Nintendo leads as US console sales slump

By Robert Purchese Published 15 August, 2008

DS and Wii more than double the others.

Nintendo is living the American dream as DS and Wii dominate hardware sales throughout July, according to NPD data.

Both systems were head and shoulders above the competition. DS sold 608,000 units and the Wii sold 555,000 units. Bizarrely, Wii dropped a neat 111,000 sales from 666,000 to reach that figure.

Below, PS3 sold 224,000 units - down nearly 45 per cent from Metal Gear Solid June - and clung to "media hub" sibling PSP with 221,000 sales.

Xbox 360 dipped slightly and sold 205,000 units, putting daylight between it and chasing old-crone PS2 with 156,000 sales.

Despite PS3 leading Xbox 360 in hardware sales, software leader NCAA Football 09 sold best on the Microsoft console, as did Soulcalibur IV and Sid Meier's Civilization Revolution.

Elsewhere were familiar game-faces, with Wii getting the best of the list with four top 10 entries.

Software

  1. NCAA Football 09 (Xbox 360) - 398,000
  2. Wii Fit (Wii) - 370,000
  3. Guitar Hero: On Tour (DS) - 310,000
  4. Wii Play (Wii) - 284,000
  5. NCAA Football 09 (PS3) - 243,000
  6. Soulcalibur IV (Xbox 360) - 219,000
  7. Mario Kart (Wii) - 175,000
  8. Rock Band Special Ed. Bundle (Wii) - 166,000
  9. Soulcalibur IV (PS3) - 156,000
  10. Sid Meier's Civilization Revolution (Xbox 360) - 148,000

Hardware

  1. DS - 608,000 (down 22.35 per cent)
  2. Wii - 555,000 (down 16.7 per cent)
  3. PS3 - 225,000 (down 44.5 per cent)
  4. PSP - 222,000 (down 34.21 per cent)
  5. Xbox 360 - 205,000 (down 6.91 per cent)
  6. PS2 - 156,000 (down 17.6 per cent)
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 (46) Latest comment 4 years ago

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

  • Xerx3s #1 4 years ago

    Down, down, down down down. Down do-do-down do-do-down!

  • viper_h #2 4 years ago

    Why are people still buying Wii Play?!?!?!

  • MORZTAN #3 4 years ago

    It really does print money!

  • BiscuitBase #4 4 years ago

    But none of this counts as the Wii isn't a proper next-gen console therefore PS3 is winning. But Xbox 360 has a higher attach rate so in fact that's actually winning!

  • Darren #5 4 years ago

    So Nintendo are still Wii-nning the hardware race then? ;)

  • Weezer #6 4 years ago

    And Xbox360 is also winning in Japan!

    (Against PS3. This week)

    [link url=http://www.computerandvideogames.com/article.php?id=19 5325
    ]http://ww w.computerandvideogames.com/art...[/link]

  • DFawkes #7 4 years ago

    @viper_h
    People are prbably buying Wii Play for the extra remote. Taken into account how good ome games become with 2 players, it's not the worst game ever. That's why I got it - I never play it now, except the Biliards which I really enjoy. It's worth the Ģ5 extra alone! Well, I like it.

    There is a part of me that only bought a Wii to be on the winning side. That's sad, but I wouldn't have bought one if I didn't genuinely fancy getting one. The main one was me being a Resi nut, I had to buy one for Umbrella Chronicles and Resi 4 with the best control system ever, but there is plenty of proper games to play on it, especially if you count the Virtual Console.

  • Buztafen #8 4 years ago

    Almost 45% loss in sales is quite scary....LBP cant come quick enough IMO.

  • Pulsar_t #9 4 years ago

    All this R&D went into consoles that couldn't do HD right, and caught many devs off guard. Somehow I think the console landscape will never be the same again.

  • Xerx3s #10 4 years ago

    "Somehow I think the console landscape will never be the same again. "

    Yup, the age of casual shit is upon us.

  • Rirekon #11 4 years ago

    "Yup, the age of casual shit is upon us."

    Don't remember the PS2 then no?

  • des #12 4 years ago

    Wii is a fad ha?I wonder what idiot said that first...

  • anomagnus #13 4 years ago

    Ha, the megadrive is FUCKED!

    Go SNES!

  • GamesProgrammer Verified Games Team Programmer, Eutechnyx Ltd. #14 4 years ago

    Erm does anyone not think the sales slump is just becase Microsoft and Sony are both releaseing new SKU's of there consoles next month and everyone is waiting to get those, plus stock of the old skus will be in short supply as they will be selling through and obviously not shipping anymore.

  • JetSetWilly #15 4 years ago

    Shorter reporting period from NPD this month. June's figures were for five weeks; July's are for four weeks.

  • tomkuryakin #16 4 years ago

    @ GamesProgrammer

    You are far too sensible to be posting here.

  • FaceOmeter #17 4 years ago

    BiscuitBase: nice

  • penhalion #18 4 years ago

    Right! Own the frak up! Come on! Who the hell replaced Japan with a Microsoft clone?

    I mean however you did it. Smoke? Mirrors? I'm not buying. No way the 360 outsells PS3 in Japan...even for a month....just not gonna happen......is it?!?!

  • Olemak #19 4 years ago

    The slump in sales probably has a lot to do with it being summer and all, vacation-time you know, with most people wasting their money in Vegas or Disneyland, and not at home, in the living-room, on frivolous gaming hardware. That would make sense to me at least. I mean - summer is the doldrums of the games industry, hardly a single worthwhile release since late may or thereabouts.

    The new SKU's might be a factor, an I would certainly not buy a console right now. But I doubt that the majority of the market are that educated about the products; the statistically significant majority just pick up a box for the ever-nagging kid, maybe for a birthday present or something, without really reading up on when there will be new models available et cetera. Besides, there's no new SKU announced to the Wii or the handhelds, and the sales of those things have dropped too.

    August sales will be even lower, but then things get lots better in september and continue to pick up towards the "holiday season".

    Unless this dreaded recession really hits, of course. It could be that these drops in sales are a reflection of a general slump in spending. As a result of "reduced consumer confidence", as they call it. If that's the case, things will be get a lot worse before it gets better. Also, that will force people to spend their entertainment budget more wisely. A games console certainly is cost efficient entertainment, so maybe a recession could actually case sales to rise, who knows.

  • UncleLou #20 4 years ago

    Erm does anyone not think the sales slump is just becase Microsoft and Sony are both releaseing new SKU's of there consoles next month and everyone is waiting to get those,

    I doubt a significant percentage of people even know that.

  • dryden555 #21 4 years ago

    the spread of the simple and cheap crack for the DS likely increased sales of the DS.

  • BartonFink #22 4 years ago

    Why are people still buying Wii Play?!?!?!

    Err ... they aren't they are buying the Wiimote that just happens to have Wii Play packaged with it.
    Edited by 1 at 15/08/08 @ 13:17

  • miiiguel #23 4 years ago

    more than half milion in one month is still frekin impressive!

    USers really love their 360, it slumped almost nothing compared to the others.
    Edited by 2 at 15/08/08 @ 13:36

  • miiiguel #24 4 years ago

    blig: chill mate, itīs sunny outside, PS3 rules and sells loads and shit.


    ;)
    Edited by 1 at 15/08/08 @ 14:07

  • m0thr4 #25 4 years ago

    "USers really love their 360, it slumped almost nothing compared to the others. "

    Or maybe it's just that 360 owners (potential or otherwise) don't get out much in the summer months...

    ... lest they turn to dust.



    Edited by 1 at 15/08/08 @ 14:21

  • miiiguel #26 4 years ago

    ^ spot on! Thatīs me. Although Iīm going out now, sharp rocks hide all the good stuff...


    "Full of a glory never seen,
    They made it through the whole machine,
    To never question anymore,
    Hypnotic trance, they never saw,
    They walked in line"

  • miiiguel #27 4 years ago

    With measured steps, they walked in line.

    They walked in line,
    They walked in line,
    They walked in line,
    They walked in line,
    They walked in line,
    They walked in line,
    They walked in line,
    They walked in line.

    They carried pictures of their wives,
    And numbered tags to prove their lives,
    They walked in line,
    They walked in line,
    They walked in line,
    They walked in line,
    They walked in line,
    They walked in line,
    They walked in line,


    PS3 rules, lalalalal! They walked in line, they walked in line!!! Running out of steam and stuff! lalala!

    Full of a glory never seen
    They made it through the whole machine
    To never question any more
    Hypnotic trance - they never saw
    They walked in line --
    They walked in line --
    Walked in line - walked in line

    Next year! Next year!
    Edited by 2 at 15/08/08 @ 14:42

  • johnnybrn #28 4 years ago

    @ miiiguel,

    What song is that from?

    @ blig,

    Thanks for the laughs mate


  • adamamosa #29 4 years ago

    Why anybody would want one particular console to 'win' or 'lose' is beyond me. Surely if you are a 360 owner (such as myself) its good that the ps3 is catching up. Dont think for one minute that if your console (whichever one) pulls far ahead in the 'war', the manufacturer wont screw you over as much as they can They certianly wont reward you for supporting their machine. I just hope to see another PS3 price drop so I can have one sitting next to my other machines.

  • floppylobster #30 4 years ago

    @anomagnus
    That's bullshit. Who cares about mode 7? The Megadrive has blast processing and all you can get on SNES is the same old shit - Zelda and Mario again! When is Nintendo gonna finally innovate? You're just a stupid fanboy. Go Megadrive!

  • miiiguel #31 4 years ago

    johnnybrn (and all), sorry...: just got carried away with this oldie from the Joy Division.
    Edited by 1 at 15/08/08 @ 16:45

  • smelly #32 4 years ago

    The minute i get my 360 back from repair - im selling the unstable pile of shite and getting a ps3.

    so if anyone wants a ntsc 360 with all the gubbins (wireless adapter,controllers, 40gb hd, hdmi cables, etc etc) give me a shout

  • miiiguel #33 4 years ago

    how much ?
    what methods of payment are you thinking of ?
    Do you ship to Portugal ?

    er... I donīt really know that 40gb SKU..., are you sure itīs a 360? Maybe youīre thinking of a PS3, no? Is it black or white ? Is it shiny and have no games ?
    Edited by 1 at 15/08/08 @ 18:30

  • Golgo #34 4 years ago

    666,000...

    The sales number of the beast!

  • tnt_2008smum #35 4 years ago

    @blig_merk:

    I have to ask; exactly how far up your colon is your PS3?

  • smelly #36 4 years ago

    >er... I donīt really know that 40gb SKU

    my mistake 20gb

  • secombe #37 4 years ago

    Why are people still buying Wii Play?!?!?!

    555,000 people just bought a Wii, I imagine a few picked up Wii Play.

    Cracking game anyway, as discussed in the lengthy (and mostly intelligent) 'casual' article, a lot of people are getting a lot of enjoyment out of Wii Play. Yes it's a 'party game compilation' but all the games are executed brilliantly, and it's taking a lot of people back to the good old days of high score gaming. I've personally put hours into Tanks! and a few others and it would have probably justified a full price purchase with the hours I've got out of it, never mind the fact it technically cost a fiver.

  • ardamillo #38 4 years ago

    Glad to see Civ Rev in the top 10.

  • escapedape #39 4 years ago

    OK. I read it and read it and read it, and I still can't see this 'spin' that the 360 owners are supposedly putting on this story. Pretty much everyone is talking about the Wii.

    Nice to see some of us still aren't anywhere near reality.

    :D

  • Collymilad #40 4 years ago

    Really did anyone not see this happening? (PS3 outselling 360?)

    It was bound to happen eventually. It was a foregone conclusion that the PS3 would outself the 360 eventually (and overall) - but really why does it matter? I'm a 360 owner and won't be buying a PS3. I think the Xbox 360 is better and the only reason the PS3 has managed to stay close till now is the brand name.

    It really doesn't matter, MS have proven they are in the console race to stay and are making much more calculated, effective steps to secure an audience than they did last gen (or even at the start of this gen).

    In the end it all comes down to money. Both Sony and MS are in it to stay as long as money permits. Who you betting on?

    P.S. the reason i didn't talk about Nintendo is because as a "hardcore" gamer I have little interest in them anymore - because they have been skimping on it, despite their PR department trying to spin it otherwise (and no, 5 decent first party titles in 2 years isn't good enough)
    Edited by 1 at 16/08/08 @ 20:21

  • Mordaan #41 4 years ago

    why bother with those new consoles. Megadrive all the way. 2D owns. Probotector by Treasure. SNES fucked up Contra Hard Cops.

  • hahayou #42 4 years ago

    NPD this month was based on 4 weeks, last month (June) was 5 weeks. So most of the "slump" is because of the odd way it's reported.

  • captainrentboy #43 4 years ago

    I've said it before and I'll say it again, as long as there are quality software releases still coming out for my 360, and it continues to provide me with a few hours of entertainment here and there, I couldn't give two shits how the other two consoles are performing sales wise.
    Can't understand why everyone else doesn't feel the same way. Some of you get reeeeally worked up about all this stuff. Blig_merk I'm looking your way.

    Of course my attitude will change somewhat if and when Microsoft decide to drop the 360 like a hot potatoe, like they did with the original xbox.

  • pokeken #44 4 years ago

    Keep laughing all you mentally challenged sony fan-boys, yes you sold more units than 360 BUT these stats tells us one big fact....that a large percentage of people who buy PS3 are not really gamers and just use it for its blue-ray functionality or just as pure status amongst friends. The much lower volumes sold for near identical games (SC4/NCAA 09) for PS3 owners just presents a damning judgement on typical PS3 owners.

    Keep laughing sony fan boys...cause I'm sure that kaz hirai won't be laughing at these figures as EVERYONE should know by now that they make no money from console sales....the profits come from software sales...Sony are just losing more and more money with these stats LMAO

  • miiiguel #45 4 years ago

    "Of course my attitude will change somewhat if and when Microsoft decide to drop the 360 like a hot potatoe, like they did with the original xbox. "
    They wont. The, somewhat prove, imo, is that they continue to give quita a good support to their (killed by Toshiba) HD-DVD.

  • Ryze #46 4 years ago

    Summertime, anyone? The days of physical activity and outdoor pursuits? Hence the PSP, Wii and DS doing the business right now?

    edit: blig_Merk - what a tosser! You fucking cockface. Get a life (also, check the wider stats).
    Edited by 1 at 18/08/08 @ 08:21