time a movie is aimed at that ‘PS3 demographic’.
Of course it’s a rough rule of thumb but it’s bourne out by which movies gather the big sales – and yes it has to be the PS3 boys too simply because Blu-ray stand-alones are so few in number compared.
December 11th, 2009
Saber,
You’re bang on the money, chief
December 11th, 2009
@ViRuS
*gunshots*
*HuyaHuyaahah*
*plop*
*cha-ching!*
NOW I’m bang on the money. Lame literal jokes FTW.
December 11th, 2009
If you say so chief.
December 11th, 2009
@ Andrew_DoubleShit: I hope you penis don’t keep falling off mate, you should get that looked at, I had the same problem so I went to the GU clinic, turns out it was a strap on :s
December 11th, 2009
So can anyone explain why ps3 is lucky to have even 1 title in the monthly game sales yet where 360 has an average of 4??? Not counting the last 2 months take a look for yourselves.
December 11th, 2009
“So can anyone explain why ps3 is lucky to have even 1 title in the monthly game sales yet where 360 has an average of 4??? Not counting the last 2 months take a look for yourselves.”
WHO F#$%KING CARES …… Fanboys, thats about it.
Do you xbots actually fathom that if Sony went out of business, I would HATE to be just stuck with MS. We would be paying double for everything. Healthy competition is GOOD …. ffs (Sony aint going out business, but for a hypothetical)
December 11th, 2009
Spidey
Here’s a thought.
You know the way some folks think the whole Coke & Pepsi thing is a fraud?
Check out who holds stock in what.
Just saying.
No reason to spoil whatever fun we get out of it tho, eh?
December 11th, 2009
“Do you xbots actually fathom that if Sony went out of business, I would HATE to be just stuck with MS. We would be paying double for everything. Healthy competition is GOOD …. ffs (Sony aint going out business, but for a hypothetical)”
It would leave a gap for SEGA to come back
December 12th, 2009
“Nope, not surprised at all. The Xbox brand, and especially the 360, has been heavily developed upon FPS console culture. Nothing strange here.”
Nope, I’m not surprised either. What is surprising is that 360 actually outsold Wii and PS3 combined in software unit sales for the month
XBox 360 – 6,100,800
Wii- 3,104,200
PS3- 2,318,400
We’re not talking about just the “FPS console culture” here either as Assassin’s Creed sold nearly twice as much on 360 when compared to PS3 as well, and only the 360 version of Dragon Age was able to make the top ten.
If it was only a matter of the userbase being more, then Wii titles would have crushed the 360 in software sales for the month, especially with it’s newest edition of the company’s traditional flagship franchise.
December 12th, 2009
Spidey pretty much nailed.
more units out = more sells
PS3 tops the competition with the highest average of good games and the lowest average of bad games.
360 average of good game was 3rd behind the PS3 and PC
360 average of bad games was second behind the Wii (figuired that)
December 12th, 2009
“more units out = more sells”
So true, except in the case of Wii here, they actually had less software sales.
360 tops the competition with the highest actual number of good games.
PS3 total number of good games was 4th behind the 360 and PC.
PS3 total number of good games was behind even Wii (figured that).
December 12th, 2009
more units out = more sells
PS3 tops the competition with the highest average of good games and the lowest average of bad games.
Best reviewed game of the year = PS3 Uncharted 2
360 average of good game was 3rd behind the PS3 and PC
360 average of bad games was second behind the Wii (figuired that)
Metacritics put the PS3 as the number 1 console.
the 360 had the most amount of crap behind the Wii (figure that)
December 12th, 2009
PS3 has less units which equal less sales than 360.
Wii has more units and still has less sales than 360.
360 tops the competition with the highest total of good games.
Best selling, most popular, and best reviewed games are on 360.
PS3 total good games was 3rd behind 360 and PC.
PS3 total good games was behind even the Wii.
Metacritic reflects the 360 as the number 1 console with the most total well reviewed titles, although PS3 does have the highest “percentage/average” because they released significantly less games overall this year.
The 360 has the most amount of good titles, more than PC, more than Wii, and more than the PS3, which has the least amount.
December 12th, 2009
And yet, none of that matters
)
(But yes, I know you’re making a point to Roca, Ivan, or whoever the battle is with today
December 12th, 2009
I was under the impression that roca and ivan supported the theroy that there are only so many more xbox’s because people have to replace there broken 1s. So they must also be buying games for there old ones.
December 12th, 2009
‘and best reviewed games are on 360′
@ Carl: lol what hat did you pull that out of? I agree with the best selling and most popular tho. Sony have easily had the best line up this year but the games are never that popular, don’t make sense. It’s like people don’t want to play really good games because it’s sony lol.
December 12th, 2009
Xbox has a bigger game library and more games with a high score.
Once you get past a handful of 1st party exclusives what (compard to Xbox) is PS3 supposed to have that is so great?
December 12th, 2009
not surprising.
for shooters (racers, action, sports and RPG), nothing beats the 360….
December 12th, 2009
saber – “The exact same game is on both systems with pretty much equal quality.”
you might want to research. the ps3 is having problems handling MW2 online….
of course the idiot ps3 fanboys blame the dev/publisher even tho the 360 has no problems….lmao..
December 12th, 2009
“@ Carl: lol what hat did you pull that out of?”
From Metacritic. 360 has 10 more well-reviewed games this year (75 or above) than PS3, and 95 more games overall.
December 12th, 2009
360 has the most amount of crap behind the Wii.
Sony’s PSP and PS3 had the lowest percentage of crap.
Percentage of “GOOD†reviews
PS3 = 43%
360 = 35%
Highest Rated Game in 2009 = PS3s Uncharted 2
“Uncharted 2: Among Thieves is not only the top Playstation 3 game of the year; it ranks first out of all games for any platform in our database for 2009″
December 12th, 2009
Year of the PS3 = 2009
PS3 had the highest average reviews. highest percentage of “good†reviews, and lowest percentage of “bad†reviews.
the 360 was second to only the wii in the “bad†reviews percentage and 3rd overall in the review trailing to the PS3 and the PC. and was 4th in the good review category behind the PS3, PC, and PSP.
Best PS3 title = Uncharted 2
Best 360 titles = Modern Warfare 2 (aslo available on the PS3)
http://features.metacritic.com/features/2009/the-best-games-of-2009/?tag=topslot;title;1
December 12th, 2009
“Sony’s PSP and PS3 had the lowest percentage of crap.”
If “percentages” of “crap” is your priority, then PS3 is the way to go.
If total numbers of well reviewed games is your priority, then 360 is the way to go, as it has far more than the PS3.
December 12th, 2009
who puts out more crap between the PS3 and 360?
lol
December 12th, 2009
http://www.gameguru.in/action/2009/12/what-gears-of-war-could-learn-from-uncharted-2/
December 12th, 2009
somebody obviously has a fixation with “crap”… lol.
December 12th, 2009
Well what do you expect CarlB?
When he runs up against the fact that Xbox 360 has more games & more highly scored games he really hasn’t much oiption but to wheedle around playing word-games & twisting & turning.
December 12th, 2009
“somebody obviously has a fixation with “crapâ€â€¦ lol.”
yes. Microsoft and the 360
im glad you noticed
December 12th, 2009
Looks like he’s continuing to prove your point happy…
December 12th, 2009
Ohhh Kev just fuck off will you? Yout borning and predictable, you regurgitate the same shit every time and don’t back up the turd you speak.
December 13th, 2009
Naturally CarlB, you didn’t expect anything else, did you?
December 13th, 2009
“Yout borning and predictable” lol
@kev
Don’t listen to him. MW2 has had a lot of online problems on ps3, I don’t see how this shouldn’t be discussed in a MW2 article.
December 13th, 2009
I wonder if the PS3 config files refer to XLB like the PC ones do
Fucking IW and thier shoddy ports.
December 13th, 2009
*XBL
December 13th, 2009
@ xbox fan boys
four words
red. ring. of. death.
December 14th, 2009
You know this is AMERICAN numbers only. Where the Xbox has a larger percentage of the userbase.
Globally the numbers are much closer…
December 14th, 2009
St0rmBr1nger
you are totally right.
December 14th, 2009
“Don’t listen to him. MW2 has had a lot of online problems on ps3, I don’t see how this shouldn’t be discussed in a MW2 article.”
I wouldn’t say it had a lot of on line problems on the PS3. It had an issue with trophies which was resolved in a day and some people couldn’t connect to servers as well. Again resolved in a day.
Neither issue should have anything to do with the sales of mw2 on 360 exceeding that of the ps3 sales. Most of those early sales were preorder sales anyway. People made their decision early.
You should really layoff giving the ps3 a hard time on early online issues for games. Especially when its a proven fact that exclusive 360 games share the same fate.
L4d2 wasn’t fixed for two weeks after being shipped. The servers were lagging like hell. Valve fixed a network issue and added some dedicated servers to alleviate the issue.
Not too much of a whisper of that huh, but we have to hear every single ps3 online issue. Hypocrites.
December 14th, 2009
phranctoast
No, it’s not hypocrisy.
It’s just a fair response to the usual over-blown -
‘PSN is so unbelieveably awesome, as good as XBL anyday of the week and it’s free’.
When by all fair comparison & independant review XBL is the better service.
If the PS3/PSN fanboys didn’t hold PSN up as some sort of perfection then the Xbox owners wouldn’t bother to take the time to point out it’s occasional problems when they arise.
December 14th, 2009
Oh and St0rmBr1nger is completely wrong btw.
In the UK Modern Warfare sold 1.78 million units in first five days – over a million on Xbox 360 alone.
h**p://www.videogamer.com/xbox360/fifa_10/news/uk_video_game_chart_mw2_demolishes_competition.html
So the big sales lead is clearly not just an American thing, it is being repeated at least in the UK and probably the rest of EU Europe where Xbox also holds a lead.
December 14th, 2009
what a cop out answer. I’m really getting tired of you and kev justifying every response with fanboys said this and fanboys said that.
Raw generalizations seems like the new way to argue here on blorge.
and btw. If I was paying for XBL I’d be slightly more pissed that there was any online issue arising, than compared to a free to play online service. Epsecially two weeks.
December 14th, 2009
“Raw generalizations seems like the new way to argue here on blorge”
thats their getaway excuse for their rants.
but yeah Phranc is right there has never been any issues on PS3 first party games as the ones we see for the 360 first party titles (Gears 2, L4D2, Halo 3). server issues for MW2 (only lasted a day) were not PSN’s fault. I believed we already cover that.
December 14th, 2009
phranctoast
That’s rich coming from you.
Who was it said only a couple of days back ‘what would we argue about’ if we agreed on stuff?
The biggest PS3 f*ckwit here rolling in desperate to agree with you & score a (as usual petty) pro-PS3 point justy makes your point even more absurd.
December 14th, 2009
As per of course nobody wanted to tuch the fact that the Xbox MW2 success is (proven) to be not just confined to the US.
December 14th, 2009
“phranctoast
That’s rich coming from you.
Who was it said only a couple of days back ‘what would we argue about’ if we agreed on stuff?”
Thats rich coming from me. Explain……
Is that how I generally argue? Instead of logically answering a question I create my strawman that can’t be proved one way or another? (generalization about fanboys).
Seems like an easy way out.
That quote sounds a lot like the one I said when I completely let it slide when you failed to answer my question that dealt with better games or more units sold.
Call me surprised for seeing that thrown back into my face.
December 14th, 2009
“You know this is AMERICAN numbers only. Where the Xbox has a larger percentage of the userbase. Globally the numbers are much closer… # Roca.:
December 14th, 2009… St0rmBr1nger you are totally right.”
“You are totally right” storm, the PS3 only trails the 360 by 2.4M in MW2 sales worldwide, not quite “2:1″… lol.
vgchartz.com/swlaunch.php?reg1=All&game1=®2=All&game2=Call+of+Duty%3A+Modern+Warfare+2+-+PS3[28847]®3=All&game3=Call+of+Duty%3A+Modern+Warfare+2+-+X360[28848]&weeks=16
December 14th, 2009
so if the 360 has 2.33M MW2s ahead of the PS3 in the U.S. and 2.4M head wordwide
then the difference between us and worldwide is 70K….much closer right?
December 14th, 2009
It’s not just the U.S. roca, it’s America… is it suddenly not part of the “globe” now? He did say “globally the numbers are much closer”, not “the difference between US and worldwide”. Regardless, “globally” the results are practically the same.
December 14th, 2009
h**p://i.joystiq.com/2009/12/14/modern-warfare-2-players-report-matchmaking-malfunction/
more xbl problems.
December 14th, 2009
I just pointed out that besides the big lead in America (where the 360 has a lager user base) the difference is 70K.
it still a 2.4M lead for the 360 worldwide but most its lead came from America and just 70K everywhere else.
it reflects the console lead the 360 has over the PS3 in America
December 14th, 2009
“more xbl problems”
somebody is going to come up and say something like
“as if anyone cared” lol
December 14th, 2009
Oh lets face it.
MW2 is steaming pile on ALL systems.
I dont hate it tho… Really.
December 14th, 2009
“it still a 2.4M lead for the 360 worldwide but most its lead came from America and just 70K everywhere else.”
I agree, and my point exactly roca. NPD obviously counts when “global” numbers can’t even significantly close that gap.
December 14th, 2009
phranctoast
“sounds a lot like the one I said when I completely let it slide when you failed to answer my question that dealt with better games or more units sold”
That’s a lie, I answered your question straight and fully.
I prefer the better games to sales numbers.
Thankfully Xbox not only offers me more games but it also offers me more high scoring games.
December 14th, 2009
“I prefer the better games to sales numbers”
then talk abit more about the good games and less about their sales number. a good game is a good game weather it sell 1 copy or a million
December 14th, 2009
Roca
I’m glad to talk about Xboxes’ bigger game library and that it has the highest number of high scoring games compared to PS3.
Unfortunately all you do is spam these boards with your pro-PS3 PR BS desperate to claim otherwise.
December 15th, 2009
Happy Said.
“I’d bet the house Sony would far rather have the sales & the cash
(and with a console, unlike the PS3 Slim, assuming the last data is accurate, that is now profitable on each sale).â€
Phranctoast Said
Ok..I’ll give you that, but what would you rather have?
Happyhockum Said:
December 11th, 2009
“Honestly?
I’ve already got more games than I’ve played
(I have collected about 25 at a cracking price that are still in their wrapper that I’ve yet to even get around to looking at).
TBH most of this the argument is fairly pointless, both consoles offer some great eye-candy, both have some superb & deep games.”
I wouldn’t count it as a lie happy. Above is everything that occurred. By answering the question straight and fully, you simply told me you have too many games to play. I guess thats “straight and fully”
Well…if anything, you are answering the question straight and fully now.
December 17th, 2009
why are the ps3 fanboys suprised?
shooters are best on the 360. always has been. the ps3 didn’t even include Force Feedback (rumble) in their launch controllers….bleh….
pretty lame at $600 each…lmao.
December 17th, 2009
phranctoast
I’ll be charitable and allow you that you lost the thread where the question was put.
Otherwise you’re flat-out lying.
Look here –
h**p://gamer.blorge.com/2009/12/10/ps3-slim-vs-xbox-360-elite-which-console-should-you-buy-this-christmas/
You said –
“honest question.
What matters to you guys more? better games or better sales.”
I said –
“Seriously?
I think game play is the thing and there Xbox easily matches (if not betters) anything PS3 offers – and offers more of it.”
If you’ve dug up anything else it’s either completely out of context or said on the basis of me already answering the question (and probably not for the 1st time either).
I won’t be expecting an apology but before you run to join in with that PS3 trolling w@nker and his attempts to create rows here you might just check your facts a little more thoroughly.
On a much happier note I found my data old transfer kit (Microsoft sent me when I switched from 60gb – 120gb last year).
It’s currently churning over all my stuff to my new Super Elite.
Harry, I’ll be in touch on XBL & sort out your friend link later.
Looking forward to a blast on Forza 3.
December 17th, 2009
so straight and fully is telling me gameplay matters and Xbox easily matches. OK..it’s better than what I found.
The correct answer would have to simply said games matter over sales because you are a gamer and not a stock holder, but your answer was ok.
December 17th, 2009
phranctoast
Man up, admit you got it wrong.
I did in fact answer the question put and gave my reasons for selecting why I think Xbox fits the bill.
I realise it’s not the answer you wanted but I did give you a straight answer (completely unlike your 1st quote).
December 17th, 2009
Not only did I misinterpret your meaning now I apparently did then as well as it wasn’t entirely clear and IMO didn’t answer my
question so i asked it again.
“@happy.
When I said highest rated, you have to imagine gameplay and graphics are considered in the review.”
proof of that is right there.
December 17th, 2009
phranctoast
I guess it’s a bit vague when I said
“I think game play is the thing”.
Yeah, so ambiguous.
December 18th, 2009
vague enough were I asked again in the same topic and brought up gameplay and graphics as indicated in your post.
You know…..it’s all good anyway. You answered the question.
Better games are better than better sales for us.
MS and Sony on the other hand more than likely don’t see it that way.
December 22nd, 2009
given the fact sony allows hackers and cheaters completely overrun MW2 on PSN, without so much as warning, it’s no wonder gamers prefer using MW2 on the 360 and xbox live…
h**p://www.destructoid.com/why-glitching-in-modern-warfare-2-is-sony-s-problem-157891.phtml