Product tracking site NotifyWire.com is claiming that sales of Sony’s PlayStation 3 are slowing, and do not match the pace of sales of Microsoft’s Xbox 360 last year. While most industry follows realize that the PS3 is in short supply, one naysayer has gone against this logic and claims that there actually may be a glut of PS3s on the market.
Ian Drake, founder of NotifyWire.com stated that the PS3 has less of a problem in having available stock than did the Xbox 360 during its launch of a year ago. He believes this glut is due to consumers balking at the high price tags of PS3 hardware. Drake said, "I wasn’t expecting this much volume before Christmas. I think we’re already at the point where many people won’t pay a premium for the console or be forced into buying bundles."
Drake made comparisons of last year’s launch of the Xbox 360 to November’s PS3 launch. "Last year we tracked several one thousand dollar Xbox 360 bundles which would sell out in less than two minutes after becoming available. [But] just today, a one thousand dollar PS3 bundle was in stock at eToys.com for over 12 hours. This sort of thing didn’t happen with the Xbox 360 until well after Christmas."
He concluded by saying that people were tired of being taken advantage of in regards to the inflated prices of PS3 units on sale. "I think people are tired of being gouged on eBay."
While Drake’s statements go against all indications that the PS3 is in extremely short supply, the tracking data his site has gathered about PS3 units not moving is certainly something to take into consideration by Sony and the game industry. If the PS3, as Drake asserts, is not moving in sales as quickly as it should, it could be the beginning of the end as Sony’s reign as the unquestioned leader in the game console market. However, gamers should consider that, when the 360 went to market, it was the only console available. With two other new consoles alongside the PS3 on store shelves, immediate redomination of the market by Sony may be too much to expect.
