The crowds may have been quiet at midnight launch events last week, but Sony's PlayStation 3 still seems to have made an impact on Australian consumers over the weekend -- a AU$25 million impact, to be precise.
Sony Computer Entertainment Australia (SCEA) has told CNET.com.au that more than AU$25 million worth of PS3 hardware, games and accessories have been sold in the three days since the console's launch last Friday, March 23. SCEA had previously stated that AU$20 million worth of PS3 gear had been pre-ordered prior to launch.
The PS3 looks unlikely to break Australian records when it comes to fastest-selling console by units sold, however. While SCEA has not disclosed the exact number, a spokesman did confirm to CNET.com.au that the number of PS3s sold so far has "exceeded the previously published pre-order number of 20,000 units."
At more than 20,000 units in the first three days, the PS3 looks unlikely to challenge the Nintendo Wii for the title of fastest-seller in Australia. Figures from data trackers GfK Australia show that the Wii sold 32,901 units in its first four days after launch. The previous record holder was the Xbox 360, which sold 30,421 units in its first four days of availability. Before the 360, Sony's PSP was king with 27,055 units sold in the first four days. While the PS3 won't break the Wii's record, Sony's console does have the disadvantage of being more than double the price of the Wii in Australia. The PS3 retails for AU$999.95, while Wiis will set consumers back AU$399.95. The top Xbox 360 bundle costs AU$649.95 in Australia.
Sony's AU$25 million haul for the PS3 also falls short of Microsoft's take for the Xbox 360 when it first released in Australia last year. At the time, Microsoft stated that it had sold between AU$30 and AU$40 million worth of consoles and games at launch. The Xbox 360 was released in Australia on March 23, 2006 -- exactly one year before the PS3.
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