Kotaku
First week sales figures provided by Microsoft, courtesy of unnamed retailers, put sales of Grand Theft Auto IV at 60% for the Xbox 360 version, 40% for the PlayStation 3 version. A win, undoubtedly, for Microsoft. N'Gai Croal of Level Up got his hands on some GameStop-only sales data, which puts the percentage more accurately at 64% on the Microsoft side, 36% on the Sony side.
Argh! Not accurate enough, for our tastes! Fortunately, we'll be able to more obsessively split hairs on the matter later this week, when NPD data is revealed, but for now we have some expertly sculpted spin to enjoy!
First up, the clear winner, Microsoft's Aaron Greenberg. He says, in part, "These sales results add GTA IV to a long list of franchises that have switched over from Playstation to find a new home on Xbox 360 similar to what happened last year with titles like Madden and Guitar Hero." Greenberg, who seems pleased, tells Level Up that it's a trend he expects to continue.
Peter Dille, senior VP of marketing at Sony Computer Entertainment, responds in kind. "If I had an installed base advantage of 3-1," he says "I wouldn't be crowing too much about a 60-40 sales advantage." Touche! Dille says that 60-40 split isn't such a big deal. Actually, it's a testament to PlayStation brand loyalty, Peter says, in a roundabout way! Regardless of the hard numbers, Dille manages to seem pleased too.
Mr. Croal breaks it down further, with some pre-April console install base numbers, for those interested. We expect better sales insight due Thursday, at which point there will be much slap fighting done across message boards and commenting threads. Don't miss it!
Comments
Nice "Vertigo" movie reference
I believe those to be the true numbers for the States. World-wide, not too sure.
I know for a fact that my local Gamestop sold out of the 360 version almost immediately while they were still trying to get people to take the PS3 version.
It goes both ways, when you kinda think about it. So let's leave it at that people.
Makes sense to me. More people own a 360 and when you own a console already that plays it, then there's no point of going out of the way to buy another one.
@goldwings: D'oh meant to say percentage.
@Mommar: I spoke too late...
9.9/4.1 does is not 3:1 chief, even if you round it
(1) The split is 60-40 in part, I'd imagine, because PS3 owners have been waiting desperately for a blockbuster title to show up on the system. I don't know how many PS3 systems were sold specifically because of GTA IV, but those who already had them were guaranteed to buy this game.
(2) Honestly, it's nice to see Sony no longer dominating the home console market, much as it was a relief to see Nintendo lose its stranglehold before the PlayStation was released. I'm not saying I want Microsoft to take the lead, either. Being on top leads to overconfidence.
(3) Clearly, no-- okay, okay, I promised I wouldn't make that joke any more when Croal's name was invoked.
Are you sure that the Sony rep's statement didn't begin with (a nasally) "Oh yeah?..."?
@Does Not Equal:
"(2) Honestly, it's nice to see Sony no longer dominating the home console market, much as it was a relief to see Nintendo lose its stranglehold before the PlayStation was released. I'm not saying I want Microsoft to take the lead, either. Being on top leads to overconfidence."
You're about a year and a half too late on that. Sony hasn't been on top this generation since...they launched the PS3. In fact, we're starting to come full-circle with Sony becoming more humble in some regards.
"Peter Dille, senior VP of marketing at Sony Computer Entertainment, responds in kind. "If I had an installed base advantage of 3-1," he says"
Did he just own himself?
@okenny :): plus... I fail how these reactions could have been taken without a mother or two getting insulted and some one asking the other to meet after school.
Is it wrong to enjoy watching PR (on both ends) dance? :D
I love how Microsoft always brags but never looks at install base and the fact that out of all 3, they were the only ones to rush the generation with an unfinished product.
@ShirtGuyDom: I've been saying this for the past year and a half, just not on Kotaku.
They haven't "switched over". There are simply more units of 360 out there at this time. Six million more to be precise. That's going to lead to stronger attach rates.
When you take that into account, you can easily see that the PS3 had the overall better attach rate and this has nothing to do with people "switching over".
Some people already owned a 360 and simply bought the game for that system.
@Does Not Equal: Then you're two years late with it lol.
@Albanian_Killa: Yeah, 'cause no other console leader has ever rushed out an inherently defective product with a high rate of failure.
@DaFox: um... no. What he's saying is true. With the 360 being 3:1 as Microsoft says they are, you would have expected 75% : 25% 360, PS3 respectively.
That didn't happen.
@ShirtGuyDom: Edit: two
That added emphasis makes it funnier. At least, I think it does.
I love PR spin (and the fanboys that come out and slurp it all up, especially the made up ratios in the Sony article).
3rd grade math > PR spin
@DigiMish: I imagine there were a fair number of consumers who'd heard that the PS3 had a dearth of must-have games, and were just waiting for something to justify the purchase.
@Does Not Equal: The sad thing is that you're right, even though you're being sarcastic.
Console 3-1 outnumbers you, but the game on both only 2-1s... >.> You go, MS!
Madden and GH moved to being homes on the 360? I could've swore PS2 sales for both games SLAUGHTERED the 360 versions, and then add the PS3 numbers, albeit not as high, and this statement makes Mr. Greenberg look like a complete idiot.
And a "long list" of Sony games? I've already addressed the other 2 MULTIPLATFORM games, but if he considers DMC and GTA a "long list", then he's even more of a complete idiot. He's a SUPER, ULTRA, MEGA, complete idiot.....tool
I'm sure its already been said but meh i'll say it again.
The install base for the 360 is much higher than that of the PS3 so more sales for Microsoft is pretty inevitable. Not to mention the advertisment campaign didnt even mention the fact that it was also released for the PS3.
I think the fact that the PS3 has managed to sell 40% of the overall sales is a big achievement especially since the bundle deal with the system and the game there will most likely be alot more systems in peoples homes now thanks to this.
That number will also increase thanks to the launch of MGS4 soon.
I expect to see big things from Sony in the near future but im not going to shoot them down for selling 20% less GTA4 copies than the Xbox tbh.
I wish I could find a rich fanboy sugar-daddy who would buy me a console out of pure fanaticism. I really want to play GTA IV.
:(
@CatPope:
Sell yourself on teh street
Everything was influenced by the amount of games Take Two shipped for each platform. Brand-loyalty or install blade had less to do with it than you might think.
@CatPope: I promised myself I wouldn't do this, but if you really want to play GTAIV so bad, then bu the *shudder* 360 arcade. That's the cheapest way to enjoy GTA IV.
@DigiMish: I was being sarcastic? Really? Man, I'm so subtle, even I didn't realize I was being sarcastic! And here I thought I was making a valid point in a communal discussion about the above article.
Christ.
@boilermaker11: Well actually Madden '08 sold more on Xbox 360 than PS2.
1. Madden NFL 08 (Xbox 360) - Electronic Arts - 896,600
2. Madden NFL 08 (PlayStation 2) - Electronic Arts - 643,600
[www.gamasutra.com]
way to make up facts :/
@DigiMish:
Lets not jump to rash decisions
I think selling her body would be the better option than that :S
@boilermaker11:
According to VGChartz...
(PS2) Madden NFL 08 2.13m
(360) Madden NFL 08 2.37m
(PS2) Guitar Hero III 3.86m
(360) Guitar Hero III 2.86m
Although 360 lost in GH3 sales, it's not far off from 50%.
Keeping in mind that 360 is ~7 million systems in America, and PS2 is ~48 million, that's pretty impressive.
Not trying to defend MS here, but making accusations like that makes you look like a bit of an idiot.
@Raio: Not to mention the advertisment campaign didnt even mention the fact that it was also released for the PS3.
Um... except for the ads that said it was on PS3 and didn't mention the 360.
There were plenty of PS3 ads.
To be real, yeah, Microsoft isn't beating Sony in sales by an ideal, perfect ratio, but the fact is, they are, and that's all there is.
You can spin it anyway you so desire. Microsoft successfully stole Sony's game and they're bitter.
@Does Not Equal: I'm sorry, I should have made myself clear. I was talking about your response to someone regarding the 360 failure rate. In that, I don't agree with you, assuming you were sarcastic. I don't think any other manufacturer put out a console with such a high defect rate.
@scottyman218:
Why compare PS2 to 360 sales?
The topic is comparing the two next gen consoles, previous gen shouldnt even be included in the debate.
The reason for high sales of GH on 360 can be put down to downloadable content, next gen graphics, online play.
The install base of the PS2 is why the sales can contend but its two completely different kettles of fish
Looks like MS is winning but I don't care anymore, 360 doesn't have 3 times as many sales as the PS3 as the Sony guy says but it does have a install base. Not enough to count for this major increase in sales but what does it matter if one game is more popular on another console?
If DMC4 was more popular on PS3 I wouldn't really care. Anyway I'm sick of seeing GTA IV news now.
@karasu is my homeboy:
Here in the UK the adds only showed the 360 version, at the end of the ad with Niko walking showed the 360 console and the "game and console sold seperately message" there wasnt a single mension of the PS3 version, i cant account for advertisements in other countries I just know what i saw
@Raio: I was replying to boilermaker's comment.
Also, the topic is in reference to "Playstation", not "Playstation 3" when referring to GH & Madden sales, so it's hardly a next-gen debate only.
mention*
@scottyman218:
In regards to the sales of GTA it is, which is the current debate, no one cares about PS2 sales in relation to 360 sales because its just not even remotely important
let's face it, dammit
if M$ has a bigger install base... Well, that means that (at least so far) they are winning the fight against sony. Period. These percentage excuses don't work because it really doesn't matter.
People are talking that "if the install base advantage is 3:1 and the GTA IV sales are less than that, that is bad fot M$" -- NOT AT ALL. Let's just think:
1: you should consider the number of "casual gamers" (if you can say that) who own an xbox360. It's fact that its a lot bigger than the number of them who have a PS3. And would that people buy GTA IV? I'd say not many of them would.
So... I'm not being a fanboy here... i'm just trying to deal with the facts.
I believe that if the numbers are actually those, than M$ is still winning the game. And no point making excuses. If your installed base is smaller, that only means that you sold less consoles. So......... you are losing.
(and yet again, sorry for the VERY bad English.)
@Raio: In the US, it was both. However, I noticed that the 360 ads began airing way earlier than the PS3 ones. I only started seeing PS3 ads a couple days before launch.
It's too bad you guys got the awesome ad with Niko walking and LCD Soundsystem... jealous.
Shit, if it had been Sony in the lead, Dille would have been all about bragging.
@karasu is my homeboy: You were faster. XD
@Does Not Equal:
At first, I did not believe the stories about so many 360s dying, but when all my friends' 360s starts dying one after another, it became clear that it is a wide spread problem.
The probability of DRE on the PS2 is nowhere near the failure rate on the 360. In fact, I don't recall ANY consumer electronic from a brand-name that is as prone to defect as the 360.
@dynosaulo:
I really dont understand your point, on an install basis front yes MS has the advantage due to the earlier release, but winning i wouldnt really say they are, sales of the PS3 have been increasing recently outselling the 360 over recent months.
Its getting to the point now where its going to be healthy for the market, with the PS3 now having a firm foothold the competition will insite each team to outdo the other, which in the long run is better for us, is it not?
Im glad that the console war if your want to call it that is going as it is, more games for me the better :/
60-40 for the 360 eh, does it matter though? Does it make the game any more better or worse?