14 DAY TRIAL // As soon as the NPD releases the numbers regarding console sales for a month, it's time for the spin to begin. So far, only Sony has released some statements and analyses regarding the records for June, mainly because the numbers are mostly positive for the company. It might take some more time for Microsoft to come up with some positive light to shed on what most people would consider a poor month.
Sony pointed out that sales of the PlayStation 3 gaming console shot up by 311% when compared to the sales of June 2007 while also highlighting the fact that Metal Gear Solid 4 was the best sold game in June across the world and in the important markets of Japan and North America. The gaming console from Sony continues to beat the Xbox 360 in sales while still lagging far behind the Nintendo Wii.
In fact, all three PlayStation formats that are now on sale have increased sales in June. The PlayStation 2 managed to sell some 188,000 hardware units, with a clear rise that is likely to continue in the coming months with the release of titles like Persona 4.
The PlayStation Portable grew by over 85% and has hit around 337,000 units, with the big sales advantage that a bundle with God of War: Chains of Olympus was launched.
Metal Gear Solid 4 shipped 2.4 million units worldwide and is expected to also do well in July, continuing to push hardware sales and helping Sony beat the Xbox 360 from Microsoft.
On the financial side, the PlayStation Brand, which includes hardware and software for all three platforms, had a revenue of 626.7 million dollars in June, which Sony says is a 90% increase as compared to 2007.
Jack Tretton, Chief Executive Officer of Sony Computer Entertainment America, stated that "The PlayStation brand is truly hitting its stride on its long-term opportunity across all three platforms. Our strong June numbers serve as proof to the continued momentum of the PS3 and affirms [sic] that we're exactly where we expected to be" while naming the game line-up that the console will receive come this fall, with LittleBigPlanet, SOCOM: Confrontation, Resistance 2, MotorStorm: Pacific Rift and NBA '09: The Inside.