14 DAY TRIAL // A new report from Strategy Analytics Digital Consumer Practice says that although the Xbox 360 home console from Microsoft has been doing well in the United States in the last months, with increased sales and an increasing lead over the PlayStation 3 from Sony, the platform has actually been behind Sony's device worldwide.
The biggest install base still belongs to the Nintendo Wii, which managed to move 75.5 million units all over the world, with the PS3 estimated to come in at 43.4 million and the Xbox 360 coming right behind with 42.9 million device sold.
Jia Wu, who is the author of the Strategy Analytics report, has stated, “Global demand for Sony’s PS3 has exceeded that of the Xbox 360 in each of the past two years, and we expect that to continue over the coming years continue to innovate around its motion sensor technology, which will become increasingly relevant in the smart home era.”
He added, “While the Kinect peripheral has given a boost to Microsoft’s Xbox 360 strategy, the console’s performance outside of the U.S. continues to disappoint.”
The report also looks to the future, saying that the PlayStation 3 will grow by 15.7 million units during 2011 while the Xbox 360 will only manage to increase its installed base by 13.7 million.
Strategy Analytics also believes that the Nintendo Wii will continue its decline during this year and that a successor for the home console should be released during the next 12 months in order for the company to regain momentum.
Rumors are saying that a new Wii might include the computing power needed to deliver High Definition graphics, more storage space for downloadable games and a more accurate motion tracking system.
In the coming year, Sony and Microsoft are expected to focus on promoting the Kinect and PlayStation Move add-ons for their consoles while adding more family-friendly entertainment features.