PS3/360 Gap not getting any bigger unless somthing rather large happens on either side. After the VGC adjustments, the seemingly expanding hole between the two shrunk considerably. Now we can see that the euphoric high MS recieved by dropping pride at Christmas has all but come to a complete halt.

I think there are only two big things that can jump start one or the other to gaining ground again. That is...

-A Christmas Line up that wows fans

or

-Price Drop

I think it is still too soon to expect 360 to drop anywhere below 200. MS dropping one of the higher skus is believable but a tad unlikely also. They may print money but they do want to make a profit as well on their systems. Sony needs a price drop more than anything but obligations to shareholders rather then fans conflicts.

MS is less likely to make any pricing moves unless Sony does. I think MS is satisfied with their position as long as they can say they are ahead of the previous generation's champ. Yet it is proven that PS3, at a reasonably higher price tag than 360, can out sell it by a good margin. If Sony wants their crown back, they have to cut price. I didn't expect one at E3 really. The best thing for them will be if they pull a MS and cut price close to the Christmas season.

What do you think will happen in the next 6 months that could turn the tide?

What kind of effect will it have?

How long will it hold?

Discuss...

The best that Sony can do is to draw even with MSFT. To take back the crown is wishful thinking.

Technically, it is slowly getting bigger.

But hey, GT5 is yet to be released, and PS3 is yet to hit mass market pricing.
We aint seen a slim for PS3 yet, and we have no idea if MS wants to get a slim 360 out.
Natal/Sony Motion could increase sales for one or the other.

This gen is FAR from over.

That's funny. I didn't know it was possible for the 360 to outsell the PS3 every week and the gap to remain the same :P

But yes, the gap is fairly low now. Maybe this upcoming year will be the year of the PS3 :P

A lot of people thought the 360 would be ahead by 12 million at this point. Not gonna happen. If Sony really wants to cut into that gap they could do a pricecut right before Madden. Seeing at how the PS3 is selling just about equal with th360 currently, one has to wonder if they'll be compelled to drop the price at all.

MS is still not that far ahead of Sony by any means. They are a smidge bellow 8mill in difference. With the right pricing/game selection strategy, PS3 can still win against 360. Most people are just holding out for that afordable price and their favorite gaming series. Also as time goes on the PS3 will steadily keep proving it's power over 360, in the eyes of developers as well as fans. Once PS3's price is within fingers reach of 360's and is assured to produce bigger better games, there is no going back.

MS made 3 million above PS3 after their Christmas Price Drop alone. So if Sony could get their price strategy and Marketing right they could do the same in about 2-3 years. Supposedly 360 will be around that long(according to MS)

Who? I don't recall it being a big thing with people if at all (certainly not big enough to be claimed "a lot"). Sounds like somebody is trying to make it sound like Sony's improving because (imaginary) people's expectations of the gap weren't met.

Also, a lot of people thought the gap would be 4 million or lower at this point. Remember PS3 domination begins in *insert random year gone by*

I think the PS3 will eventually catch up and surpass the 360. My only concern is when it'll happen, because at the current rate it's going, beating the 360 when this generation is a year from ending and when the 360 has made a very healthy profit won't mean much to Sony (to Fanboys it will).

Sony really needs a price drop. It's pointless to say "Oh look 360 is only beating it by 10k per week when the PS3's still hasn't had a price drop. Therefore Sony is not in trouble". The fact of the matter is, it still is beating it by 10k a week, which makes the gap bigger. This generation is moving further and further towards it's end. Sony has to price drop or launch GT5 if they want to reverse this, because even if they only end up outselling the 360 by 10k a week after the initial shock of those events, it's still reducing the gap.

Also, every day Sony stalls is another day a consumer is contemplating getting a 360 or Wii instead because they can't afford (or are unwilling to pay for) the PS3.

don't ever say its too early for MS to do anything. I did not even think we'd see a $199 360 this soon. With the amount of commitment MS has to beating Sony, anything is possible.

I really have my doubts that there are millions of people waiting to buy a PS3. Could be wrong though... The Xbox360 will always be cheaper than the PS3.

From all the games PS3-fans claimed to push the PS3, there is just GT5 left. We have seen Metal Gear Solid, GTA, Killzone 2 etc. Nothing helped for a longer period.

I do think, that Natal is the next thing to push consoles. The media is crazy about this, while nobody outside gaming-websites are even mentioning the PS3-motion-stuff.

actually there was a thread towards the start of this year about how large/small will the gap become in 09. I personally put the gap at 9mill highest, I think 5mill lowest. Many others though had much higher gap ratios. I am positive there were quite a few 11-14million gap posts in there.

Comment @ Sig:

Why do you make your sig such obvious flambait? Is that even called for? I don't remember anyone downplaying FF as a franchise due to it going MP. I still love those games, with my most prized game in the world being in that series, FFVII. More so, it was about "settling" with game quality rather then shooting for the stars with their next itteration, broken promises, and out right disrespecting their actual fans.

MGSR isn't even relavent to the "OOO! I got something that belongs to you!:P" clause because its not MGS4(which is what 360 fans were hoping for) or MGS5(the sequel). Its not even in the same genre as MGS4 back, it's a "lightning bolt action" game for starters. It is nothing more then a spin off to please MS. Kojima barely wants any part of it(only helping so they don't taint the MGS name) and he says the real next step in the MGS series is MGS Peace Walker PSP(which if it is anything like Portable Ops, not to be confused with PO plus, it will be great).