Xbox 360 unseats PS3 usurper, as NPD reports north of the border sales approach C$100 million in combined hardware, software, accessory sales.
Last month, the PlayStation 3 successfully rode its E3 Media & Business Summit price cut past its Microsoft-created rival in the Canadian console sales charts, narrowly besting the Xbox 360 by a margin of 2,000 systems. However, a repeat performance was not in the cards for Sony's console, as reflected by the industry-tracking NPD Group's August charts for the Great White North.
Reflective of the US's nearly $1 billion haul in hardware, software, and accessories in August, Canada pulled in nearly C$100 million (about $98.5 million) in sales this month, up 78 percent compared to $51.8 million as of this time last year. Canada's year-to-date tally is also up to nearly C$675 million (about $665 million), a year-over-year increase of nearly 63 percent.
The platform wars raging between Sony, Microsoft, and Nintendo have continued to spur sales north of the border. While slightly down from the 15,000 units moved last month, the PlayStation 3 maintained its hardware push with 12,700 units for the month. However, riding its own early-August price cut, the Xbox 360 saw sales shoot up more than 100 percent to 26,700, from 13,000 in July.
While good enough to top the PlayStation 2's 20,800 sold, these numbers were not enough to wrest away the sales-leader title from Nintendo. The Nintendo DS again outsold all other hardware with 51,800 units, and the Wii led consoles with 34,400 systems. Rounding out the hardware charts, Sony's PlayStation Portable accrued 9,000 sales, while Nintendo's Game Boy Advance--which NPD has ceased to report in the US--sold 6,400 units.
Again proving the effect of Nintendo's and Sony's entrance into the next-generation contest, hardware sales have been a primary contributor to this year's dramatic rise in sales. In all, hardware sales for the month were up nearly 115 percent compared to this time last year, with console hardware alone having spiked by more than 221 percent year-over-year.
Hardware sales totaled more than C$40 million (about $39.4 million) for the month, up from last year's August numbers of just under C$20 million (about $19.7 million), with console sales rising from C$9.5 million (about $9.3 million) to C$30.7 million (about $30.2 million). Console hardware also saw a significant year-over-year bump, rising 30 percent, from C$7.3 million (about $7.2 million) to C$9.6 million (about $9.4 million). Likewise, accessories spiked 77 percent, from C$6 million (about $5.9 million) a year ago to C$10.6 million (about $10.4 million).
Exhibiting significant, though less dramatic, growth, software sales were also up nearly 43 percent in Canada. Neck and neck with hardware revenues, software sales for August tallied more than C$41 million (about $40.4 million). Console software saw the most significant rise, with the industry pulling in $30.5 million (about $30 million), a 52 percent uptick from last August's C$20 million (about $19.7 million). Portable software was also up nearly 22 percent, from C$8.8 million (about $8.6 million) to C$10.7 million (about $10.5 million). The best-selling software titles for the month are listed below.
Canada's top-10 selling non-PC games for August 2007:
1. BioShock--X360
2. Madden NFL 08--X360
3. Wii Play with Wii Remote--Wii
4. Metroid Prime 3: Corruption--Wii
5. Brain Age 2: More Training in Minutes a Day--DS
6. Guitar Hero 2 with Guitar--PS2
7. Madden NFL 08--PS2
8. Mario Strikers Charged--Wii
9. Guitar Hero 2 with Guitar--X360
10. New Super Mario Bros.--DS
Tom Magrino has covered the games industry since 2006. He's been compared to Steve Martin by Ozzy Osbourne and Daniel Craig by Tim Schafer. His voice, heard largely on GameSpot's podcast, recalls that of Kermit the Frog. It ain't easy bein' Magreen.
"Salarian those are in the states he said Toronto. We dont have Gamestop or really any 711s in Canada." What are you talking about... All EB Games are the same thing as gamestop and give out gametop bags. Also, I can name at least 3 711s in the Toronto area.
RickLemieux: "...I remember having to place my PS1 upside down, so that it could play my games..." LOL...that's hillarious, good point.
Salarian those are in the states he said Toronto. We dont have Gamestop or really any 711s in Canada. "ERNieRN does anyone know of any midnight halo events in the toronto area?" All the Futureshops are open at midnight (except Sudbury), Bay and Dundas Best Buy has a one (Gaming Invasion on the weekend before as well). Other Best Buys and some EBGames are open at midnight too i think.
Taylor_Riel "I gotta ask xbox 360 fans out there, how can you put up with that noisy CD drive? That was the main reason (other than the 3 red lights of death) that I didn't consider the 360. Microsoft could learn a thing or two from Sony about how to make quality hardware." That's funny, I remember having to place my PS1 upside down, so that it could play my games. I also remember having to send my PS2 in for repairs! What I think you mean to say is finally Sony put together a system that works...
Halo 3 events: Gamestop announced that there are going to be all sorts of cool events, like beverages, trivia games, and stuff like that at their stores. I also know that it is cool that on September 24 Burger King will start selling cool Halo meal stuff!!! Awesome cups, and even fries with Halo 3 on them!!! 7 Eleven also has three cool different Halo 3 collectable cups! I really like one in particular where Master Chief is holding a Captured Flag, and when you tilt the cup back and forth, the flag waves in his hands and a ship flies by...It is AWESOME!!!
Interesting to see GBA sales in this, since they're rarely given. I can understand why they're still selling, but I was shocked that they're selling over two-thirds of the sales of the PSP. Nintendo really does have the portable market sewn up when their *old-generation* system is pulling comparable numbers to their only competition...
@Taylor_Riel " gotta ask xbox 360 fans out there, how can you put up with that noisy CD drive?" I don't really know how noisy you think it is but its not that loud to me, I mean unless you have sensitive ears or you want it complete silence it doesnen't really bother me at all. My xbox isn't really that loud.
@Taylor_Riel " gotta ask xbox 360 fans out there, how can you put up with that noisy CD drive?" simple, my 5.1 surround sound, or my Bose headphones, and if you can still hear the drive you're not really playing the games like you should be
I'll be adding to these numbers this (long) winter. I gotta PSP, and have just made my mind up 2 go with the Wii over the PS3 (my wife only wants to play Wii games, not PS3 "anti-social" games). Yes - my wife does make my mind up often :) I gotta ask xbox 360 fans out there, how can you put up with that noisy CD drive? That was the main reason (other than the 3 red lights of death) that I didn't consider the 360. Microsoft could learn a thing or two from Sony about how to make quality hardware.
Lord knows I'm spending WAY too much money on games... It's a long cold winter in the prairies...
hurrah for the Canadian dollar nearly at parity with the American one...I think it's like .98 cents per american dollar...pretty good :)
make games about drinking beer and eating donuts eh. its ok I'm canadian and thats what I really do. Take off!!
personally i dont think that Canadians play enough video games. I am Canadian and i play alot but my friends are terrible at games. I think we need to scew school and play some halo!
I think we should see more Canadian themed games, given the strength of the market. How about Mass Eh-fect? Oh wait. That is a Canadian game.
I might be wrong here...but does that now put Canada on the same sales numbers as Japan?...
Actually, the math is correct regarding the 78% growth, because some of you didn't take into consideration the changes in currency exchange between the USD and CAD; though, these numbers are in USD, which actually show growth to be more like 90-something percent, but the actual 78% figure came from comparing sales growth in Canadian dollars. The $51.8 million (USD) figure from last year was actually $57.32 million (CAD) last year (exchange rate about $1.10-1.11 CAD per USD for August 2006), and he said this year the figures are "nearly" around C$100. Do the math yourself.
Simple math says that about $1 USD should equal $1 canadian dollar but there are some economic factors and taxes that governments place on goods that prevent it from being equal. I talked to a magazine distributor who explained there was a cost/tax in canada which would prevent magazines/books from costing the same. Not saying it exists in games but all I'm saying is that it's not as easy as doing a currency conversion - not as simple as those stories on TV where reporters buy the same goods and tell us we're(canadians) being ripped off. Many cases yes, but those news stories aren't doing enough research.
SilverGuy999999, you will find that the price's will start to balance out soon. Not too soon, though, as there is a good chance the CND government will try and lower the doller (it really hurts canadian exports). Also, you can't expect a store to start selling the games less because to dollar is now worth more, they still had to pay whatever NOC charged them when they ordered them. Some stores may start ordering American copies because they're cheaper (though technically illegal to sells games without French Instructions in most places). If you compare what canadians make compared to Americans, we still get more games for our work. Ookii G
When I was going through the US back at the end of July, they were selling Xbox games at a GameStop for only $4.99-$14.99, and there were a lot of pretty good games in the stacks too, it wasn't all crappy games. You won't find that very often at an EBgames here in Canada :(
I totally agree with you guys. It sucks that the market is going to take a while to adjust. Good of MS to give us a $100 price drop on the Pro instead of $50 like the states. Gets things closer to the way they should be. BTW: Just noticed Besbuy.ca doesn't list the Core anymore. Is this new?
The dollar here is getting so close to the US dollar it's a rip-off to even buy games in Canada anymore. Here's an example, a greatest hits game in the US only costs $19.99 yet it costs $29.99 in Canada, that's totally outrageous, it should only cost $20.26 at the moment!
Say what you like but the next 3 months will see even more 360's being bought. (also I converted $60us into $60.28cdn yesterday)...dollar is pretty much on par.
If our dollars are catching up the US dollar in value, why are our games still usually $10 more. Unfair -_-.
@Darthmatt "Canada is turning into a consumer force to watch. Their dollar is $.99 on the US dollar now." jeez, the CAD is gaining on the USD more and more, soon books prices markers won't say "USA $16.00 CAN $22.00", they'll say "CAN $16.00 USA $22.00". Man, the dollar is the next peso.
@ Warfust: Canada is about 1/10 the US population, so the numbers are about right. I'm glad to see Bioshock beat out Madden 08 (and that the 360 Madden beat the PS2 version). I think the 360 taking the lead in Madden sales is a pretty big deal, since that game is a lock to sell millions of units every year (and a bunch of consoles to boot).
Makes sense the 360 is selling great right now when you include the lower price and the fact it has the better software right now. As a PS3 and Wii owner, I'll most likely be adding a 360 to my collection after the holidays. As for the Ps3, right now, I can see why people aren't buying it. There isn't that "Must have" game for it right now, but with the rumored 40GB price model it might improve sells, but I'm not expecting the PS3 to increase in sells by a huge amount until the traditional big Sony hitters are released in 2008. It will be interesting to see what has a higher amount of software sales next month, Halo 3 (with only being out the last week in Sept.) or NHL08. We loves our hockey :p
seeing the 360 effortlessly outsell the ps3 is nice its even starting to outsell the ps2 in some areas, and sony fans are saying, "just wait just wait, the big ps3 titles will bury the xbox 360" well you know what, wich big titles? metal gear solid and final fantasy are bigger in japan than the US so even if they end up being blockbusters nobody in the US will care, so those really dont count i mean anyone remember seeing FFXII being a blockbuster here in the US no right? the only big game anyone cares about in the US from sony is god of war and they havent even announced if thats even in development, waiting for these games to come save the ps3 god knows when is not the solution, sony needs a significant price cut on the ps3 great games and it needs them now more than ever, keep waiting and there might not be a ps3 to come back to save.
Go Canada! Definately good to see some numbers from north of the border come into the spotlight
I love the fact that canadians have more diversity in the games that we play,im glad that this chart isint dominated by 10 madden games.and im glad the guitar hero franchise is still going strong,im probably the reason that half of quebec owns that game anyways....
"Next-Gen does not begin until we say" Sony exec. I think they haven't said it yet, that's why PS-3 isn't selling.....;)
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