While the PSPgo may have flopped, Sony is celebrating console sales success, informing us that since the Slim launched the PS3 has been the best-selling console in Australia.
The PS3 Slim hit retail in Australia on September 3, bringing with it a price drop to $499 for the console. In late September Sony told us they’d hit 40,000 units sold in Australia. They’ve now sold “in excess of 60,000 units” and in the process outsold the Wii and Xbox 360 over that period.
A spokesperson for Sony Computer Entertainment Australia told us:
“Since the launch of PS3 120GB, total sales for the period since introduction have outperformed our competition. As you know, while sales figures can vary week to week depending on offers in the market, this is the first consistent trend line we have seen for a significant period of time in Australia.”
In terms of sales overall since launch, the PS3 remains in third place. But if this trend continues, it won’t be long before it’s biting at the heels of the Xbox 360.
Sony also told us that despite the sluggish launch for the PSPgo that saw it shift barely 1000 units in its first week, they’re happy with how the system is performing.
“Since the launch of PSPgo, we have seen uplift in the entire PSP platform; this also includes PSP-3000 sales, and PSP software sales. Strong IPs lined up for the PSP Platform have assisted this.
“We’ ve taken a realistic and total platform approach to the launch; with PSP-3000 and the introduction of PSPgo offering more choice to the consumer side by side. PSPgo launch week resulted in a solid first week volume uplift of 100% for the PSP platform as a whole in Australia.
“The platform is also growing on the software side, with exclusive titles like Gran Turismo and strong first and third party IPs in the PSP pipeline. More applications such as the Digital Reader will launch with a Digital Comics later this year and a Video Download Service in the pipeline for 2010 in Australia.”
So, great news on the PS3 front. And maybe not so bad news on the PSP front. Although one can’t help but wonder how poorly the handheld was performing if those meagre PSPgo sales (plus whatever PSP-3000 and additional software sales) accounted for a 100% increase for the platform.
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