Misinformed reader comments across gaming blogs (such as Joystiq) are becoming increasingly frustrating. As we approach PSP's 2-year anniversary, many gamers seem to believe PSP is somehow a failure. Objection! If we align sales data to look only at the first 24 months of a console's US life, we'll see that PSP has actually done better than most other consoles, including the original PlayStation 1, and Nintendo DS.
The numbers and charts are provided by VG Charts, and they document a truth that may be hard to swallow. Please note that these numbers only cover US sales. Regardless, the following data should provide compelling evidence that PSP is not a failure, at least in terms of units sold.
PSP versus PlayStation 1:
The original PlayStation turned out to be one of gaming's most popular systems ever. But, looking at the first two months of PS1's life, one can see that PSP has had much more momentum. While PSP may not match PS1's final sales figures, Sony can certainly be proud that their handheld has been so successful.
PSP versus Dreamcast:
No contest here. Sega's last console, beloved by many hardcore gamers, didn't have enough in it to even get close to what Sony's been doing with PSP.
PSP versus Xbox:
It seems like Sony's PSP matches the original Xbox the closest in terms of sales momentum. The sales for the first two years of each console's life are pretty close to each other, with PSP having a slight advantage at the end of month 24.
PSP versus Gamecube:
Looking at the first two years of Nintendo's last generation console, one can see that PSP is consistently outpacing Gamecube. One thing's very clear: there was more demand for PSP at $250 than there was for Gamecube at the same price.
PSP versus Nintendo DS:
Looking at the first two years of sales of PSP and the first two years of DS, one can see that PSP has actually sold better than the cumulative sales of DS and DS Lite. While the recent months have been in Nintendo's favor, it's foolish to think that Sony is trailing that far behind.
PSP versus Xbox 360:
Think Microsof'ts Xbox 360 is doing well? Xbox 360 actually sold less in its first year than the PSP did in its first 12 months. Sure, 360 had shortage problems at launch, but misinformed gamers seem to disregard these errors.
PSP versus PLAYSTATION 3:
There isn't enough data to see where PS3 will end up, but PSP's launch has easily outperformed Sony's newest console offering.
Conclusion
Is PSP a failure? Definitely not. However, it could be even more of a success with better support from Sony. Clearly, Sony is doing something wrong if gamers have painted this inaccurate, fatalistic vision of PSP's doom. With PSP having started off with more momentum as PS1, why shouldn't Sony try to match the wild success of their first gaming console? The dream to have "PSP" as ubiquitous as "Walkman" doesn't have to seem like an improbability.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
3-16-2007 @ 3:18PM
ProPorn said...
It feels good to see Joystiq headlining some PSP news without bashing it :)
Reply
3-16-2007 @ 3:52PM
pixelator said...
Well, I wouldn't brag *too* much about having better sales than the Gamecube, but I think it's important to note that these charts show a very constant upward movement for the PSP with sharp and regular holiday season spikes. Shipped vs. Sold and backlogged sales (72% drop my ass) even out in the end, as is evident here.
As others will likely add, though, it's those pesky software sales that need to start doing the same thing. Otherwise, down the road, we may indeed start losing publishers or at least see more 'we're putting more emphasis on DS' announcements like EA and Sega made.
Reply
3-16-2007 @ 4:07PM
Hoffer said...
I finally bought a PSP in December. It usually doesn't take much to convince me to get a gizmo, but it took a while on the PSP. LocoRoco and a new Ratchet & Clank finally swayed me. Also, I bought it like 3 days after getting my PS3. I wanted to try the downloadable PS1 games and figured future integration would pop up.
Reply
3-16-2007 @ 4:22PM
Tristan said...
Whoa, as people have said, although the PSP is trailing the DS (there are only two major handhelds PSP and DS), it is strange to call the one in second place a failure. Like said, it isnt like Sony is losing money over the PSP>
Reply
3-16-2007 @ 5:03PM
Biphster said...
Tristan, LOOK at the graphs... The PSP ISNT SECOND to the DS.. THE DS IS SECOND IN USA (Just). The problem is that the whole internet focuses too much on Japanese hardware sales, purely because their figures are free to see. People then take this as the state of the WHOLE WORLD sales. It wouldn't be so white wash if US and Euro figures were published weekly and for free. Europe is especially pro Sony.
Reply
3-16-2007 @ 5:17PM
coyurtney said...
Wow, I didn't know the spin doctors were still together.
Nice try guys.
Reply
3-16-2007 @ 5:43PM
Shane said...
What is spin about data? For the time period they have and the data they have, everything said is correct.
Reply
3-16-2007 @ 5:52PM
SuicideNinja said...
Brace yourself:
Hasn't the PSP sold/shipped (whatever) more units than the Xbox and the Gamecube individually? That should say a lot.
I don't think the PSP is doomed...I just don't think there's anything entertaining to do with it. I'm sure others enjoy its frivolity.
Reply
3-16-2007 @ 6:38PM
coyurtney said...
This just seems like people bought into it on the Sony name alone but as they started seeing that good games were far in between it started slowing down. I think this has part to do with the PS3 doing so bad, people are tired of eating SONY's lies.
I mean I am not really that much of a hater. I want a PS3, but not at the price and not without good exclusive games and I had a PSP until I realized I could get a DS and a couple good games for that money.
Reply
3-16-2007 @ 6:42PM
pixelator said...
"I'm sure others enjoy its frivolity."
Yes, playing awesome games like Ratchet, MGS:PO, Loco Roco, Ace Combat, Monster Hunter, Burnout, Daxter, Pirates, Gurumin, TOCA, and many other excellent PSP titles is indeed frivolous. One could say any form of video game playing is, when you get right down to it.
The question is, how big a dipshit does it take to draw this imaginary line of 'frivolity' between portable gaming and console gaming? Thanks for answering that.
Reply
3-16-2007 @ 6:42PM
pixelator said...
Tristan, the PSP isn't 'ahead in the USA'. It may have been true at each system's RESPECTIVE 24 month mark, but the DS has passed that by here in the USA and the tally stands 11.3 million DS vs. 7.9 million PSP.
And as I've said before, NPD isn't ALL USA sales. They do not track online or certain brick & mortar chain sales.
Reply
3-16-2007 @ 6:43PM
supergear said...
Piracy is what is hurting PSP software sales
Reply
3-16-2007 @ 6:52PM
pixelator said...
BTW, looks like software sales in the USA aren't really bad at all:
Launch to Date: (remember DS launched at Christmas with 4 month head start over PSP)
DS: $41,943,250 (November 2004)
PSP: $29,866,750 (March 2005)
That comes out to a monthly software sales average of:
DS: $1,497,973
PSP: $1,244,447
Not such a huge DS-crepancy after all, is it?
Reply
3-16-2007 @ 7:30PM
jay said...
People need to realize that the psp isnt the Ngage..It is doeing really well...the Ngage was crap! hence why it hardly sold.
Reply
3-16-2007 @ 7:33PM
daschupa said...
Sooo, what I'm hearing is that the PSP beat the DS in a certain amount of time in a certain location, but now they are being beaten by 3 million units. Y'know the gc beat the crap out of the xbox and xbox 360 combined in Japan, maybe we can do an article on that...wait, no, it died...hmm
Anyhoo, the psp is a good system and I wish it were doing better, especially since I have one. It would behoove Sony to create a better marketing tactic than its current "it plays everything and games too!" and a lowering of the price would be nice too. Now that it finally has some great games, people have already written it off as an expensive gimmick.
Reply
3-16-2007 @ 8:11PM
myst said...
How to say this without offending all the fanboys... hmm...
You're all idiots.
Go to http://www.vgcharts.org/aconscomps.php?name1=DS&name2=PSP&type=2&align=1
Now have a look. Doesn't the DS seem to have sold a FEW more than the PSP? And yes, we all know the DS had a headstart on the PSP, but it DOESN'T MATTER. What does matter is this chart. Look at the curves - for a while the PSP was matching the DS, but not for long. And oh - just in case you can't see it, you might notice the PSP has NEVER outsold the DS in America. And if you want to look at the other charts on the site, not ever in Europe, Japan, or worldwide.
Aditionally, if you distrust Vgcharts (despite having been happily willing to believe it if it showed the PSP winning), have a look at Nintendo's quarterly sales and Sony's quarter shippings. I made a spreadsheet which I might upload somewhere - Worldwide the DS has been selling more than the PSP's sold.
My last point is if you look at the Vgchart Tristan gave, obviously you'll see that there's no more data past the 24th month (as we can't predict sales for the future). But if you look at Sony's most recent shipping figures, you'll note they cut shipments by 75%. So I think they'll be taking a dive.
Lastly because I know everyone will be saying I'm just a DS fanboy, although I do have a DS, three of my friends have PSPs and I think it's a good handheld, but you have to admit that it's not outselling the DS.
So please, stop with all this "PSP has beaten DS!!111!I'MAFANBOY!!" crap. The DS has constantly outsold the PSP. No amount of fanboy spindoctoring will change that.
Reply
3-16-2007 @ 8:19PM
Nik said...
Bottom line for me is that a PSP is $50 more than a DS and a PSP game is $10 more than a DS game.
Reply
3-16-2007 @ 8:24PM
txa1265 said...
I think that putting up the DS comparison is just inviting arguments ... I mean, when comparing the XBOX & GC sales to the PS2, how many people say 'ZOMG the PS2 had such a big head start no fairsies!'
After 2 years, a few months don't matter. All that chart tells me is that while the PSP was leading the DS in US and tied worldwide only a year ago, it is now lagging in the US by ~33% and worldwide by ~50%.
Also, what is the top growth in the game industry - the only one really gaining over the last two years? Handhelds!
But I think it is good to remember that the PSP is selling very well. And to refute the BS that there are no good games on a regular basis.
Reply
3-16-2007 @ 8:45PM
pixelator said...
"This just seems like people bought into it on the Sony name alone but as they started seeing that good games were far in between it started slowing down."
Funny, that's why I sold my DS during its first year and why I've kept my same PSP since launch. The PSP has far and away more games that I enjoy playing.
Reply
3-16-2007 @ 9:44PM
pixelator said...
"The DS has constantly outsold the PSP. No amount of fanboy spindoctoring will change that."
No, it hasn't. The PSP outsold the DS for much of the first year of their respective lives here in the USA and even for several months in Japan. Fact. Don't need no spin for that.
"But if you look at Sony's most recent shipping figures, you'll note they cut shipments by 75%. So I think they'll be taking a dive."
Who's spinning, now? Look at the sales. Fuck this 'cutting this or that' and who'll be taking what dive. The bottom line is, the PSP hardware sales have climbed steadily and well since launch. End of story.
"And yes, we all know the DS had a headstart on the PSP, but it DOESN'T MATTER."
Sorry, Nintendo Fanboy, it most certainly does. When that 4 month head start includes NOVEMBER and DECEMBER, it was QUITE a lead. PSP launched in the gaming DEAD ZONE of MARCH, perhaps the second to worst month in the calendar year for game sales.
"How to say this without offending all the fanboys... hmm... You're all idiots."
Don't worry, we read your plat-biased ego-invested jealousy between the lines. No offense taken.
Reply