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India gaming news: Xbox One sales below 1500, PS4 to reach 50,000 by year end

India is not a primarily gaming country, so the figures are very low. However, this shows an indication how both current generation consoles stand.

Sources amongst multiple distributors and retailers all independently confirmed that less than 1,500 units have been sold across the country, and that too only after rampant discounts and offers. We contacted Microsoft to verify these claims to which we received no comment.

Sony on the other hand claims that the PS4 sold close to 4,500 units within two weeks of going on sale, and continues to sell well. Atindriya Bose, Sony Computer Entertainment's Country Manager for India said in an interview that the company is en route to selling 50,000 PS4s by the end of the current financial year - a milestone that took Sony three years with the PlayStation 3. And Sony has accomplished this without an official price drop or incentives. Both consoles are similarly priced, sporting an MRP of Rs. 39,990. But with the Xbox One, you get a free game (FIFA 15) while the PS4 bundles start at Rs. 40,990.

But perhaps the greatest indicator of how well the Xbox One is doing is Grand Theft Auto (GTA) V. Big franchises like GTA, Need For Speed, and FIFA all tend to do well in India, to the point where consoles are bought simply to play the game. We were at the midnight launch of the game in Mumbai at Games The Shop. While there was a huge crowd present to purchase it, very few bothered getting it on the Xbox One. We were told by the store's management that not more than five units of the game were available for the Xbox One, while 100 units were available for the PS4. And it's not just a problem at specialist game stores either because large format retailers such as Croma, Landmark, and Reliance Digital also are having problems moving Xbox One games.

"If GTA V did badly, what chance do we have with other games on the Xbox One?", said one buyer for a large format retailer who did not want to be named.


With the Xbox One being exclusive to Amazon, there's a problem of perception that Microsoft has failed to combat. Many consumers who want to choose between the PS4 and Xbox One need to know there's a steady availability of games even with offline retailers before purchasing. Right now, a lot of them feel a disconnect, and people don't know if they'll only be able to buy games from Amazon only.

More here: http://gadgets.ndtv.com/games/featu...k-friday-deals-gets-dominated-in-india-628766

Interesting point to note: Xbox One is Amazon exclusive in India, you cannot even buy it or it's games officially via any other retailer.
 

Mung

Member
I guess that stops any type of Xbox One shop demos. Its crazy to see how little India cares about consoles.

Well, not sure they don't care.

I wonder if anyone knows what the price of these consoles is as a ratio of the average daily income in India? How does that compare to the west?
 
fTh096c.jpg
 

blurr

Member
Most Indians will think twice before spending 40k rupees (~645$) for a "video game" console so don't be surprised with the sales numbers. That is actually pretty impressive considering

Atindriya Bose, Sony Computer Entertainment's Country Manager for India said in an interview that the company is en route to selling 50,000 PS4s by the end of the current financial year - a milestone that took Sony three years with the PlayStation 3.

(also, hey ambar!)
 

Klart

Member
"If GTA V did badly, what chance do we have with other games on the Xbox One?", said one buyer for a large format retailer who did not want to be named.

"Xbox One is Amazon exclusive in India, you cannot even buy it or it's games officially via any other retailer."



Plz explain.
 

lyrick

Member
How many of those 1.2+ Bilion is rich enogh to buy an console? I think people over there have other problems to think about than which gaming console to buy

Quick run over to wiki shows India's middle class population was roughly 250M in 2007.

It just doesn't look like these consoles are going to take off there.
 

Mung

Member
Quick run over to wiki shows India's middle class population was roughly 250M in 2007.

It just doesn't look like these consoles are going to take off there.

Yes but that doesn't mean the console is affordable for them. The cost will be high compared to middle class earnings.
 

adamsapple

Or is it just one of Phil's balls in my throat?
1.2+ Billion people

51.5K consoles sold...

umm .. the economy is FUCKED in this part of the world bro .. PS4's price is higher than the average man's monthly (or multiple monthly) salary.

Yes but that doesn't mean the console is affordable for them. The cost will be high compared to middle class earnings.

Exactly. Middle class in these parts of the world are struggling to make their bills, middle class in US and middle class in south asia are very different terminologies.
 

lyrick

Member
Yes but that doesn't mean the console is affordable for them. The cost will be high compared to middle class earnings.

the cost is pretty high for Americans with earnings of roughly (USD)22K/year as well, but Americans of all income brackets still seem to find a way to play the new Madden.
 

Mung

Member
the cost is pretty high for Americans with earnings of roughly (USD)22K/year as well, but Americans of all income brackets still seam to find a way to play the new Madden.

22k dollars per year would be a very high income in India. The average income is probably less than 300 dollars a month. Then consider that consoles cost the same/more in dollar terms over there.
 
Exactly. Middle class in these parts of the world are struggling to make their bills, middle class in US and middle class in south asia are very different terminologies.

What about upper-middle class? Remember we are talking about a country with 1.2B+ population, even if only 5% can afford gaming console we're still talking about 50m+ potential customers. That's bigger population than middle class population in countries like UK and Spain.
 

lyrick

Member
22k dollars per year would be a very high income in India. The average income is probably less than 300 dollars a month. Then consider that consoles cost the same/more in dollar terms over there.

I'm just looking at the middle class metrics, the average income of a nation doesn't tell me how many of the population could afford the luxury and choose not to indulge. On the other hand looking at what percentage of the population is a part of the middle class (not even looking at upper yet) and what the household and individual earnings of the middle class earners is, is a lot more telling.
 
1.2+ Billion people

51.5K consoles sold...
Half of that population lives on $1 a day. The rest eeks out a living around poverty, and among that is a tiny, tiny segment that has money to throw around on videogames. You're probably looking at 10-20 million such people.
 
I guess that stops any type of Xbox One shop demos. Its crazy to see how little India cares about consoles.

Actually they are now putting up Xbox One kiosks in retail shops. Consumers can try the console and order on amazon via that retailer. Retailer also gets a cut. But the amount of money and space taken to keep that kiosk up and running is higher than their retailer cut in the console sale, in most cases.

Well, not sure they don't care.

I wonder if anyone knows what the price of these consoles is as a ratio of the average daily income in India? How does that compare to the west?

Most of the middle class monthly income is less than price of a console. Average income is way below.

Most Indians will think twice before spending 40k rupees (~645$) for a "video game" console so don't be surprised with the sales numbers. That is actually pretty impressive considering



(also, hey ambar!)

Hey dude!
 

lyrick

Member
may I suggest you watch a documentary on India and on how a large portion of the population have to live....

it is a 3rd world country, don't forget that

save India's income equality issues for a relevant conversation. Of that 1.2 Billion people, a certain percentage can afford some luxury goods. Unfortunately only 51.5K of that population is estimated to choose a new gen console by the end of the year as one of their luxury purchases.

Looking at India iPhone & iPad sales in 2013 pretty much tells me that the there isn't a demand for Consoles as other luxury electronics are selling pretty well.
 

DBT85

Member
Its hardly a surprise when you consider that Sony have been trying to get into markets early. Get in early and get some fans and then keep going with it.
 
Quick run over to wiki shows India's middle class population was roughly 250M in 2007.

It just doesn't look like these consoles are going to take off there.
That's...about what it is in the U.S tho. Maybe's it more down to convincing them of gaming itself than it is about money, it may be like pre-NES over there.

Also I guess that answers the question if India has an equivalent to South Africa, i.e a part of the country that's rather well-developed economically compared to the rest.
 
That's...about what it is in the U.S tho. Maybe's it more down to convincing them of gaming itself than it is about money, it may be like pre-NES over there.

Also I guess that answers the question if India has an equivalent to South Africa, i.e a part of the country that's rather well-developed economically compared to the rest.

Slowly people are leaning towards gaming, thanks to mobile gaming becoming popular and adults enjoying games too. Earlier it was just a child's play for everyone. However, a lot of people that gamed on NES (not exactly NES, but chinese NES rip off consoles) as kids, are earning adults now, and they are actually going out and buying consoles, me included. I started off with NES ripoff, then PS1, then PS2 (by this time my friends laughed on me for playing video games), then PS3 and 360. Now I also have PS4 and Xbox One, and when someone knows this, they stare at me in disbelief for spending this much money on video games. Also, no one laughs now and most of them inquire about costs etc and few have already bought last gen consoles.
 
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