Sony: We're ahead of Xbox 360 in Europe

Sony has moved to dispel Microsoft claims that Xbox is outselling the PS3 in Europe, revealing internal figures that say its console has sold 300,000 more units than Xbox 360 in PAL territories.

And the company doesn't feel it has to follow Microsoft and further ignite consumer interest with a price cut of its own anytime soon.

SCEE president David Reeves told MCV that Sony will remain focused on the value offered by the PS3 and its extra functions and services – at its current £299 SRP.

"No we are not going to go down in price; neither are we going to go down in price on PS3 in spring time either. Absolutely not, whatever you might have heard to the contrary,"

[Nathan Drake]

Alright Microsoft,Sony have shown their numbers;Now it's your turn.

[Stryfeno2]

Please, I rather get their numbers from a reliable market watch source...These 2 companies have a history of lies.

[Xbox Street Gang]

Like vgcharts with a z..?

Good job. You'll be an analyst in no time now.

[Harry190]

that guy/gal above me has one of the coolest and most imaginative avatars and username on N4G. Kudos to you. Creativity always wins in my book.

XboxStreetGang.

[Stryfeno2]

Just like a true loyal sheep believing everything Sony says. I do not trust this douche bag Reeves. He said PS HOME will be released in 2008 and we only have 3 more weeks until 09. Let see how he gets out of this one.

http://www.videogaming247.c...

[earwax]

That's all I need to read..........Sony = Phony. Show the figures.

[ultimolu]

December 31st.

Sony would be f*cking jackasses to delay this again. Then I'd have to agree with 360 fanboys that the PS3 is the Delaystation.

[ravinshield]

wack ass company

[IzKyD1331]

You guys hate Sony that much?
I wouldn't be surprised if you guys decide not to see a movie just because it's made by Colombia pictures

[XxZxX]

they are microsoft b*tches, that's why.

[ps3Owns360]

fist it takes time ,home will have millions of people meaning they will have to create a big interactive world.and sony takes time for their work they dont ship it out quick with bugs and lagg like microsoft,or any kind a problem .they want a perfect game.the game is almost here! at 100%.not like gears 2 that still has lagg,bugs,still has weapon slide,and long macthmaking.sony dont rush their games like microsoft for fast $$.home willl be crazy!!.so as ps3 09 lineup

[butterfinger]

300,000 is a pretty large gap to lie about. Perhaps Sony is ahead in Europe? Meh, I don't really care either way.

[Fishy Fingers]

I have as much interest in sales figures as most gamers I guess, but all the bickering that goes hand in hand with sales statistics is beyond me. I'm not overly concerned with which cooperation sold more. I gain nothing from it either way.

[Xbox Street Gang]

People always say that they don't care but if you're invested in a console... of course you should care.

Market share= more games, sales etc. Look at what SE is doing with their ips. Companies are more comfortable doing business with one console if it means less dev time, less investment and generates more profit.

Sony also knows better not to even hint at a price cut this early.

[facepalm]

Microsoft: "We're ahead!!"
Sony: "No, we're ahead!!!"
Microsoft: "NO! we're AHEAD!!!!"
Sony: "NO!! WE'RE AHEAD!!!!!"

::Nintendo watches from a distance::

Nintendo: "What about me guys..."

[Tony P]

Haha. There's a bubble in your future.

I'm a little tired of the constant pissing match tbh.

[TheTwelve]

Unless you have the money/time to buy all three consoles, you should care about sales because publishers tend to make games for the consoles that sell.

Should you care so much for it that you lose sleep over it? Nah. It's just fun for me at this point.

12

[SL1M DADDY]

At this late in the game, developers are making games for all three since all three have come close to or surpassed the 20 million consoles sold mark. That being said, the markets for all three consoles are attractive to developers, especially considering that with 99% of the games released, to sell a million copies of said games makes up for and surpasses the expenses to make the game. You all have to know that for any game to hit 1 million sold is a huge land mark still and is what most developers shoot for in the life of a title.

[mint royale]

I don't trust him as far as I can throw him with his previous comments down the years.

'ps3 is tracking about the same as the ps2'. -- No its not, according to sony themselves in their financials. PS3 at their last financials were at just over 16 million sold whilst ps2 at the same point in its life was at over 24 million.

Having said that I don't trust Microsoft pr either with that idiot Greenburg.

The reality in Europe is they are probably even as they are both claiming to be ever so slightly ahead of each other.

However i'm impressed with neither of their numbers. Call me when they start comparing their numbers to nintendo's then we'll know their doing well.

EDIT: http://www.edge-online.com/...

There are some actual euro numbers for novermeber from an independent tracker and not from Microsoft's and SOny's phony biased numbers.

My interpretation of it is Sony had a big lead in Europe until recently and now MS is clawing it back but Sony is still ahead. MS has never said they've passed Sony in total install base yet (knowing MS they would have shouted this from the rooftops) but they are getting very close. There are outselling the ps3 in Europe quite heavily every week at this price with this economy so that 300,000 number that Reeves is quoting is almost certainly outdated now anyway.

If you disagree tell me why!

[IdleLeeSiuLung]

They are both prbably correct, since PAL territories only includes Australia, New Zealand and specific European countries. While MS is stating just for the entire Europe. If you are picking countries, you can spin data anyway you want.

The numbers will decide in about 1-2 weeks, but with the price drop it is expecting that MS will pull ahead. If it doesn't, they will end up third place again.

In this war, I would say it is a win for MS for increased brand recognition and profitable entertainment division (barring the RROD loss). Sony was at the peak and at this point can only loose, even if it becomes the dominant console. It's potential market is shrinking due to Wii and Xbox share.

[Aquanox]

Both consoles are pretty much even in Europe. Perhaps Sony was a bit ahead until October, but it seems that the Xbox 360 has experienced a huge boost in that territory in November. This might have cut the gap from the root.

The interesting thing is, Sony isn't really saying "We're ahead in Europe"...

They are actually saying "Microsoft still hasn't surpassed us". Remember that both companies tied at around June 2008 and Sony surpassed the 360 from there. After the price cut, the Xbox 360 recovered stamina and IF they didn't catch up with Sony at the end of October, they surely will by November results and even should increase the gap by December.

[DaTruth]

This is not for the year this is lifetime. This year Sony is crushing MS, but in lifetime sales, of which MS had a year head start, it is close and Sony only passed them a few months ago so with the fire sale MS would easily catch up.

[wallace1000]

Well said facepalm. It is funny how it is always microsoft and sony bickering back and forth.

[Saint Sony]

But the fact is that MS has sold more 360's in Europa than Sony and Sony has sold more PS3's in Europa than MS ;)

[gaffyh]

Either one of them is lying or (and I think I read this somewhere a while ago) Sony include Middle East numbers with Europe or "PAL" territories because they aren't big enough to have their own territory.

@mint royale - there are no actual numbers in that article. MS never provides any sales numbers to back up their claims. One of the few reasons why I wouldn't trust them too much (they also said 360 was leading PS3 in Europe months ago, were they back then? or were they lying?).

[XxZxX]

somebody is lying, and there is no real whole europe numbers. We really don't know. If you have a site for proof, your site might be lying too...Who know what's up in there. One second Microsoft cheers for victory, then sony said ya right. Ain't the message is clear, they all sells. Screw those MS people keep wanna compare how much they sell.
Screw this insecure FUD people. Sony is doing OK.

[pathetic fanboys]

but it's shocking that the mighty playstation brand has only managed 300k more ytd than the rrod, disc scratching, gimped technology, payed for on-line console.. truly shocking. even with the hefty price tag, i expected the sheep to be buying alot more.

it looks like all those 3x a week rrod, why pay for live, disc scratching threads on n4g have failed to stop people buying 360s. i know it's been a valiant effort from the sdf, and sony must be proud of your hardwork. but it's failed...sorry.

[gaffyh]

@Pathetic fanboys - you forgot to mention that the 360 had a 1 year lead on PS3 and is cheaper than the Wii in some areas of Europe, and not just a little, A LOT cheaper.

[Antan]

Everything is pointing to Sony making 2009 a year to remember! Going from this article, they are still losing money on the PS3 but i would guess not a great deal if they expect to hit the break even point next year. KZ2 is obviously the start point, and boy WHAT a starting point!

[Darkseider]

Sony has been breaking even or even possibly profiting on the PS3 since early 2008. There is an article on Gizmondo, which I am too lazy to find, that was published in Jan. 2008 that stated they were at or near break even on the PS3 then. I can only imagine over the course of 2008 that they have hit the break even or even hit the profitability mark. Granted it may not be a big number, maybe $2 or $3 a console, but in any case it is still profit.

EDIT:

http://gizmodo.com/344141/p...

I overcame my lazy streak. Link above.

[Antan]

Use the Gizmondo link with no Sony quotes or use this quote from Sonys mouth dated today?

“Next year we are probably going to be a little bit more aggressive when we reach the break-even point.”

[mint royale]

is that fanboy wishful thinking or what?

Sony have stated many times they aim to break even on the ps3 next year and their financials confirm this as the ps2 and psp profits help to cover teh ps3 losses. If the ps3 has been profitable for nearly a year it would have seen a pricecut by now.

[lsujester]

That article he is thinking might be the one that came out where they gave an updated cost estimate of the PS3. It was around 400 dollars, which could be mistaken for them at least breaking even on every PS3. But the problem with many people's reaction from that article was that they weren't considering all the OTHER costs, which include paying other companies for manufacturing, shipping all these systems worldwide, the declining value of US currency vs the yen, etc.

Economics is... complicated. Which is why we aren't seeing Sony cut prices, because they actually need to try to make a little money if they can.

[Harry190]

But I would like to hear less about sales figures today and more about Killzone 2 please.

Btw, I saw PP and POG at Gamestop buying PS3s and they were pre ordering Killzone 2.

That explains why we don't see POG anymore...

[solidjun5]

you saw those two?( or one depending if my assumption that they are the same are true).

You know how they look like? LOL

[Harry190]

only an attempt at humour. I was not being serious but I swear that this is entirely plausible.

[solidjun5]

I know you were. I tried to convey that by putting "LOL".

+1

[Aclay]

A 300,000 sales gap may not be that much to brag about, but when the PS3 is like double the price of the Xbox 360 in Europe and when the 360 has already seen 2 Price cuts in the territory in this year alone, the PS3 is doing pretty well over there and whenever Sony does drop the price in 2009, that gap will only get bigger in Europe.

It seems like a price cut may not be coming in March 09' after reading this...but it's not like Sony would announce a price cut this early anyways.... But since Reeves said that the PS3 business model was much different, it's making me think more and more that a PS3 price cut won't be coming in March after all.... Oh well, as long as I get my 2009 exclusives I'm happy.

[Why o why]

i honestly thought it would be more though. Either way it shows sony's strength in Europe. Over a year head start and BAM. As you can see NA is not enough to think your winning a thing. IF/when sony do lower the price id expect the same accelerated growth the 360 has now if not better.

[Sitdown]

you can spin it for Microsoft. With no where near the brand recognition in video gaming as Sony and troubles with the RROD the underdog is still hanging with Sony...........see how that works?

[prowiew]

the problem is that for every day that sony dont make a price cut they could be losing a customer. Simple economic strategy. They should drop the price already.

[lsujester]

And dropping the price on PS3's to where they are further lower than it what it costs to manufacture them costs Sony a bunch of money for every customer they earn.

Buy low, sell high. Simple economic strategy. They can't drop it just yet or they already would have.

[prowiew]

Good point. Seems my strategy sucks

[Dmack79]

"No we are not going to go down in price; neither are we going to go down in price on PS3 in spring time either. Absolutely not, whatever you might have heard to the contrary,"

And if Sony are not even bringing down the price of the PS3, then WHY is it that the PS3 is selling better??? It's because The PLAYSTATION brand is just more familiar with consumers. And the games for the PS3 have more quality than the 360's library.

[ultimolu]

Sony won't announce a pricecut right now. I do see a pricecut happening in the future, sometime around next year. They would be stupid to announce one at this point.

If they want to show the true value of the Playstation 3, they need to...ADVERTISE! I'm sorry but unless they get their asses into gear with the advertisements, people will overlook the system and buy the 360 or the Wii.

[pansenbaer]

Amen, although I do see it starting to ramp up. I see two or three Sony commercials every night if I'm watching TV. Mostly the Playstation Network one with all those people with pictures floating all over the place.

[ultimolu]

They need more than that. They need to do some serious billboarding in Times Square or something. They need to show the features of the PS3 overall.

[pansenbaer]

Oh I know...Sony has always been morons when it comes to advertising. I mean, heck, they should just update that 'octopus' commercial with new games and call it new. That was a good one that showed everything the PS3 could do.

http://www.gametrailers.com...

I loved that commercial

[ultimolu]

Yeah, that commercial was awesome.

[karlostomy]

I couldn't believe it when I saw TWO consecutive PS3 ads the other night!

Maybe it was the timeslot for that particular viewer demographic?

[Mr Fancy Pants]

MS: we're ahead of Sony
Sony: we're ahead of MS

this means both are doing good? =)

[LokMessier]

That's the only way one seems to be able to take the news, I suppose they are both doing good relatively and that's always good :)

[ToastyMcNibbles]

lol gotta love it

[Motion]

that microsoft counts all replacement 360's for rrod as a new sale? If so, yeah, they could say they're winning...if not, well then no they're probably not.

[mint royale]

as in their financials that are intended for shareholders, the numbers they report correspond to the money they make or lose so a replacement wouldn't generate any profit and would mean they would be lying on their financials which is one of the most illegal things a PLC company can do.

[Grooski]

That is incorrect. MS and Sony both count shipped to retail channel in their financial figures (what they receive money for). When a customer gets a fault within the warranty period, two things can happen - one, they take it back to store for a product swap or they return to MS/Sony for warranty claim and refurbishment. In the first example, it is replaced from inventory at the store and in the second it is not.

When it is replaced from inventory, this must be replaced and adds +1 to stock to order. The process for credit of warranty items takes place outside the normal ordering process.

Hence, some faulty stock replacement is included in shipping figures of both consoles. In the past this has been overwhelmingly higher for MS, but unsure of the failure rates now.

[yourgodisdead]

Id believe a Sony exec before a Microsoft one, so i believe him.

[00]

Would you believe an executive(PR).

[v1c1ous]

for having a PR guy control your emotions

[PimpHandHappy]

PS3 $300

thats my guess

[Omega4]

I'll go with MS, Sony has lied a hell of a lot more than MS

[chrisnick]

im gonna have to start treating u like PP

[Omega4]

Do as you want im not bothered

But maybe next time you can actually make a comment thats relevant ;)

[BaSeBaLlKiD721]

if MS tracked units shipped and sony tracks units sold then i'll go with sony

MS may have shipped 7 million to europe but the question is how many of them are sitting on the shelf right now...

[bunbun777]

is that true guy above me? Bubble for you.

[mint royale]

its a well known fact everywhere except for the ignorant on N4G it seems.

There is absolutely no way a company can know exactly how many units have been sold at the millions of stores around the world. Thats why tracking services like NPD, Media Create and GFK exist to estimate sales.

[DJ]

Their competitor's products, I say Microsoft takes the trophy:
http://xbox360.ign.com/arti...

"When you break down the numbers, Xbox 360 has provably more performance than PS3. Keep in mind that Sony has a track record of over promising and under delivering on technical performance."

Yet I'm looking at Killzone 2, and it makes even the best 360 titles look like a joke.

[bunbun777]

He said If and i thought it sounded like a good premise IF it was true, no one has proven anything though you or him- I seem to think though that Sony would have a hard time tracking real sales...but then again....

Anyone ever wonder what the user base is for 360/ps3 online/offline market? Like how many users of the respective consoles are really online vs offline the majority of the time? Just because Sony or MS doesn't tell us what they see- they have their eyes firmly on live activity, the wealth of info there is quite large i imagine.

[mint royale]

do you mean online activity will help to track sales? If so then I doubt it as there are too many discrepencies. PSN and Live are quite even in terms of users. I don't know what significance that has tho...

[DJ]

Sony reports actual sales. Nintendo reports actual sales. Microsoft refuses to report sales, and instead report shipments to retail.

Need proof? Just one month ago, they had shipped 22 million consoles worldwide. They plan to ship 25 million total by the end of 2008 in order to provide enough of a buffer for holiday sales.

[mint royale]

That is not proof at all. Of course MS will ship more for teh holidays - don't they want to sell consoles in the holidays? I never said MS reports sales to consumers, they don't they report to retailers. What I am saying is so do Sony and nintendo. Sony reported shipping just over 16 million last month and by the end of 2008 they will report 19-20 million. Whats your point. Your proof wasn't proof at all it was just a fact of how many more they planned to sell?

Again this is why tracking firms exist to estimate sales. Why do sony nintendo and microsoft bother to release statements based off NPD results if they have their own numbers and can just say them whenever they wanted anyway. For example why do they never question NPD's numbers? It's because NPD is the best resource they have for estimating their own sales in the market.

MS, Sony and Nintendo know what they have sold to retailers (this to them is sold as the retailers give them the money) but they don't know about consumers they can just provide a rough guess.

Don't confuse yourself when Sony and Nintendo and MS say sold. To them it is to retailers because that is who they sell to. Not consumers.

I'm out of bubbles now so if you want to put any of your points to me then PM me.

[Omega4]

Just because MS's numbers are higher than you would like doesnt mean MS are liars

Sony reports the same type of numbers as MS does just like what Mint said

DJ is you cant except those numbers maybe you should start persuading people to buy some PS3 because im sure you would do a better job than Sony is right now

[bunbun777]

No reply needed compradre.. i think you have best shown that Sony has no sales tracking...but i still hold on to the hope that DJ is maybe right-- yes its true fanboys are borderline delusional! And Im a borderline fanboy.

Anyone wanna talk about POP metacritic reviews and how strange it all is? Seriously can anyone tell me why a Review from Wired @ 70 shows up in the PS3 version but not the 360 version. I know the reviewer said he played it on the PS3 but jeez, isnt multi multi? Or are reviewers expected to submit 2 reviews for two consoles on multi platform games. And isnt wired owned by MS?

--oh and i gave you 2 both bubbles for not insulting each other or throwing a fit- though i do find that stuff mildly entertaining.

[riksweeney]

Microsoft: "We're beating you, Sony!"
Sony: "No, we're beating YOU, Microsoft!"
Nintendo: "Could you guys speak up? I can't hear you from all the way up front."

[TheTwelve]

Sony + Microsoft: "Did you say something Nintendo? Oh that's right. You don't really matter"

12

[Sitdown]

I think Nintendo's bank account has something to say....not sure what language it is in, but it sounds something like "cha-ching"

[Austin_SJ]

Otherwise people will hold off until the drop.

[yanikins111]

i dont care hat they say...

I was expecting a price cut in march after the kz2 rush was over, but i really think they will drop it by boxing day. they are really getting creamed by ms in sales at the moment.

[TheTwelve]

...the fact that both sides are even bickering on equal terms means that Microsoft is losing ground. When two racers get close, a lot of dust gets kicked up but only one will pull away. Microsoft has been ahead for a while but now Sony is right there.

Prediction: '09 Sony pulls ahead.

12

[riksweeney]

True, given Microsoft's head start you would think the console would have sold a lot more units. If they don't sell considerably more units than the PS3 this Christmas (and New Year), then they should start to worry.

[ApolloT4L]

Living in the UK, I think the 360 doing the better numbers. I know about 30 people with 360s and only 4 with PS3s, 5 if you include me.

Most shops have larger shelf space dedicated to the 360 when compared to PS3. Which is usually an indicator of which platform if selling the most games and that's the console that'll rake in the most money.

Of course right now, the Wii is selling the most consoles and probably a bucket load of casual 'babysitting' party something or other titles so most specialist game shops give Wii pride of place.

[kewlkat007]

WTF does that mean?

Regardless of Ms's head start, Sony came out with PS1, now what Head starts that was. Over 100 million which helped PS2's success to over 150 million.

MS is really chipping away at the market, well they had 0% 7 years ago. Sony have enjoyed like 75% for like 13 years.

75% days are over, really.

[Why o why]

started at this '75%' They may of just ended like that and the ps2 is still very alive so im not too sure where your coming from. Nothing is concrete yet. Its well too early to be putting %'s on things like we're already on the next, next gen. However you look at this mr kewlpic despite ALL odds and fud the ps3 is showing and proving whilst being last to the market by over a year in regards to the 360 and always being higher in price. Yes it can be spun bad but im sorry this is good news for sony. Nothing to cum over but good news none the less.

edit, no complaining here. you have to deal with competition having headstarts in most industries and there are obvious pro's n cons for having/not having headstarts. The 360 had more than a year headstart in Europe btw

[kewlkat007]

While "Sony is 1 FULL Gen Ahead" of MS in the business and have the numbers to Prove it...'

Unless you disagree that's fine..but it's FACT.

If some are complaining it's not fare MS had a one year start.

[riksweeney]

The gap between 2nd and 3rd is nothing compared to the gap between 1st and 2nd.

Coming in 2nd place will be nothing to be proud of this generation unless 2nd place and close the gap on 1st.

[ravinash]

Actually, its not about who's coming 1st, 2nd or 3rd....its about profit.
As long as all companies are making a profit, that means they will be round for the next generation. No one will make consoles if theres no money in it.

Nintendo can produce their product at a low cost so they have it in the bag.
Sony are working to get back in the black and while their Console is selling well, there is no reason to lower the price.
Microsoft arn't really letting on how much money they are making with the continuous price drops and things like budget for RRoD.

[Chrissy]

Poor Reeves. He is without a doubt the worst PR turd in history of gaming. He lies all the time whether its about exclusive games, DLC, new games or sales. This is one of the reasons sony lost everything this gen. Stringer, fire people NOW NOW NOW!!!

[pp]

Hahahahhaha hahahahahhahaha

[Harry190]

How do you like your brand new 160 GB PS3.
Ah, you already have a few Uncharted trophies. Good, very good.

Hilarity.

[digger18]

Oh, there's PP the wanker boy again!!!

[dkgshiz]

Do any of you own stocks in Sony or Microsoft?

[DJ]

And how they allocate their resources to each platform. It can also affect whether certain franchises stay exclusive to certain platforms, or become exclusive.

[theEnemy]

I doubt it.

-ps3 owner.

[chasuk08]

So when the manufacturing costs go down they are not going to drop the price, they are basically going to keep the same price and gain more profit.

Sony need to dump this business plan and start charging for online play. That means you can buy a cheap console and have the choice to play online, thus giving Sony profit.

And whats even more laughable he says this is the opposite to what we did with the PS1 and PS2 !!

The reason the PS1 and PS2 became a huge hit after a slow start was down to the price. Theres no way you should keep the same price if you want to compete with the 360 or wii. Even if you are outselling it in PAL territories.

[Why o why]

this is business, actually this is their business. We're punters, they're sellers. We each have power; Them to do what they feel is best for them and us to do the same for ourselves.

[chasuk08]

I cant believe i lost 2 bubbles for that, its ridiculous. I wasnt bashing PS3 i was just saying they need a price cut soon. And to anyone who thinks im an xbot from that post, look at my posting history !

I DEMAND MY BUBBLES BACK !!!

[Captain Tuttle]

Doesn't PAL cover more than Europe? Africa, Australia, Middle East?

[BBCnewsrocks]

yep here is a PAL map

[Captain Tuttle]

China AND India...2 of the most populous countries in the world. Yeah, Sony better be ahead of MS when MS is only talking about Europe and Sony is talking about all of PAL. Thanks for the map man.

The title of the story is a bit misleading.

[pumpkinpunker]

PAL doesn't even cover all of Europe either. Finland, Sweden, and Switzerland aren't PAL to name a few.

Head of a major company and he can't even get basic geography right when comparing figures. What a loser.

[NickIni]

Wrong. He doesn't say that. The submitter of this article made that title. He doesn't even mention Europe, he talks about PAL, which is a huge region, which covers most of Europe.

[pumpkinpunker]

OK, I'll grant you that whoever wrote the article is a misleading moron, however how can Sony be confident that they are outselling the 360 in the PAL regions when--

a) console sales aren't tracked by a third party in many of the more populous PAL regions.

b) Microsoft hasn't announced their recent sales figures for many of the PAL territories.

See what I'm getting at? He has no figures from Microsoft or a third party to compare his numbers to and is just being your typical sleazy exec trying to stop people from selling their Sony stock as it plummets. I know a lot of you guys love your PS3 and I don't begrudge your love of the console (although IMHO you're getting ripped off) but at least take a reflective moment and realize that Sony is often a dishonest company. How many quotes and broken promises must I dredge up from Sony reps that blatantly lied or told half-truths?

[gdguide]

When looking at the demand of a console, you got to ask yourself, would it be even close if the PS3 was priced as low as the 360 in Europe?

What people forget is that MS can afford to have such drastic and frequent PCs of late because they are dropping internal studios left and right, and because they make a total killing off of Live.

The 360 isn't surging a huge amount because people want a 360 more than the PS3. It's surging because it's up to half the price because MS have decided to cut costs by letting like half of their internal studios go, and because they make $50 per year for each XBL Gold member. If that's say even 15 million Gold members, that's 750 million that MS gets and Sony doesn't each year.

Kudos to MS for being smart enough to have a great revenue stream coming in from Live to afford this, but probably not so good letting Bungie, Bizzare Creations, Ensemble all go the way they did. It really does go to show that MS is looking more at the "now", and Sony is looking a lot further down the road with a way deeper set of internal developers. We're starting to see what such a huge development community can do (Killzone 2) when they all are working together and sharing.

[etownone]

Don't beleive it.

[Why o why]

lol. I can add a few more names that dont but thats too easy. (still got the hotest pic though) ill give you that.. i love purple

[Dweg]

Sony always "Forgets" to add in the UK when it makes its PR claims... they got caught when they did the whole "we just passed 360 in europe" thing and now they're trying to pull it again.

[BBCnewsrocks]

Beating MS in all of Europe is not the same as beating MS in UK. Europe is not UK.

[titntin]

MCV is a respected trade publication in the UK and nowhere else.
The statement is 'PAL territories' which obviously includes the UK.
He's also quite specific that he's talking installed base and not shipped product as MS so often talk about.

Beleive who you like, the fact is they are neck and neck for installed base, yet the 360 has been available in the territory for 3 years, the PS3 just 18 months.

[eagle21]

MS can't even keep up with RROD, let alone selling slow in southern EU countries. Sony ftw! MS said 7m EU 360's. Do the math: 12m usa, 7m EU, 760k JP + some extra territories that don't really buy 360 = around 22 m 360's sold. MS is 4.2m ahead of PS3 and lying their noses off.

[Says you]

sold world wide like how did they get 25 million that fast? in that case the PS3 has sold 21 million world wide I don't think this is far fetch considering its reasonable that they sold that much at least they didn't say we're selling a million every month.

[ps34ever]

rip 360

[DarkSniper]

Dark Sniper would like to send his special thanks out to David Reeves for clearing up the mess that Microsoft has created in regards to console superiority in European territories. As stated, PLAYSTATION®3 is continuing to be the dominant platform not only in Europe, but worldwide. Outselling Xbox 360 at a higher price point means that consumers are looking for quality and not the same redundant garbage that Microsoft tries to pass on to customers with Xbox 360.

PLAYSTATION®3 provides you with exclsusive online content, online playability at no charge, premiere movie servicing combined with blu-ray multimedia and critically acclaimed exclsuives that can only be realized through the insanely powerful Cell Processor.

David Reeves has once again exposed Microsoft for the lies and propoganda they have spread across the newswave and Dark Sniper is ecstatic to see this situation rectified. Microslaves are deeply offended by the statement of truth that Mr. Reeves provided which of course gives Microslaves across the nation a humbling message that XBox 360 is nowhere near as good of a console as their dilluted minds may think.

Dark Sniper certainly would like to send special thanks to the European PLAYSTATION®3 owners who have made this 2008 victory for Sony possible. Xbox 360 owners are jumping out and playing b3yond daily due to your valiant efforts in spreading the truth upon the console.

$niper

[LTC]

Wow Ps3 is still £299 in the U.K and its still selling really well. I could get a 360 for £99 at Asda but I already have a heater to keep me warm this Christmas.

[eagle21]

C'mon guys, dissect the lies (:])

MS said 7m EU
NPD said 11.4 m NA but now that's 12m
760k JP

You can see those figures barely break 20m. Other regions can account for maybe 2m more, but we know places like australia, india, china, etc. don't buy MS over Sony. 22m 360's and 18m PS3's is realistic.

[ElementX]

Any lead the PS3 has in Europe is canceled out by the 360 lead in the US.

[Why o why]

wit the rest of the world

[KingDizzi]

Here we go, this is like a dung throwing contest

[eagle21]

Jump Out and Play B3yond! :)

[Craig David]

Sony we have 14million ppl on PSN haaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa aaaaaaaaaaa

Pull the other one haaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa a

[360 man]

u guys are so funny.

i can see its really getting to u

[Magic_The_Celt]

Aye, sad little fangirls

its always been well known sony has the lead in europe, always has, always will

Still more PS3 units sold in europe, by a couple million last time i checked

and thats saying something what with the 360 out an entire year before the PS3

[eagle21]

Nothing to brag about 360 lovers. :)

[ElementX]

Why do you care? It's not as if developers are going to quit producing games for 360.

[bunbun777]

When MS does enough of a good job screwing over existing customers ala Xbox1.

Besides one awesome rumor/story about the 720 being "forward compatible" (i love the term but it smells a bit like 4d) what makes anyone think MS wont leave all the 360 users behind when the 720 rears its beautiful head?

And for the record- I am more than aware of Sony's barely better attempt at backwards compatibility for the PS3- but at least they still support the PS2.

[Tacticity]

Sony breaking balls, awsome.

[pumpkinpunker]

Pal Territories do not equal Europe. So for a Sony rep to say this refutes Microsoft's earlier statement about all of Europe is just beyond idiocy and immoral. They're two different geographical regions. More proof that Sony is getting really desperate when they have to fly in the face of basic geography in order to make their console look good.

Hope you sold your Sony stock. My prediction a couple months ago of $15-16 per share of Sony by 2009 is coming true quicker than anticipated. This company is going down the toilet.

[Blades08]

The MS one said they outsold the PS3 during a specific time frame and this one is implying they are still in the lead in overall base by 300k. So I don't think anyone is lying, just people are interpreting it differently. Just read the words don't add to it.

[Kush_Reaper]

With games like KZ2 & Uncharted 2 coming in 2009 i can understand why Sony feels comfatable about keeping the price the way it is for a little bit longer.

Lets face it, Sony's plan is this, "we have the most amazing and original games in the industry so if you want to experience what 17.5 million people are you need to purchase our console at what ever price it is currently".

Don't know about you but that is a company who are comfident in their product. The ps1 was lowered, ps2 was also lowered and now they know they have that 150 million potential install base so yeah i wouldn't worry too if i was in the console race for a cycle of 10 years.

It's quite clear that Sony is in competition with themselves and are focused on making profit. Yeah the price cut will come but hey only the less fortunate are complaining. The ps3 has value and the games distant it from the rest.

OBAMA!!!

[Deadlyhifi]

I'm fed up of you stupid children saying..err PS3 is best.. xbox is best... seriously.. when you grow up you will realise what idiots you are. More so.. why does this site publish such crap...

It's news for gamers... not news for people who wanna get one up on someone else... All this fan boyism shows is a serious lack of confidence in ones self... do you people who argue so god damn much about a console care about the state the world is in as much??? Or is your stupid console worth more than that??

IT'S JUST A CONSOLE!!!

[nice_cuppa]

microsoft say its 1.wii 2.360 3.ps3 !

sony say its 1.wii 2.ps3 3.360 !

so do i believe microsoft and nintendo or believe sony and go play my 60fps 1080p games on 2 screens from 1 ps3 ?

hmmmmmmm !

[locos85]

I don't think they want to admit a spring price cut yet because they believe it will slow down their sales in anticipation. I think they will do a price cut with the release of Killzone 2, or a couple of weeks after.

[Blades08]

Why would the cut the price with the release at the same time with Killzone 2 or a few weeks after that? It's going to be Sony's huge exclusive in 2009 - at least in the first half. So that title alone will sell consoles without a price cut. If there is going to be a price cut it will be a few months off of that closer to the summer months.

[perseus]

Actually, everywhere in Europe except France is PAL.

However, most of Africa, Asia, and South America are also PAL.

[Arsenal4Ever]

Killzone 2 ends this discussion anyways. Who went Leiscester Square?? I know I did. The guy in the white Jacket? They laid out the red carpet for us too. KZ2 truly shows wht the PS3 is capable of.

PS3 31st December 2009 = 29-34 million trust me on this one. So much was shown at VUE tonight.

[tonywood]

I must say,"SCEE president David Reeves, worry about the GAMES and PRICE issue with the Ps3!"

I love the SONY Ps3 brand, however....you will never be No. 1 without KILLZONE 2 and God of War 3...both delivering the goods. Ps3 will not see respect on the streets (EVER) until a great shooter (K2) and GOW3 show the gaming world why people should drop the bucks on the HD/Blu Ray gaming system... known as the Playstation 3. PERIOD!! And NO, the Dark Knight, LBP, and R2 are the answers. 360 is selling more because of the price drop, Halo3, and Gears2. They can afford to have customers wait on Halo Recon, the eventual Halo 4, and Gears 3....they have 2 genre defining games in Halo3 and Gears. Ps3 is awesome, but There is not that one game that people are talking about. Ps3 has to do something with the price and STOP sitting on exclusives until NEXT year/quater!

[XDF]

From First to Last...well done Sony. All the spinning and lies won't help the PS3 but at least it will put a smile on all the fanboys faces.

[7h3ultim8p00]

Sony and MS both have different definitions of Europe, so they could both be telling the truth.

Also, notice that this guy didn't actually say "Europe." He said "PAL territories." Not all European countries are PAL territories.

[123456789]

xbox is selling more as of now but overall ps3 has sold more

[cayal]

Am I the only one who thinks the guy in the photo looks like a paedophile?

[jerethdagryphon]

yes you are

[karlostomy]

So Sony is announcing that they are still 300k units ahead in Europe for the ENTIRE YEAR?
... and they're bragging about that?

Damage controooool!

2008 = year of 360.

[air1]

lmfao..

not only that karlos, but they still think they dont need a price cut. someone should save this, it will be funny to read when they announce a price cut soon.

a 3year old rrod hardware still sucker slapping teh cell around. lol

[ultimolu]

2008: Also the year of the flops for the 360. :)

Uh-oh, I've said too much.

*zips mouth and runs off*

[karlostomy]

I am really not interested in you or your STDs.

Sorry.

[pshizle]

have YOU SONY FANBOYS FORGOT about

E3 2005

[jojo319]

Me: My Dad could beat up your Dad

[mastiffchild]

Sony AND M$ rattle their sabres and everybody here(well most anyway) jumps. There's obviously more room in this growing market than we thought (Wii has proved that)and my guess is that both Microsoft and Sony feel this is the case but have to keep up the front that there's this bitter war between them-and why wouldn't they, it's publicity and helps sell consoles. The 360 price cuts were possibly to chase the Wii and surely by now Sony's production costs should be falling to a point where a price cut should be possible-so the isistence that it wont happen points to them being quite comfy in the current situation. Face it, they're probably both making money out of this(or are afe in the knowledge that they will do very soon. There's room for both sides to make a profit and the phoney "war" just keeps consoles in the press and peoples minds-the only real fight is over those who haven't yet upgraded from PS2, imo.
The competition, and I believe this is where we all win, must be between the quality of the exclusives on each console(and undeniably there are some great games on both sides)while the "console war" helps everyone sell the multi plats(hence all the comparison articles)and they'll all make the money.
It's only a theory(like everyone elsre's pov)but I think it's getting more plausible by the week.

[SprayandPreycom]

just from speaking with freinds who have visited me in la that the 360 is picking up steam there but that the ps3 was doing better for the past year but now the 360 is starting to take over....

[M0rt3n]

and they still prioritize Europe last. We always get the games and services last... sucks