Euro 360 Sales Have Hit A Wall: Screen Digest

Sony to drop a "Bombshell", Wii dividing market, says report

Sales of the Xbox 360 in Europe have hit a wall according to a new report from Screen Digest, which suggests Microsoft is struggling to expand the user base for the next-gen console.

The report also observes that the Nintendo Wii is dividing the market, with some publishers happy to ride Nintendo's coat tails to pick up business with poor quality titles, while others are betting the farm on the innovative machine.

"For Xbox 360, European hardware sales seem to have hit a wall. The target market is still too focused on adult males and the brand does not enjoy the same cachet in non-Anglo Saxon markets as it does in the US and, to a lesser extent, the UK," reads the report.

While there are no concerns about appealing to a dedicated gaming audience, "failing to break out of a small number of genres and thereby appealing to groups outside of hardcore gamer," is a bigger problem according to Screen Digest.

Despite these issues the report does highlight that some of the most anticipated titles for the coming Q4 are for the Xbox 360 and Xbox Live is described as a "beacon of hope".

According to the analysts group, the Nintendo Wii is splitting business models across the industry.

"Some publishers are investing much less saying they will leave the platform drivers to Nintendo and ride their coat tails by spending very little on mediocre quality titles which will give some return."

On the other hand, "the combination of lower development costs and fastest growing installed base confers significant economic advantages in publishing games for Wii relative to competitive consoles, and this has lead to some third-party publishers increasing investment levels in developing for the platform."

The report points out that a low return on Wii software may hamper investment by publishers in other formats, as it simply does not generate as much profit at a time when PS3 and Xbox 360 development costs are rising.

And on the PlayStation 3, the report criticises Sony for not educating consumers as to what's in the box and relying too much on the PlayStation brand. Because of this a price drop is inevitable, says Screen Digest.

"A price drop before the end of the year is inevitable and would be in line with previous PlayStation first time price reduction timings."

"Marketing material has tended towards the esoteric and abstract and has seemingly failed to resonate with the consumer."

It also points out that Sony could drop a "bombshell" by the end of the year with a combined price drop and the launch of the Home virtual networking and online game service.

http://www.gamesindustry.biz/content_page.php?aid=25943

how can 360 win if it's only selling in the usa?

how can 360 win if it's only selling in the usa?

-Renegade

How can the PS3 win if it's only selling in... wait.

I read your post, I know what it says about Sony's bombshell, yeah yeah. I just had to say that tho.

[QUOTE="-Renegade"]

how can 360 win if it's only selling in the usa?

terry_tate

How can the PS3 win if it's only selling in... wait.

I read your post, I know what it says about Sony's bombshell, yeah yeah. I just had to say that tho.

Selling in where, every European country and to an extent even the US and Japan

The article says the ps3 is failing too:|

The article says the ps3 is failing too:|

souledge474

Don't bring that up!

The article says the ps3 is failing too:|

souledge474

Comprehenshiyon foe teh WINZZZ

but seriously the problem the xbox 2 is having is that only hardcore gamers are buying it. Casuals arent even remotely intrested

how can 360 win if it's only selling in the usa?

-Renegade

You've got selective reading. The article sees Q4 of 2007 having the potential to drive sales with anticipated titles. That's the intuative response. The fanboy comback you're obviously looking for would be, "At least teh 360 is selling in one market! Teh Waitstation isn't selling anywhere!!!"

Good stuff. I guess we can expect more trash on the Wii.JayPee89

Good stuff. I guess we can expect more trash on the Wii.JayPee89

and more good titles too. guess you missed how it split.

Cause the US has more gamers.

[QUOTE="-Renegade"]

how can 360 win if it's only selling in the usa?

terry_tate

How can the PS3 win if it's only selling in... wait.

I read your post, I know what it says about Sony's bombshell, yeah yeah. I just had to say that tho.

ps3 is doing fine.. if they managed to sale 3.5 million consoles with very few games what do you think will happen when big hitters like heavenly sword, ut3, gta 4, mgs4, haze and few others come this year?

With all of the media surrounding bad PS3 sales, people are forgetting that the 360 is losing steam in the US also. It's only outselling PS3 2:1 now, and it's sales have been declining every month.FrenziedRaldo24

i like how it's ONLY outselling the ps3 2:1. heheh. that speaks pretty badly for the ps3 as well if you ask me.

[QUOTE="-Renegade"]

how can 360 win if it's only selling in the usa?

slduncanlaw

You've got selective reading. The article sees Q4 of 2007 having the potential to drive sales with anticipated titles. That's the intuative response. The fanboy comback you're obviously looking for would be, "At least teh 360 is selling in one market! Teh Waitstation isn't selling anywhere!!!"

the 360 has been out almost two years, this late in the game 360 should not need a holiday push to push system sales even further. 360 should already be selling great but as you can see that is not happening.

[QUOTE="FrenziedRaldo24"]With all of the media surrounding bad PS3 sales, people are forgetting that the 360 is losing steam in the US also. It's only outselling PS3 2:1 now, and it's sales have been declining every month.Ontain

i like how it's ONLY outselling the ps3 2:1. heheh. that speaks pretty badly for the ps3 as well if you ask me.

Hey, you have to put a positive spin on these things. :lol:

Sony to drop a "Bombshell", Wii dividing market, says report

Sales of the Xbox 360 in Europe have hit a wall according to a new report from Screen Digest, which suggests Microsoft is struggling to expand the user base for the next-gen console.

The report also observes that the Nintendo Wii is dividing the market, with some publishers happy to ride Nintendo's coat tails to pick up business with poor quality titles, while others are betting the farm on the innovative machine.

"For Xbox 360, European hardware sales seem to have hit a wall. The target market is still too focused on adult males and the brand does not enjoy the same cachet in non-Anglo Saxon markets as it does in the US and, to a lesser extent, the UK," reads the report.

While there are no concerns about appealing to a dedicated gaming audience, "failing to break out of a small number of genres and thereby appealing to groups outside of hardcore gamer," is a bigger problem according to Screen Digest.

Despite these issues the report does highlight that some of the most anticipated titles for the coming Q4 are for the Xbox 360 and Xbox Live is described as a "beacon of hope".

According to the analysts group, the Nintendo Wii is splitting business models across the industry.

"Some publishers are investing much less saying they will leave the platform drivers to Nintendo and ride their coat tails by spending very little on mediocre quality titles which will give some return."

On the other hand, "the combination of lower development costs and fastest growing installed base confers significant economic advantages in publishing games for Wii relative to competitive consoles, and this has lead to some third-party publishers increasing investment levels in developing for the platform."

The report points out that a low return on Wii software may hamper investment by publishers in other formats, as it simply does not generate as much profit at a time when PS3 and Xbox 360 development costs are rising.

And on the PlayStation 3, the report criticises Sony for not educating consumers as to what's in the box and relying too much on the PlayStation brand. Because of this a price drop is inevitable, says Screen Digest.

"A price drop before the end of the year is inevitable and would be in line with previous PlayStation first time price reduction timings."

"Marketing material has tended towards the esoteric and abstract and has seemingly failed to resonate with the consumer."

It also points out that Sony could drop a "bombshell" by the end of the year with a combined price drop and the launch of the Home virtual networking and online game service.

http://www.gamesindustry.biz/content_page.php?aid=25943

how can 360 win if it's only selling in the usa?

-Renegade

Hey, OP. What do you think is going to happen when Halo 3 comes out in 3 months? Think the 360's are just going to sell at the same rate they are now?Verge_6

most people who want halo 3 already have an 360...

[QUOTE="Verge_6"]Hey, OP. What do you think is going to happen when Halo 3 comes out in 3 months? Think the 360's are just going to sell at the same rate they are now?-Renegade

most people who want halo 3 already have an 360...

Proof, or more 'facts' pulled out of your ass? If you can pull that tom foolery, I can just as easily say that anyone who wanted FFXIII, MGS4, etc have already gotten a PS3, and it will remain where it is for all of eternity. :|

I told you that 360 isn't doing well here in Europe. so since 360 isn't doing well in Japan either this leaves only America where its doing well.Swift_Boss_A

but the ps3 isn't doing well in the US or japan. don't know about EU since numbers are so seldom but from this article it would seem it's not going over well there either. so where does that leave the ps3?

how can the ps3 win if is doing worst that the x360?
-wii60-

like i said before sales will pick up when more games start to be released. people are not buying ps3 because they are waiting for the BIG games like gta 4, mgs 4, ff xiii, etc...

[QUOTE="Verge_6"]Hey, OP. What do you think is going to happen when Halo 3 comes out in 3 months? Think the 360's are just going to sell at the same rate they are now?-Renegade

most people who want halo 3 already have an 360...

And this is a known fact because you've asked all these people? The fact is, a lot of people don't buy systems when the games they want aren't close to coming out yet. I know a couple people who stillhaven't purchased an Xbox 360because they're waiting for Halo 3 and GTA IV. You try the cow tagline of "just wait until the PS3 gets games; more people will buy", and then you claim that when that's used as a defense for the 360, it's not true? I don't know if you realize this, but the 360's been going through a gaming dry spell the last few months as well, and the fall looks to be just as big for the 360 as for the PS3. If the 360 is already outselling the PS3, how is the fall going to change the PS3's fate, when the lineup isn't any more impressive than that of the 360?

[QUOTE="terry_tate"][QUOTE="-Renegade"]

how can 360 win if it's only selling in the usa?

-Renegade

How can the PS3 win if it's only selling in... wait.

I read your post, I know what it says about Sony's bombshell, yeah yeah. I just had to say that tho.

ps3 is doing fine.. if they managed to sale 3.5 million consoles with very few games what do you think will happen when big hitters like heavenly sword, ut3, gta 4, mgs4, haze and few others come this year?

100k systems sold per month for about 4 months now is considered doig fine? Then the 360 must be doing great!

According to Nike_Air (respected cow) Heavenly Sword is hyped A-AA

UT3 is multiplat(why pay $200 more)

GTA4 is multiplat(with exclusive content, why pay $200 more)

MGS4 is most likey coming in 08'

Haze is multiplat(why pay $200 more)

Plus Halo 3's Sales alone will top all of Sony's 07 fall/winter lineup...

I told you that 360 isn't doing well here in Europe. so since 360 isn't doing well in Japan either this leaves only America where its doing well.Swift_Boss_A

everyone relaizes this but lemmings. ps3 will pick even further starting this month and won't fall off throughout this generation.

who cares about sales.

Games >sales

360 FTW!

[QUOTE="-Renegade"]

[QUOTE="Verge_6"]Hey, OP. What do you think is going to happen when Halo 3 comes out in 3 months? Think the 360's are just going to sell at the same rate they are now?Verge_6

most people who want halo 3 already have an 360...

Proof, or more 'facts' pulled out of your ass? If you can pull that tom foolery, I can just as easily say that anyone who wanted FFXIII, MGS4, etc have already gotten a PS3, and it will remain where it is for all of eternity. :|

games like ff are known to sale 2 million copies+ the day it comes out in japan. that obviously can't happen as there is only about 1 million ps3s in japan.. this just means people are just waiting for the games and it's still early in ps3s life..

[QUOTE="Verge_6"][QUOTE="-Renegade"]

[QUOTE="Verge_6"]Hey, OP. What do you think is going to happen when Halo 3 comes out in 3 months? Think the 360's are just going to sell at the same rate they are now?-Renegade

most people who want halo 3 already have an 360...

Proof, or more 'facts' pulled out of your ass? If you can pull that tom foolery, I can just as easily say that anyone who wanted FFXIII, MGS4, etc have already gotten a PS3, and it will remain where it is for all of eternity. :|

games like ff are known to sale 2 million copies+ the day it comes out in japan. that obviously can't happen as there is only about 1 million ps3s in japan.. this just means people are just waiting for the games and it's still early in ps3s life..

...This is so wrong I don't even know where to start. Seriously, is this your logic?

[QUOTE="-Renegade"]

[QUOTE="Verge_6"]Hey, OP. What do you think is going to happen when Halo 3 comes out in 3 months? Think the 360's are just going to sell at the same rate they are now?SeanBond

most people who want halo 3 already have an 360...

And this is a known fact because you've asked all these people? The fact is, a lot of people don't buy systems when the games they want aren't close to coming out yet. I know a couple people who stillhaven't purchased an Xbox 360because they're waiting for Halo 3 and GTA IV. You try the cow tagline of "just wait until the PS3 gets games; more people will buy", and then you claim that when that's used as a defense for the 360, it's not true? I don't know if you realize this, but the 360's been going through a gaming dry spell the last few months as well, and the fall looks to be just as big for the 360 as for the PS3. If the 360 is already outselling the PS3, how is the fall going to change the PS3's fate, when the lineup isn't any more impressive than that of the 360?

360 has been out almost two years.. i said most people.. and ps3 has better lineup this year if you ask me..

First it is selling to more than the u.s. Sales are stalled due to pricing as we all know (history has shown this) that the sweet spot in retail for consumers to spend is $199- $249. Yes, that is the reson why the Wii is so popular (also the marketing to families was a very smart move). The Wii is selling simply because it is cheap to pruchase and it comes with a game. The 360 will move more units once the cost has been lower below $249 and their game selection expands to also carter to more families and children (can't really carter to a demographic that can't really afford they system in the first place).

Do they even mention actual (real numbers and not made up) monthly sales for the 360, Wii and the ps3?

I am sure they don't because they don't know!

[QUOTE="Swift_Boss_A"]I told you that 360 isn't doing well here in Europe. so since 360 isn't doing well in Japan either this leaves only America where its doing well.Ontain

but the ps3 isn't doing well in the US or japan. don't know about EU since numbers are so seldom but from this article it would seem it's not going over well there either. so where does that leave the ps3?

it leaves us with the typical cow response: "just wait". That's been the mantra for 2 years and counting...but it's the cow lifestyle now.

Cause the US has more gamers.

evilviolenceman

[QUOTE="Verge_6"]Hey, OP. What do you think is going to happen when Halo 3 comes out in 3 months? Think the 360's are just going to sell at the same rate they are now?-Renegade

Actually that isn't true as the holiday will generate more hardware sales for the unit as well as hardware (parents generally buy their kids the hot games over the holidays people) and thus more units will be sold because of that. You shouldn't generalize as everyone knows that the holidays always generate more sales than any time of the year (meaning more halo units sold with hardware as gifts).

most people who want halo 3 already have an 360...

[QUOTE="-wii60-"]how can the ps3 win if is doing worst that the x360?
-Renegade

like i said before sales will pick up when more games start to be released. people are not buying ps3 because they are waiting for the BIG games like gta 4, mgs 4, ff xiii, etc...

[QUOTE="Verge_6"]Hey, OP. What do you think is going to happen when Halo 3 comes out in 3 months? Think the 360's are just going to sell at the same rate they are now?-Renegade

most people who want halo 3 already have an 360...

Doubtful. Most people will be getting 360 once Halo 3 comes out.

[QUOTE="Verge_6"][QUOTE="-Renegade"]

[QUOTE="Verge_6"]Hey, OP. What do you think is going to happen when Halo 3 comes out in 3 months? Think the 360's are just going to sell at the same rate they are now?-Renegade

most people who want halo 3 already have an 360...

Proof, or more 'facts' pulled out of your ass? If you can pull that tom foolery, I can just as easily say that anyone who wanted FFXIII, MGS4, etc have already gotten a PS3, and it will remain where it is for all of eternity. :|

games like ff are known to sale 2 million copies+ the day it comes out in japan. that obviously can't happen as there is only about 1 million ps3s in japan.. this just means people are just waiting for the games and it's still early in ps3s life..

Or care to think that it might not happen at all? Once again you can't base things on speculation because it can go either way.

Hey, OP. What do you think is going to happen when Halo 3 comes out in 3 months? Think the 360's are just going to sell at the same rate they are now?Verge_6

Mario Kart on the GC sold better that Halo 2 did outside of the US, heck Mario Sunshine did better outside of the US than Halo 2 did....So I would not expect that Halo 3 is going to change Europe sales of 360s that much

[QUOTE="SeanBond"][QUOTE="-Renegade"]

[QUOTE="Verge_6"]Hey, OP. What do you think is going to happen when Halo 3 comes out in 3 months? Think the 360's are just going to sell at the same rate they are now?-Renegade

most people who want halo 3 already have an 360...

And this is a known fact because you've asked all these people? The fact is, a lot of people don't buy systems when the games they want aren't close to coming out yet. I know a couple people who stillhaven't purchased an Xbox 360because they're waiting for Halo 3 and GTA IV. You try the cow tagline of "just wait until the PS3 gets games; more people will buy", and then you claim that when that's used as a defense for the 360, it's not true? I don't know if you realize this, but the 360's been going through a gaming dry spell the last few months as well, and the fall looks to be just as big for the 360 as for the PS3. If the 360 is already outselling the PS3, how is the fall going to change the PS3's fate, when the lineup isn't any more impressive than that of the 360?

360 has been out almost two years.. i said most people.. and ps3 has better lineup this year if you ask me..

According to you? Ha well we know what a horribly biased opinion you always have.

[QUOTE="Verge_6"]Hey, OP. What do you think is going to happen when Halo 3 comes out in 3 months? Think the 360's are just going to sell at the same rate they are now?HarlockJC

Mario Kart on the GC sold better that Halo 2 did outside of the US, heck Mario Sunshine did better outside of the US than Halo 2 did....So I would not expect that Halo 3 is going to change Europe sales of 360s that much

I'm talking worldwide sales. The OP brought them up some time ago.

360 needs to appeal to casuals. They already beat PS3 for the hardcore gamer. Now they will focus on Ninty and the casual.

Better question for you...

How can the PS3 win when it's selling nowhere?

Also why is it a price drop is expected to spur PS3 sales but it won't spur 360 sales? Sony is more doomed than MS is at this point in Europe.

As far as price drops. Microsoft and Sony are in a stare down...each one waiting to see when the other will drop price.

Also why is it a price drop is expected to spur PS3 sales but it won't spur 360 sales? Sony is more doomed than MS is at this point in Europe.

As far as price drops. Microsoft and Sony are in a stare down...each one waiting to see when the other will drop price.

mikasa

I do agree though with the report that both the 360 and especially the PS3 are due for price cuts, you need the lowered price to penetrate a market of consumers that want the systems but refuse to pay launch prices.

"Maybe when it's cheaper I'll pick one up". I hear that SOOOO often with people, doesn't matter the console, but the fact it's even 300$ keeps a lot of people away.

I believe the British Special Air Services said it first :

"He who dares wins"

And I believe this price drop standoff will be settled once someone makes a move.

[QUOTE="HarlockJC"]

[QUOTE="Verge_6"]Hey, OP. What do you think is going to happen when Halo 3 comes out in 3 months? Think the 360's are just going to sell at the same rate they are now?Verge_6

Mario Kart on the GC sold better that Halo 2 did outside of the US, heck Mario Sunshine did better outside of the US than Halo 2 did....So I would not expect that Halo 3 is going to change Europe sales of 360s that much

I'm talking worldwide sales. The OP brought them up some time ago.

My bad I thought you were talking about outside the US......that what I get for just jumping in