Will consoles ever again outsell handhelds?

[Oyvoyvoyv]

I'm not so sure. At least not for a full year.

If you look at the sales for each generation and consoles and handhelds up untill the DS/PsP, you'll se that regularily, consoles have been outselling handhelds by between 50-100% yearly. And in the 6th generation, consoles outsold handhelds more than 2:1.

If you look at the sales in 2004, the perhaps best year for handhelds in the 6th gen, sales were

Handhelds: 20.1M

Consoles: 26M

 

After the launch of the DS and PsP though, things have been changing.

What happened? Well, look at this.

In 2005, the sales were like this.

Handhelds: 30.5M

Consoles: 26.1M

 

For the perhaps first year ever, handhelds outsold consoles.

 

Now, in 2006. 7th gen kicks off for real, with all consoles comming out.

Handhelds: 36.1M

Consoles: 25.6M

 

A crushing defeat. Handhelds outsold consoles by 40%.

 

2007, PsWii gets their first full year, and console sales sprot.

Handhelds: 44M

Consoles:  42.5M

 

Handhelds make a slight win, despite consoles having what probably is the best year ever.

 

Now, 2008. Before the 4th quarter, the results are like this. (I included the 3 weeks we have into the 4th quarter)

Handhelds: 28.2M 

Consoles: 32.5M

 

Consoles take a step up, and for this year, it's going to get real close.

 

But if we say it ends a statistical tie this year, will the consoles ever manage to sell as much as handhelds again?

I don't think they will. If Wii is the Ps2's successor, the DS/PsP are the successors of the NES, expaning the market enourmously.