Microsoft's Product Director took some time out today to give the Sony/Microsoft rivalry a good push. Aaron Greenberg pointed out, via Twitter, that Halo 3's sales numbers dwarf the competition by a mighty magnitude.
Greenberg's tweet drew a line in the sand for Sony: “Just in from research team (NPD): Halo 3 has outsold Resistance 1 + 2, Uncharted 1+2, Killzone 2 and God of War III COMBINED....wow.”
Resistance and Uncharted were early system sellers, while Killzone 2, Uncharted 2, and God of War III are some of the systems' more recent blockbuster titles. Halo 3's accomplishment is nothing short of stunning, though there may be other multi-platform titles that can probably boast the same, like Modern Warfare 2 and Grand Theft Auto IV.
12 Comments
June 11, 2010
Definitely surprising to see. Something is definitely wrong with Sony, because the majority of the games listed by Greenberg are incredibly ambitious and expansive. To be beaten out by a singular title like that does not bode well.
I think Sony's stubbornness with their price point was one factor. It's taken so long to build up their install base that they're still playing catch up three years after the fact.
June 11, 2010
To be honest, I don't think Sony even comes close to MS when putting marketing muscle behind their titles, compared to the carpet-bombing campaign that Halo 3 received. You couldn't swing a stick at any retail outlet or online source without running into something Halo 3 related, even MONTHS before it launched. Contrast that to Resistance and KIllzone, who's only PR _I_ recall was the original protest by the Church of England over the Resistance level modeled after an actual church.
I LOVE Uncharted 2. I think it's hands down one of the most well designed games I have ever played in all ways, but despite it's critical success (and possible commercial success...I don't have the numbers), it didn't get jack for PR that I recall. Certainly not Halo 3 level.
When you fail to promote the game outside of your own hermetic bubble, you're only preaching to the choir. I can say that it was Uncharted 2's boatload of awards and recognition that made me want to get a PS3, and while I don't regret it, I can only imagine how many other gamers overlook the PS3 as a choice because it seems like Sony isn't interested in GETTING THEM INTERESTED.
June 11, 2010
That is damn impressive. And it's not like he picked Sony's worst games. Uncharted 1+2 and GOW 3 are all awesome games. But I can't speak for Resistance 1+2 or Killzone 2 because I haven't had a chance to play either yet.
I still want to get final sales figures as of either May 1st or June 1st 2010. Last time I checked Halo 3 had surpassed 10 million copies sold worldwide(this happened in 2009). I find it hard to believe six of Sony's biggest PS3 titles couldn't have combined for a total of 10 million sold by now. But having said that, I'm sure that most of the core Halo titles(1,2 and 3) have easily outsold any of those series combined(either Resistance 1+2 or Uncharted 1+2) all by itself.
June 11, 2010
I talked about this briefly on my blog, but reading this again has got me fired up over this again. There's apparently a grand canyon of a distance between the powers of Microsoft and Sony's marketing teams, because there's absolutely no reason beyond poor marketing campaigns as to why this title isn't performing as well as it should in sales. Like I said in my post, the game has received nearly universal acclaim, so the only real target to put the blame on here would have to be poor marketing.
I agree with the first comment, that them being stubborn on the price point of their system probably had a negative impact on software sales across the board, but by the time Uncharted 2 came out was around the time the adoption rate for PS3s started climbing, if I recall. So while that probably still had a contributing factor, the only thing to blame here is a poor marketing campaign on Sony's end, which is absolutely unacceptable for a system-moving title such as Uncharted 2. Sony can do marketing right, just look at the Kevin Butler ads.
June 11, 2010
It can be a hard comparison - I mean, all of those are great titles that PS3 fans love, but I'm not sure any of them are system sellers and associated with the PlayStation brand the way Halo is is Xbox. Honestly, as far as flagship franchises, it'll be more interesting to see how Gran Turismo 5 stacks up against Halo: Reach, since that's Sony's number one franchise in terms of sales.
I will say that Uncharted 2's reception probably caught Sony by surprise - I'm sure they knew it was special, but almost universally hailed as "Game of the Year 2009"? Still, I'm sure they'll probably respond with a bigger campaign for Uncharted 3, since the franchise both deserves and earned it.
Also, since this is just NPD, it's only North American numbers - who knows how all of these titles have done worldwide.
June 12, 2010
"Also, since this is just NPD, it's only North American numbers - who knows how all of these titles have done worldwide."
That's an excellent point, David; I'd forgotten about that. PS3 seems to be a little more popular in Europe and Japan, although I question whether any of the titles mentioned by Greenberg would have sold well in Japan. Including Europe, though, might change things up a little.
June 25, 2010
This is really a great information. It's of great use to me. Thanks for sharing this excellent info.
Ibogaine Clinic
Ibogaine Mexico
July 2, 2010
thanks
July 15, 2010
It is kinda funny how everyone wants to down the PS3 when everyone that I know that owns a CRAPBOX has bought a PS3. Now that they own a PS3 they all sell their CRAPBOX most due to the glitching and moding of games. Their is not any moding of games on PS3. In fact the day COD MW2 came out CRAPBOX LIVE shut down known moding live accounts, that number was in 100,000's. So it seems to me that everyone that I have talked to is just envious that they just can not afford a PS3 and really wish they could OWN one. Alright I am going to go watch a BLU-RAY movie, sorry CRAPBOX owner you can not do that unless you by a BLU-RAY player or maybe a superior PS3..... Have fun with your HD.
One last note, The highest selling console of all time is the PS2 which all CRAPBOX owners owned one.............
August 21, 2010
@DIMEVISIONPS3 Shut the hell up PS3 Fanboy.
I would think with your IQ you could come up with something more original than Crapbox....Really?
September 14, 2010
You all are just 360 fanboys. But honestly I think both systems are equal in terms of graphics. If only Rockstar Games made GTA a Sony exclusive then Microsoft would have some real competition.
September 19, 2010
Dear friends:
Wonderful.
Share a unexpectedly website with you ,
========== http://www.AooMall.com ====
Believe you will love it.
Accept paypal or credit card and free shipping.
Wonderful. Share a website with you , ( http://WWW.AooMall.COM ) Believe you will love it. Accept paypal or credit card and free shipping.You can try Oh, give you satisfaction guarantee.
===== http://WWW.AooMall.COM/ ====