Nintendo DS highest-selling games device in Australia in Q3; PS3 the lowest

More than 140,000 DSs sold down under between July-September; PS3 at the bottom of the sales charts.

Nintendo's recent hardware dominance has seen its share price reach record highs, and it seems that Aussies haven't been immune to the House of Mario's resurgence. New figures from industry tracker GfK Australia show that Nintendo had the highest-selling portable games device (the DS) and the highest-selling next-generation console (the Wii) down under in the last three months, easily eclipsing Sony and Microsoft.

The Nintendo DS was far and away the highest-selling games device in Australia between the start of July and the end of September, selling close to 140,000 units. The DS sales figure of 139,483 units is almost five times that of its nearest equivalent, the PlayStation Portable, which sold 28,374 in the same time period.

The Nintendo Wii is also the clear leader in next-generation console stakes, selling 61,027 units between July and September. The Xbox 360 sold 40,467 units in the same time period, whereas Sony's PlayStation 3 sold 27,533. Sony's newest console may be lagging somewhat, but its last-generation device--the PS2--is still going strong in Australia. The PS2's third-quarter sales of 66,228 were enough to make it the second-most-popular games device in the country for that time period.

GfK Australia also released the latest install-base figures for Australian gaming devices this afternoon. In next-generation consoles, the Xbox 360 is still in the lead, with 222,136 owners down under since launch. However, the Wii is quickly catching up with a total of 167,899 units altogether. The PS3 has had 82,261 devices sold so far. In Australia, the 360 was first launched in March 2006, the Wii in December 2006, and the PS3 in March 2007.

Full sales details can be found below.

Nintendo DS
2007 Q3 sales: 139,483
Total install base: 730,076

PlayStation 2
2007 Q3 sales: 66,228
Total install base: 2,118,646

Nintendo Wii
2007 Q3 sales: 61,027
Total install base: 167,899

Xbox 360
2007 Q3 sales: 40,467
Total install base: 222,136

PlayStation Portable
2007 Q3 sales: 28,374
Total install base: 317,442

PlayStation 3
2007 Q3 sales: 27,533
Total install base: 82,261

All figures courtesy of GfK Australia.

50 Comments

  • qubeley

    Posted Oct 7, 2007 4:17 pm PT

    The good thing about handheld gaming is that it is not regionally coded, so can import games easily. Not with most home consoles though. PS3 is region free but only for PS3 games and not PS2 games, also the price is still beyond my reach.

  • Xaovagon

    Posted Oct 7, 2007 9:28 am PT

    another nail in the PS3's coffin

  • Reetesh

    Posted Oct 7, 2007 3:21 am PT

    Handheld gaming sure is popular in every part of the world

  • GodofThunder107

    Posted Oct 6, 2007 1:22 am PT

    sony fanboys always said that the 360 is only leading the ps3 in the U.S and the ps3 is leading every where else,i guess they were just trying to make the ps3 sells look better then it is.

  • mcuth

    Posted Oct 5, 2007 7:47 pm PT

    Yep, Aussies know what we all know... Sony was stupid not to put a second analog stick on the PSP. How was Kenny supposed to adequately lead the angelic army against the forces of hell with only one analog stick? Way to go, Sony! You almost got us all killed!

  • lamprey263

    Posted Oct 5, 2007 12:43 pm PT

    No doubt the PS2's price is a good reason to buy one, after all, look at all the great games that're out for it, heck, look at the price of those games, for the price of the Wii you can get a dozen of some of the most kickass games made for the PS2.

  • sscloud123

    Posted Oct 5, 2007 9:09 am PT

    funny i remember sony saying that they were selling most at one point and believed they would continue to do so. Funny how the first thing they lied about and the second is poetic justice that their sales have, if anything lagged even further behind.

  • Sigil-otaku

    Posted Oct 5, 2007 8:15 am PT

    @ humblumi: There is more than just the price, there is constantly over hyped and under achieving games (Heavenly sword has done best and even that under achieved really looking at the reviews), the price, the removal of the emotion engine, the poor PR, the 4 different SKU's which only one territtory had them all, the blue ray drive annoys those without HDTV's, the lack of proper use of the space on the blue ray discs and the slow load times. There's a few problems but it is still a good console with free online, a next gen disc format and plenty of potential.

  • DarkVenom

    Posted Oct 5, 2007 8:14 am PT

    just the price,it will soon surpass 360.

  • humblumi

    Posted Oct 5, 2007 7:39 am PT

    The truth is that ps3 is still a little expensive, but it's getting better and I'm sure it's going to be number 1 soon...

    All this hate against ps3 is just because people don't have enough money to afford it... It's easier to hate than admit that you don't have money to buy it... shame...

  • Yuck_Too

    Posted Oct 5, 2007 7:27 am PT

    --Xeroblack --
    Sony has pleanty of time to wait for the PS3?

    Every month that every other device out there sells more is not good news.

    If you're one of these people that think the PS3 can sit back and wait untill 2009 you might was well call it game over now.
    Marketshare
    40+ Million active PS2's (62%)
    11 Million Wii's (17%)
    10 Million 360's (15%)
    4 Million PS3's (6%)

    And every month the PS3 falls further and further behind...So if you're a developer where are you going to invest your $$$?

    Also keeping in mind that a 360 title is 80% of the way to a PC port.

  • davo208

    Posted Oct 5, 2007 7:27 am PT

    @metalisticpain
    I halped to, bought my DS a week after launch my cousin just got a DS about a week ago, my sis got a DS about 3 weeks after i got mine and my bro got a DS too

  • ChucklesMginty

    Posted Oct 5, 2007 7:20 am PT

    What!? PS2 outsold the Wii, man it must be the low price.

  • the_sorrow_MGS_

    Posted Oct 5, 2007 6:53 am PT

    notice how much longer the PS2 out lasted the origional Xbox? wonder if that will happin again.

  • mnmnanu

    Posted Oct 5, 2007 6:15 am PT

    i say good luck to all.. the more they fight the more money i save.

  • stanislavski86

    Posted Oct 5, 2007 6:09 am PT

    I really thought there would be over a million DS owners. I mean nowadays I see at least one person with a DS in the train or in city...if not I own a DS anyway (so that usually makes at least 2 people ) DS is really good.

    Well, I am a PC gamer so I own no consoles. I seriously consider Wii on the side though.
    I would say give PS3 a time. After 1 more price drop it will start selling more and another one it will surpass what Wii and xbox is doing. So, I still believe this round of the console wars is not over. Though, I find such war as ridiculous. Any system's existance is good for gaming. If only fanboys could understand that *sigh*

  • Xeroblack

    Posted Oct 5, 2007 5:55 am PT

    uhhhh yea considering its like 900 U.S dollars down there.

    These figures are a bit interesting "if true" by the looks of them Sony is still doing just fine with ps2 sales and have plenty of time to wait for the PS3 sales to built up "after a price drop"

  • angelGP32

    Posted Oct 5, 2007 5:52 am PT

    yeah generic, the topic title is mis-leading, i'm sure anybody with any brains at all could tell that a $120 system would outsell a $500 system. I find it funny that no current gen system can beat the PS2, lol.

  • Generic_Dude

    Posted Oct 5, 2007 5:29 am PT

    Alright, so Nintendo's handheld that has ridiculously huge sales worldwide and a low price point is the top selling gaming system, and the quite expensive PS3 that has a temporarily not-terribly-relevant movie format and meager exclusives over the 360 that launched well in advance is in last place? What's surprising here? That it makes TOO much sense?

  • valakos

    Posted Oct 5, 2007 5:19 am PT

    IceStorm-Br posted
    No XBOTS here ??? What the problem ??? Its a "negative" news about PS3, come on bots !

    its always negative news for the ps3 - we have no need to gloat every time

  • Azhar85

    Posted Oct 5, 2007 5:06 am PT

    Go Xbox 360

  • StarFoxA

    Posted Oct 5, 2007 5:02 am PT

    Go Nintendo!

  • IceStorm-Br

    Posted Oct 5, 2007 4:52 am PT

    No XBOTS here ??? What the problem ??? Its a "negative" news about PS3, come on bots !

  • Mattyrock

    Posted Oct 5, 2007 4:45 am PT

    Quite of an achievement for Nintendo!

  • metalisticpain

    Posted Oct 5, 2007 4:25 am PT

    I helped, bought a ds yesterday

  • fearrich

    Posted Oct 5, 2007 2:36 am PT

    Amen Rageset.

  • branko2166

    Posted Oct 5, 2007 2:35 am PT

    I don't know why a lot of people are saying that the ps3 is in the minus for every console it sells considering that at $999 australian it is approximately 850 US dollars. 850 is roughly how much the ps3 cost to make when it was first released in the US and since then the cost has been reduced to at least 700 dollars mainly due to the price drop in manufacturing the blu-ray diode(from 128 to 8 dollars now)

    So in Australia at least each ps3 is generating a profit for Sony and so hopefully they will reward the Australian consumer for the support they have given Sony considering the high pricing in Australia.

  • RageSet

    Posted Oct 5, 2007 2:05 am PT

    Schillinger, I somewhat agree with you but you have to understand that in the past...when the PS2 truly dominated everything, all we heard was Sony this, and Sony that. The reality of it all is simple, Nintendo/Microsoft are the leaders now and the game media has adjusted. Think about it, since Nintendo/Microsoft are the "kings", it is smart business to cater more to the champs because they have the bigger installment bases. I don't really see this article as being anti-PS3, if it is based on fact...how can it be anti-PS3? Do you want GameSpot to twist the facts..."Nintendo is the leader, Sony not far behind."

  • Shadow_Fax

    Posted Oct 5, 2007 2:02 am PT

    Schillinger, apparently you are a relatively new Gamespot visitor and you have missed the old days of 'PS2 Dominating over the Game Cube and X-Box'...

  • the-very-best

    Posted Oct 5, 2007 2:00 am PT

    Good. Let's Sony know that the $999 price tag is simply insane.

    Bring on a cheaper price Sony. Do it before MGSIV.

  • Ulti_ma

    Posted Oct 5, 2007 1:44 am PT

    For those that don't understand why the sales figures seems so low, the reasons are simple. We are a country of around 21 million people. US is about 10 times that I presume so that is part of it. The other part is that Australia has ridiculous taxes, games over here are almost double what they would cost in US. This isn't just because of the conversion rate, rather greedy political types. It is a shame the Wii isn't region free because or else I would just import from America.

  • Eaz-TK

    Posted Oct 5, 2007 1:43 am PT

    i got a ds the other month. thats bad for ps3 but still i rekon its going pretty good cosidering its $999

  • Neoyamaneko

    Posted Oct 5, 2007 1:35 am PT

    PoS 3 for the loss!

  • GrimBee

    Posted Oct 5, 2007 1:00 am PT

    But when you have the beaches and babes that are in australia... I certainly wouldn't be spending my cash on GAMES
    I would probably buy a DS to show my softer side lol

  • KhanhAgE

    Posted Oct 5, 2007 12:26 am PT

    Wow. The DS has such a high install base. Didn't know that many people had a DS.

  • Pastehunter

    Posted Oct 5, 2007 12:12 am PT

    Well Sony actually has 3 consoles in Australia ... so no problem there

  • lamprey263

    Posted Oct 5, 2007 12:09 am PT

    wow, so finally an idea of how many console gamers there are in Australia, and it's not very much; heck, Japan has more X360s

  • DeathIsARight

    Posted Oct 4, 2007 11:57 pm PT

    It's not cheap, Sony doesn't advertise its games and systems right. And the 360 is 350...I thought that was very high? Interesting the PS2 outsold the Wii.

  • raghraghragh posted Oct 4, 2007 11:55 pm PT (does not meet display criteria. sign in to show)

    raghraghragh

    Posted Oct 4, 2007 11:55 pm PT (hide)

    I'm amazed so many people are buying the Wii.

    Microsoft should have bundled a gimmicky controller with their Xbox,would've basically been the same.Bit uglier though.

  • Colsworl

    Posted Oct 4, 2007 11:45 pm PT

    Cheaper systems at the top, more expensive systems at the bottom; that is how it mainly goes. No suprises here.

  • carrsabre

    Posted Oct 4, 2007 11:44 pm PT

    Wow!? did they just start selling gaming units down under? The number seem low.

  • dragonseer439

    Posted Oct 4, 2007 11:41 pm PT

    Well you can reduce that Xbox 360 install base figure by quite a bit, I doubt every unit sold still works.. Otherwise cheaper consoles sell more here in Oz, not a big surprise.

  • Alex_THVK

    Posted Oct 4, 2007 11:39 pm PT

    You remember that one guy that went on and on rambling about how Australia was gonna "be the definitive turning point for the PS3 in the console war?"
    Go figure...

    I also would think there were more PS2s sold. That thing is EVERYWHERE.

  • NECR0CHILD313

    Posted Oct 4, 2007 11:37 pm PT

    "besides ps3 being a thousand each instead of 500 means they still have same revenue as the wii basically"

    Revenue =/= Profit, sadly, with each Wii selling for a gain and each PS3 for a loss.

  • monco59

    Posted Oct 4, 2007 11:26 pm PT

    No surprises here...

  • lamprey263

    Posted Oct 4, 2007 11:07 pm PT

    Awww, the lovely PS2 rules all, I really have separate my affection for the PS2 for the mutant zombie the PS3 has become... "it's not who you think it is, that person is dead, shoot its brains out".

    And while I go get dinner now, I'll be enjoying the new Zelda title on my DS

  • heretic92

    Posted Oct 4, 2007 11:06 pm PT

    well there were all those articles saying that the ps3 was doin well in australia before werent there? besides ps3 being a thousand each instead of 500 means they still have same revenue as the wii basically

  • Nintendo_Man

    Posted Oct 4, 2007 11:01 pm PT

    PS3 deserves to be last, what do they expect when they charge $1000?

  • Devise01

    Posted Oct 4, 2007 10:59 pm PT

    I actually thought the PS3 was doing quite well in Australia. Guess I was wrong. The Wii has been readily available all Q3, so it's surprising to see that the 360 isn't that far behind. I've actually seen Wii's are now being discounted $50 in some stores which is pretty surprising.

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