"The Nintendo Switch Is Selling Exactly As Fast As Sony's PS4" - Forbes

[mutantsushi]

Bristow9091 said: 

Teeqoz said:

Yeah, people seem to forget this alot. Just check VGC's numbers for tie-ratios. While tie-ratios are on an upward trend, the highest tie-ratio yet is still only 11.7, which was the 360. Ofcourse, this doesn't include digital, so maybe I should have adjusted up a bit, I could see the current gen consoles reach attach rates of up to 15 games per console, including digital titles (but not PS+/GWG titles).

I'm definitely someone who forgets that, I mean, a console generation lasts 6+ years, and knowing that people are buying less than two games per year really baffles me lol, I know I have a lot of PS3 games (Over 200) and I'm currently on around 60 PS4 games (Retail only, not digital, same with PS3) and I know that's considered a lot, but I always assumed that the average would be a lot higher than what it currently is, lol.

The average console buyer does not buy console on day 1. If they did, all console sales would occur then and none in later years.
With a 6 year gen + constant sales, the average console was purchased 3 years in. Or even 4 w/ console sales boost following price drop.
So that means an average # of games purchased per year is not ~2, but more like ~3 or even ~4 games per year. Physical only.
The latter # seems very reasonable for more casual gamer especially considering many also play games on other platforms.
Of course with paid-online service, profitability for Sony is much better than just game sales (even if free games cannibalize some sales).

Lafiel said: 

a holiday close to launch isn't all that effective in pushing an already highly in demand console though, 
PS4 was sold out all throughout it and Sony couldn't immediatly increase production/shipments

Nintendo had some months to gauge demand and step up production accordingly

I think there is something to be said for a non-holiday launch date. First, in much of the world that isn't significant sales period anyways.
Second, there is the difficulties with matching supply and demand. Console makers need to contract with suppliers for X amount of
production capacity which are on long-term basis. It's already understood that leading up to holiday seasons they will "hoard" supply
to be able to meet heightened demand, but aligning launch with holiday just makes so much demand it is impossible to meet demand.
Having launch date separate from holiday spreads that demand out more, allowing production capacity to be closer matched to demand,
and of course such an approach allows for more actual games to be available by the time holiday season comes around, which probably
will yield higher over-all game sales than holiday launches followed by relative games drought.