Microsoft struggled to find positive growth with 360 hardware sales in America last year, with numbers flat as a pancake compared to 2008.

Following the release of full-year NPD data last night, we can now see that 360 sales rose only 0.74 percent in 2009, up to 4,770,700 units sold from 4,735,560 in 2008.

By comparison, PS3 sales finally gathered pace in 2009, thanks to the introduction of PS3 Slim and a price cut, both announced at gamescom in August. In 2008, Sony sold 3,544,800 units of the machine in the US, rising a substantial 22.28% to 4,334,500 last year.

The 2009 race between Sony and Microsoft in the US ended neck-and-neck, with PS3 being beaten by 360 by only 436,200 consoles over the 12 months.

Sony’s machine made a final surge to actually beat 360 in the key December sales period, despite just losing in the annual total race to the Microsoft console.

Let’s look at some graphs. Why not? Here’s 360 versus PS3 in 2008:

And here’s the same story in 2009:

Analysts are already pointing to price cuts for both consoles in 2010, with Microsoft sure to make a major play with the Natal’s release towards the end of the year.

Sorry for the shabbiness of the graphs. We’ll get mart to make them next time.

http://www.vg247.com/2010/01/15/xbox-360-managed-just-0-74-growth-in-the-us-last-year-ps3-up-22/

The fact that 360 grew at all is a good sign for them. Next year provides better opportunity for further growth.

Indeed, 360 growth is good news, regardless of size. This speaks good signs for this year.

Some people on this forum say less than 5% difference is a statistical tie and the less it is, the more it is probable that the numbers are the other way around.

Now we're talking about 0.74% difference for the 360. After using some spin on these facts we could almost call it a statistical loss.

:P

360 is DOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO-

The reason 360 grew so little and the ps3 grew more was because PS3 sales were dismall until they finally dropped the price to $300.00

-OOOOOOOOOOOMED!

I think the 360 did very well in the US in 2009, despite having the big price cut last year. This could also mean that the PS3 might get a small growth next year. (assuming they don't lower the price)

Isn't tte PS3 growth compared to the 360 because of the "console 3rd year sales are always the highest" rule? In 2009, the 360 was in it's 4th year while PS3 was on it's 3rd. Not really sure there.

hit the nail on the head.