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NPD Sales Results for April 2014 [Up2: XB1/360 hardware, PS4 #1/XB1 #2 best selling]
- Thread starter Nirolak
- Start date
Poimandres
Member
Dude, it is one average month in a single territory. I think we need to wait at least another couple of months before screaming "doom!"
I kinda thought that "next-gen" console sales would be frontloaded compared to previous gens considering the consoles were long overdue so that would cause core gamers to flock towards the consoles earlier compared to previous gens.
That's YTD. I believe the person you quoted was referring to the slow down that occurred this month.
brandonh83
Banned
Correct me if I'm mistaken, but why are people gauging the general success or failure of the new consoles by April's numbers? What software released in April that would lead to fantastic console sales? They sold well out of the gate because they were new and it was holiday time, but aren't sales usually more stagnant this time a year? And didn't the PS3 steadily become more successful as more and more enticing software was released for it?
Again, they're not terrific numbers, but I'm not sure that April 2014 is some kind of legit measuring tool. I imagine that most people interested in the consoles to begin with went ahead and got them, or one or the other, while others are probably waiting on a better software selection. Not trying to be overly optimistic; sure I want to see them do well, I just think it's a little strange to start making guesses concerning the future of the hardware based on last month's numbers.
I don't usually participate in sales-age stuff and I'm by no means pretending to be an expert, I just think that there are some... variables to consider.
Again, they're not terrific numbers, but I'm not sure that April 2014 is some kind of legit measuring tool. I imagine that most people interested in the consoles to begin with went ahead and got them, or one or the other, while others are probably waiting on a better software selection. Not trying to be overly optimistic; sure I want to see them do well, I just think it's a little strange to start making guesses concerning the future of the hardware based on last month's numbers.
I don't usually participate in sales-age stuff and I'm by no means pretending to be an expert, I just think that there are some... variables to consider.
Suzushiiro
Banned
Bad compared to what? What were the 360's LTD sales in April '06 and what were the PS3's LTD sales in April '07?
This was a very empty month though. i'm sure it'll pick up again with MLB and Watch Dogs over the next 2 months, and then again in Fall with Batman, Destiny, Dragon Age and whatever else is coming.
DangerMouse
Member
Yeah, no one's even gotten around to thinking about this yet (and there's another month to go before that price cut even happens).
Meanwhile PS4 has a ton of other markets their already stronger in anyway adding to their totals.
RustyNails
Member
But it's also April which is usually sucky, and the economy isn't as hot as it used to be before 2008. I'm personally waiting for a solid deal come Black Friday/Cyber Monday later this year. Everyone is eeking out as many savings as they can.
Mysterious
Banned
theviolenthero
Member
Nope.
ColorblindJedi
Banned
That doesn't surprise me. I only know two people who have next gen consoles. All of my other friends that play games are still on Xbox 360.
They're gauging the success/failure of the consoles because no major software came out. It's an indication of what the sales baseline could be for the consoles. Titanfall and Infamous were both out for a whole month, and the best they could manage is ~200k PS4s and 115k X1s.
I'd imagine it was:
1.) Buying a game digitally on 360/PS3 was a horrible user experience.
2.) Price pegging and anti-self-publishing policies kept a lot of people aay.
3.) Digital games were segregated in stores.
4.) People on consoles weren't used to buying things digitally.
These days DLC and console digital game prices are rising, it's possible to buy a game on a digital console store without it being a bad experience, downloadable titles are in the same store as other titles, and you can actually self publish.
The advent of great indie development tools has also helped.
As such, I suspect downloadable sales on consoles and the scope of downloadable games there will increase quite a bit this gen.
It's not just April's numbers, it's the general trends.
Wii U is dead and buried. It's got well over a year's track record at this point to give us reliable data.
Xbox One is trending absolutely terribly. It's not a dead system, but it's going to be a weaker second rather than a stronger one, based not just on sales this month but the curve of the sales over the first 6 months or so.
PS4 is doing well overall, not great this month. The 6 month curve is troubling and not particularly great for the leading console of a generation where both other competitors are weak.
That's what we're looking at here: not just this month's sales, but the shape of the sales curve so far in the 6 month (or 14 month history, for Wii U) of this young generation.
Rebel Leader
THE POWER OF BUTTERSCOTCH BOTTOMS
EDIT: nvm
Man-is-Obsolete
Member
I think May is a more accurate judge of where the PS4 stands as far slowed sales. I know I have talked to some people waiting for Watch Dogs and among them there somehow is this thought that there will be a bundle. I haven't heard anything in the US about a bundle, was that a EU only deal? May e that's why people think there will be a bundle.
It doesn't really matter what their LTD was, though. We're talking sustained and continued growth, which is slowing down significantly.
I'd honestly be surprised if the PS4 or One matched their last gen counterparts. And that's not good for anyone.
360 had no competition.
prag16
Banned
Any chance we can get a launch aligned PS4 vs. Wii vs. PS2 comparison, if you have all the numbers handy?
Duxxy3
Member
There really isn't much to buy right now, and April was one of the worst for big sellers. Only title I even thought about buying last month was Trials Fusion.
Publishers are playing it safe, and not pushing for next gen titles.
Magic Mushroom
Member
Fair enough. WIll be interesting to see what May brings to the table then, with Watch_Dogs, MK8 and MLB.
brandonh83
Banned
Gotcha. Hopefully it gets better.
Sure. I obviously can't really speak for everyone, but I was never that interested in Infamous and while Titanfall looks pretty cool it wasn't enough on its own to get me to consider an Xbox One.
The Order. COD, Far cry, NBA, Madden. Fall will definitely pick the sales back up.
I think you're reading an awful lot into one data point.
Nevermind, I see you're taking account the sales curve.
Yes, definitely true. Things could turn around. Maybe the shape of the sales curves this generation will be less front loaded, but so far it seems the opposite (i.e. that the sales of the new generation machines seem front loaded so far, relative to historical norms). It doesn't mean it's right yet; it's just not trending in the right direction. 6 months of data falls somewhere in between "worthless" and "this gives us conclusive data on how the generation will pan out."
So Infamous might not actually be the best selling next gen game?
4DS needs to come out in 2015. It needs to be cheap. It needs to be sleek and slim. It needs to be designed as an always-connected device. It needs to have a totally revamped store with tons of F2P and lifestyle content.
People who say that Nintendo can hang on for 2 years are delusional. The entire business is at risk in the west.
People who say that Nintendo can hang on for 2 years are delusional. The entire business is at risk in the west.
needs charts (not lolygone charts)
It will certainly be interesting to see if WatchDogs will boost sales at all.
TheDarkKnight774
Member
That's not what I said. You mentioned April 2007. I pointed out ps4 outsold it at the same price point in 2007
And if ps4 at $400 was the only next gen console out this year I'm positive it'd be around what the 360 did it's first year. But that's all speculation.
Why are the worst selling consoles the basis of the health of the industry?
Mysterious
Banned
Some observations:
Wii First April > X360 First April > PS4 First April
All 3 consoles launched in November.
Also,
XONE First April > PS3 First April by ~40k.
Wii First April > X360 First April > PS4 First April
All 3 consoles launched in November.
Also,
XONE First April > PS3 First April by ~40k.
brandonh83
Banned
I'd be totally shocked if we don't see Nintendo's next handheld at E3.
Luckily, it's not just one data point. That's the important thing here.
I wonder how much of this is better production lines stratifying demand. Part of the crazy Wii hype of 06/07 was trying to find a Wii because as soon as a store had them, there'd be a line of people to buy it. In the middle of April.
Now, stock is generally well supplied, and you can order online, so there's no need to get yourself into a frenzy looking for something.
Now, stock is generally well supplied, and you can order online, so there's no need to get yourself into a frenzy looking for something.
DangerMouse
Member
No competition and didn't they also have the "Core" at $299 for their first April?
prag16
Banned
They need to go late 2015 for handheld, late 2016 for console. Can they manage that? Who knows.
maquiladora
Member
#1 "next gen" title.
I never want to see a handheld priced over $200 again. No way a handheld should be almost as expensive as a console.
yukianderson
Member
I think at E3 MS is going to blow there load and show everything they have for the next three years. They will bundle games in the fall and probably give away live free too.
TheSlySoul
Member
Wait, Xbox 360 in 2013 outsold Xbox One now? Ouch! The hype for it did die way down. At least that trend shows PS4 is in the middle.
7DollarHagane
Banned
There's always senseless assholes in these threads pointing out how badly everything is doing and how awful sales of everything are. Maybe theyre. PC fanboys, or iOS fanboys upset that apple hasn't crushed all game companies by now.
Bingo! I didn't buy that PR nonsense one bit. It made no sense to me.
Also I have to remind everyone again that CBOAT was right on the money! He said they will bring a kinectless version in summer and they will check the numbers in May. Doesn't getting anymore accurate than this
shinra-bansho
Member
People overreacted to January numbers. I think to a degree that's the case again now.