It's done fantastic, as it has beaten almost eveyone's expectations.
However, this is only short term success, and although I think it's going to have an impact (albeit not major) longer term, it's not a game changer. The PS3 Slim launch beat it - and fairly in comparison terms:
- PS3 recieved a 25% price cut - but still remained a lot more expensive
- 360 did have clearance sales
- 360S had no price cut
So I think it's fair enough to say that on average, worldwide, the PS3 has more demand currently (assuming the 360s isn't a game changer).
Everything boils down to Kinect - and I'd love to know how Microsoft themselves think it's going to do as it directly dictates when their next console will be coming. If Kinect doesn't rise 360 sales, a new console has to be coming soon enough:
- The 360 released a year earlier (so is older) and has less price cuts left in it. If Kinect doesn't boost sales it has nowhere left to go without significantly making more losses by aggressively cutting the price. It can although stick in there for a year or so with the PS3 at reasonable, profitable prices, but after that a new console has to be near its release.
If however Kinect is a success, it's a whole different ball game for Microsoft. It will enable them to increase sales, profits - and hold off on a new console, meaning when it releases it will be more up-to-date, or at least it should be.
I think in around 8 months time we will finally be able to see where this gen, and next, is going.
