Sony’s PSP system had a record launch in the UK, selling 185,000 units in one week according to analysts, Chart-Track. That is more than any gaming console has ever sold in its opening week in the UK.
Before the PSP came along and destroyed it, the record was held by Nintendo with its DS portable system. It sold 87,000 units in its first week.
Since the September 1 launch of the PSP in the UK, Sony has raked in about $60 million just from its hardware sales. Not a bad week for the electronics giant. DVD-Recordable.org reports:
The success of the UK launch helps bolster confidence in Sony’s ability to produced and market the PSP, a system that has consistently been outsold by the Nintendo DS in the Japanese market.
According to the analyst company Media Create, Nintendo DS sales in Japan during the final week of July exceeded the sales of the PSP and the Playstation 2 combined. So while the PSP has enjoyed a solid launch in the UK, early August data suggests that the PSP annual sales in Japan fall behind that of the DS by nearly 130,000 units, year-to-date.
Ian Fogg of JupiterResearch makes a good point: “These are very early days. Sony’s success must be judged on PSP sales over the entire Christmas run up, as well as how the vital games sold per console ratios develop.”
In my opinion, if the GameCube is any indicator, Nintendo won’t live up to the amount of good games that Sony will, at least for the mature market.
Chris is a staff writer for murdok. Visit murdok for the latest ebusiness news.
