Wii and PS3 both sell out

By Tom Bramwell Published 28 November, 2006

Not entirely surprisingly.

Nintendo Wii and Sony's PlayStation 3 have predictably both sold out across the pond, with both companies trumpeting the fact this week.

Nintendo revealed on Monday that it sold 600,000 of its mould-breaking games consoles in North America, with flagship launch title The Legend of Zelda: The Twilight Princess reportedly selling 454,000 copies. Nintendo of America president Reggie Fils-Aime said "demand continues to exceed supply" and felt it was "a phenomenal launch".

Sony, meanwhile, has been keeping quiet about how many it sold, but said it had "sold out", and that the company had been "airlifting additional shipments of PlayStation 3 systems into the North American market since the launch". Wii has yet to launch in Japan, but PS3 did on 11th November, where it is widely thought to have exhausted an inventory of between 80,000 and just under 90,000 units on its first day.

Nintendo, whose console will launch in Japan on 2nd December and here in Europe on 8th December, has previously said it plans to ship four million units worldwide before the end of the year. Sony has pledged two million, with a further four million to be produced and shipped between January and March. "Our goal remains to have one million units in the [American] pipeline by December 31, 2006," SCEA said in its sell-out statement.

Picture of Tom.

About Tom Bramwell

Tom is Operations director of Eurogamer Network and Editor-at-Large of Eurogamer.net. He joined the company in February 2000.

Read more articles from Tom by visiting the Tom Bramwell archive page.

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Comments (39) Latest comment 5 years ago

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

  • ChimneyBug #1 5 years ago

    Be much more interesting if Sony gave us their units sold numbers os we can compare realisticly instead of both 'sold out'

  • Rambaldi #2 5 years ago

    And yet, for me, there's only one game on each platform worth getting at the mo :(

  • penhalion #3 5 years ago

    Sony simply don't want to embarass themselves. If nintendo sold 400 thousand and they then say well we sold out our 120 thousand. It kind of looks like they simply didn't produce anywhere near enough consoles to have a release in the first place.

    Given the high PS3 game prices and the consoles stupidly high price. Even the fanboys , who generally support sony no matter what, are starting to question the value you get from the machine. People are now saying stuff like "I got one and the graphics are little better than a 360 if at all!" and "Why don't epic do gears for the PS3" etc. etc.

    I guess they are finally waking up to the fact that a games console should be just that i.e. a games console. Something that both Nintendo and Microsoft have realised a while back. It's good to have extra services but, the primary selling point should be games.

    It is now looking increasingly obvious that Sony on the other hand, need to sell the other services like blue ray movies above games in order to have any chance of making a cent back from this fiasco! Even titles like metal gear or selling 10 million consoles isn't going to help them. With the loss they make from each unit sold, it's actually in their interest NOT to sell millions without having tripple a million+ selling games ready for release. I hope the irony doesn't escape anyone about that!

  • Blerk #4 5 years ago

    Last estimated PS3 figures I saw was "about 200,000" for launch day. Of course, there's been both a Wii and a PS3 restock since then. How many in total is anyone's guess, but we should find out in a week or so when the November figures get released.

    But at the end of the day it doesn't matter how many were sold - people wanted them, and that's all that counts. Give it 12 months and we won't remember the shortages.

  • spindizzy #5 5 years ago

    El Blerko, he speaks the truth!

  • sickpuppysoftware #6 5 years ago

    I guess they are finally waking up to the fact that a games console should be just that i.e. a games console. Something that both Nintendo and Microsoft have realised a while back.
    Somebody had better tell Microsoft that quickly as they've forgotten and are about to launch a movie and TV rental system not to mention a HD-DVD drive.

  • pagedown #7 5 years ago

    "With the loss they make from each unit sold, it's actually in their interest NOT to sell millions without having tripple a million+ selling games ready for release. I hope the irony doesn't escape anyone about that!"

    That high initial cost of the PS3 is not a fixed cost, it's largely tied to the number units they manufacture, the more they can make, the easier and quicker it is for them to bring down the costs. That's why the XBox 360 console is already sold for a profit after only a year, from a $75 loss on each sold this time last year.
    Edited by 1 at 28/11/06 @ 08:49

  • Xerx3s #8 5 years ago

    OMG! ;)

  • dbeamish #9 5 years ago

    I've heard numbers as low as 125k for sony's PS3 simply because that was all they could supply..!

  • George-Roper #10 5 years ago

    @Blerk

    See this is where you're wrong. I'm the target audience for Sony. 30 something with a good job and lots of disposable income. So when I do recall the shortages, delays and the way Europeans have been treated, in a years time...and I will...ill vote with my wallet.

    Sony can get fucked, frankly. Treat me like a third rate citizen and then expect my hard earned cash and support? Nah, don't think so.


  • Garulon #11 5 years ago

    "Somebody had better tell Microsoft that quickly as they've forgotten and are about to launch a movie and TV rental system not to mention a HD-DVD drive. "

    And Nintendo who've launched a Weather Channel and have photo viewing and a web browser on their box.

  • Blerk #12 5 years ago

    May I be so bold as to suggest that you had no intention of buying a PS3 in the first place?

  • AcidSnake #13 5 years ago

    I'm going to allow this...

  • elvenearth #14 5 years ago

    I'm wondering how sales of the 360 will go during this launch period - has anyone heard anything?

  • king_skins #15 5 years ago

    I'm wondering how sales of the 360 will go during this launch period - has anyone heard anything?

    They are outselling both apparently....

  • Oasis #16 5 years ago

    Christmas 2006 belongs to the Xbox 360, hands down. Well, In Europe and America anyway. It has the supply, and Microsoft have been flexing their marketing muscles something chronic recently. Just from my informal forays into GAME, HMV and Virgin alone, I can see that they are flying out of the stores. And with Blue Dragn about to release in Japan, maybe Microsoft's dominance will be complete?

    :)

  • Tooss #17 5 years ago

    According to this website http://www.nexgenwars.com< /a> 360 is doing very well. One week ago I believe they were @ 7mln, now 600.000 more, not bad. Question is the source though - the site seems a bit vague? PS3 / Wii figures look accurate to reports though?

  • Blerk #18 5 years ago

    Christmas 2006 belongs to the Xbox 360, hands down.

    Christmas 2006 belongs to the DS and the PS2.

  • tiddles #19 5 years ago

    Christmas 2006 belongs to the Xbox 360, hands down. Well, In Europe and America anyway.

    Will it be painful for you if Wii sells more units in Europe than Xbox 360 this Christmas?

  • Pooley #20 5 years ago

    I popped into my local Game yesterday to check that my Wii preorder was still okay. Store manager said that as long as I have a paid preorder, which I have, I should be able to get a Wii on launch day. They're opening the store at midnight, so I asked whether I should arrive early to queue. His answer was a shrug of the shoulders and a "Maybe, s'up to you."

    Is anyone going to be camping out to get a Wii?

    Oh, and the Game Wii preorder pack was awful. Just a catalogue of the games that are being released on launch day.

    Christmas 2006 sales chart - 1st-DS Lite, 2nd-PS2, 3rd-Wii, 4th-360.

  • Blerk #21 5 years ago

    Christmas 2006 sales chart - 1st-DS Lite, 2nd-PS2, 3rd-Wii, 4th-360.

    I almost agree. Swap 360 and Wii around.

  • George-Roper #22 5 years ago

    @Blerk

    You may be so bold but would be completely wrong. You're dealing with a guy who paid over £600 for a Jap N64 with Mario, then went out and bought a 33" TV just for that. Then bought Mazza Kart for £109.

    The same guy who met some guy from Hull, in a dodgy supermarket car park, one evening to buy a Jap Playstation One, 3 days after release, replete with Tonshinden and Ridge Racer. For £500.

    I have an Xbox and PS2 also, along with a new, shit-hot, PC rig.

    Bottom line, I don't fuck about when it comes to new kit. If I like it, I get it, it's that simple. If I were inclined, i'd have a PS3 off Ebay, right now. But i'm not inclined. There are other platforms out there which are just as good, if not better (imho) than the PS3 anyway, even without me factoring in the way Sony treat Euro gamers.

    So yeah, you could be so bold but without knowing me, my history in gaming, or my bank balance, you'd be talking bollocks. Which you are.
    Edited by 1 at 28/11/06 @ 11:22

  • Blerk #23 5 years ago

    But if you're so into gaming, why would you ever deny yourself a potentially top-notch platform purely because you feel aggrieved at Sony for not treating you right? You are the only loser in such a scenario.

    Don't buy one because you think it's rubbish - fine. Don't buy one because you've got the hump with Sony - cutting off your nose to spite your face.

    Delays happen. Nobody likes them. But spitting dummies never fixed anything.

  • Pooley #24 5 years ago

    @ Blerk

    I can see your reasoning, but I feel that the Wii (if Ninty can get enough available) will just edge the 360. Just.

    My reasoning? My mates, mates kids, all of whom want a Wii, price of the Wii compared to the 360, in-store game pods where people can try the Wii and the Wiimote. I just feel that the Wii has got that "must-have" Christmas pressie feeling with it. Everytime I've described the Wii in action, bowling, tennis etc., people just sound impressed and genuinely interested. Much like the DS and especially the DS Lite, I can see sense in Nintendo's aim to try to engage the non-gamer. Whether their advertising can do this successfully in the run up to Christmas will dictate the level of the Wii's success.

  • George-Roper #25 5 years ago

    @Blerk

    Because it's not always down to black and white. In years gone by, we didn't have the same level of hype-machine we do now. Sony have gone out of their way, above and beyond the pale, to hype the PS3. They get EVERYONE buzzing about it.

    Then delay

    Then they'll delay again...and please don't tell me you expect to see this Euro release in March 2007....

    All the while, spouting shite like 'Europeans are used to waiting...'. Bad call by Sony. That one article pretty much turned me against PS3. I won't sit in line, like a good likke Euro citizen, and patiently wait until Smoney decide I can have one.

    I can afford to get on my high horse and say 'fuck you right back', turn my attention to Wii or 360, and get on with Next Gen right now.

  • Blerk #26 5 years ago

    I can see your reasoning, but I feel that the Wii (if Ninty can get enough available) will just edge the 360. Just.

    That's the thing right there - availability. The Wii might well be more popular theoretically with it being new and all, but I don't think they'll have the volume of consoles available to beat the 360.

  • bonker #27 5 years ago

    "That's the thing right there - availability. The Wii might well be more popular theoretically with it being new and all, but I don't think they'll have the volume of consoles available to beat the 360. "

    Availability is one thing but price and above all, attractiveness to Joe/Joanne Public is the real kicker. You gotta remember that N are targeting 10x more people with the 'family/female' friendly marketing tactics they've employed - the bottom line is that tactic can prove half as good as MS' and they could still sell 5x more ...

    Gotta say tho, I'm surprised that MS haven't cut their price, especially now they're making wedge outta the box itself. I think a $50 cut right now would really hurt N & S ...

  • Blerk #28 5 years ago

    The Wii is only £20 cheaper than the 360 Core! Where's this idea that the Wii is somehow 'dirt cheap' come from? :-D

  • Vin #29 5 years ago

    So the Wii ended up selling more than the Playstawhat?

    JUSTICE.

  • Pooley #30 5 years ago

    Okay, it's not that much cheaper. But does anyone buy the Core pack anyway?

    Admittedly, a work colleague did buy the Core pack. He was miffed to find out that in order to play his old Xbox games he'd have to buy the HDD. Which then makes it as much as the Premium pack.

    All the bundles in shops seem to focus on the Premium pack. So anyone wanting to buy one of those is expecting to pay £270 to £300 quid. However, you then do get the Premium 360 and possibly two games, so the value is good. Wii plus two games is going to cost in the region of £250-£260.

    Hang on, I think I've countered my own argument there!

    Anyway, I think it's more down to perceived value. You can buy the Wii for £180, but to get the preferred 360 you'll need to pay £270. The games aren't such a deal if little Johnny doesn't want PGR3, or Gears, or Fifa.

    Me, I'm waiting for my mate to emigrate to Oz in January so I can buy his 360 plus games. I've already persuaded him that Oz power sockets are 400 volts and use a special plug so he can't take it with him!!

    Does this make me a bad person?

  • MARKIV #31 5 years ago

    This is all pretty much irrelevant anyway. It's pretty obvious to me the PS3 will lead this market in a year or so. I think the Wii will flop overall big time as a large percentage of Gamecube fan's jumped to the XBox and PS2 when Nintendo let us down so badly a few years ago. Unless the Wii can attract new non gamers ( like the DS ) the Wii is doomed..!

  • Pooley #32 5 years ago

    The Wii is doomed!?!?

    Christ, it hasn't even launched here yet!

    Anyway, isn't this similar to the statements that were bandied about when the DS launched?

    As a platform for creative games and gameplay, the Wii seems to be in a class of its own. Let's hope some creative minds out there can take advantage of the opportunities that it brings to the market.

  • secombe #33 5 years ago

    "The Wii is only £20 cheaper than the 360 Core! Where's this idea that the Wii is somehow 'dirt cheap' come from?"

    Technically correct, but when you look at it you HAVE to spend more on the 360 just to get it to a useable level. The Wii comes with a game, wi-fi and the ability to save games straight from the box. With the Core you have to buy a game and memory card at the very least.

    The DS will win the console war by a mile at Christmas anyway, every month I think that it must be running out of people to buy the thing, but every month it continues to sell in silly numbers.

  • AOFanboi #34 5 years ago

    <em>the consoles stupidly high price.</em>

    It's SELLING OUT. This means the price is either too LOW or just right. Do try and learn a little about the relationship between price, demand and supply.
    Edited by 1 at 28/11/06 @ 18:33

  • texx #35 5 years ago

    i must admit that the ps3 is the first console that i didn't buy in its home region release. as far back as 1994 jap ps1 with ridge racer and a negon pad for £660. I have bought every new console on import since the ps1 and like mr roaper I have spent a fortune american N64 with mario £550 Jap saturn £500 jap dream-cast £600 Jap game-cube £500 Canadian xbox £500. The ps3 just doesn't excite me and before you ask im a very good customer for my local importer and iv already turned down a machine.

  • smelly #36 5 years ago

    "The Wii is only £20 cheaper than the 360 Core! Where's this idea that the Wii is somehow 'dirt cheap' come from?"

    With the 360 core you need to still buy a memory card and pay for a yearly subscription to access live.

    So add the price of that on (for each year you have the machine).

    And with the wii you get a free game, so subtract that price away.

  • smelly #37 5 years ago

    I *still* dont understand why the ps3 is selling out though.

    Surely you buy a games machine to play games on it? And have you seen the ps3's launch line up?

  • frankthurk #38 5 years ago

    "I *still* dont understand why the ps3 is selling out though.

    Surely you buy a games machine to play games on it? And have you seen the ps3's launch line up? "

    Yeah, it's better than the Wii's or the original XBox's.
    http://ww w.1up.com/do/newsStory?cId=3155480

  • Ziophaelin #39 5 years ago

    I REALLY REALLY wish the media would stop saying the PS3 sold out!!! The PS3 sold out!!! Wow.... that's really impressive when you only have 10 units to sell world wide. 360 has millions in homes and the Wii is tearing up the consumer market with over 600,000 sold in the first week! 2007 is going to be the best year in gaming history since the 16bit war.

  • Blerk #40 5 years ago

    With the 360 core you need to still buy a memory card and pay for a yearly subscription to access live.

    So add the price of that on (for each year you have the machine).

    And with the wii you get a free game, so subtract that price away.

    Well, you don't have to subscribe to Live. You can use the free silver account to get demos and downloadables and whatnot. You only need to subscribe if you want to play games online.

    And many places are bundling a game for free into that £199.99 deal - Woolies were giving you Tomb Raider: Legend for nothing last time I looked.

    You do have to buy a memory card, though. I'll let you have that one. :-)