2003 a great year for PAL PS2

Following similar announcements made earlier today by both Sony Japan and SCEA, Sony Computer Entertainment Europe (SCEE) has confirmed that the fiscal year ending March 2004 has, to date, been a great success for PlayStation 2 hardware and software. Consumer unit sales of PS2 hardware in PAL territories have increased by more than 10 percent, and the estimated combined market share for the PlayStation and the PS2 across these territories is a massive 74 percent. Individual countries that have seen increases in consumer sales worthy of note include 16 percent for Italy, 20 percent for Germany, 32 percent for Benelux, 40 percent for Spain, and 141 percent for Greece.

Software sales from both first- and third-parties have also remained strong throughout 2003, with a year-on-year retail sales growth of 24 percent in the last quarter of 2003. EyeToy: Play is undoubtedly SCEE's biggest success story for the year with more than 2.4 million units having been sold in PAL territories since its launch in June.

Online gaming on the PS2 is also becoming increasingly popular and is currently available in 18 countries across Europe. More than 100,000 PS2 owners in Europe are currently playing online, and SCEE is convinced that this number will continue to grow as the 16 online titles currently available are joined by a further 30 in 2004.

"We are now in the fourth year for the PlayStation 2, and still we grow and define the market," said David Reeves, president of SCEE. "Not only have games like EyeToy:Play broadened the overall appeal of the PlayStation 2, but the introduction of the silver line, a strong core market title lineup, and outstanding games from our publishing partners have seen video game sales grow across the board. This, plus the launch of PSP and PSX on the horizon, looks set to make 2004 a landmark year in our industry."