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Looks like that price cut and new model were worth the investment for Sony: the firm has revealed at CES that the PS3 sales were up 76 per cent year on year globally during December.
In total, the format-holder sold 3.8m PS3s for the five weeks from the end of November (from November 23 to December 27 for Japan and Asia, from November 24 to December 28 for North America, and from November 21 to December 25 for Europe and PAL territories).
It made it the most successful Christmas yet for the PS3 – echoing ELSPA/GfK-ChartTrack’s assertions today that Sony was a star performer in the UK market during 2009.
The Slim PS3, ‘an exciting line-up of compelling software titles’ and increased PlayStation Network activity helped drive consumer interest said Sony.
There are now 38 million registered accounts worldwide for the PlayStation Network.
"The PS3 platform continues to surpass its momentum every year and remains on track to further accelerate the growth of its worldwide installed base into 2010," the company said.
A longer statement added: "With continued strong support from game developers and publishers around the world, highly anticipated and exciting game titles on Blu-ray disc were released for the PS3 system during the holiday season. The software line-up includes platform-defining franchises that contributed significantly to PS3 hardware sales such as Uncharted 2: Among Thieves from SCE, Ubisoft’s Assassin’s Creed II, Infinity Ward’s Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 from Activision, and Final Fantasy XIII Square Enix.
"Final Fantasy XIII North America and Europe/PAL territories will be available on March 9, 2010. In addition to this extensive line-up of software titles, multimedia capabilities that PS3 offers, including Blu-ray disc player functionality, combined with various rich content and services available for download on PlayStation Network, continue to attract more and more users around the globe making PS3 the ultimate interactive entertainment system for the home."
Along with God of War 3, Gran Turismo 5, MAG, Heavy Rain and ModNation Racers, the firm said it will introduce a number of other innovations to the platform.
"The company will also vigorously enhance the network content and services, while tapping into a wider audience through the introduction of a new Motion Controller supported with a variety of software titles as well as delivering outstanding 3D experience in homes with 3D stereoscopic games and movies, that is possible only on the PS3 platform."
