Sony sold 18.7 million consoles last fiscal year, compared to Nintendo’s 16.31 million.
For the first time since 2005, just before the launch of the PlayStation 3, Sony has sold more consoles in a year than rival Nintendo. The Nikkei reports that Sony has managed to sell 18.7 million consoles compared to Nintendo’s 16.31. Sony’s sales included the PS3, PS4, PS Vita and the now-discontinued PSP, while Nintendo’s included the Wii U, 3DS, DS and Wii.
Sony released the PS4 in the U.S. and other markets in November, and had moved nearly 7 million units through the end of March. PS4 sales were so strong that they were able to prop up a 20% decline on all of Sony’s other products.
Nintendo’s console sales slid 31% to 16.31 million units, as the Wii U continued its poor sales trend, and even the almighty 3DS saw a slump. Microsoft was a distant third, with 11.6 million consoles sold – a 16% increase from last year.
The last time Sony outsold Nintendo was at the very height of the PS2’s lifecycle in 2005. In 2006, the following year, both the PS3 and Wii were released. The PS3’s high cost and lukewarm reception combined with the explosive popularity of the Wii sent Sony into a second-place-slump it had been unable to recover from until now.
Both companies are no doubt planning on dropping a few big announcements at this week’s E3 expo, which should spur on sales of their respective consoles.
Source: Nikkei
