Xbox 360 Sells More Games Per System, Wii and PS3 Similar

Posted by Chris on Thursday, November 1st, 2007 at 3:42 pm under Game Companies, Game Consoles, Game Platforms, Games, Games Industry, Microsoft, Microsoft, Nintendo, Nintendo, Sony, Sony

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The Xbox 360 having a higher attach rate (which the NPD was nice enough to tell Joystiq, is a term that technically only refers to a specific game) than its two next-gen competitors is no surprise; it’s long been flouted by Microsoft as evidence that the Xbox 360 is having more success. 6.59 games are sold per Xbox 360 system, compared to the PlayStation 3’s 3.58 and the Wii’s 3.44.

  • Xbox 360: hardware to software ratio: 6.59 (hardware total sold = 6.8 million; software total sold = 44.8 million)
  • PlayStation 3: hardware to software ratio: 3.58 (hardware total sold = 1.9 million; software total sold = 6.8 million)
  • Wii: hardware to software ratio: 3.44 (hardware total sold = 4.5 million; software total sold = 15.5 million)

These numbers are from the NPD, so they obviously only encompass the US. Depending on how you decide to interpret the information, you could draw any number of conclusions. And that also doesn’t take into account things like Wii Play, which are considered software, even though we all know that people only buy it for the packed in Wiimote. Given the millions it has sold, that would really cut down on the Wii’s number. PlayStation Network games like Warhawk also aren’t tracked, which would boost the PS3 number.

Of course, many of the truly big name games for both the PS3 and Wii have yet to see the light of day, and with the release of Mario, Metal Gear Solid and others, it’ll be interesting to go back to these numbers next year to see how they stack up.

via Joystiq

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26 Responses to “Xbox 360 Sells More Games Per System, Wii and PS3 Similar”

  • Xbox 360 Sells More Games Per System, Wii and PS3 Similar says:

    [...] post by Chris and software by Elliott [...]

  • used cisco says:

    Speaking of bundled games, thats why the Wii's attach rate is low. TONS of people just buy the system and play wii-sports. If Wii sports was NOT bundled, the software attach rate would be MUCH higher because people would be forced to buy a game with the system. As it is, the Wii is the only system that doesn't require the purchase of a game at point of sale. Its no wonder the numbers are low. The PS3 is somewhat in the same boat since we all know many PS3s have been sold at blu-ray players in which case, no games may ever be bought for those systems.

  • Daniel says:

    @ used cisco; Wii sports has sold most of the Wii's, but besides my chime dead on brother. Of the 8 people I know that have a Wii only 5 of the actually bought a game.

    FYI, gamefly is raping game developers, and game developers are screwing PS3 and Wii gamers with crappy titles probably 360 too, but with all those great games your butt does not feel that torn up, beyond the bed sores of course

  • Daniel says:

    PS3's backwords compatibility ruined there attach rate more than any other factor. Dats why a selective list of games most people played on xbox made for better games sales and the gamer score keeps me by crap I hate for no reason.

  • Xbox 360 Sells More Games Per System, Wii and PS3 Similar says:

    [...] DailyPicture.net wrote an interesting post today onHere's a quick excerptThe Xbox 360 having a higher attach rate (which the NPD was nice enough to tell Joystiq, refers to only a specific game) than its two next-gen competitors is no surprise; it’s long been flouted by Microsoft as evidence that the Xbox 360 … [...]

  • used cisco says:

    @daniel, if what you say is correct, the PS3 attach rate should improve as the 40gb, no BC, SKUs start to take over the sales. I would also guess the 100% backward compatibility of the Wii isn't helping game sales either seeing as a lot of Wii owners never owned a gamecube, so they are probably buying some older cheaper gamecube games to play on the Wii. I think the limited BC on 360 from the beginning has really helped foster good 360 game sales.

  • eugene says:

    We're missing the most obvious reasoning, most Wii owners are casual gamers or non gamers and dont play games much. or are little kids who depend on mommy to buy expensive games and she says no. PS3's may have a certain percentage of people who may have just bought it as a cheap blue ray player or multimedia. Look at the staggering low attach rates of the PSP. 360 owners are defintely hard core gamers seeing as how Halo 3 itself has a 50% attach rate. Thats almost unheard of outside of Mario/Nintendo numbers

  • eugene says:

    The 360 numbers and the PS3 numbers are interesting. The 360 sold 44 million units of software in 2 years and the PS3 sold 6.8 million. Yall think the PS3 can match the numbers next year? I think Sony made a huge mistake of not killing the PS2. Games like GOW 2 could have been a huge system seller for PS3. Thats the best AAA game that SCE has released in a LOOONG time.

  • Habib says:

    I can see years from now analysts determining the fall of Sony from not killing off the PS2. Its canibolizing its own sales. The PS2 is STILL outselling the PS3!!!

  • used cisco says:

    @Eugene,

    "We're missing the most obvious reasoning, most Wii owners are casual gamers or non gamers and dont play games much. or are little kids who depend on mommy to buy expensive games and she says no."

    Actually, no one is missing these reasons, its just that its obvious neither one is the really the case. The Wii is selling large amounts to adult gamers, maybe more so than the 360, which is absolutely littered with hardcore adolescents, (spend about 30 seconds on a voice enabled game on LIVE and you'll see what I'm talking about). As for the casual nature of the Wii, you might have a point if it weren't for the fact that the DS is hitting a very similar demographic whose customers have proven perfectly happy to buy a lot of games, including the very casual titles. I would actually say, that the obvious reason for low attach rate that everyone seems to be missing is that the Wii has been slow to get a lot of must buy titles. As those types of titles release (and this is true of the PS3 as well), its attach rate should increase to a very healthy number.

  • antonio says:

    Well I see a critical error in this, Xbox has outsold Wii? WTF Yo? This survey is null and void upon that error alone! 6.8 million to 4.5 million? What happened to Wii passing Xbox; to Wii saleing nearly 12 million units?

  • Habib says:

    I said that casual gamers by nature dont buy games much. I didnt say that they werent adults. I also mentioned that many are ALSO little kids. 2 separate groups. And both dont buy games much by nature. And the DS sells lots of software yes. cause now they have an installed base of almost 60 million! If all of them bought 1 game all at once, the DS would be all over the NPD charts and they are. But the DS total software sales monthly is still lower than the monthly software sales of the much smaller 360 base

  • Habib says:

    "These numbers are from the NPD, so they obviously only encompass the US"
    you need to read the entire article. The Wii hasnt beat it yet in Europe or America yet. Its only ahead now cause of the 3 million sold in Japan but at the Wii's rate of selling, its only a matter of time before it passes the 360 in all 3 territories

  • Habib says:

    Some other amazing numbers to consider. Last quarter, Sony posted 2.1 billion dollars in revenue for their gaming division. The combined income of PS2 PSP and PS3. Revenue, not profits. Microsofts gaming divion posted 1.9 billion dollars in revenue. Pretty much just the xbox 360 cause the zune aint selling. And yes it did include the first 5 days of the Halo 3 launch. It shows how much damage hard core gamers can do

  • 68bands » Xbox 360 Sells More Games Per System, Wii and PS3 Similar says:

    [...] check the full story here [...]

  • Wow you just dont know says:

    The 360 has a lot more titles that appeal to me. The other systems are not producing enough games that attract the general public which is why the software sales for the other systems are down. I realize that PS3 will have Metal Gear and a couple of other games that are going to be good. It is not enough reason though for most to buy the other system IMHO. WII relies on Zelda, Metroid, and Mario as usual and are good games for the younger players or even the casual gamers. I myself am a hardcore gamer that enjoys shooters and a RPG from time to time. It does not get any better then x box live for me. I connect with 3 or 4 buddies from work and from college and play for hours when i have the time. If you got a 360 you gotta try Live Halo 3, Gears of War, and of course Call of Duty 4 due out this month. I hope all 3 systems push the limits for competition that way in the end we all will have better products.

  • MrMister says:

    Wow… The one month Wii's been passed… Oh well, this won't go on for much longer. :wink:

    (Especially when Brawl comes out.) :grin:

  • Peter says:

    It's simple

    PS3 has no "great" games out yet
    Wii has no "great" games out yet

    Once the big titles start rolling in the numbers will change.

    Promise

  •   Xbox 360 Sells More Games Per System, Wii and PS3 Similar by 67squares says:

    [...] You can read the full story here [...]

  • Wow you just dont know says:

    @Mr.Mister

    I wish the WII the best. I am an old school Nintendo fan by heart :wink: I was the biggest PS2 fan for a long long time and was against every other system but that changed after I discovered X box Live. Once I found out my friends from high school were on I started playing and got really addicted. Heck I am still addicted I play everyday. I think what makes the Live fun is that there is people always on to play plus it is a good way to socialize with old buddies and meet new players.

  • Wow you just dont know says:

    @ Peter

    The WII may go up but honestly I don't see the PS3 dominating like the PS2 did. The PS2 still out sales the PS3. I would have kept my PS3 if the online gaming network was better. I cannot imagine buying to many games without online play. I have seen the future list of PS3 games that are coming out next year and only a handful appeal to me. All of the games other then a handful will be the 360 that interest me. Call of Duty 4 comes out on both systems this month but if i am not mistaking it will have online play only on the 360 which is huge for me and my other buddies. Mass Effect (360 only), Assassin Creed, Guitar Hero 3, Time Shift all come out this month or recently just came out. It is a good month for gaming. :razz:

  • Wow you just dont know says:

    check out this exclusive it is going to kick some major butt! A shooter with RPG elements cant wait until this is released this month. Check out the trailer http://masseffect.bioware.com/

  • Pirates vs. Ninjas Dodgeball To Hit Xbox 360 Live Arcade » Casual Games says:

    [...] Xbox 360 Sells More Games Per System, Wii and PS3 SimilarThe Xbox 360 having a higher attach rate (which the NPD was nice enough to tell Joystiq, refers to only a specific game) than its two next-gen competitors is no surprise; it’s long been flouted by Microsoft as evidence that the Xbox 360 … Share and Enjoy: These icons link to social bookmarking sites where readers can share and discover new web pages. [...]

  • used cisco says:

    @Habib,

    "I said that casual gamers by nature dont buy games much."

    No you didn't. This was your only previous post on this thread. What are you talking about?

    "I can see years from now analysts determining the fall of Sony from not killing off the PS2. Its canibolizing its own sales. The PS2 is STILL outselling the PS3!!!"

    Somebody wake this guy up. He's sleeping at his keyboard.

  • TommyBoy says:

    Can i just say does it matter how many games you hav, for me its more about the quality of each game and how fun it is 2 play…

  • 7 says:

    Not to mention, the "Red Ring of Death". That also has to factor in somehow.

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