PS3 sales up 87% in Dec - year was "turning point" says Sony

PlayStation 3 hardware sales rose 87 per cent year-on-year in the US in December, making the month the single highest grossing for the console.

Units sales were 1.35 million during the month - an achievement that Sony said marked a "turning point for the platform". The console saw a growth of 22 per cent for the entire calender year, selling 4.3 million units in comparison to 3.8 million in 2008.

Software sales also reached an all-time high in December, led by Modern Warfare 2, which has sold 2.8 million units on PS3 to date, followed by Madden NFL 10 and Assassin's Creed II.

First-party title Uncharted 2: Among Thieves had sold one million units since going on sale in October, Sony confirmed.

PSP hardware also saw a sales increase of more than 122 per cent between November and December, contributing to the PlayStation brand as a whole generating more than USD 5.1 billion in revenue in the US in 2009 - a 26 per cent share of the total videogames industry revenue for the year.

"It's no surprise we've seen PS3 units sold every month nearly double since October," said SCEA’s Patrick Seybold. "We knew 2009 would be a turning point for the platform due to the new price and a content line up that is fueling unprecedented consumer and industry interest with games like Uncharted 2: Among Thieves.

"The consumer response has simply been overwhelming and we anticipate the high demand for PS3 to continue into the coming months as we work closely with retail to meet the demand.

"The best part of PS3's story today is that 2010 will offer entirely new gaming experiences to consumers as we launch MAG, God of War III, 3D gaming, and the new motion controller this year. It's never been a better time to be a PS3 owner."

http://www.gamesindustry.biz/article...oint-says-sony