I got bored of pretending to be Deskpro23 so I decided to make a little thread discussing Gen 7's software sales. Specifically, I would like to focus on how PS3's software sales have eclipsed Wii's numbers over the past year, and made somewhat of a gain on X360's, as shown below:

2014 Global Sales as shown in table below

2015 Global Sales (as of November 28th, 2015) as shown in table below

The increases each system has made in software since last year (which are shown in the pictures, but I'll make them more obvious so this OP isn't as bare) are as follows:

PS3: 49,245,138

X360: 35,414,163

Wii: 14,936,725

If anyone cares about going as far back as 2013 here are the numbers

What do you think? Will PS3 be able to make up a 23,000,000 deficit in software sales? If so, how long will it take? Will it even sell that many games before it gets retired? Discuss

*Things you might consider:

-Whether or not any Western AAA releases will be cross-gen. Will the next CoD be next-gen only? Or will they bite the bullet like MKX and Dying Light?

-There are some "biggish" games coming out on PS3 in some parts of the world. Star Ocean 5 and Persona 5. Other prospects look shitty.

-Perhaps in poor countries they may decide to keep their PS3s and play FIFA. Or maybe they're still on PS2 idk

It probably helps that the PS3 has yet to really head towards the graveyard in Japan. They are just starting to move away from it, which has kept fairly consistent software sales at least in one region, even if they've entered decline in other major regions. Even in decline in NA and EU though, with last gen ports still being a thing for many major releases over the past couple of years, there has been a relatively consistent flow of sales from those not yet ready to move on.

It's going to get dicey at this point now that Japan is finally moving towards the PS4, and otherwise last gen ports are starting to dry up in the west. If it does happen, it will be 75% Japan's reluctance to move onto the PS4 though.

Ps3 is higher than x1 didnt know that. That's good for sony

FIFA bless

also Minecraft

Wow. I'd say the PS3 will pass 360 in 2 years then if it continues what it's doing now.

Bookmark

Looking at it realistically, the PS3 will probably continue to sell software for two to three years, primarily in small markets and in Japan. The 360, being heavily US-focused, is more or less dead now that Tomb Raider is out. So if we assume a similar drop next year, the PS3 sells 25m copies of software and gains another 5m on the 360's total. So it's gonna be tough but definitely possible.

Now, if we assume even more of a drop for the 360 next year due to lack of games and worldwide support, that changes matters entirely. If the 360 were to drop 60-70% YoY on software and the PS3 stays relatively close to 50% drop off, then we have a ballgame. The PS3 needs to get a good 10m jump next year for it to be possible in my eyes though; Japan isn't gonna stay with the PS3 much later than 2016, and the trickling of small market sales isn't going to be able to make up for a 15m deficit in 2017 and beyond.

We have a prediction lady and gentlemen!

It will be interesting to watch fo sho

Of course the end all factor here could be a simple matter of support. MS has given the XB360 ten years of support as of this year. SCE hits ten for the PS3 next year. The question could be which console will be supported longer.

Does MS keep the 360 on the market longer due to less than projected XBO sales and does SCE cut PS3 production sooner due to the massive success of the PS4?

Probably, unlike the Xbox 360. the PS3 doesnt need to pay for online + they have bluray. And unlike the Wii. They have strong 3rd party supported (they also have bluray player). So yeah, anything is possible tbh.

I'm still surprised that the PS3 and Xbox 360 still doing very well.