Sony puts odd spin on December sales

By Robert Purchese Published 14 January, 2011

PS3 only console growing "more valuable".

Sony has offered a strange retort to the Xbox 360 trouncing PlayStation across the US last month, stating that "PS3 is perhaps the only console that grows more valuable over time".

Is Sony suggesting people keep their PS3 so they can sell at a profit further down the line?

Sadly, probably not; it's likely a reference to the Blu-ray player or to stereoscopic 3D or to the myriad services that are appearing on the PlayStation Network.

"Since PlayStation Move was introduced in September, millions of consumers and gamers have joined the PlayStation family," began Sony spin doctor Patrick Seybold. "The key to Move's long-term success is developer and publisher support; enabling PlayStation to offer the most diverse line-up of motion and 3D games.

"The combination of innovative hardware and a relentless line up of blockbuster titles is why the PS3 is perhaps the only console that grows more valuable over time.

"As we come out of the gates in 2011," he added, "PlayStation is brimming with new games to whet the appetite for all gamers, like next week's highly anticipated launch of LittleBigPlanet 2, which received top scores. And right around the corner, Killzone 3 is positioned to set a new standard in hardcore gaming as the first AAA title to utilise both 3D and Move functionality."

Notably absent from Sony's response were sales figures for PlayStation 3 or sales figures for PlayStation Move. The only point Sony commented specifically on was software sales.

"According to the December NPD, PlayStation is the only console company to show year over year software growth with an impressive 32 per cent increase in sales," said Seybold. In August, that year-over-year increase belonged to PS3 hardware.

Seybold went on to talk about the 50 PlayStation Move-supported PlayStation 3 titles currently available and the "close to 20 titles still on the horizon". He then boldly promised "PlayStation's steady expansion of software titles to create what is without doubt the most exciting line-up of motion control gaming options available to consumers today".

"We look forward to the year ahead as we continue to deliver the kind of compelling, innovative and diverse content experiences that have kept the PlayStation brand synonymous with premier entertainment for over 15 years."

Picture of Robert.

About Robert Purchese

Bertie is Eurogamer's Senior Staff Writer. When he's not hunting down news stories he's often found playing with his kids or gabbling about fantasy games and strange online worlds. @Clert on Twitter.

Read more articles from Robert by visiting the Robert Purchese archive page.

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Comments (68) Latest comment 1 year ago

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

  • Xardan #1 1 year ago

    Basically they just want blu ray and 3D to become more popular.

  • Shikasama #2 1 year ago

    "PlayStation is brimming with new games to whet the appetite for all gamers, like next week's highly anticipated launch of LittleBigPlanet 2, which received top scores"

    Hang on, the game has already been reviewed and the scores given submitted to Sony before release?

    Have I missed something?

  • NotSoSlim #3 1 year ago

    The game had been reviewed everywhere mate

  • Dizzy #4 1 year ago

    I love it when spin doctors squirm!

  • cianchristopher #5 1 year ago

    Keep on reaching for that rainbow, Sony.

  • RodHull #6 1 year ago

    Agree that it would appear that Sony have a much more interesting year ahead what with MS refusing to announce any games for their games console. However this "more valuable" faff and nonsense sniffs of desperation. The fact that 3D tellies are so ridiculously expensive means that if I get one I'll have to increas my home and contents insurance and I've only just renewed. Gaming never used to be this complicated in the days when I was playing SNES and Amiga games. And when I was ten years old.

  • menage #7 1 year ago

    Owning both consoles I mus say I play them equally. Sony does have a lot more exclusives I really want though. MS dropped a lot of devs last year and I really don't see any games I'm interested in this year besides some great XBLA content.

  • drumbaby #8 1 year ago

    If you're going to spin then at least do it in a way that the world can understand.

  • SHPanda #9 1 year ago

    LOL. Really, is that the best they can come up with? It's the only console becoming more valuable? That's so illogical my brain hurts.

  • RobTheBuilder #10 1 year ago

    This sort of PR spin is exactly why I don't trust their "PSP2 = PS3" talk.

  • Bealsy #11 1 year ago

    Lot of P45s being handed out at Sony PR this morning after this I expect...

  • chris_ace #12 1 year ago

    Post deleted at 11:55:13 13-12-2011

  • lockload #13 1 year ago

    In their own little world lol

  • onyxbox #14 1 year ago

    Both companies talk shit.. all that's different this gen is that it's the current trend to poke fun at Sony.

  • slippysloppy #15 1 year ago

    "The combination of innovative hardware and a relentless line up of blockbuster titles is why the PS3 is perhaps the only console that grows more valuable over time"

    Eh? If you're going to put a positive spin on things it at least has to make sense.

  • jag10 #16 1 year ago

    Xbox wii60 whooo!

  • lockload #17 1 year ago

    @onyxbox last gen Sony had it all their own way, #1 to #3 can't be easy to take

    They are probably full of hatred for the ps2 fans who decided not to get a second job and got a 360/wii instead
    Edited by lockload at 14/01/11 @ 10:13

  • Dizzy #18 1 year ago

    "Both companies talk shit.. all that's different this gen is that it's the current trend to poke fun at Sony. "

    It is the only company where poking fun became more valuable over time.

  • Spekingur #19 1 year ago

    @chris_ace: Your so-called "real" games are only and only on the PS3? This makes me laugh. Everyone properly knowledgable (and their dog/cat/hamster) knows that the proper real games come out on the PC.

  • Geordiemp #20 1 year ago

    Lots of fat americans watching opra and buy kinect.

    No interest for real gamers.

    I play 360 allot, but not games for fatties.
    Edited by Geordiemp at 14/01/11 @ 10:55

  • miiiguel #21 1 year ago

    it will all rebalance it self out

    Sure it will, it's only been 5 years, PS will eventualy become #1, it's its fate, our faith. Time goes by so slowly for those who wait. No time to hesitate.

  • mcmonkeyplc #22 1 year ago

    Don't stop believing!....

  • geordiek #23 1 year ago

    I hate it when big companies describe themselves and consumers as family. Where was my birthday card yesterday?

  • jamie_fear #24 1 year ago

    @RodHull

    3D TVs ridiculously expensive? My brother got a brand new 50" Samsung & 3D Blu Ray player with 2 sets of glasses for £900 before Xmas from Currys. Think 3D TVs are at a more feasible price point than most people realise.

  • Skooch #25 1 year ago

    I honestly didn't understand much at all about what this guy is blathering about. It is spin alright, my head hurts :/

  • hello_fi #26 1 year ago

    @Spekingur: Everyone properly knowledgable (and their dog/cat/hamster) knows that the proper real games come out on the PC...

    ...at least 6 months after they've been released on consoles and with crippling DRM because PC gamers can't be trusted to actually pay for games. It's not your fault though, it's tough to enter the real world and earn your own money when it's so scary compared to your mum's basement.

  • RobTheBuilder #27 1 year ago

    @Jamiefear It isn't just about cost, it's about the replacement cycle. Millions of people have only bought a new HDTV in the last 2-3 years. They won't want to shell out again for something they don't need to replace yet.

  • tobsen #28 1 year ago

    There is hardly anything that turns me off of a company more than this slimy, convoluted PR speak like that coming from Patrick Seybold.

  • kinky_mong #29 1 year ago

    Oh Sony, stop with the useless spin. Less talk, more action is what's needed. There must be lots of people like me who are crying out for a PS3 price drop so I can play all the exclusives that have been released in the last 3 years.

  • StooMonster #30 1 year ago

    Sony PR: "PS3 is perhaps the only console that grows more valuable over time."

    What does this mean?

    Neg me if you like, for asking this question, but I still have no idea what this means! Are Sony claiming that PS3 is like gold at the moment, or houses in the past, that its value increases over time?
    Edited by StooMonster at 14/01/11 @ 12:24

  • lockload #31 1 year ago

    It's not even spin it just showing how out of touch Sony are I'm pretty sure in the ivory tower at Sony hq they still think they are no1
    Edited by lockload at 14/01/11 @ 10:48

  • byakuya83 #32 1 year ago

    Post deleted at 10:03:41 30-03-2012

  • drumbaby #33 1 year ago

    "Both companies talk shit.. all that's different this gen is that it's the current trend to poke fun at Sony. "

    Oh don't worry, the next time Msoft or Ninty talk shit (and it won't be long) I'll be straight on here :)

  • randompanda #34 1 year ago

    No i'm pretty sure the 320GB Slim I paid £250 in October (the cheapest price for the console at that spec, at that time) can be had for less than that now. About £40 less on average.

    Sales are down because people who wanted a PS3, already own the bloody thing - but after having a whirl with Kinect at Christmas, even I can see how that would make people want to go out and buy a 360.

    Bloody expensive hobby, mind.

  • RumpyStumpy #35 1 year ago

    @Jamiefear

    £900.00 is a lot of money! You have to earn around £1,200 before taxes and that is a considerable amount of money for the general public to spend on a luxury item. Unless you get it on credit and then its even more expensive.

    I don't see the uptake being at the same speed as HDTV because people have already invested in HD and they are unsure about the economy. So its not as relevent as Sony hope it is. Although in a couple of yerars this could all change again.

    I'll take two though :-)

  • defdaz #36 1 year ago

    I bought my PS3 (and play tv) as it was cheaper than buying a 250Gb PVR and a separate bluray player (once I'd sold the two games I got with it). Plus for the odd game when the missus isn't watching tv (rarely!). Heavy Rain was great.

    I'll stick with my xbox or PC for games, cheers!

  • Dave52 #37 1 year ago

    You got to admit, the PS3 has some fantastic games on the way this year.

    Am I right in thinking these sales figures are all US based...? If so - it's no suprise that the PS3 is coming third.

  • patootik #38 1 year ago

    I've never understood who these's PR guys are talking to. Surely gamers already know what's up and can smell bullshit and spin from a mile away, casuals, moms and dads etc, couldn't care less about sales figures, shareholders would have a pretty good idea of how their shares are doing already, what is the purpose of these guys?!

    I don't mind game ads, they get me excited, I like interviews with CEOs cause they often talk about upcoming games, I like reading NDP sales figures, but PR guys just piss me off. It seems at times that the only purpose of this kind of PR is to keep fanboy flame wars raging on.

  • Fur_Cough #39 1 year ago

    This stinks of PR desperation.

    BUT I do see their point. Only the other day I was thinking how nice it has been to find continually added value; for example recently I found my XMB updated with 4OD and the ITV viewer, and a bunch of other services (e.g. Lovefilm; the free music video service). This actually means that the PS3 is the *only* box I need under my telly for TV (play TV), movies, music, internet (browser pretty rubbish tho), and...oh yeah, games.

  • SeesThroughAll #40 1 year ago

    @patootik: These PR guys mostly talk to stockholders and investors. That's why when things don't go too well, they feel the need to bullshit. Obviously, consumers know better and ultimately don't care. The gaming press just seems to enjoy making PR talk relevant for no reason...

  • patootik #41 1 year ago

    @SeesThroughAll

    Good reply, you are true to your name!

  • coolbritannia #42 1 year ago

    They really are desperate. All hail Microsoft.

  • Penguinzoot #43 1 year ago

    The PS3 *is* growing more valuable.

    Things is, that's is a value judgement though. In any case, Sony said "PS3 is perhaps the only console that grows more valuable over time". That sounds really odd to me. It almost sounds as if Sony isn't sure of it themselves.

  • roz123 #44 1 year ago

    It would be funny if it wasn't spun at all.
    "This generation Sony went from being the market leader to last place. One of our biggest hardcore and anticipated franchise games GT5 did not sell as much as dancing games, a big gorilla and Mickey Mouse. We brought out Move to imitate the wiis success but it was too little too late. Despite being the most expensive console on the market cross platform games repeatedly look better on the 360 and have better online support. Our family is leaving Home.
    2011 shall be interesting as we have the PSP2 out which has been quoted as "destined for failure" and the impending release of Geohotz crack which will make our system open for mass piracy."

  • TheEnforcer000 #45 1 year ago

    Oh well... I've heard some ridiculous spin from MS too in the past. They do what they gotta do

  • StooMonster #46 1 year ago

    juuken: PROVE ME WRONG
    Proves that you have *nothing* to prove me wrong.

    Do you know what argumentum ad ignorantiam is?

  • TopKatt #47 1 year ago

    Sooo, the PS3 outsells the 360 in Japan because the Japanese are racist, and the 360 outsells the PS3 in the US because it's the better console and Sony are incompetent? Is that right?

    I think some posters on EG could teach Sony, MS and Nintendo a thing or two about spinning.

  • juuken #48 1 year ago

    StooMonster: I'm well aware of what it is. Again, Eurofailer is fabricating a spin on Sony's statements. I'm waiting for someone to prove me wrong on that account.

  • Vice.Destroyer #49 1 year ago

    I've read a fair bit of shit in the comments section in my time, but this gem from Juuken

    "The PS3 *is* growing more valuable. Sooner or later, it's going to drop to $199.00.

    Eurogamer is doing the usual spin, badmouthing Sony every five minutes I see."

    stands out as a spectacular highpoint. Maybe I am the idiot and Juuken is the genius, but I read that little passage and it just keeps on giving. Perfect for judgemental pricks like me to read and marvel at the complete and utter logic fail. And paranoia.
    Edited by Vice.Destroyer at 14/01/11 @ 12:48

  • Nighthawk_08 #50 1 year ago

    This is U.S sales only anyhow. Not that sales matter all that much anyway, but compare worldwide sales. That's more interesting. The 360 has always dominated ps3 in the U.S, so it's not that suprising too see te same this christmas

  • davisorle #51 1 year ago

    Post deleted at 15:13:13 09-05-2012

  • BonzoBanana #52 1 year ago

    Hope the 360 doesn't move ahead of PS3 too much as it competition that keeps the bargain games coming. Maybe while Microsoft's attention is on kinect the PS3 will move ahead with better proper games. Both fantastic consoles which people should be buying instead of wii.

  • cherryuk #53 1 year ago

    hmmm does he mean the rising costs on YLOD 60GB 1st edition PS3's on ebay? They're going for around £70.

  • inutaihanyou #54 1 year ago

    Why does Sony insist on the PR talk? Don't they know that people respect them more when they don't have their industry point man making them look like an idiot? Come on now, PS3 is going to have a great year globally due to all of those new games, why do they feel the need to do this? They aren't in any danger!

  • chuck_bone #55 1 year ago

    The thing is, all the fanboy naysaying and 'Teh Sony PWNED!" after these PR mouthpeices try to spin whatever their way - the trhuth is, the 360 and PS3 are virtually neck and neck.

    The two consoles have sold some 90 million between them, and there's barely 5 million between them sales wise, and a 1-2 year launch gap.

    The 360 has had a HUGE push this christmas from MS, which is on the back of the launch of a redesigned console and a new high profile peripheral, the 4th Halo game, - it's inevitable that it'l sell a little bit better.

    And the US is not the sum of the entire world.

    At the end of the day, we can expect the status quo to remain.

    The 360 will get the most refined versions of multi-plat games, and the PS3 will get some cracking 1st party tittles and nearly perfect 3rd party games justifying it for most.

    What is there exactly to complain bout?

  • ronuds #56 1 year ago

    What are they supposed to say? You've got to try and point out something positive...

  • Geordiemp #57 1 year ago

    Why dont they do something positive ?

    Make everyone want DC universe, for starters make monthly subs £ 5, they could be on a winner.

    Sometimes you have to price yourself into the market (Xbox 4GB), sony just dont get it, if they cant discount the console, then make their first MMO VERY attractive.

    Full price game then another £ 10 a month is hardly going for the jugular is it ?

  • geeza2020 #58 1 year ago

    TopKatt - "Sooo, the PS3 outsells the 360 in Japan because the Japanese are racist"

    The hypocrisy in that statement is astounding.

  • darth_paul #59 1 year ago

    ...its sad to be a sony rep.

  • TopKatt #60 1 year ago

    geeza2020:

    That's not my opinion, that's what gets posted whenever we get a story about the 360 not selling well in Japan.
    Edited by TopKatt at 14/01/11 @ 16:02

  • geeza2020 #61 1 year ago

    Oh sorry TopKatt, its hard to tell when someone is being sarcastic when reading a post on the internet!

    /apologies

  • TopKatt #62 1 year ago

    No worries, I should've made myself clearer.

  • MDL199 #63 1 year ago

    These figures are only for the US so getting all excited is crazy just as it would be for Japanese figures showing the 360 getting slaughtered although of course PS3 does far better in the US than the 360 does in Japan. And anyway since when has something popular with the Yanks been a sign of quality?!

    Also, when people slag off a company spokesman for their comments just remember gaming websites and mags need to fill news space and often take thing's out of context and try to sex thing's up and twist thing's.
    Edited by MDL199 at 14/01/11 @ 16:18

  • Zappa #64 1 year ago

    Just wait for WW fiscal numbers come and see what MS has to say for selling less worldwide with a new slim console that year.
    Edited by Zappa at 14/01/11 @ 16:43

  • MDL199 #65 1 year ago

    @Zappa

    MS like most Yanks think the world revolves around America and if foreigners have different views or tastes they need to be corrected so they think the right way. Either that or they get bombed although I don't think even MS would go that far lol.

  • ronuds #66 1 year ago

    @Zappa

    Between the US and Japan the 360 outsold the PS3 by 1.2m. You sure WW the PS3 will make up that lead - especially considering the next largest market -- the UK -- is heavily in favour of the 360 as well?

  • MDL199 #67 1 year ago

    @ronuds

    The gap between the 360 and PS3 in the UK is very slight with Sony greatly closing the gap since the launch of the slim.

    Nobody seems to publish actual individual console unit sales but I found these stats for 2010 on the web showing how close thing's are.

    The total revenue for console hardware sales in 2010 amounted to £800 million, headed by Xbox 360 with £232 million and followed by PS3 with £229 million. Combined hardware sales of the two platforms totalled 2.3 million units.

    Total sales of console games came in at £1.45 billion, with Xbox 360 and PS3 showing growth over 2009. Xbox 360 games generated £538 million and PS3 titles £464 million.

    Also, remember elsewhere in Europe and especially in Japan the 360 gets totally whipped. Without America the 360 would be dead in the water.


    Edited by MDL199 at 14/01/11 @ 17:36

  • IvorB #68 1 year ago

    Not sure what's so odd about it to be honest. Sounds like pretty standard PR guff to me. Anyway I heard PS3 sold 1.1 million in US which is pretty level. They'd easily make the difference worldwide. Probably sold more overall.