Sony: PS3 now the "de facto" purchase

By Wesley Yin-Poole Published 19 August, 2010

And sales are "right on track".

Console manufacturer Sony reckons its PlayStation 3 has now become the "de facto" purchase following a "slow burn" at the start of its life.

The "entry level hardware price point" and the launch of the PS3 Slim are the main reasons for the PS3's resurgence, Sony Computer Entertainment Europe president Andrew House told Eurogamer in an interview published today.

"We're really pleased," House said.

"I'd characterise it as right on track. The important thing we always frame the discussion with is our view that the full length of the life cycle is likely to be significantly longer than anything we've seen before.

"We offered some fairly good reasons for that: the fact you have a network device, the value of the network that grows over time, a portfolio of services that grows over time.

"Within the context of assuming this will be a different and much longer life cycle than previously, we're right on track where I would hope we would be at this point in the life cycle."

To date, 38 million PS3s have been sold around the world, and Microsoft's sold 41.7 million Xbox 360s. However, both consoles dwarf in comparison to the 70.9 million Wiis sold.

House added that momentum was now with Sony, and said the upcoming launch of motion controller PlayStation Move will only help grow the PS3's audience.

"Something of a slow burn, obviously, at the start," House admitted. "Everyone should be frank and admit that.

"But really starting to reach what we feel is a tipping point, where momentum shifting in your favour to become what I would hope to be the de facto purchase you would make if you're considering an investment into videogames."

During Sony's gamescom media briefing on Tuesday House revealed that PS3 software sales are up 38 per cent against the prevailing conditions. "That's perhaps the most significant story right now," House stated.

"Software performance on a tie ratio basis, is better on PS3 than it was at the same point on PS2.

"That's very good. We have sold all of these consoles at price points that are way significantly higher than those comparably at the same point in the life cycle on PS2.

"What that says to me is the consumer is seeing intrinsic value in the offering we're putting out there."

Sony announced it will release two new models of PS3 with larger hard disks from 15th September. There will be a 320GB machine bundled with a PlayStation Move motion controller kit for £284.99 / €349. A 160GB machine will be sold for £249.99 / €299 and "gradually replace" stock of the current 120GB model, which costs the same.

Microsoft, of course, has its own motion sensing ace up its sleeve: Kinect. That launches on 10th November in the UK for 130 quid.

Picture of Wesley.

About Wesley Yin-Poole

Wesley is Eurogamer's news editor. He likes news, interviews, and more news. He also likes Street Fighter more than anyone can get him to shut up about it.

Read more articles from Wesley by visiting the Wesley Yin-Poole archive page.

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Comments (50) Latest comment 2 years ago

Comments for this article are now closed, but please feel free to continue chatting on the forum!

  • Golgo #1 2 years ago

    The 'de facto' purchase? The 'by fact' purchase? Sorry, but what?

  • sanctusmortis #2 2 years ago

    PR guy in "our product is better" shocker!

  • Batfink #3 2 years ago

    [link url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/De_facto
    ]http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/De_facto
    [/link]
    It is analogous and similar to the expressions "for all intents and purposes" or "in fact"... The term de facto may also be used when there is no relevant law or standard, but a common and well established practice that is considered the accepted norm.

  • telboy007 #4 2 years ago

    Did you find that under your wings of steel batfink? :D

  • CordableTuna #5 2 years ago

    So, I guess next year is the year of the Playstation.

  • coolbritannia #6 2 years ago

    Wikipedia starts when Sony says it does.

  • reelbigkris #7 2 years ago

    I'm glad the PS3 is sellign well, but i really do have to wonder how many of these new sales are from carphone warehouse' contract deals? The amount of chavs who signed onto the phoen deal and instantly sold the ps3 in min condition for cash was unbelievable.

    I prefer my PS3 to my 360 - which is currently my red dead redemption machine - partially because gears and halo do not interest me and I can not stand it's dashboard! Still awaiting an exclusive 360 game that is not a shoot em up to lure me back to the 360.

  • muscleblade #8 2 years ago

    "The "entry level hardware price point" and the launch of the PS3 Slim are the main reasons for the PS3's resurgence, Sony Computer Entertainment Europe president Andrew House told Eurogamer"

    Not for me or my friends. We simply dont want or need one. If i got one for free i would have sold it or traded it in for 360 games anyway. Its a good machine but i dont have the time for more than one.

  • J0rdan_KZ #9 2 years ago

    Glad the PS3 is going well. Still... apart from LBP2 they haven't really got any 'massive' games for this year. Unlike last years insanity-fest of exclusives month after month.

    (I think I secretly just want Uncharted 3...)

  • darleysam #10 2 years ago

    No, no it really isn't. Not when you're still charging £300 for the damned thing.

  • M4RV #11 2 years ago

    These guys are so... souless. Between this and an automated response from a robot, I suspect I wouldn't be able to tell the difference.

  • youhavenomail #12 2 years ago

    "No, no it really isn't. Not when you're still charging £300 for the damned thing."

    Which, of course, they aren't.

  • Gambit1977 #13 2 years ago

    I've relegated my 360 to eBay...anyone wants a halo3 ltd edition, pm me ;) hehe!

    I'm glad Sony has picked up, their upcoming exclusives look great, I feel what with kinect and the casual exclusives, that the 360 is slowing, mainly due to....not so many red lights !!!

    Or a meringue?

  • JahB #14 2 years ago

    Because it was cracked this morning?

  • Raznilof #15 2 years ago

    @darleysam No, no it really isn't. Not when you're still charging £300 for the damned thing.

    Well, they are almost on par with xbox360 (I'll admit that it is my most played console) which always sold for significantly less.

    I hate the whole momentum marketing speak, but certainly, given their higher price-point, (slightly) sub par performance on most multi-platform titles, lower games output, higher pricing on games, fewer discounts and a full year later release....it's still only a couple of million behind. Indeed the brand does have momentum! Well done indeed!

    I for one would probably come to hate a world where there's only one or just two consoles. It likely would result in a controller with one button and only farmville like games to play ;)


    edit: added the word slightly, because well, it often really is just a very small difference isn't it
    Edited by Raznilof at 19/08/10 @ 14:41

  • SAMagic #16 2 years ago

    I find the interview is much more interesting if you imagine it as House MD speaking instead with his sarcasm and melancholy, rather than the usual corporate "Things are totally perfect" monotonous statements.

  • woodnotes #17 2 years ago

    Judging by current hardware sales, it is clearly not the "de facto" purchase. And in fact none of the consoles are.

  • Moribundman #18 2 years ago

    I have to say despite my zealous loyalty to the 360 this gen, and the fact I recently renewed my gold sub, I am starting to see his point of view.

    Mass Effect 2 going multi, Valve going multi, Bungee going multi, lukewarm receptions for Alan Wake and Crackdown 2, Microsoft's arrogant stance over iPlayer/4oD, Kinect failing to impress any actual GAMERs yet, and the prospect of lots of genuine (rather than contractual) platform exclusives like Agent and GT5 on the horizon...

    I'm sorry Microsoft, but you are going to have to try a hell of a lot harder and realise who your friends are/were if you want to stop Sony shitting all over you.

  • etherfiend #19 2 years ago

    Anyone buying a console at this stage in its lifecycle is probably:
    - coming of console age where the parent's Wii is not enough
    - buying a second console
    - finally getting around to buying one (for whatever reason)

    Apart from buying a second console I'm fairly sure the purchase would mostly now be governed by the 'what my mates have' factor. If Jonny Twizzle's mates all had 360s he'd probably buy a 360 if he had waited this long to get a console. Likewise if they had PS3s with the much smaller price gap now present it'd be a PS3 that little Jonny would buy instead.

  • CaptainKid #20 2 years ago

    Agreed with Moribundman.
    If I were Microsoft I would lower the Xbox Slim 250GB to €220 instead of €250.
    Making it a nice round €100 cheaper then the PS3 slim 250 GB.

  • GamesConnoisseur #21 2 years ago

    My phat PS3 still serving me well but mostly off during summer as no exclusive of note until GT5. Sure was quite busy earlier this year with good exclusives.

    X360 for multi platforms all the way...and heck the new Lara Croft is damn cool!

    Oh me lies.... Forgotten I had used PS3 last week to download onto PSP via US Store the brilliant Persona 3 PSP!

    .........

    Of course there will be supposed multi platform owners who will declare for one or other.... Won't change the fact that it's took Sony a while to get going and lost the leadership of the consoles. More equal shares all around and this is good for consumers.

  • Moribundman #22 2 years ago

    I sort of feel like all my friends are starting to hang around with my ex, and they insist on bringing her along when I try to get them out just with me and my current girlfriend...

    I wouldn't mind, but she's being very flirty and it's only a matter of time before I start banging her again.
    Edited by Moribundman at 19/08/10 @ 14:48

  • Kenshin001 #23 2 years ago

    I'm wondering how, "...I would hope to be the de facto purchase you would make if you're considering an investment into videogames," becomes, "Sony: PS3 now the "de facto" purchase." Talk about twisting someone's words. House seems a decent bloke too, not an arrogant cock like that Greenberg. Lift your game EG.

  • DavidBoring #24 2 years ago

    "Console manufacturer Sony reckons its PlayStation 3 has now become the "de facto" purchase"(eurogamer headline) is not the same as "what I would hope to be the de facto purchase you would make if you're considering an investment into videogames."(actually said in eurogamer interview), or am i just nitpicking?

  • woodnotes #25 2 years ago

    Mass Effect 2 going multi, Valve going multi, Bungee going multi, lukewarm receptions for Alan Wake and Crackdown 2, Microsoft's arrogant stance over iPlayer/4oD, Kinect failing to impress any actual GAMERs yet, and the prospect of lots of genuine (rather than contractual) platform exclusives like Agent and GT5 on the horizon...

    Let's not forget all the Sony-exclusives like DMC, GTA, Final Fantasy, Metal Gear etc that have gone multiplatform in the other direction. It's not all one way and it's not like Microsoft won't have any more major exclusives. I do agree that they've been very arrogant of late, but as a multi-console owner I *still* spend most of my time on my 360.

  • Dizzy #26 2 years ago

    Tell that to the NPD.

  • AidyD #27 2 years ago

    In Asia and Europe the PS3 is the defacto console. If the Wii didnt exist anyway.

    Aw I got a minus for the telling the truth :(
    Edited by AidyD at 19/08/10 @ 15:16

  • Spekingur #28 2 years ago

    Momentum like what my loins felt the first time I saw Pamela Anderson or momentum like my backend feels a couple of hours after a strong curry dish?

  • Moribundman #29 2 years ago

    @woodnotes Agreed. And Halo, Gears and Fable are still console exclusive franchises but these are not fresh franchises. Two of them are ending (at least with original devs) and the third looks "OK". All could be ported to the PS3 relatively easily from a technical standpoint, whereas Heavy Rain/God of War 3/Uncharteds would take a lot more effort.

    With big name devs getting better at, and increasingly enthusiatic about working on the PS3 the "looks/runs better on the 360" argument will only hold water for so long.

    The thing I was most pissed off about recently that turned the tide for me was Mass Effect. MS published a fantastic thoughtful franchise started back in 2007 and got greedy/arrogant and let EA take it off their hands (at which point it was BOUND to go the way of Bioshock and the GTA episodes eventually).

    MS could have hung onto and nurtured Mass Effect as an exclusive franchise but they let it go in favour of their comfort zone of testosterone shooters like Halo and Gears. Now they seem to be having some sort of mid life crisis and pitching for the Wii HD ticket, which is another slap in the face of existing fans.

    As soon as a few more of my MP friends move Sonyward I'll be following them and turning out the lights on my way out.

  • Sunyavadin #30 2 years ago

    Wow, where's Quinn Mallory when you need him, to send these guys back to the alternate universe they came from.

  • Kazzahdrane #31 2 years ago

    House should know that everybody lies.

  • sink257 #32 2 years ago

    I thought the de facto purchase were computers

  • StooMonster #33 2 years ago

    Moribundman: Halo, Gears and Fable are still console exclusive franchises

    Halo 1, Halo 2, Gears of War, Fable, and Fable 3 wave hello from Windows PC!
    Edited by StooMonster at 19/08/10 @ 15:25

  • callum9999 #34 2 years ago

    The article doesn't say its the de facto purchase, it says "which I HOPE will be the de facto purchase". Huge difference.

    I know its EG that is misleading everyone but why bother commenting if you don't even read the article?
    Edited by callum9999 at 19/08/10 @ 15:31

  • Ryze #35 2 years ago

    It's true - they have largely fixed the PS3. Took long enough, and Xbox live still kicks its arse, but the slim and pricing have been sorted.

    Multiplatform games are better on 360, but PlayStation Move may offer a more crucial edge over the next couple of years.

    Still broken are:

    - voicechat
    - custom soundtracks
    - game invites

    etc.

    But I'd no longer advise anyone against getting a PS3.

    They kick the 360s arse for media playback, as they always have.

  • Arcadiian #36 2 years ago

    @StooMonster I thought that was why he said 'console' exclusive. As in appearing on one console.

  • Sunworship #37 2 years ago

    Despite House's hopes, the ps3 is still way more expensive than any no 1 selling console in history. Its not an entry level console.

    However, they do seem to be pretty clear on who their customers are and how to keep them interested, unlike MS who after years of huge investment in the core and finally turning some profits have decided that they can now tell the customers what they want.

  • Soton4084 #38 2 years ago

    I have to say I agree. I sold my Xbox 360 about 2 and a half years ago and to be honest, I regretted it for a while. However, with time I feel the PS3 has caught up and is starting to surpass the 360. Features such as free online gaming, iPlayer, blu-ray and user upgradable hard-drives have really helped to make the console better value for money. In addition, I feel that the exclusives such as Uncharted 2, Littlebigplanet and Heavy Rain (plus others) have been very impressive.

    I've been tempted to purchase one of the new Xbox 360 slims primarily for the xbox exclusives, but with the news that Mass Effect 2 is coming to the PS3, I now feel as though I can't be bothered and the incentive has greatly diminished.

  • Centrifugal #39 2 years ago

    So I suppose all those people who bought Xbox 360s in July were just fabrications, Sony?

    Edit: I just realised how fanboy-ish that comment sounded. I really couldn't care less about it all, I have an Xbox and it has served me well. I just dislike arrogant business statements like these.
    Edited by Centrifugal at 19/08/10 @ 18:08

  • Calgon #40 2 years ago

    Centrifugal dont worry I think that's his intent, although every company in the game has been guilty of these tricks Sony love fanboyism the most IMO, they are the most loyal consumers of all and in their eyes Sony can never do them wrong aslong as they keep feeding their ego's with hype about the Playstation brand owning all, even when thats clearly not the case.

    @Moribundman
    "All could be ported to the PS3 relatively easily from a technical standpoint, whereas Heavy Rain/God of War 3/Uncharteds would take a lot more effort."

    /borat - You make joke haha I liiike you!

    No seriously from what I hear of Reach you can forget that idea, some of the things they are doing with 360 hardware would make it just as difficult as any of the games you listed to port to the PS3(although even Reach wont be as close to the metal as some of the PS3 exclusives might well be, it sounds as though they have made good use of 360 hardware hopefully next month Digital foundary can get hold of Corrinne Yu or one of the engine architects atleast for an in depth article on it), the other two I seriously doubt any dev would use the word easy, to replicate the same performance might not even be possible with them either.

    Fable3 may well be already planned for PC(which goes to show maybe so far alot of MS' devs have been developing with an eye on the PC ports just incase rather than going to town on the 360 hardware from the start without a concern for any other platform) but I think maybe Gears3 is a lil different from other UE3 games so far, Id like to hear what they are doing with the 360 hardware to get that kind of performance too.

    You see how much better it is to inform yourself a little or hold out for more information where necessary rather than blind assumptions which make you look biased and missinformed?
    Edited by Calgon at 19/08/10 @ 18:43

  • irve77 #41 2 years ago

    you know what .. Microsoft are believeing their own hype over kinect and thinking it will catapult them into Wii sales figures. whereas everyone else is thinking how come it's half as good as it should be and double the price.

    Truth is they will need to do something drastic to maintain that 4m unit lead over the next year as Japan sales just slowly chip away at that lead.

    Personally i love my 360 but MS seem to be doing everything in their power to make me want a PS3 with it's iplayer , ITV player coming soon , Blu-ray , web browser the hope of 4od.
    If Ms let iplayer on 360 and struck a deal with the other channels then it would be a blow to Sony ... hell if they brought back 1vs100 or if sky actually made the sky player worthwhile they might even get me to go gold !

  • Calgon #42 2 years ago

    ""But really starting to reach what we feel is a tipping point, where momentum shifting in your favour to become what I would hope to be the de facto purchase you would make if you're considering an investment into videogames."

    There I read it, so he hopes this is going to happen rather than as the headline says is claiming it's already the daddy? Ah ok... still it's true Sony have the most rabid following of fanboys and its no accident either.

  • hiddenranbir #43 2 years ago

    What about those really small hard drive ps3s? Can they expand their capacity?

  • Wyrm #44 2 years ago

    "So, I guess next year is the year of the Playstation."

    I would have thought the last 12 months were quite easily PS3 dominated. Heavy Rain, Uncharted 2 and God of War 3 are reason enough to state this.

  • zztopp #45 2 years ago

    The PS3 is definitely not a defacto purchase for online console gaming! The PSN and XMB are still so far away from the uber smooth and slick Xbox Live interface - heck, even now there is no party system on PS3 online!

    Spend some time playing online games on Xbox Live and going back to PS3s PSN is like going back 5 years in time. I got a shock when I first bought Wipeout HD and wanted to play it online..heck it was a pain to get the online thing setup. Even now I greatly prefer playing online games on my 360 and use the PS3 mostly for single player exclusives.

    Whether you are a Sony fanboy or just a regular gamer, you have to admit that the 360 provides the most intuitive, fluid and feature rich online experience for console gaming. Logging into Xboxlive is joining a bright, varied and alive online world, while the PS3s interface and PSN look cold, stoic and so robotic. There is no contest.
    Edited by zztopp at 19/08/10 @ 22:23

  • RobTheBuilder #46 2 years ago

    As much as the PS3 IS continuing to pick up, I would take as much notice of this PR hype as I do Microsoft's claim that the hardcore will love Kinect.

  • darth_paul #47 2 years ago

    hmmm... what about the wii? still kicking ass, no?

  • MDL199 #48 2 years ago

    @zztopp - You are talking utter bollocks and totally exaggerating the differences between Live and PSN of which there are few. 360 fans make a big deal out of party chat because it's the one thing PSN doesn't have but you know how many times i've ever used it? Not even once! And that's not because I don't have any friends before you get sarcastic.

    I tell you this if Microsoft offered for free everything Sony offer for free and asked people to pay a Live subscription just for cross game party chat which is the only thing Live has over PSN the take up wouldn't even be 1%.

    I find it bizarre that Sony gets stick for offering a pretty fine online gaming service for the grand sum of zero pounds and zero pence. Crazy!
    Edited by MDL199 at 20/08/10 @ 12:49

  • bloodflowers #49 2 years ago

    I rarely use this word, but their PR team are cruising in the roflcopter with a big sack of drugs.

  • Gromit #50 2 years ago

    "Microsoft, of course, has its own motion sensing ace up its sleeve: Kinect."

    Why "ace" and not "card"?