PS4 tops list as US videogame console sales climb

SAN FRANCISCO - US videogame hardware sales surged in January, with Sony's new-generation PlayStation 4 consoles leading the charge, according to figures released on Thursday.

People spent $241 million on videogame hardware, predominately consoles, in January compared to $205 million in the same month a year earlier, when a fifth "leap week" gave figures a particular boost, according to industry tracker NPD Group.

Sony's PS4 led overall hardware sales, followed by Microsoft new-generation Xbox One consoles, NPD reported.

PS4 sales were nearly double that of Xbox One in the month, Sony said citing the NPD report.

"Demand for PlayStation 4 remains incredibly strong," Sony PlayStation brand marketing senior VP Guy Longworth said in a release.

"It's clear gamers are choosing PlayStation as the best place to play."

Membership in the PlayStation Plus subscription service for games, films, and other digital entertainment has nearly doubled since the PS4 launched in November, according to Sony.

Meanwhile, videogame software sales sank about 40 percent in November to $224 million, down from $373 million in January of 2013.

The decline was due to a big drop in the number of new titles released for play, said NPD analyst Liam Callahan.

Activision's military shooter game "Call of Duty: Ghosts" was the best selling game on a "top 10" list that included "Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag" and "Grand Theft Auto V."

Traditional format videogame sales overall for January were $664 million, down 21 percent from the prior January but nearly flat if the extra "leap" week is factored in, according to NPD.

When money spent on mobile games, rentals, digital downloads, subscriptions and social network play are added in, sales for January tallied $1.05 billion, NPD reported.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

PlayStation 4 now sold in PH

MANILA – The much awaited PlayStation 4 gaming console is now available in the Philippines through the gaming and multimedia store chain DataBlitz.

In a post on its Facebook page on Friday, DataBlitz announced that it is now selling the PlayStation 4 for P24,595.

The gaming console may also be bundled with a PlayStation camera or with the “Killzone Shadow Fall” game, with each package priced at P26,595.

“Greatness comes with the number ‘4’! The PlayStation 4 will be available today at DataBlitz!” DataBlitz said as it uploaded photos of the console on its Facebook page.

“Release of the item may vary in different branches depending on their location and schedule of delivery,” it added.

Sony Philippines recently revealed its pre-order page for the PlayStation 4 ahead of its formal launch in the country on January 14, 2014.

Here, the PlayStation 4 console is priced at P24,999, and P26,999 with the camera. Sony Philippines also offers bundles with the “Killzone Shadow Fall” game (P26,899) and “Battlefield” (P27,399).

Pre-orders may be made until January 10 at selected Sony Philippines stores.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Sony says PS4 sales exceed 2.1-M units

TOKYO - Sony said Tuesday it has sold more than 2.1 million PlayStation 4 consoles after less than three weeks on the market, as it battles Microsoft and Nintendo for supremacy in the lucrative gaming sector.

The eagerly-awaited PlayStation sold more than one million units in just one day after its November 15 debut in North America and Sony said Tuesday it was on track to hit a worldwide target of 5.0 million units by March.

The latest PlayStation, which will be released in its home market Japan in February, is now being sold in 32 countries.

"PS4 delivered the best launch in PlayStation history with the North American release and we've continued this incredibly successful start in Europe, Australasia and Latin America," Andrew House, President of Sony Computer Entertainment, said in a statement.

Sony's latest sales figures come after Microsoft said its new Xbox One console also sold over one million units in 24 hours following its November 22 release.

Rival Nintendo launched its new Wii U console late last year.

Sales have lagged the company's expectations, but Nintendo said in October it was keeping its forecast for the new Wii console at 9.0 million units for the year to March 2014.

A forecast by the research firm Gartner shows game console sales of hardware and software are likely to grow to $44 billion worldwide in 2013 from $37 billion last year.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com

Sony's PlayStation 4 goes on sale in US

NEW YORK - The gaming unit of Sony Corp. on Friday launched its PlayStation 4 home gaming console in the United States and Canada ahead of other global markets, aiming to expand sales during the year-end shopping season amid fierce competition with rival consoles like Microsoft Corp.'s Xbox One.

The PS4, which features enhanced connectivity with social networks and mobile phones, is the successor of the PlayStation 3 console launched in 2006.

Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. will launch the PS4, priced at $399 in the United States, in Latin America and Europe later this month. It will hit the Japanese market on Feb. 22 priced at 41,979 yen.

The launch of the new gaming device is expected to further intensify competition among console manufacturers like Nintendo Co., which rolled out its Wii U console last year. Microsoft is set to release the successor to its Xbox360 console on Nov. 22.

In the April to September period, Sony incurred an operating loss of 15.6 billion yen in the gaming business. Placing the business as one of the pillars of its operations, the company is aiming to sell 5 million units of the new console this business year through March.

The PS4 is equipped with enhanced processing capability and graphics. The device allows users to upload videos of their game play to social networks in the midst of their games.

The console can also be used to download music and videos, according to Sony.

source: www.abs-cbnnews.com