PS3 Informer

Where They Stand: Console Sales in US and Europe

Who says that key software titles don't move systems? The following internal marketing graphs from Nintendo show the effect of specific game releases on hardware sales for all consoles in Europe and the united States. The data is for January-September 2008. The prominent large spike in hardware sales in the month of April corresponds to the release of GTA IV on Xbox 360 and PS3. At roughly the same time, the release of Wii Fit prompted an increase in sales of the Wii console. The effects of both leveled off after a few weeks and were later followed by other, smaller increases as different titles were released. See the legend below to match the game release with the hardware sales spike.

European Hardware Sales January - September 2008:

Legend:
A: 360: Hardware price cut
B: PS3: GT5:Prologue released
C: Wii: Mario Kart Wii released
D: Wii: Wii Fit Released
E: PS3: GTA IV released
E: 360: GTA IV released
F: Wii: Super Smash Bros. Brawl released
G: PS3: 80Gb model released
H: 360: Hardware price cut
H: 360: FIFA 09 released
H: PS3: FIFA 09 released
Source: Neogaf

Data for America is less detailed, and is smoothed according to month. However, it is still possible to see how each of the competing home consoles sold throughout the year. In particular, notice how te release of Metal Gear Solid 4 affected PS3 sales in June.

Console Sales in America January - September 2008:

Monthly comparisons are interesting, but how has the "console war" played out in North America and Europe year over year? The following charts show bow the video game market share is broken down by comparing console sales from the January-September (non-holiday) period year over year. The Wii has gained considerable ground in both the United States and Europe since 2006, but these charts vividly show how currently inconsequential the “war” between second place companies Sony and Microsoft really is.

Yearly Console Sales in Europe Between January - September:

Yearly Console Sales in America Between January - September:

[Sources: Nintendo, Neogaf]