PS4 Hits 7 Million - Consoles Really Aren't In Trouble

[BrotherRool]

As of the 4th of April Sony have sold 7 million PS4's [http://arstechnica.com/gaming/2014/04/still-going-strong-sony-sells-more-than-7-million-playstation-4s/]. Even the supporters of Sony probably weren't counting on this level of success, Sony themselves were aiming to sell 5 million consoles in this timespan.

It's probably fair to say that the people who were predicting the failure of this generation *coughyahtzeecough* have turned out to be incorrect and Gearbox's decision not to make their next Borderlands game for these consoles seems similarly ill-advised, especially given the relative games drought which is unlikely to be satiated until 2015 sometime.

For some comparison, the PS3 had only sold 3.6 million by this point in its lifespan. The 360 had sold 3.2 million, the Wii 5.8 million, the Wii U 3.45 million.

Nintendo haven't released any sales figures since December (5.86 million), but we can be pretty sure the PS4 has outsold the Wii U at this point. Microsoft are likewise hiding their numbers, the last known figure for them was 3 million as of the beginning of January.

Everything is still to play for (well the Wii U still needs a miracle moment), most consoles hit 12 million+ by the end of their second Christmas so this gap could completely disappear if Sony don't have a good Autumn. But it's looking much better for them than it did this time last console cycle

 

[Zhukov]

Oh yes, and there's soooo many games for those 7mil people to play on their shiny new PS4s.

Like... like, um... well, that one with the, err... ohh, ohh, that one game with the... the, err... the stuff that...

Huh.

OHHH! They can play Resgun! I knew there was something!

Personally, I'm not buying a damn thing until I actually see some games. Not about to spend hundreds of dollars on a box that doesn't do anything.

Seriously now, I don't think anyone was predicting this console gen was going to outright fail. Obviously the XboxOne had a rough time of it and the WiiU basically inherited the Wii's reputation, but I don't recall anyone saying that consoles were dead. Maybe getting there sooner rather than later, but not about to die just yet.

Even Yahtzee was just saying he didn't like the new gen for various reasons rather than saying it was all going to fail miserably.

Oh well, if nothing else, console gamers will get a taste of that "PC gaming is dead" thing that was going around a few years back.

 

[Someone Depressing]

It's probably to say anything right now, but honestly, this generation probably will be in some trouble.

Personally, I think the best options for Microsoft and Nintendo are focusing on multi-functions like the PS4 but actually having games unlike the PS4, and I think Nintendo should pull a Sega and just go into software and video games. Again, too early to say, but the prospects for this generation generally don't look too great.

 

[Liquidprid3]

I can't name any specifics, but I heard a lot of game coming out this year are PS4 exclusive. Watch Angry Joe's Most Anticipated Games of 2014, you'll hear a few PS4 only, while I don't think I heard anyXbox One only. Well, not necessarily PS4 only, but some titles are PS3, PS4, PC, and maybe 360. But not the One.

 

[Savagezion]

Haha, it the "PS3 has no games" thing all over again. None of em have games right now. Well, XboxOne has Titanfall.

I too think 7 million in 6 months is pretty huge considering there are no games yet. When they said "5m" I said "good luck with that". And they did better than that. They did something right. 5m was probably the estimate they had to get their budget back in order from the launch and it probably is now back in order and then some. It speaks well for the coming year and the ability to fund money into game titles.

 

[Guy from the 80's]

I recently bought a PS3....will probably buy a PS4 in 5+ years. As long as you have access to a computer, there is no reason what so ever to buy a console at launch or until it has dramatically dropped in price.

 

[BrotherRool]

Last gen sold 260 million combined.

ps4 sold 7 million. 2.69% of the last gen. Total is 10 million. 4.23%.

It proves nothing because its still too early. Not to mention you are forced to buy a ps4 if you know anything. Its the only choice. Of course it will fucking sell.

This gen is like 3 hookers on the corner. The fat ugly one that kicks you in the balls for $500, one is boring and old and cheap, and the other actually gives you sex for $400.

which one of the three will be more popular? Of course it will be the only good one.

Not to mention the sales are front loaded because people are desperate for an upgrade. Since there is no "must have" tech bundled with these things its obvious they won't sell. All the tech they do offer is already contested by smart TV boxes. The only reason the last gen was a success was due to that fact. There is no hook anymore.

The list goes on.

The total is over 16 million not 10 million, which is 6%. 6% of the previous sales in 6% of the previous generations lifespan. If you compare the success of the Xbox One and PS4 compared to the same period last time, the PS360 had sold 5.1 million by this point compared to the PSOne's 10 million.

Now I agree it's not out of the realms of possibility that the market could be shaken up and suddenly everything changes. But it's exactly that, it would require something to shake it up. All the arguments people made for why this generation would fail exist right now and yet this generation (with the exception of the Wii U) is selling better than the last generation. As time goes on these consoles are only going to have better libraries, more features and cheaper prices (heck the One numbers were pre-Titanfall).

 

[Adam Jensen_v1legacy]

Well, they couldn't have done it without Microsoft.

I can't name any specifics, but I heard a lot of game coming out this year are PS4 exclusive. Watch Angry Joe's Most Anticipated Games of 2014, you'll hear a few PS4 only, while I don't think I heard anyXbox One only. Well, not necessarily PS4 only, but some titles are PS3, PS4, PC, and maybe 360. But not the One.

I'm sure both Sony and M$ will have a lot of exclusive titles to show of at this years E3.

 

[Evonisia]

Yahtzee predicted the failure of the quality of the consoles. So far he may as well be right, none of the three can hold a candle to the Wii, PlayStation 3 or Xbox 360 at this point. But yes, they are selling quite fast with the exception of the Wii U, almost frighteningly so.

Insert generic PC master race comment to show how important and amazing I am here.

 

[VG_Addict]

Really, none of the three consoles interest me right now.

I think the PS4's success is a combination of good marketing and the competition screwing up.

 

[WeepingAngels]

I am confused, both the Wii U and the Xbone are doing poorly but somehow the success of the PS4 is supposed to make us believe that consoles are not in trouble. Do the math, 2/3 of the main consoles ARE in trouble.

Anyway, I have no interest in another FPS box considering I don't like FPS games. The Wii U is the only current gen console that interests me, I bought one of those but I can't say I am completely satisfied with it either. Oh and those sharing features, no thanks.

 

[Casual Shinji]

Yahtzee predicted the failure of the quality of the consoles. So far he may as well be right, none of the three can hold a candle to the Wii, PlayStation 3 or Xbox 360 at this point. But yes, they are selling quite fast with the exception of the Wii U, almost frighteningly so.

The Wii, PS3, and 360 couldn't hold a candle to the PS2/Gamecube/Xbox at that point either, so that's kind of a moot point. New consoles always have to build up some credit before you can equally compare them to the previous generation.

OT: I think it's just a combination of next gen blue balls and Microsoft smearing itself with shit. I remember two years ago, people where already clamoring for the next generation, saying that the current one had nowhere left to go.

 

[ngl42398]

Consoles will be around for a while longer. It really is a shame though, it's like paying to be robbed of a ton of cool features. Modern consoles are just worse PCs. I mean, there was a point to them 30, 20, even 15 years ago, between the nonexistent load times and the simple put-in-and-play carts and even early CDs. But now, they're just like consoles, with online passes, installations, and massive load times.

 

[Lightknight]

I am confused, both the Wii U and the Xbone are doing poorly but somehow the success of the PS4 is supposed to make us believe that consoles are not in trouble. Do the math, 2/3 of the main consoles ARE in trouble.

Anyway, I have no interest in another FPS box considering I don't like FPS games. The Wii U is the only current gen console that interests me, I bought one of those but I can't say I am completely satisfied with it either. Oh and those sharing features, no thanks.

That just proves that shitty consoles can't succeed. They actually have to have a point to them now that we have so much information at our finger tips.

 

[WeepingAngels]

I am confused, both the Wii U and the Xbone are doing poorly but somehow the success of the PS4 is supposed to make us believe that consoles are not in trouble. Do the math, 2/3 of the main consoles ARE in trouble.

Anyway, I have no interest in another FPS box considering I don't like FPS games. The Wii U is the only current gen console that interests me, I bought one of those but I can't say I am completely satisfied with it either. Oh and those sharing features, no thanks.

That just proves that shitty consoles can't succeed. They actually have to have a point to them now that we have so much information at our finger tips.

So until they have a point to them, they will be in trouble?

They point of consoles was plug and play, they lost that and now they are just weak PC's.

 

[SonOfVoorhees]

PS2 was the greatest console ever but didnt mean i automatically bought a PS3. I bought a Xbox and then a 360. Dont give a shit about the console, worshiping a console is retarded, its about the games and you should only judge a console based on games. PS4/XB1 have zero games worth buying the console for. Regardless of the amount of sales of consoles, its the amount of games sold per console that makes the money. An all consoles will sell well. Dont get why people are saying console gaming are dying when its only been 6 months. They said the same thing about the PS3 when it was released due to its price and then deleting the backward compatibility and the PS3 sold really well.

 

[Savo]

Give it some time and they'll be fine. They don't have much for games right now (especially if you already own a gaming PC) but they'll develop their libraries over time. The consoles still have most of the advantages they've always had?-simplicity, exclusives, low entry cost, etc--so I don't see this generation failing anytime soon. We'll have a better idea of how they compared to the last generation in a few years.

 

[NuclearKangaroo]

i love how are consoles now the ones receiving accusations of being "dead", oh the irony


good for them, im a PC gamer mostly, but i consider PS4 the next best option, it wuld be much better however, if paying for online wasnt mandatory

 

[GonzoGamer]

I don't think anyone was expecting MS to saw their own feet off.

i love how are consoles now the ones receiving accusations of being "dead", oh the irony


good for them, im a PC gamer mostly, but i consider PS4 the next best option, it wuld be much better however, if paying for online wasnt mandatory

Same here. The most compelling thing on consoles for me was local multiplayer. I got a ps3 because games still had local multiplayer and I didn't have to pay for online multiplayer, something I only occasionally use. Now you have to pay with both and it seems like they're completely phasing out local multiplayer.