Strategy Analytics: Sony Launches PS3, But Microsoft Has It All To Prove;

BOSTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sony launches its PlayStation 3 games system in the US this Friday, but Microsoft’s Xbox 360 is facing even greater pressure to produce a strong holiday season, according to the latest report from Strategy Analytics. To meet its target, the Redmond, WA, giant must sell four million consoles over the gift-buying season, notes the report, “PS3/Xbox360: Pressure On Microsoft As Well As Sony In Q4 Console Shootout,” published by Strategy Analytics’ Connected Home Devices service.

“PS3/Xbox360: Pressure On Microsoft As Well As Sony In Q4 Console Shootout”

“Sony will sell everything it can make of its new system,” notes David Mercer, Principal Analyst. “But Microsoft has already had a year in the market to cream off early adopters, so the next few weeks will demonstrate how much pent-up demand there really is for the Xbox 360, and how many disappointed PS3 buyers are willing to switch camps.”

The report predicts global sales of nearly 9 million next-generation games consoles during the last quarter of 2006. The Xbox 360 will remain the leading system through most of 2007 but the PS3 will be catching up by the end of the year and is still set to become the dominant platform of the next generation. The report predicts that more than 120 million PS3s will be sold through 2012, compared to 60 million Xbox 360s and 23 million Nintendo Wiis. North America will account for more than 50 percent of all console sales over this period.

	Cumulative Sales 2005-2012 – Millions Units
Sony PS3	121.8
Microsoft Xbox 360	59.7
Nintendo Revolution	23.3

Source: Strategy Analytics Connected Home Devices (CHD) service

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Strategy Analytics, Inc. - a global research and consulting firm - provides timely insights and strategic business solutions to companies operating at the convergence of information, communications and entertainment technologies. With worldwide headquarters in Boston, MA. and principal offices in England, France and Germany, Strategy Analytics focuses on market opportunities and challenges in the areas of Automotive Electronics & Multimedia, Digital Consumer, Wireless Strategies and Enabling Technologies. For more information, see www.strategyanalytics.com