MGS4 had "minimal" effect on PS3 sales

By Robert Purchese Published 18 June, 2008

But DS colours light up the UK market.

Metal Gear Solid 4 has only managed to boost PS3 sales in the UK by seven per cent, GamesIndustry.biz reports.

The Konami blockbuster became the best-selling PS3-exclusive ever, according to opening weekend data from Chart-Track, and was second overall on the platform to only to Grand Theft Auto IV.

"There's not a lot to say about it - it had minimal impact really. [PS3] units were up by seven per cent," said Chart-Track's Dorian Bloch.

The fourth instalment in the series also proved less popular than Metal Gear Solid 2 in its first few days on sale.

However, the story for Nintendo was quite different, as it unleashed three new DS colour-schemes in Europe last Friday.

"The new colours had a massive impact - sales were up hugely," said Bloch. "Black is still the king, followed by red, pink, white, turquoise, green and silver."

Apparently the black model made up "more than a third" of all DS sales. Perhaps it looks grown up.

On top of this, Nintendo boosted its Brain Training sales by bundling it in a fancy Father's Day DS package. It did a similar thing for Mother's Day.

"DS is still going some, basically," observed Bloch.

GamesIndustry.biz has sales chart bed covers.

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.

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

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Comments (75) Latest comment 4 years ago

Comments threads automatically close after 30 days, but please feel free to continue chatting on the forum!

  • stoopidgreg #1 4 years ago

    don't be silly, the DS never looks grown up.

  • bad09 #2 4 years ago

    Christ give a little time it's not even been out a week!!!!

  • Arnold__ #3 4 years ago

    Good - about time people started voting with their wallets. No backwards compatability, no rumble controller and an exhorbitant UK pricetag = No sale.

  • miiiguel #4 4 years ago

    let's face it, the gas crisis has a deep effect on luxury items.
    And MGS is no Halo, not even close.
    Edited by 1 at 18/06/08 @ 09:42

  • Negotiator #5 4 years ago

    Average game = average hardware sales, do the math.

  • Scurrminator #6 4 years ago

    that's because in the UK they didn't do a frickin' hardware bundle whereas everywhere else they did - hence no PS3 sales

    Sony are stupid.

  • flaming.carrot #7 4 years ago

    But worldwide had massive effect on PS3 sales, according to vgchartz.com

  • JohnnyWashnGo #8 4 years ago

    I imagine if they want to sell more of their luxury goods priced blu-ray players in the current economic climate, they will have to do more than offer crappy bundles at stupid prices and half decent software.

  • chris_ace #9 4 years ago

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

  • Arnold__ #10 4 years ago

    Well, they clearly thought a bundle in the UK was not required, as UK consumers have a history of buying their shit regardless of quality/price etc.

  • miiiguel #11 4 years ago

    "ut worldwide had massive effect on PS3 sales, according to vgchartz.com"
    ahahah! vgchartz! the site that fails predictions by an average of 150% each month! the site that said GTA 4 had massive impact on 360 and PS3 hardware.... yeah right, real trustworthy...

  • Zomoniac #12 4 years ago

    So a massive new game doesn't shift consoles, but re-releasing an old console in wanky poser Ferrari red and the world's most hideous shade of green creates a boost? British gamers are retarded.

  • alimokrane #13 4 years ago

    Well good, now they can stop treating us like s***.

    On a side note, the xbox 360 installed base in the UK has now passed the total sales of the original xbox in the UK in 2 Years and Half compared to four years for the xbox.
    Edited by 1 at 18/06/08 @ 09:52

  • miiiguel #14 4 years ago

    "the ps3 has been outselling the xbox every week since december or something crazy like that. "
    that might be true in Continental Europe, not in US nor UK (two biggest markets in the world)...; but even so, selling 20k than a system that doesn't sell much isn't realy an Achievement. If you said "PS3 is selling more than Wii since December..." that would unlock one.
    Edited by 1 at 18/06/08 @ 09:53

  • Killerbee #15 4 years ago

    I can imagine that MGS4 did make a difference in the US and Japan where they had the 80GB + Dualshock 3 and the LE Gunmetal Grey bundles respectively, but I'm actually pleased that Europe didn't fall for Sony's nonsense again. The sooner Sony move away from the repetitive "40GB PS3 + Sixaxis + a game" bundles, the better.

    We need a Dualshock 3 out of the box and (preferably) the return of PS2 backwards compatibility if they're going to persuade me to buy one.

  • flaming.carrot #16 4 years ago

    Yeah vgchartz predictions are usually wild, but the final sales figures are pretty accurate. PS3 sales in US jumped 180% last week. From 40K to 120K, so I'd say that is quite a leap.

  • miiiguel #17 4 years ago

    in percentage terms the number might impress.... but then you have Wii sales figures, and one says: meh...

  • flaming.carrot #18 4 years ago

    What's the Wii got to do with PS3 sales? I just want to see a decent installed base of Playstations so developers have a reason to release games on it. Nothing more.

  • JHuxley #19 4 years ago

    "And MGS is no Halo, not even close."

    8/10 begs to differ ;)

  • Arnold__ #20 4 years ago

    Also, remember that you cant relate the DS sales to PS3, one is purchased by toddlers and the elderly while the other is aimed more at professionals.

  • CannonAnBall #21 4 years ago

    ahhh someone mentioned Halo. Don't fall for it guys.

  • berelain #22 4 years ago

    No surprise here. MGS4, great as it undoubtedly is, is no system seller. You can't expect the final game in a heavily story-driven series to sell consoles to people who aren't already fans of the series, and MGS3 sales in the UK were pitiful.

  • The-Bodybuilder #23 4 years ago

    It should have raised sales by 8% to match the score.

    /bait

  • mossychops001 #24 4 years ago

    360 last place LOL.

  • FunkyRenegade #25 4 years ago

    @miiiguel
    Mentioning Halo here is ridiculous, I have both a 360 and PS3, own both the Halo and MGS series.
    Halo 3 hasn't got shit on MGS4. MGS outperforms Halo in every area. The story of MGS is so deep and enthralling, a lot more so than shooting the shit out of a bunch of aliens, that said, the Halo story hasn't been good since the original.

  • DFawkes #26 4 years ago

    Not really a surprise to me, most people who wanted MGS4 knew it'd be released on PS3 so probably already had a PS3. I certainly wouldn't have bought a PS3 if I didn't have one already.

  • miiiguel #27 4 years ago

    "MGS outperforms Halo in every area"~
    er... not sales wise, and that was my point.

  • paulf #28 4 years ago

    why do people make a big fuss about backwards compatibility ?

  • SeesThroughAll #29 4 years ago

    First the 8/10 given by the appointed MGS hater.

    And now this "Oh my, didn't sell as much as MGS2..."

    Trying to prove something or please someone, EG?

    let's face it, the gas crisis has a deep effect on luxury items.
    And MGS is no Halo, not even close.

    I'm glad it's not. It's much, much better.

  • miiiguel #30 4 years ago

    "why do people make a big fuss about backwards compatibility ?"
    maybe because it was anounced like a big plus over the competition. Remember the "full backwards compatible!" "no software emulation like shity 360!", and... stuff ?

    "I'm glad it's not. It's much, much better."
    You haven't played Halo, you read about it on the covers of the magazines ;)
    Edited by 1 at 18/06/08 @ 10:45

  • varsas #31 4 years ago

    And MGS is no Halo, not even close.

    Isn't that a good thing?

    why do people make a big fuss about backwards compatibility?

    It's just incredibly annoying; if you owned a PS2 with a library of games then it's a hassle making space for both consoles and having both wired up especially with connections being taken up by other consoles and media devices.
    Edited by 1 at 18/06/08 @ 10:49

  • miiiguel #32 4 years ago

    "And MGS is no Halo, not even close.

    Isn't that a good thing?"

    For you, yes, it seems so. For Konami/Sony, not so sure...

  • Shrui #33 4 years ago

    The reviews of MGS4 point to a game you'll love if your a big fan of the series.

    I remember playing Metal Gear Acid on the PSP (my first foray into the series through ignorance of the brand more than anything) and being expected to understand what the hell was going on with little explanation.

    Having seen the trailers for MGS4 I would be even more confused and the reviews confirmed for me I would be wasting my time on this game.

    A game that relies too heavily on its back story of some 10 years of games is really killing off a lot of potential audience share. Some gamers today were only 3-4 when this started, why should they care? I'm a big fan of the C&C series but I could totally understand newcomers to the series really not caring about the third incarnations of the titles, easily dismissing them as standard RTS with a cheesy as hell storyline (and the C-rate actors).

    So this appears to be only a key platform title for the already converted. We have so few on the PS3 (released) that I think we get excited about anything at the moment that doesn't stutter/look like shit.

  • des #34 4 years ago

    MSG4 is too hardcore to impact sales,just look at review comments.
    Casual people don't go nuts over some number, only hardcore loonies do.If MGS4 ever gets ported to 360,it will be the end of the world for them.

  • Retroid #35 4 years ago

    That's... a bit surprising. I thought MGS4 was one of the "Big Hopes" for PS3?

  • bivith #36 4 years ago

    " was second overall on the platform to only to Grand Theft Auto IV."

    Who said education was a waste of time?
    Edited by 1 at 18/06/08 @ 10:53

  • Stormflood #37 4 years ago

    So.... is every single PS3 story on EG to be punctuated with a little negativity, then followed by a "Nintendo sells shit loads of..." thrown in for good measure?

    The fact is that MGS4 is selling extremely well and fans of the series are loving every minute of it, whether or not Nintendo are selling a new fucking coloured DS.

    Jeez...

  • groovychainsaw #38 4 years ago

    MGS4 is a very hardcore game, for very hardcore people. Stands to reason that those guys (and gals) already have their PS3s. I've got a PS3, but no interest in MGS games.

  • moggsy #39 4 years ago

    Bad news for Sony, in the UK at least.

  • SeesThroughAll #40 4 years ago

    You haven't played Halo, you read about it on the covers of the magazines ;)

    I DID play it, on a friend's place, and Halo 3 on a shop. You see, unlike you, I have no pathological issues regarding "touching the other console".

    Gameplay is VERY smooth, and the lock-on is perfect, but face it, as fun as it may be, it is quite shallow in comparison to any MGS game.

    About BC: I don't understand the fuss from people who refuse to come near a PS3. Also, it is very nice indeed. Glad I bought my gear before the BC was taken out...
    Edited by 1 at 18/06/08 @ 11:04

  • anomagnus #41 4 years ago

    firstly, i see little point in people mentioning the wii

    the wii doesn't sell games. The wii boys will jump in, etc, but lets be real, millions of non gamers bought a wii, and they'll play wii fit or wii sports, but they don't invest in traditional games.

    Moving on, mgs4, is a gamers game, it was never going to appeal to the non gaming mass public. NEVER

    So who was the target audience? Gamers who hadn't yet bought a ps3. How big do you think that market is? Its tiny, fucking tiny compared to the total buying public. If that is your only likely target demographic, a 7% rise is pretty impressive.

    But anyone suddenly expected mgs4 to put the ps3 in the stratosphere outside of japan was dreaming.

  • paulf #42 4 years ago

    i do have a library of ps2 games (probably about 30-40 of them) but I've never felt the need to play any of them in the last 3 years, hence wondering about the big fuss about backwards compatibility - surely you buy a ps3 to play ps3 games / bluray on it not 5 year old games? It sounds like one of those nice to have features - but how often would you actually use it?

  • miiiguel #43 4 years ago

    "I DID play it, on a friend's place, and Halo 3 on a shop. You see, unlike you, I have no pathological issues regarding "touching the other console".

    Oh, c'mon man, lighten up, k? MGS is the best thing ever, Halo is so shitty, 360 is for Xbots and lesser people like americans, and shit. 3rd place and some more negativity...
    Can we still be friends? (let everybody know... kool, kool thing...)

  • CannonAnBall #44 4 years ago

    "MGS4 is for the hardcore gamer, for the fans, for Hideo, etc"


    What is this nonsense about? Try playing the fucking game. I played MGS1 many many moons ago to the point I can't really remember much about it. I put MGS4 in the machine and it's been fuckin' amazin. I haven't played MGS2 or 3 but I'm enjoying 4. You don't have to be a big fan to enjoy the game, really, you don't.

    I've also blasted through Halo3 on my 360 and I can vouch for one thing. Master Chief ain't fit to lick the boots of Snake. It's not what 360 like to hear but it's true. So it hasn't sold as much. Big fuckin' yay, doesn't mean the game is shit.

  • septimus #45 4 years ago

    Bet EG loved posting that news item.

    -- and even though they are very different, Halo 3 is utter shit compared to MGS4. I can't even be bothered to complete Halo 3, became so bored of it by the final level. Hell, Ninja Gaiden 2 is better than Halo 3.
    Edited by 1 at 18/06/08 @ 11:27

  • miiiguel #46 4 years ago

    Nintendogs is better than Halo. Halo is the worst game ever. I hate it for selling that much, but it was mainly the brainless americans who did, we are better people, so it's ok.
    Edited by 1 at 18/06/08 @ 11:32

  • penhalion #47 4 years ago

    Not sure what Halo has to do with MGS4 news. It's good that MGS4 sold well but, also good that it didn't shift consoles. Having played and finished it. I can't see anyone but a hardcore fan actually being pleased they got the game. Without spoiling anything, you can leave it to Kojima to ensure that actually Snake could make a comeback (you need to be watching after the end credits roll for the first time to understand that statement).

    Only die hard fanboys would think that everyone should but MGS4. The truth is that MGS3 was actually a better game. There was no twist half way though the game (maybe they are thinking of the raiden twist from the previous game or something) dispite what the reviews said. I'm not even sure where they got the idea there was some twist from. If they played the game they'd have known there isn't one. You jump locations but, the gameplay never changes from the moment you pick the game up to the very end.

  • prolific8 #48 4 years ago

    Lols of the Patriots.

  • WickedDeeJ #49 4 years ago

    Well it's probably because, in spite of it looking spectacular, it's the fourth game in a series. So naturally people would be interested in playing the old games. Only they can't, as you can't buy a backwards compatible PS3 in Europe and the notion of paying up for a second console to get all the backstory would be off-putting to some.

  • Retroid #50 4 years ago

    The only way Halo 3 and MGS4 compare is as supposed "system stars". The games are completely different, FFS!

  • CannonAnBall #51 4 years ago

    @ retroid

    The games are completely different but everytime a PS3 news item appears on this site, especially with PS3 games, you get the usual "Not as good as Halo", "Halo is miles better" or "Halo sold more" bullshit.


  • LetsGo #52 4 years ago

    Don't think sony care, they are still ahead of the 360 in Europe.

    Bit sad for MS that...

  • Vin #53 4 years ago

    Only in this fucking place would a thread about shitty MGS figures turn into a thread about Halo.

  • miiiguel #54 4 years ago

    MS is for Xbots, and is sad. MGS rulez.
    Europe is for us, intelectual people - don't believe, no? Look at our movies! huh, wot about that?!

    Saw a Manoel de Oliveira movie yesterday, the fastest scene was a truck driving through a beautifull countryside... for 27 minutes! Awesome, Xbots would never understand that.
    Edited by 2 at 18/06/08 @ 12:27

  • Gaol #55 4 years ago

    America gets Dual Shock 80gb BC bundle and sales go through the roof.

    Europe gets no bundle and no Dual Shock.

    Pretty obvious the impact will be less keenly felt here though PS3 continues to outsell the 360 with ease.

  • des #56 4 years ago

    "Don't think sony care, they are still ahead of the 360 in Europe."

    Link please?Vg charts is no no,also any PR without reference to Chart track is fail.Shipped number are also fail.

  • bad09 #57 4 years ago

    @ paulf

    you may not want to revisit old games but many do, that's why B/C is such a big thing to people. I still play PS1 on my PS3 and actually own more ps1 than ps3 games, I still play xbox games on my 360. Not everyone is a graphics whore you know :) I would love to revisit many old PS2 games like MGS2/3, or God of War (which I never played). I do have a PS2 but it's seriously dying so I'm not bothering investing in PS2 games as I refuse to give Sony money for a new PS2 after they dropped B/C on PS3 in Europe so hard, also I'm on my 3rd PS2 so no more money for Sony.

    Add to that the improvements to games playing on a better machine. Xbox games look lovely on 360 and many (although not all!) PS1 games look great.

    Add to that when Sony launched PS3 they heralded it as the home of the PS brand, MS are also guilty of this false promise. Remember Moore saying all xobx games would be BC?

  • CannonAnBall #58 4 years ago

    Last time I checked, I was actually playing MGS4.

    What edition were you playing?

  • miiiguel #59 4 years ago

    "Don't think sony care, they are still ahead of the 360 in Europe."
    I doubt Sony's life goal is to sell more that 360 in Europe (minus UK). That's our goal (if true, if not, Portugal and Spain will do).

  • Negotiator #60 4 years ago

    Mgs4 only got 8/10, oh no. The PS3 ain't selling, oh no, oh no, oh no etc......(the rant of a PS3 arse head).

  • johnnybrn #61 4 years ago

    What Microsoft did well with Halo was create an icon, like Lara Croft, like Sonic or Mario. Therefore the series transcends being a mere game hence the books, graphic novels and (possible) movie. And by doing so ensures longevity

  • lennon #62 4 years ago

    @PaulF - I would not own a PS3 if the model I have did not have backwards compatiability. Its what I use it most for although I have dabbled with MGS4 these past few days.

  • Widge #63 4 years ago

    I wouldn't put a large green faceless spaceman up there with previous gaming icons like Croft, Sonic, Mario.
    Whereas Master Chief doesn't look anything special, this was counteracted by the gaming experience, which was lovely (based on my playthrough of 1 & 2).

  • CannonAnBall #64 4 years ago

    Buy a PS3.

  • sbaker899 #65 4 years ago

    Well, MGS4 sold the PS3 to me anyway. I had a blast with it, as I did with the other PS3 game I'd been wanting to play for some time, Uncharted. However, I'm not sure that theres anything else available or coming soon that I'm particularly interested in!

  • johnnybrn #66 4 years ago

    I'm a total Halo fanboy so I bought the H3 just to finish the fight! Sad as it is.

    But theres nothing doing to same for me on the PS3. Not at the current price anyway maybe if there is a price drop at the end of the year.

    Anyway enough with the Halo3/MGS so they are totally diffrent experiences. One is a FPS space-opera the other a 3rd person espionage thriller. They are incomparable. Lets see when Killzone 2 arrives how that fares.

  • mossychops001 #67 4 years ago

    why do 360 fanboys keep going on about the PS3 price, are you lot poor or something?


    I bet if Microsoft did a Burberry 360 it would sell a lot more consoles.
    Edited by 1 at 18/06/08 @ 15:09

  • DrDamn #68 4 years ago

    @Des
    You've backed yourself into a lala I'm not listening corner there. There are no official numbers for Europe. Chart Track just do UK, Ireland and Denmark. You fail :)

  • Kujata #69 4 years ago

    My DS is a baby blue one i got when i was in Tokyo last year.

    That's right. Baby Blue. I ain't proud.

  • McFly55 #70 4 years ago

    Loved MGS4. Dont care who else does/doesnt, or how much it sold.

  • des #71 4 years ago

    @DrDamn
    Actually you can get pretty good "official" numbers,almost every Eu country has legit tracking sources.They are just hard to get for mortals,but they do release their numbers occasionally.If you think official as NPD or Media-Create then you are right,Europe is not one market.But if there are no "official" numbers then Europe sales-age=fail:)

  • AOFanboi #72 4 years ago

    <em>surely you buy a ps3 to play ps3 games / bluray on it not 5 year old games?</em>

    What's up with the five year old comment? In case you avoid game stores for some reasons, the PS2 shelves are constantly filling. Unless you can dig up PS3 native versions of God of War II, Odin Sphere, FF XII etc. backward compatibility is very nice, thank you very much. Unless you somehow prefer Haze and the like over new-ish PS2 releases...

  • Execta #73 4 years ago

    MGS4 really had a minimal effect on PS3 sales IN BRITAIN. None the less, MGS4 boosted Japan's weekly PS3 sales up from ordinary ~10 000 units to almost 80 000 units. Probably the same thing still goes on next week so PS3 really got a real nice adrenaline peak for its sales in Japan.

    And then, in the US. PS3's sales got up over 180 % from the normal. That's a really great percent number.

    Looks like Metal Gear Solid 4 really did its work. The guys at the Great Britain just are stupid or something, everybody else buys and loves MGS4, they just keep watching... Well, Mr. Bean and drink green tea. ;o
    Edited by 1 at 18/06/08 @ 21:26

  • IneptPercy #74 4 years ago

    I can see how this game isn't a huge system seller, I do want to play it but I still can't justify a PS3 to play it, with that I will own a PS3 one day so will play it then, or if it comes out on 360 then problem sold.

    To me the problem with the PS3 is quite simple...

    Sony are asking me to pay £300 for a box which does nothing better than a box a got for £280 2 1/2 years ago...

    Last generation I had the PS2 first and got the xbox later in the ay quite cheap and picked up quite a few cheap games, this time its the PS3 which is waiting, I am persoanlly waiting for £180 price point with a DS3 in the box... it may not happen soon but it will happen.

  • Les #75 4 years ago

    Worldwide they were up 120%... Statistics mean little. I bet if one looked hard enough it would be possible to find some geographic region (mabye a small town in Texas, who knows) in which the 360 sold 120% more since MGS4 was released...