There’s a well worn saying that software doesn’t sell on the PlayStation 3, at least in comparison to the Xbox 360. However, things may be changing, since there’s been a significant improvement in both the PS3’s software and hardware sales. Despite a lower installed base, software sales on the PS3 have outstripped that of the Xbox 360 in the fiscal-2009 year.
We’ve gone into detail over PS3 hardware sales, but now it’s the chance of software. The PlayStation 3 enjoyed 115.6 million software sales in the Sony’s 2009-fiscal year (runs from May 1st 2009 to April 30th 2010), up from 2008’s 103.7 million units. Surprisingly, despite a lower hardware installed base, this performance was better than that of the Xbox 360, which achieved 103.1 million software sales. The PS3’s boost is sure to have been caused by a number of key exclusive releases, such as God of War III.
This increased software performance has also had an impact on its attach rate. That is, the average number of software units to each console sold. In its lifetime the PS3 has now sold 290.5 million software units, compared to 35.7 million PS3s. That puts the PS3’s attach rate at an impressive 8.1 copies per console. That’s now in touching distance of the Xbox 360’s 8.8 attach rate.
Just for fun, we can also compare these software sales to that of the PS1 and PS2 at the same four-year period in their lifetime. The PS1 had sold 236.0 million software units, compared to the PS2’s massive 350.0 million. We’ve included a table below illustrating the fiscal-2009 software sales for each platform (in millions) alongside their lifetime-to-date software sales, lifetime-to-date hardware sales, and their adjoining software attach rates. Enjoy mulling over it.
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May 13, 2010
#1
Of course last year is going to look good for Sony. They released a slim version and had some nice games come out, while MS weathered the storm and are about to release their own slim version this year. If you look at Sony’s exclusives last year they were all outsold by Halo ODST, a glorified Expansion pack. If last year was Sony’s year then clearly this is MS with Natal, Slim 360, Halo Reach, Fable 3, Crackdown 2, Metro 2033, Alan Wake, Splinter Cell Conviction, Ninety Nine Nights 2 and Gears 3 early next year. I think it’s really looking good for them.
May 13, 2010
#2
It Only Does Everything… including selling Software.
Trey 4 Life!
May 13, 2010
#3
@crapgamer
You spoke some truth but admit that you might of got ahead of yourself. You spoke about some very good games coming out for the 360 this year and it does look rather promising however the PS3 slim will have a whole year this time with much better games as compared to last year, sales will be much more as compared to last year. The only real good game last year was Uncharted 2 for me. This year we’ve seen God of war as well as heavy rain and MLB. Upcoming games include Socom, Final Fantasy verses 13, Final fantasy 14, gran turismo 5, modnation racers, and the highly anticipated “Agent” to name a few, throw in the multiplatform games in between the exclusives and i honestly dont see momentum slowing as of yet. Slim 360 is only rumour, Natal will have to prove its worth which clearly it hasnt as of yet. I think everybody in the industry wont deny that the ps3 stride for this year could very well be more. Microsoft are definitely feeling the heat now.
May 13, 2010
#4
The recent slew of awesome PS3 games could be to thank for this. That and the price drop, and the kind of crazy bias I see in my local GAME store.
May 13, 2010
#5
I think we can attribute this to the awesome lineup.
May 13, 2010
#6
ps3 ftw
May 13, 2010
#7
Is it only me but dont you think its because of all the chipped XBOX`s out there ? .
Stating the obvious i know but nobody else mentions this little difference between XBOX and PS3 . Sony keep doing what your doing keeping PS3 safe from hackers .
May 13, 2010
#8
Cool just .7 more XD Ps3 is catching up!, you better run XD
May 13, 2010
#9
@crapgamer
Halo is a household name for and the biggest seller on the 360. Most of the exclusives this gen for the PS3
May 13, 2010
#10
@crapgamer
forgive me I somehow sent my last message prematurely.
As I was saying, most of the exclusives this gen for the PS3 are new IPs, so they aren’t going to sell as well as Halo. You’ll see how a real household name sells on the PS3 when GT5 launches this November. I guarantee that will be the top selling exclusive this year.
Now as for the lineups I still believe Sony has MS on the ropes, but time will tell.
May 13, 2010
#11
@oextra
GT5 is not coming out … ever. Remember how it has been coming out for the last 2 years or so now? Yeah. And the developer claimed last year it was already to be released, how he could release it right now. Now they are saying it is 90% complete? So which is it? When it finally does come out, it will not sell more than 5 million copies. Period.
Remember all the other PS3 games that were going to sell consoles and sell Halo/COD/Gears numbers? Resistance, MGS4, Little Big Planet, Heavy Rain, God of War 3, Killzone 2, etc. Each new exclusive is claimed to be “the big one, the one that sells consoles and Halo numbers”. And yet each title comes and goes with just a blip.
GT5, should it ever get released, will NOT sell more than 5 million. Making it an EPIC FAIL for the series that should easily sell 10+ million according to PS3 fanboys.
May 13, 2010
#12
@xbotman
get ready to eat your hat gt5 is comming out this year plus someone sounds scared?
May 13, 2010
#13
@xbotman
No offense but you are a fool to honestly believe GT5 won’t come out this year and especially believing it won’t sell over 5 million. GT5 Prologue as of this year sold 4.65 mil world wide and this is basically a demo of GT5.
Each previous GT game sold just about 10 mil or more. That means the series as a whole so far has sold over 45 million games (and this doesn’t even include the PSP game or other in between GT games such as GT4 prologue).
GT is Sony’s top selling exclusive, this plus the price drop, plus the hype, and the holiday release GUARANTEE it’ll sell well over 5 mill.
It is after all Sony’s household name.
May 13, 2010
#14
Sony’s taking names and kicking ass. Read and weep 360 fanboys.
May 13, 2010
#15
Well of course 360 has an 8.8 ratio, they red light on you usually within a year or two. Hell, Ive been through 3, and was at least under warranty everytime the “new” (MS knows they’re refurbished ex red light systems)Xbox360 shipped to me. I have to say that Sony made a way more dependable console, that doesn’t get returned nearly as often. I love the game libraries on both systems, but Sony has definitely had some great exclusives here lately. Hopefully MS will follow suit soon, and fix their damn systems.
May 13, 2010
#16
Not surprising that the PS3 is selling more software, it’s software is simply far, far better. Look at all the great exclusives the PS3 has enjoyed the past year………..Infamous, Ratchet & Clank, 2009’s GOTY Uncharted 2, Heavy Rain, White Knight Chronicles, Demon’s Souls, God Of War 3.
What has the Xbox 360 had? A couple of Halo spin – off’s and the god awful Mass Effect 2? Oh dear……….no wonder it’s sales have been low. Also, with Alan Wake reviewing like a polished turd and no other exclusives bar Halo: Reach for the entire year things aren’t looking any better for Microsoft’s failing console.
Sony still has Infamous 2, LBP 2, GT 5, The Last Guardian, The Agent, Killzone 3, Final Fantasy Versus XIII, Resistance 3 and Motorstorm 3 all imminent. With PS3 exclusives pushing the graphics and quality bars higher with each new release the 360 is going to be lucky if it finishes 3rd this generation.
May 13, 2010
#17
8.1 That’s a fucking surprise, I own 12 myself and planning to get Red Fucking Redemption
May 14, 2010
#18
I absolutely will buy GT5 when it’s come out. Can not wait to go around the top gear lap in a reasonably priced car.
.
I think they took so long because they want to include the newest possible version of the car that not even come out yet. Maybe manufacturer also designing concept cars especially to be introduced by the GT5.
May 14, 2010
#19
@Tom Ato
okay, I couldn’t agree with you more.
May 15, 2010
#20
@oextra
Please. Everyone said the same thing in 2008 and 2009. GT5 will definitely be out by the holidays. And the holidays came and went each time. Keep dreaming. And you are a fool for believing that it will have the same impact on the PS3 that no other franchise seems to be able to do.
You Sony fanboys keep hanging on to that hope of hopes that one of the old franchises will resurrect the PS3’s fortunes and sell Halo numbers. But each one comes and goes, barely selling a few million. Pathetic, when you consider the install base now.
Let’s review shall we. MGS4 was going to sell 10 million. Um, no. Not even close. Then it was Killzone 2, which struggled to sell half as many as Halo: ODST even. Then it going to be God of War 3, which won’t sell 5 million copies.
May 15, 2010
#21
@oextra
However, I will say that your “Halo Envy” is both enjoyable and flattering.
Keep in mind that even with 35 million PS3 consoles sold, PS3 fanboys do not buy games. The run their mouths and expect everyone else to buy the games, which they don’t, of course.
Barbie Halo Adventure, if this title were to exist, would easily outsell GT5. There are too many excellent racing games out now. This type of competition did not exist back in the heyday that was GT3/GT4.
You really just need to wake up, look yourself in the mirror and tell yourself that bought the “Gamecube of this generation”. With an online component that is only marginally better than the Wii’s.
May 15, 2010
#22
@99redbaloon
No. They delayed and delayed GT5 because they were playing development catchup with the creators of Forza 3. Imagine the worlds “allegedly” greatest racing franchise (GT5) with no car damage!!! Some racing sim.
And once the gaming press got on them, the GT5 team literally had to go back and make sure each car supported damage. But with release dates slipping constantly, you are likely to get the cartoony damage and not the real damage you get from even the simplest racing arcade games. It will be bolted on and look that way.
How you can call GT5 the greatest racing sim ever, and is had no car damage, is beyond any form of reason. Sony Fanboyism to the highest degree.
You know something else I find odd. Most Sony Fanboys don’t like showing their PSN ID, because people will now check their Trophies and what games they have played. You most often find that they have so little play time and rarely ever finish games (Trophies are great at showing others what you have played and to what level).
May 15, 2010
#23
@Tom Ato
okay, I couldn’t agree with you more. PS3 is selling more software, it’s software is simply far, far better than 360’s. With PS3 exclusives pushing the graphics and quality bars higher with each new release the 360 is going to be lucky if it finishes 3rd this generation. Even after all this time MS has NOT given a game ( graphically ) that can make us go WOW. Where Sony and their PS3 has given us this many many times.
GT5 once released will sell more than 5 million. People that think this wouldn’t happen are hiding their head in the sand.
May 15, 2010
#24
So. Where is the release date from Sony for GT5? Hmmmm…..
May 15, 2010
#25
@oextra
Besides, the reality in console gaming now is the same for both consoles. No one wants to play anything anymore except Call of Duty multiplayer.
May 15, 2010
#26
Xbotman, the release date will be announced at E3 in a months time.
May 15, 2010
#27
gawt damn, baby!
@xbotman: not realy -_- FPS are usually trash, as that genre should have never gotten nearly as big as it should have……
@xbotman (again): didnt GT5 have a release date already? or was that just a rumor?
May 15, 2010
#28
@ xbotman
You’re name describes you well. Why are you even trolling? Does the new attach rate info scare you? Does the possiblity that PS3 could be in 2nd place next year scare you? Does the possibility of GT5 outperforming even Halo 3 scare you? If so, that is very sad.
The funny thing about GT5’s development that people forget is, GT4 took over 3 1/2 years to make. And that was the 2nd to be released on the PS2 hardware, so they knew how it worked. So if GT5 does release this year, it would have been in development for around 5 years. This is with no prior knowledge of making games on the PS3, plus the TONS of new cars and features included. BTW, Alan Wake took 5 years to develop, but it’s coming out isn’t it? Are you going to mock that game when it doesn’t sell better than the PS3 exclusives you are talking about?
Also, GT4 was released near the end of the PS2’s life, a time when people were getting excited about the new PS3, but still went on to sell 11 mil copies. With the hype this title is generating, plus the inclusion of the Nascar license, I am pretty confident that this game is going to sell at least that. My guess is 15-20 mil. units sold when all is said and done.