It seems that we Brits still love PlayStation. Of the whopping 220,000 made available to UK shops at launch, Sony announced that 165,000 were sold over the first four days. Which is a resounding success, however you look at it, and makes the PS3 the fastest-selling fixed console of all-time (the PSP, admittedly, shipped 185,000 units in the UK in its first weekend on sale).
Fair enough, Sony’s claim that the PS3 is the fastest initial-seller of any console has been enabled by the unprecedentedly huge stocks available at launch, but the fact remains that the Wii sold 105,000 units in the same period and the Xbox 360 70,000.
And the news must be a tad embarrassing to those who doomily predicted that UK consumers, put off by its £425 price-tag, would snub the PS3, leaving piles of unsold stock to gather dust in shops around the country. Palpably, we have taken to it enthusiastically in fact, more so than any other nation.
Whatever the accusations of spin that surrounded Sony’s contention that the European delay would at least allow it to sort out the launch line-up, the company does now seem to have a point – would the American market have embraced the PS3 more quickly if MotorStorm, for example, had been on sale at launch (it only made it into US shops a couple of weeks ago)?
At last, though, we can all go out and buy PS3s, and you could almost hear the nationwide sigh of relief on Friday 23 March. So Three Speech can now fix its sights firmly on the PS3’s future – look out for a piece on the hottest PS3 titles due to arrive in 2007, and much more besides.
By Steve Boxer
Hear! Hear! Most of the knocking about the PS3 tends to come from XBox and Nintendo fanatics. There’s plenty of room for all three consoles, However, I have no doubt at all that in the near future the PS3 will be the No. 1 console in the UK (if not the world). What a fantastic machine, a truely, complete entertainment unit which nothing else can compete with. Long live the PS3!
Comment by Neil — Mar 29, 2007 @ 10:39 am
I like to think I am a gamining newbie, other than a N64 I owned for a few months then sold. Coming to the PS3 and living with the hype, dissapointment, anger and anticipation of the last 6 months I have to say that the PS3 lives up to my expectations and is worth every penny.
We have shown Sony we are willing to give their 10 year next generation plan a go by buying the console in the 100’s of thousands in it’s first week.
It seems Europe believes in Sony and the PS3 but I must add it could have been so much more, a lot of people lost ‘faith’ and Sony MUST remember that and the fact Europe is a KEY market and should in future treat us as such.
Comment by appmacguy — Mar 29, 2007 @ 11:04 am
Pheww, I hate launches. Glad it’s all over. I love the fact that in the end it was consumers who voted with their hard earned cash and not those on the sidelines who have wanted to bury the PS3. Even in Aus it’s done pretty well - no records, but pretty good. The PS3 has just taken out 7 of the top 10 selling games for the week ending March 25 (Only 2 days), including the top 4. No guessing which titles came in top 2 …
Comment by maikii — Mar 29, 2007 @ 11:18 am
It’s disturbing that, hardly any of the mainstream press have made a big story of this big news. Imagine if a movie had smashed all box office records for the opening weekend? It would have been reported left right and center! It does make you wonder doesn’t it… anyway…
Well done Sony, I had no doubt the PS3 would be such a success!
Comment by Timeless — Mar 29, 2007 @ 11:56 am
Interesting news. I for one welcome our new PS3 overlords!
Comment by Kropotkin — Mar 29, 2007 @ 12:06 pm
Good news indeed for Sony but before too much back-slapping goes on they need to maintain these volume of sales and get more exclusive titles on to the shelves.
Comment by Undead_Elvis — Mar 29, 2007 @ 1:12 pm
“Interesting news. I for one welcome our new PS3 overlords!”
what are you gay or something?
this isnt 1up.com lamer
Comment by whatdafunk — Mar 29, 2007 @ 2:07 pm
@ Timeless
Why report good news when bad news gives you more hits?
I for one loved reading Joystiq at one time but have felt that they are becoming not so much xbox/nintendo biased but really only like reporting negative things about Sony, just because maybe they said something they didnt like.
Also, ive only owned 2 non-playstation Sony branded electronics pieces. A 4.somthing megapixel camera which from 2003 to now so far has been an awesome camera and my Sony DVD/CDRW drive on my computer, and it has worked perfectly.
I owned the PSOne and still own my PS2 9 GoW2 baby, and i can’t wait to grab my ps3. Whats stopping me? I only need $200 and its all mine. Unfortunately i just got 2 speeding tickets this month so thats gonna hurt the good ole wallet…..
Anyways good to hear that the PS3 is doing great overseas with our European brothers
can’t wait to get Resistance and frag some you lol cheers!
Comment by jojo29 — Mar 29, 2007 @ 2:15 pm
Jojo29 - Well you have a point there - Negative postings/’fights’ on forums in particular, attract large amounts of traffic, which equal lots of page/ad impressions.
Unless of course, the site is anti-negative-fanboyism - like http://www.gamesey.com
When it comes to negative stories in the news, I fear things become a bit more sinister - it’s a shame that large media outlets are so easily ‘bought’.
Comment by Timeless — Mar 29, 2007 @ 2:43 pm
I own a ps3 now but i went into argos on the 23rd and they had 12 available. They had the same number available today - 12.
So they aren’t exactly selling well post-launch which surprises me as easter is only a week away
Comment by FU666AR — Mar 29, 2007 @ 4:32 pm
Hey I’m the real Neil!
Anyway good news all around. I knew it would do great in the old country.
Comment by Neil — Mar 29, 2007 @ 6:27 pm
Glad the ps3 is doing well.. puts fanboys to rest mwhaaha!
To a happy next gen! go playstation!
Comment by Ricky — Mar 29, 2007 @ 9:28 pm
Its been fantastic finally getting my hands on my very own PS3. I love Motorstorm & Resistance. Raw Fun.
Now come on Sony, keep the momentum going, start showing us some great exclusive games. THIS YEAR!
(waiting for Home also)
Comment by Andronix — Mar 30, 2007 @ 12:16 am
I’ve been rather busy with Resistance, MotorStorm and Ridge Racer 7 for the last week, I’ve not gamed non-stop like this for years!
Resistance: 1 completion - hard.
MotorStorm: about 6 tickets complete.
Ridge Racer 7: 80% complete.
And lots and lots of demo/media playage including Casino Royale on Blu-ray - it is brilliant.
Comment by Shin-Ra — Mar 30, 2007 @ 12:37 am
Is flOw released on the PlayStation Store today or is it next Friday.. hmm.
Comment by Shin-Ra — Mar 30, 2007 @ 12:39 am
If this figure (and the 600 000 figure for al Europe) is correct, a precedent is set, of course: Europe doesn’t mind to wait and pay a lot of money for machines with less hardware (with the effect of less backwards compatibility) than those in the earlier regions. Interesting.
Either way, I’m seeing the PS3 doing even better when xmas rolls along, because at that time the killer apps will be there (with LittleBigPlanet imminent), pushing everyone over the edge. Including me :).
Comment by VMerken — Mar 30, 2007 @ 11:47 am
Whatdafunk: The quote isn’t from 1UP, it’s a famous joke from the Simpsons. it’s normally used to show someone who’s changed their opinion on a subject.
Or, to put it another way, he was *joking*, so lighten up.
Comment by CB — Mar 30, 2007 @ 11:50 am
flOw is now available on the PlayStation Store!
Time to get some tilt practise in.
Comment by Shin-Ra — Mar 30, 2007 @ 6:54 pm
You are insane. The PS3 is flopping, and we all know this. Fastest ever console sales? BULLSHIT.
You’re getting figures from sony, and they’re gonna lie to cover up what a massive flop it is. Launch parties around the entire european continant failed. You can’t hide the truth for ever, dears. We all know the truth, and Sony’s dead. Game stores can’t sell the bloody things.
Anyone who wastes £425 is a chav with no brains, and who’s nicked the money, OR, is a businessman with no gaming intelligence.
Comment by SpeakerOfTheTruth — Apr 11, 2007 @ 6:55 am
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