So how much does releasing a console first in a generation relate to sales?

[Mnementh]

UnitSmiley said:

zero129 said:
Wii launched last and wiped out the PS3 and 360 in sales.
@Chark i don't think the xbox 360 having a 3 million lead over the PS3 is having almost all their lead lost, if it was 1 million lead i could see where you are coming from, but the 360 has pretty much kept that 3 million lead all this gen.
Back to the OP, the Saturn launched before the PS1 look what happened there, same with the Dreamcast etc.
Launching first doesn't mean you are going to win. It takes a number of factors, such as price, games and mass appeal.

I'm pretty sure the 360 had a much bigger lead than PS3, and for this entire gen that lead has been shrinking.

To answer this question I take a time machine back to April 2007. PS3 started in Europe in March, so I thought this would be a fair time.

http://www.vgchartz.com/weekly/39201/Global/

X360: 9,680,260

PS3: 3,236,080

But to be fair, at this time the lead of the X360 was growing. The XBOX sold more at this time on a weekly base. Some later time the PS3 turned this around.