EA: 500k-800k PS3s in US in '06

Electronic Arts CEO Larry Probst says Sony shipped only 200,000 PS3s for US launch, expects up to 800,000 in stores this year.

While empty-handed Sony fans scour shops for the hard-to-find PlayStation 3, industry figureheads are trying to explain exactly why they are so scarce. Speaking at the Reuters Media Summit in New York, Electronic Arts CEO Larry Probst gave his thoughts on the supply of Sony's PlayStation 3, noting launch shortages and predicting how many PS3s would be available in the near future.

Probst expects Sony to ship 500,000 to 800,000 PS3s in North America by the end of the year, according to Reuters. That figure is below Sony's projection of 1 million to 1.2 million PS3s in North America in 2006.

Like several industry analysts, Probst also believes Sony missed its North American launch target of 400,000 PS3s shipped. The exec believes as many as 200,000 units were available when the PS3 debuted on November 17. Even with EA expecting less than 400,000 consoles for the launch, Probst said, "Where [Sony] ended up was a bit of a surprise."

Sony has yet to release sales numbers for the PS3. Nintendo, on the other hand, said 600,000 Wiis were sold in the console's first eight days on sale.

"Clearly the Wii has a spectacular holiday," said Probst, adding that sales of the new Nintendo console exceeded his company's forecast.

283 Comments

  • r_l_stine2001

    Posted Dec 4, 2006 7:05 am PT

    PS3 is available easily in Singapore. The japanese version for both 20gb and 60gb but its expensive. If you have the money, could go to Singapore to get one =D

  • LuminosityBlaze

    Posted Dec 4, 2006 12:17 am PT

    Finally the proud owner of a PS3 today..! Its glorious..! Not to mention that its sweet that I am less than 1% of the US population that actually has one, especially that has one and not selling it...

  • GranTurismo_559

    Posted Dec 3, 2006 10:04 pm PT

    Lets hope that Sony can come through for fans of the PS3 and ship 400,000-800,000 PS3's by years end

  • BlakkSteel

    Posted Dec 3, 2006 9:40 pm PT

    decoy1978, you're absolutely right!!! I don't system chase to surf the net, or any of that other crap. I definitely don't wear a single company's brand, like they're cuttin' me a check, either!! LOL It all starts & stops w/ the games, period. True indeed, I don't like the feel of the XBox controller; but, that doesn't make it any less of a good GAMING SYSTEM. Sony's product fits comfortably, & has a wider array of games (the backwards compatibility seals that). I played the 360. Loved the graphics; hated the controller (too bulky). The Wii has quietly & quickly sold out here in Pittsburgh. When I can get next to 1, I'll see what that's about. I want a PS3 for THE GAMES!!! Not the bluray movie viewer (I don't have a shortage of electronics here), not the net browser, & damn sure not to buy demos (aren't demos supposed to be free?!???!? LOL). It's all about THE GAMES!! Maybe I'll find time to play online, & allow someone that dedicates about 12-15 hours/day on the system to stomp me out (LOL!!!); but, it's about THE GAMES, above & beyond all. If the PS3 is truly backwards compatible, that makes it worth half of my money spent, because it's all about THE GAMES!! I truly agree: the whole 'fanboy' fanatical stance does kill the forum.

  • pepto13

    Posted Dec 3, 2006 6:13 pm PT

    I think sony should have waited an extra month to release the Ps3. They would have avoided a lot of missed preorders and would have shipped twice as many consols. I am a huge sony fan and i wish i could of got one on release date, but from there shortage of consols it was nearly impossible.

  • Spartan070

    Posted Dec 3, 2006 5:03 pm PT

    Decoy1978, you rock. Being a collector of sorts(19 systems,over 675 games), I completely agree with you. Not only do people side with a console for its games, more specifically it's for its' exclusives. Fanboys are always going on about MGS, Halo, FF, Zelda, Metroid, Gaiden, Gran-T, KoToR, etc. You never hear one bragging that "Madden is on my system, ____ PWNS!!!" Thing is, Sony is losing a lot of system-selling exclusives. Assassins Creed, RE4, GTHD, GTA4 and most recently, the vaunted MGS4 seems to be on the verge of taking the 360 plunge. I'm pulling for Sony, the only system I don't own yet, but I'll just have to wait and see if they own-up to the AAA exclusives they promise. After all, it's all about the games.

  • leapfrog91

    Posted Dec 3, 2006 2:26 pm PT

    "god the only reason these big wig companys give money to charity is so they don't pay as much tax !"

    When you have as much money as Bill Gates does, giving it away is literally a full-time job. In fact, it is a full time job for many, many individuals. It isn't as simple as finding the nearest Santa Claus ringing a bell outside your local grocery store and writing a check for $10 billion dollars.

    Anyone who has talked to Bill Gates understands that he is not out to make another billion for himself. What is even the difference between owning $50 billion and owning $51 billion? There is no difference - it is simply not the same as you or I consider money, and it is a situation that we probably won't ever completely understand.

    All there is to know is the drive that Gates has to use his money to help those in need. I'm not saying he is a saint, but he is certainly doing absolutely everything in his power to further philantropy. So please, stop making ignorant comments like "Yea he givs sum away but omg he makes so much $$ and he jus wants 2 save on teh taxes." That just isn't the right way to talk about someone with money that actually understands the BEST thing to do with it.

  • mcmkone

    Posted Dec 3, 2006 10:05 am PT

    lol sony need a change in strategy all games developer need at least 500k of sales of their games they are pushing out to at least make some kind of profit... all the games that where meant to be just for the ps3 will now becoming over to the wii and 360. what have you done sony????

  • smurfah15

    Posted Dec 3, 2006 7:56 am PT

    great more lies. can't they just tell the public whats really going on? there being like microsoft telling us a load of bs, what ever happened to ps3's $400 price tag and 1 million units at launch blows

  • nevereathim

    Posted Dec 3, 2006 6:14 am PT

    I don't really care about the PS3 but the psp ALL YOU NINTENDO FANBOYS SHUT UP ABOUT THAT CRAP

  • Falco-88

    Posted Dec 3, 2006 3:03 am PT

    sony looses nintendo wins hopefully it stays that way and sony starts making games for nintendo

  • pondarosa

    Posted Dec 2, 2006 11:00 pm PT

    Meh, people were all pissed off about how insane Sony was being all year, and now people just don't even seem to care. The only thing I've heard about the PS3 since launch was that some guy got shot over one. There is hardly any news about it on the front page, and that news is always just about how they aren't meeting projections and that the management is getting shuffled up. Until the Grand Turismo game landed at #5 earlier today, there hasn't even been a PS3 game in the top 10 for like a week.

    In the meantime the Wii and 360 is everywhere. When PS3 gets any publicity at all, it's bad news, and it seems like less and less people are starting to care. And that's a mere couple of weeks after launch.

  • Hell-Fire21

    Posted Dec 2, 2006 10:16 pm PT

    Damn right decoy, I'm not a Sony fan-boy I just need the system cause my favorite games are on them. I mean would a gamer who cares less about all the specs and can barely understand them give a hoot about a cell processor? NO. His biggest concern is:

    Um okay, when is DEVIL MAY CRY 4 coming out? And make damn sure it works too Lol I mean I'm heavily considering picking up a 360 JUST for Gears of War sometime next year and the Wii just for Super Smash Brothers Brawl. I mean it's difficult now cause we're all on a budget and they try to associate gamers with fanboys and get the two to decide "okay either choose or die" kind of concept, especially Sony. Lmao But you see my point. It's about the games. Nothing else. Sure we'd like them to be a bit more shinier, but if it's anything like Gundam: Mobile Assault or NBA 07? It's a wasted effort.

  • Gryphon2-5

    Posted Dec 2, 2006 8:00 pm PT

    decoy1978, I applaud you. I'm somewhat of a Sony fanboy, but, gasp, I'm considering picking up a 360 along the way, too. We're still swimming in launch fever.

  • stonecold86

    Posted Dec 2, 2006 7:10 pm PT

    i like the wii

  • Roland123_basic

    Posted Dec 2, 2006 6:55 pm PT

    "buckybuckster
    Hummm...this most likely explains why our allocation of 20g to 60g systems "magically" changed right before we were shipped our initial systems. It wasn't pretty having to explain to a customers who reserved a 60gig that we only had 20gig PS3s. Anywho, it's almost a mute point. The Wii is running over everything in it's wake, bringing the DS Lite along for the ride. We are close to selling our 100th Wii at the store, with the PS3 lagging way behind at 10(!?!?!).

    And don't feel so smug 360 owners. On average we sell around 3 360s a month. It should be doing ALOT better than that considering it's had the advantage of a 1 year lead over the other systems."


    3 xbox 360s a month.... ROFL yeah right. someone is making it well known they are a sony fanboy....

    i have talked to many best buy workers and they sell around 3-5 on a typical day at a best buy near my place in Salt Lake City. they have been selling a lot mroe then normal since the PS3 launched.... for reasons we all know already.

  • Matrix1012k

    Posted Dec 2, 2006 2:25 pm PT

    The PS3 maybee has more CPU power but the 360s so called 'lackluster ATI chip' is much more powerfull then the PS3's graphics card. The ATI card is on spec, almost a direct x 10 card. Dont believe me D-Pad did a really interesting feature
    Here

  • decoy1978

    Posted Dec 2, 2006 12:13 pm PT

    To all those who truly make unbiased, non-fanboy comments on these forums I applaud you. Those are the TRUE gamers...

    I currently have the Wii and am planning to get a PS3 in the next 6 months. It just apalls me to think blatant attacks on any one systems stating one mistake as a HARBRINGER of its doom. Countless posts I've read state that either Sony is at its last legs, or 360 is doomed. Why can't you guys just JUDGE the system w/o your ego's into the review.

    What makes a system great is not its power, processing, shading, etc but its GAMES. And thats when we'll all differentiate... Who likes what games! Everthing else is just gravy in my eyes; online capabilities, motion sensitivity, cell processing. Those mean LITTLE to me, its all about the games that come out for the system.

    Its TOO EARLY to tell who's going to come out on top right now. 360 may have had a head start, but Wii and PS3 release took a lot of steam from them. Its going to be a fascinating year for all of us next year. Thats when the system hype goes down and the real test for these next-gen really begins.

  • frogman666

    Posted Dec 2, 2006 11:17 am PT

    well sony sure dug themselves into a hole this time

  • holidaytheghost

    Posted Dec 1, 2006 6:37 pm PT

    I have the 360 and PS3 and will buy a Wii as soon as I can find one. Being a fanboy to any one of the systems is just ignorant they all 3 have their advantages/disadvantages compared to the others. 360 has the best online setup hands down and great exclusives coming though the dvd format is a limitation although small. PS3 has the edge on hardware as it's a little more powerful than the 360, has better storage capacity in Blu-Ray and the fact it has motion-sensitivity in the control although not as impressive as the Wii's. PS3 is harder to make games on though the developers should figure it out in time. Nintendo on the other hand has the most innovative system with there controller which truly adds another dimension to gaming although the graphics are soso it's the games that truly matters and Nintendo's arguably got the best 1st party out of all 3 consoles. Personally I like Microsoft's future with all the exclusives they are snatching up and their strong first party but I know both the others will have there own killer apps that I will enjoy equally. Now is a great time to be a gamer, instead of wasting time arguing over which console is best go get and job and buy all 3 so you can enjoy any game that comes out and see all 3 consoles are great machines for different reasons.

  • tr00pa_26

    Posted Dec 1, 2006 3:33 pm PT

    two more years and everything you bought has been a mistake

  • username1117

    Posted Dec 1, 2006 12:43 pm PT

    Bamf03

    Microsoft is not an evil corporation Bill and Melinda Gates donate more money (millions) to charity than Sony and Nintendo combined.

    I heard that Bill Gates's charity is really an undercover operation to fund millions to a militia in a S. American country.

    How much does Bill give to charity out of his 50 billion dollers? up from 46 billion last year. Why does he need all that money and why does he want to make more?

    Usually when someone says they have all 3 systems and then be biased towards say the 360, they are usually lying about having all 3 systems. They say they have all 3 systems to make other believe that they're not a fanboy when they truly are.

    I have played on the 360 plenty of times at my mates house and I recognise it as being a good system. I will have myself a 360 this Xmas and I will have my PS3 in March. I am more towards not Sony but the games on the Sony platform. I will see which console I will be on the most in a few years time.

    Is a gamer someone who enjoys playing games despite what platform it is on? Or is being a gamer someone who dedicates most of their free time in forums trashing other systems and the games for those systems? These people who slag of games for a console when they know that if that particular game had been exclusive for they beloved console, they would have nothing but praise for it.
    Like I say, I prefere the games on Sony's platform yet I wouldn't go out my way to trash Gears of War because its on another platform. I know full well that I would have Gears of War if it had been on the PS3. But as its not, the best thing for me to do is buy a 360 and the game. There are also Lost Planet and Bioshock to luck forward to and I want them no matter what platform they're on.

    Its a shame that there are many that are controlled by their fanboyism, as if the console is some sort of religion.



    Well said.

  • virtuadc

    Posted Dec 1, 2006 11:51 am PT

    Sony is staying quiet? For what. Just release the info and get on with your selfs.

  • buckybuckster

    Posted Dec 1, 2006 11:28 am PT

    Hummm...this most likely explains why our allocation of 20g to 60g systems "magically" changed right before we were shipped our initial systems. It wasn't pretty having to explain to a customers who reserved a 60gig that we only had 20gig PS3s. Anywho, it's almost a mute point. The Wii is running over everything in it's wake, bringing the DS Lite along for the ride. We are close to selling our 100th Wii at the store, with the PS3 lagging way behind at 10(!?!?!).

    And don't feel so smug 360 owners. On average we sell around 3 360s a month. It should be doing ALOT better than that considering it's had the advantage of a 1 year lead over the other systems.

  • Daffy101

    Posted Dec 1, 2006 10:51 am PT

    bamf03
    "Microsoft is not an evil corporation Bill and Melinda Gates donate more money (millions) to charity than Sony and Nintendo combined."

    You didnt add that microsoft makes BILLIONS more than sony and nintendo combined either.

  • Daffy101

    Posted Dec 1, 2006 10:46 am PT

    bluntos: "Anyway, death to console wars: wii363"

    nah i think it will be the Playstaion Wii60 lol

  • bluntos

    Posted Dec 1, 2006 10:09 am PT

    Whoever called the Wii controller a gimmick can only have that right if they aren't a PS3 fanboy to be honest, SixAxis is the biggest gimmick of all. Most reviews I've read have said they just found it preferable to use the buttons in comparison to the tilt options.

    Anyway, death to console wars: wii363

  • GKBeetle

    Posted Dec 1, 2006 9:49 am PT

    NickinAround
    All the wii does is replace buttons and analog with movement, they haven't really done anything crazy with it. Right now it's "sword slash-wiimote movement" when it could easily be "sword slash-b button"

    It's not like "OMG INNOVATION!" Right now, it's a gimmick, now if you give me real-time combat with the wii-mote, not delayed sword slashes, then I'm on board. *+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*

    Have you played the Wii yet? from your post, I doubt it. It is seriously a different experience that cannot be replicated on the other systems. I'm not saying it is better. There are some kinks in the system that I think they can iron out. However, it is not just a gimmick as far as I'm concerned. Go and play the system for a few hours with games that show what it can do, like Wii Sports, and you will see the difference.

  • honkyjesus

    Posted Dec 1, 2006 9:37 am PT

    if any ps3 fanboys are waiting on good news for more consoles during the holidays... good luck

    one thing i noticed with the ps3 is that they do nothing but tell you to hope for the best, and then you get the worst... the console itself seems like it was made to be phased out, the betamax or blulray whatever - a losing gamble for sony and its console customers

    ea and sony belong together, they are making overhyped mediocre products that consumers see as the only choice i own a 360, will eventually get a wii, for the ps3 i guess i don't see the advantages... the 360 games flat out look better if you glance at mulitplatform reviews, with the exception of nba 07 which has its drawbacks at 1080p

    i guess it is true, if sony sold a ps3 box with bricks inside it would sell out just because ppl think it is the key to a bunch of great new games, though judging by the dwindling ps3 exclusives they seem to be wrong - i just read a rumor on mgs4 coming with a simultaneous release on the ps3 AND 360

  • BillyLeeBlack51

    Posted Dec 1, 2006 9:30 am PT

    deadkingdg
    Americans still confusing North America and US. If the guy at EA really meant 200 000 units in US, then the drop isn't THAT bad. It was never expected to be 400 000 in US. I live in Canada and I was 7th in the preorder list and got one. The store on the other side of the street got 40 PS3 on day one. So Canada surely got a fair number of PS3, maybe 100 000. Why would we get half the allocation for North America when Canada is 1/10 the size of the US? I dont know where YOU live, but supplies here are scarce. Id say Canada got 30 000 units or less.

  • Light-Speed

    Posted Dec 1, 2006 9:28 am PT

    I HIGHLY doubt Canada got THAT many PS3's. There's more people in the STATE of California then the entire country of Canada. Stop overesitmating your country.

  • Sader287

    Posted Dec 1, 2006 9:03 am PT

    EA needs to focus more on their game design which by the way is horrible and focus less on erroneuos market analysis

  • Prince_jeffery

    Posted Dec 1, 2006 8:29 am PT

    Estimates will always have the risk of error, so Sony's claims are to be taken with caution, as with any other company promoting its new consoles.

  • chrisdojo

    Posted Dec 1, 2006 6:13 am PT

    "expects"..... sony WON'T release 600,000 by the end of the year. what was the original number to be released on the supposed WORLD WIDE launch? yeah, they missed that mark my a few million.

  • Irve

    Posted Dec 1, 2006 5:13 am PT

    it will all work out in the end .. seriously not interested in buying a PS3 at launch .. i'll finsh all my Xbox , GC and Ps2 games before i start to worry about the next gen

  • deadkingdg

    Posted Dec 1, 2006 3:58 am PT

    Americans still confusing North America and US. If the guy at EA really meant 200 000 units in US, then the drop isn't THAT bad. It was never expected to be 400 000 in US. I live in Canada and I was 7th in the preorder list and got one. The store on the other side of the street got 40 PS3 on day one. So Canada surely got a fair number of PS3, maybe 100 000.

  • MAD_VD

    Posted Dec 1, 2006 3:57 am PT

    when i read news like this, it looks like UK PS3 release will be 2008 ?

  • rockstar_88

    Posted Dec 1, 2006 3:41 am PT

    I wish I had a Wii, but I also wished I had a PS3. *sigh* Why couldn't they have come up with something like a PSWii?

  • santiagochile

    Posted Dec 1, 2006 3:01 am PT

    I think that Nintendo underestimated demand for the Wii. They should be able to pass the 360 by next year and become no. 1 if they keep selling like this, and if they keep the good games coming. I can't wait to get mine.

  • cjcr_alexandru

    Posted Dec 1, 2006 2:45 am PT

    I think 800,000 units are achievable. 1.2 million... not really.

  • xion2k4

    Posted Dec 1, 2006 2:33 am PT

    god the only reason these big wig companys give money to charity is so they don't pay as much tax !

  • DogOfDeath

    Posted Dec 1, 2006 2:22 am PT

    More proof

    Sony is gonna bomb, and Nintendo shall retake the spotlight.

  • DiscGuru101

    Posted Dec 1, 2006 1:59 am PT

    200,000 = Not even a gold CD

  • NickinAround

    Posted Dec 1, 2006 12:25 am PT

    for one am a 360 fan however i would consider the Wii to more next gen than the PS3 and 360 mainly because it innovated this generation whereas neither Sony or Microsoft truly did anything new gameplay wise. Now the PS3 did include that sixaxis thing but we all know it was rushed just to counter Ninty. Also I would love to see Ninty win this gen just because there ideas are truly revolutionary and the Wii is extremely fun.....

    ---------------------------------

    All the wii does is replace buttons and analog with movement, they haven't really done anything crazy with it. Right now it's "sword slash-wiimote movement" when it could easily be "sword slash-b button"

    It's not like "OMG INNOVATION!" Right now, it's a gimmick, now if you give me real-time combat with the wii-mote, not delayed sword slashes, then I'm on board.

  • tonygregory

    Posted Nov 30, 2006 11:46 pm PT

    Um...... http://nexgenwars.com is pretty accurate. I have seen many references to its numbers on other gaming sites. >>>>>>>>>>>>>>RahKayne, I stated the obvious facts. Those facts in my earlier post were direct promises from Sony themselves. I would give the PS3 a year or 2 to prove itself before U call it a great console. The 360 has been out for a year. Nuff said. Anybody that calls it a bad console or says the PS3 is better, either has never played one, or is "BLINDED" as U would say by their loyalty to the Playstation name. These Sony launch numbers prove how hypocritical Sony is. The called the Wii controller a gimmick then copy the motion sensing and put in in thier controller. They say rumble was not possible in their controller because it would conflict with the motion sensing, but truth is Nintendo and Immersion both proved them wrong. They said Microsoft was stupid for releasing 2 different SKU's then do the same thing. They claim more consoles at launch than the 360, yet they didnt deliver on that promise either.>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> The 360 isnt perfect, but they launched on time, they have great games, a superior online, and arent forcing us to pay for Blue-Ray. 360 delivered what it promised, a game console that displays high def graphics. At least with 360 U know what U are getting!!!!! If U can't tell the difference. Play your old PS2, or XBOX games on a standard def TV, then play a 360 on a high def TV. Huge difference in graphic quality. Or U can wait for these PS3 games that are supposed to be twice as good as any 360 game. Remember Sony claims their machine is twice as powerful as a 360. PROVE IT SONY!!!!! NOT GOING TO HAPPEN!!!!!

  • StumpyTrash

    Posted Nov 30, 2006 11:09 pm PT

    Riverwolf007
    Anyone play the PS3 kiosk yet? Gamestop in my area got it the other day and I played Motorstorm....

    -------

    The PS3 kiosk at our local Best Buy is already broken.

  • powerslave88

    Posted Nov 30, 2006 10:41 pm PT

    theres a huge gap between 500,000 and 800,000 why bother writing about a poor guess?

  • Magu7

    Posted Nov 30, 2006 10:41 pm PT

    Wow i wouldnt listen to this bull coming from EA ceo. EA sucks they always putting someone down. anyways i do believe they wont hit the one million shipment margin, and it will only be maybe atleast 500 or 700. Ive always hated EA only few games are accepted but EA is g*y. Stfu LArry

  • Link2legends

    Posted Nov 30, 2006 10:32 pm PT

    MS fans are so mad at Sony for releasing such a kick butt system that they had to result to name calling and system hating. cough cough.

    however i will say that they both do have great graphics and cool features, so anyways lets all stop hating on one another and get MS and Sony together.

    (heres the equation) MS + Sony = Xtremely God like Graphics!!
    and maybe multiplied by Wii controllers = Funnest console in the World!!

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