PS4 Sold 1.25 Million Units During November 2013 in the US, Xbox One at 750,000

Wedbush Securities, who is usually very close when it comes to NPD predictions, is estimating (via GI.Biz) that the PlayStation 4 sold 1.25 million consoles during the month of November, while the Xbox One was at 750,000. As well, they believe the Xbox 360, PS3, and Wii U will be down 44%, 28%, and 65%, respectively, when compared to last year.

Even with the PS4 and Xbox One introduction, Michael Pachter of Wedbush thinks that console and handheld sales were down 13% overall to $1.25 billion.

When it comes to software sales in November 2013, it’s expected they will be down 13% as well, with “far weaker-than-expected debuts” for Battlefield 4 and Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag attributing to this. As well, Pachter believes Call of Duty: Ghosts’ sales were down due to the low reviews and PS4 and Xbox One launches.

The NPD should be releasing their official November 2013 US retail sales report Thursday night.

 

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PS4 is the “leading system of this generation” – DFC

DFC Intelligence notes that Sony’s 2.1m sold is the best first two weeks of any console launch in history

The PlayStation 4 has been off to a fantastic start, selling over 2.1 million consoles across the globe. While Sony has noted that it’s the best start for a PlayStation system in the history of Sony Computer Entertainment, what some people may not be aware of is that it’s also the best start for any game console in history, DFC Intelligence noted today.

The research firm said that the 2.1 million units sold in the system’s first two weeks on sale (first in North America and then in Europe) places it above Nintendo’s Wii, which sold 1.6 million units in its first two weeks (in Japan and North America) and Sony’s own PS2, which sold 1.4 million units in Japan back in March 2000.

Microsoft’s Xbox One sold over 1 million units in its first two weeks, but the red-hot start for the PS4 only reinforces DFC’s forecast that Sony’s new console will be “the leading system of this generation.” DFC agreed with SCE boss Andrew House that PS4 could outsell the PS3, but it’s doubtful PS4 will approach the mighty sales of the PS2.

“The initial success of the PlayStation 4 bodes well for its future. The PlayStation 2 and Wii went on to be the best selling console systems ever. DFC Intelligence does not believe that the PlayStation 4 will surpass those systems but reiterates its forecast that the PS4 will be the number one system of this generation,” the firm said.

DFC also commented that Xbox One may be slightly more supply constrained: “The Xbox One has been difficult to find although from all indications DFC believes Microsoft did not ship as many units as the PlayStation 4.”

 

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PS4 beats Xbox One to become UK’s fastest ever selling console

Sony’s console sold more than a million consoles during its US launch, and has now beaten records in the UK.

Sony has duplicated their successful launch of the PS4 in North America by becoming the UK’s fastest ever selling console.

The PS4’s sales figures have beaten both the PS3’s, the Xbox 360’s, and the previous record holder – Sony’s PSP. This handheld console managed to sell 185,000 units in the same time period during its 2005 release.

Most importantly for Sony though, the PS4 outsold the Xbox One, clearing more than 250,000 units within the first 48 hours of launch and easily beating the Xbox One’s sales of around 150,000 consoles in the same time period.

Industry news-site MCV reported the figures, also noting that this means both Microsoft and Sony’s consoles have sold more in two days than Nintendo’s Wii U has sold in a year since its launch in November 2012.

However, in the US the Xbox One may be taking the lead, becoming the best-selling console during the country’s annual Black Friday sales event. Analysts InfoScout reported that both the Xbox 360 and Xbox One outsold the PS3 and PS4, with Microsoft’s consoles collecting 61% of console sales on the day in comparison with Sony’s 30 per cent.

InfoScout also noted though that this may be due to limited availability for the PS4 in the US, as well as retail giant Walmart’s decision to discount the Xbox 360 to just $99.

In terms of games sold, Call of Duty: Ghosts seems to be convincing audiences on both sides of the Atlantic. InfoScout’s data showed the latest instalment in the CoD franchise easily outpacing the competition (though didn’t give specific numbers) whilst the UK’s all-platform top 10 also put Ghosts in the number one spot.

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Gamers selling sold-out Playstation 4’s for double the amount

FANS eager to get their hands on the sold-out new PlayStation 4 are already forking out almost double its retail price.

 The new PlayStation 4 is going at almost twice the retail price [PA]

Desperate gamers are forking out over £200 more than the £349 recommended price in a bid to be playing the console by Christmas.

Online auction site ebay is full of the consoles today, and most are selling for over £500.

One console, which included two games, went under the hammer at £595.

The PlayStation 4, which was released at midnight yesterday is one of the most eagerly awaited products of the year.

Fans queued for up to three days to grab one of the products and sadly if you have not pre-ordered the game it is unlikely you can get one by Christmas.

Amazon said customers who had not pre-ordered before 13 November would not receive a console in time for December 25th.

The console, released yesterday, has now sold out over much of the UK [FameFlynet]

While GAME also said their stock was now extremely limited.

Ian Chambers from GAME said “We’ve hired 4,000 extra staff to help cope with the demand for the new Playstation. We’ll do our best to get a console in everyone’s hands, although stock is extremely limited.”

The PS4 is 10 times faster than it’s predecessor and includes the new wireless DualShock controller.

But it’s not only the PlayStation that is selling out fast; the Xbox One has also had some healthy figures.

Phil Samuels, category director for consumer electronics at Currys and PC World in the UK, sated, “We believe the Xbox One and PS4 will revolutionise the market.” He said that shoppers had already put in more pre-orders than expected for both but “so far the Xbox is nudging into the lead”.

 

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PS4 + PS VITA Ultimate Edition bundle “rumored” for December

Videogamer.com posted an image claimed to be of a Sony ad from this week’s issue of MCV, and it shows the bundle dated for December 2013.

In a move that should come as a surprise to exactly no one who has been paying attention to Sony for the last six months, it looks like this holiday season there will be a PlayStation 4 bundle that will include the PS Vita.

Sony really wants you to buy a PS Vita. On its own, the portable console hasn’t done particularly well. The games are expensive, the storage options are expensive, the mobile data version of the console is expensive, and it’s really just not an overly compelling experience unless you are a huge fan of Sony exclusive titles.

Over the last couple of months, Sony has worked incredibly hard to change this increasingly negative opinion. They have dropped the price of storage, opened the door to a huge selection of low cost indie games, and created a truly impressive cross platform experience with the PS4.

According to MCV, Sony intends to run a £2.5m television campaign called “The Best Way to Play” to highlight how the PS Vita integrates with PS4, as well as promoting the handheld’s title Tearaway.

Leading up to the next-gen console’s launch, Sony has been highlighting PS Vita’s integrated features with the console. These features include second screen functionality through the official PlayStation smartphone application and PS4’s Remote Play capability, which allows supported PS4 games to be played on the PlayStation Vita via a wi-fi connection. Announced games that support the feature include Diablo 3, Assassin’s Creed 4: Back Flag, Resogun and many more.

To leverage these features, Sony Computer Entertainment Australia’s managing director Michael Ephraim recently told Polygon that Sony is “looking at ” Vita price drops and possible handheld/console bundles.

Given the $100 price gap Sony currently has with the other holiday console this year, the company has considerable breathing room for this particular play. Since the PS4 Remote Play feature already supports some of the bigger titles for the holiday launch, not the least of which is the big RP demo title Knack, if Sony could price this to be only $50 or $100 more than the Xbox One’s barebones kit it would still stand a reasonable chance of selling well.

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