BEIJING,
Jan. 4 (Xinhuanet) -- Sony Corp's PlayStation 3 (PS3) game console will sell
more than the combined sale of Microsoft's Xbox 360 and Nintendo's Wii consoles
by 2010, according to a European market research firm Wednesday.
"The Sony PlayStation 3 is expected to win the
console war in the long term with an install base of around 75 million globally
by 2010. The console is not expected to dominate as much as its predecessor, the
PS2, due to late launch issues in the PAL region and the early lead of
Microsofts Xbox 360," Dublin-based market research firm Research and Markets
(R&M) claimed in its new report.
R&M report came despite a sales report from the
U.S. showing that the Xbox 360 was the best-selling game console in the U.S.
during November and December in 2006.
Another market analyst NPD reported that preliminary
figures showed the Xbox 360 sold almost two million consoles in North America,
with the Wii running close with 1.8 million. PS3 followed in third place
with just 750,000 units sold from its Nov. 17 U.S. launch date.
R&M report put this down to Sony's delayed
introduction of the console into Europe and the head start gained by the Xbox
360.
"The PlayStation 3, Wii and Xbox 360, dubbed the next
generation of consoles, each holds a unique position with regard to console
offerings. While Sony and Microsoft aim towards increased functionality as a key
driver for adoption, Nintendo looks for innovative game play and the elusive fun
factor," said the R&M's report.
Meanwhile, Sony Corp said that the PS3 would not
dominate the market in the same way as the previous versions of its games
consoles.
(Agencies)
