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NPD Sales Results for February 2014 [Up2: PS4/XB1/Wii U/360 Hardware, BD/Poke/DK]

If Sony doesn't get its act together they'll never sell more than 100% of their available stock.

They actually have to supply other parts of the world too unlike MS. Not to mention that building up for Japanese launch ate a lot from supply. With Japanese launch out of the way I don't see a reason why they wouldn't have more stock during this month in US.
 

Briarios

Member
I'm actually a little stunned that the PS4 sold more - I literally haven't seen a unit in stores since January, meanwhile every store I go to has a load of Xbox Ones. I hope Sony can get out some supply for the Infamous launch.
 

Ridley327

Member
I can't believe The Lego movie Videogame is #2. I think I'm underestimating the popularity of that movie. I'm wondering if its the movie that made it sale, or it just being a Lego game in general?

I think it's a bit of both. LEGO Marvel Superheroes was a big seller this past holiday season, and even LEGO City Undercover did well on the systems it released on.

At our store, we can't keep the new game in stock to save our lives.
 
They actually have to supply other parts of the world too unlike MS. Not to mention that building up for Japanese launch ate a lot from supply. With Japanese launch out of the way I don't see a reason why they wouldn't have more stock during this month in US.

wow, you fell for the obvious sarcasm
 
@Y2Kev

There's your magic word. Opinions don't need a base, that's why they're called opinions. If every opinion needed a base, most religions wouldn't exist.

There is nothing wrong with opinions based on observable data. Why do you think the gap has shrunk by 100k then? PS4 has sold steadily due to supply, what do you think accounts for the rise in Xbone sales? I'd like to hear your opinion.
 

John Harker

Definitely doesn't make things up as he goes along.
First month NPD:

Crisis Core FFVII: 300k
Dirge of Cerberus FFVII: 200k
Lightning Returns FFXIII: <175k
FFXII Revenant Wings: 50k


Didn't realize FFXIIRW sold so terribly,

Juuuuust under 300k all told for FFXIIRW.
Over half a million if you add Europe.

With the sell-in, and the relatively low budget nature of the game, I'm sure money was to be had there.
 

Zephyx

Member
When referring to revenue you can.

Well, you're also right. I was actually thinking the "made more money" statement refers to the bottom line or net income. Revenue is a good indicator that you're doing well but it's not enough since you can still have a net loss while having good revenue.
 

Dunlop

Member
I love how there is so few kudos in this thread for MS for turning around the trainwreck that was the XB1 when this gen was starting, it's all by the grace of Sony's supply that they are selling anything at all....

Glad to see good numbers all around, with the exception of the Lego movie, which is an obvious quick buck. Picked it up for my kids and they had the game beat and all the characters in a day. They played the shit out of all the lego games and never came close to doing that
 

John Harker

Definitely doesn't make things up as he goes along.
Wow Bravely Default charting in the US is fucking amazing accomplishment. Such a niche game (and on a handheld to boot).

If someone asked me to take a bet that BD would have charted, I would have taken that bet and I would have confidently said no.

Color me super pleasantly surprised too.
 

Briarios

Member

I'd love to see this Amazon store and stroll through it lol I'm talking about brick and mortar stores - places like Target, Walmart, and Gamestop where most systems are sold. I know it's been in stock at some online retailers, and I'm hoping that means it's making it's way back into the supply chain. But, as of now, physical stores are where most consoles are sold.
 

Tripon

Member
Don't sleep on inFamous. The social metrics on that game are through the roof.


Also... MLB the show rarely breaks a million units, but it sells hardware.

I'm a believer in metrics as anyone (especially in baseball where the game is so easy to measure) but.... really on Infamous?

I'd like to see what the metrics are measuring before I'd believe that.
 
o_O

Oh I had no idea, so that's what all this is about?

I think Nintendo has actually localized/published quite a few major non Nintendo games to the US

Helps with other games to. iirc, one of the reasons Monser Hunter came to 3Ds is that Nintendo promised to help advertise it in the west and make it less niche

Oh, seeing BD is also satisfying in that its the 1st change in the top 10 in a loong time
 

Kagari

Crystal Bearer
I'd love to see this Amazon store and stroll through it lol I'm talking about brick and mortar stores - places like Target, Walmart, and Gamestop where most systems are sold. I know it's been in stock at some online retailers, and I'm hoping that means it's making it's way back into the supply chain. But, as of now, physical stores are where most consoles are sold.

I've never seen one in the wild.
 

Sputtid

Banned
He fell into a sarchasm

tumblr_inline_msmqh7YMUh1r4rbqj.gif
 
They actually have to supply other parts of the world too unlike MS. Not to mention that building up for Japanese launch ate a lot from supply. With Japanese launch out of the way I don't see a reason why they wouldn't have more stock during this month in US.

I can speak at, that my little retail hovel in the world, we've been seeing more consistent shipments of PS4s since about the end of Feb/Early March (oh, and they're still selling super fast, but that's anecdotal)
 

James Sawyer Ford

Gold Member
Wow Bravely Default charting in the US is fucking amazing accomplishment. Such a niche game (and on a handheld to boot).

Yeah I think this is a great sign. Especially since it outsold Lightning Returns.

I think this is just the shift in design that Square Enix needs to pay attention to. Not all of their RPGs need to be huge AAA spectacles with massive budgets. Stuff like Bravely Default would also sell well if they were on console platforms as well.

Good quality, old school RPG's with just 2D art can and will sell if it's quality. Somehow I think this has been totally lost on their production staff over the years as they constantly try and compete with western studios, which has really tarnished their software output.

We still need big budget stuff like mainline FF games, but they also need to focus on smaller titles with less production budgets, but no less quality in terms of gameplay and story.
 

Game Guru

Member
I think it's a bit of both. LEGO Marvel Superheroes was a big seller this past holiday season, and even LEGO City Undercover did well on the systems it released on.

At our store, we can't keep the new game in stock to save our lives.

The LEGO games have always been fairly popular since LEGO Star Wars, which make the building blocks themselves popular enough to support a movie. So you've now got a video game based on a movie based on a toy whose most recent burst of popularity came from when they made video games based on said toy based on various movies. The LEGO Movie Video Game is like the most recursive adaptation ever next to the LEGO Movie LEGOs LEGO sells.
 

Sheroking

Member
The PS4 is still supply constrained?

I'm not disputing it; I just haven't been to an electronics store lately.

Anecdotal: My Walmart has a full cabinet of Xbox One's and I've never seen a PS4 there since I got one on launch morning. Am there a few times a week and I've looked.
 
Jesus.


Selling more in March would close the gap. Selling less, but by not as much does NOT close any gap, it only increases it by less.


C'mon, man.

I think it's pretty obvious I was talking on a monthly basis. If it's not, by closing the gap I meant reducing the disparity in monthly sales figures between the two, not LTD. The gap between the two in Jan was 135k (big gap), then 30k in Feb (smaller gap), March Xbone will sell more.
 

Briarios

Member
I've never seen one in the wild.

I did -- once, at a Target back in January. They had two on the shelf. I thought that meant it was time for stock to show back up. I was wrong. Microsoft is definitely doing a better job keeping vendors supplied. Then again, I do understand the stresses Sony is under - with worldwide launches and stronger demand than expected.

I wouldn't be surprised if the Xbox One outsells the PS4 in March if Sony does get some product out.
 

hawk2025

Member
The PS4 is still supply constrained?

I'm not disputing it; I just haven't been to an electronics store lately.


Yes.

It was back in stock at amazon about a week ago, sold out, and now it's back again.

It's not as extremely dire as before, but supply has absolutely not completely stabilized yet. I'd say it's almost there.
 

Ridley327

Member
The LEGO games have always been fairly popular since LEGO Star Wars, which make the building blocks themselves popular enough to support a movie. So you've now got a video game based on a movie based on a toy whose most recent burst of popularity came from when they made video games based on said toy based on various movies. The LEGO Movie Video Game is like the most recursive adaptation ever next to the LEGO Movie LEGOs LEGO sells.

Truly, the Street Fighter: The Movie: The Game of our generation.
 

hawk2025

Member
I think it's pretty obvious I was talking on a monthly basis. If it's not, by closing the gap I meant reducing the disparity in monthly sales figures between the two, not LTD. The gap between the two in Jan was 135k (big gap), then 30k in Feb (smaller gap), March Xbone will sell more.


Ok, so what do you call "the gap" in March, by your logic? "Negative gap"? "Hypothetical negative gap"?

The dynamics are important, but your analysis of the data should take into account both stock (LTD) and flow, not just the flow.
 

Tripon

Member
I've never seen one in the wild.

The only PS4 I 'seen' are behind the gamestop stock room. Other than that, I never seen them at cases in Best Buy, Target, etc.

Edit: But yeah, Socal is for the most part well stocked with constant refreshes.

Every Gamestop near Torrance seems to have it.

xfDk6EN.png


riSUsbc.png


Amazon has it. Supply issues seem to be ending.

You live in Torrance? Nice, I grew up there. Still got family in the area too.
 

ZSaberLink

Media Create Maven
So does anyone have the chart comparing the Dreamcast, Wii U, GC, etc? I kind of wanted to see how the 82K falls under that chart. Thanks.
 
Damn them XBone numbers. That is pretty crazy. I have a feeling that March will be the one for Microsoft

I am still baffled with how Sony continues to sell so much despite having like almost nothing on their new console. I'm pretty sure the PS4 will be the most successful console this generation by far. Regardless, I have the feeling that you may see massive sales from console exclusives in the future, but significantly fewer console purchases attached to those sales. Sony has a crazy hype machine going, and I think a lot of people are buying into it early, while few are waiting.

That Wii U... honestly its better than I thought. 87k isn't so bad, but its nowhere near what needs to be done to save the Wii U. Unfortunately, I think the two things that are really going to boost Wii U sales in the coming years are Zelda U and the new Smash. Yes I know people are getting excited for Mario Kart 8, but don't be surprised if it is a letdown. While many hardcore people are into the series, I don't foresee a lot of non-owners buying the game immediately. I want Nintendo to do well, but March is likely going to be quite the rough month. A solid review of the new Mario Kart and a stellar E3 this summer could do wonders for sales in the coming year.

Pretty happy that Bravely Default is doing much better than expected. I would like to think that its success would remove Squenix's head from its ass, but the success of LR as well casts doubt on that happening.

Overall, a pretty decent month.
 

Nirolak

Mrgrgr
Jumping in so late. Can I ask for a quick summary of what it all means? Thank you!
The uptake on the PS4 and XB1 is generally healthy, especially considering their price point and time of year. Individually they're not exactly the Wii in its prime, but they're also splitting the exact same market. March should show us how they respond to a higher profile software post-launch.

The Wii U is showing that it will respond to software, but it's in such a deep pit that it's questionable if they can ever actually get out of it. Mario Kart is coming in May, but it's not helpful that there's nothing notable releasing until then.

The 360 is doing okay for something that's been fully replaced, but it's dying off fast.

Bravely Default is doing above expectations, especially when compared to other games of that nature on the 3DS. It means the odds are good of the sequel coming out.

We don't have things like the 3DS, Vita, or PS3 yet.
 

Chobel

Member
I think it's pretty obvious I was talking on a monthly basis. If it's not, by closing the gap I meant reducing the disparity in monthly sales figures between the two, not LTD. The gap between the two in Jan was 135k (big gap), then 30k in Feb (smaller gap), March Xbone will sell more.

How do you know that?

Let's use that logic of yours in Nov, Dec and Jan NPD

229K in Nov, -48K in Dec this means the gap will be in favor Xbone in Jan (-200k). But hey! guess what? the gap is 135K in Jan in favor of PS4.

And that's why your logic of "closing gaps" doesn't make any sense in this case.
 

ZehDon

Member
I love how there is so few kudos in this thread for MS for turning around the trainwreck that was the XB1 when this gen was starting, it's all by the grace of Sony's supply that they are selling anything at all...
If your referring to the 180s post-reveal, I'm not going to applaud them. They reversed their policies because the pre-order numbers were tracking well below their lowest estimates, not because they suddenly realised they were doing something wrong. Turning around the situation simply involved "Don't fuck the industry and its customers". Their reward for that is better sales. They don't get kudos for not making bad business decisions.

As for the sales situation, I think the Xbone is punching above its weight this month, and will do so again next month, largely in part due to Titanfall and the marketing dollars spent on it. And that's great news for Microsoft, because they've spent a fortune making sure Titanfall does exactly that. If it doesn't turn things around and bring the Xbone out in front of the PS4 in the US, Microsoft have a serious problem.
 

James Sawyer Ford

Gold Member
I love how there is so few kudos in this thread for MS for turning around the trainwreck that was the XB1 when this gen was starting, it's all by the grace of Sony's supply that they are selling anything at all....

Glad to see good numbers all around, with the exception of the Lego movie, which is an obvious quick buck. Picked it up for my kids and they had the game beat and all the characters in a day. They played the shit out of all the lego games and never came close to doing that

There's kudos to Microsoft, but also skepticism that this will be a long-lasting trend. Sales were disappointing in January, and Microsoft has shelled out huge sums of money to secure Titanfall as an exclusive, not to mention the marketing budget for the game.

If Xbox One does well in February and March, but then goes back to disappointing sales for the rest of the year, that's not much of a victory. Similar to how MGS4 spurred PS3 sales for a few months and then it was back to 360 outselling the PS3 reliably.

In the Xbox One's case, similar to the PS3's situation, it won't be any single game that boosts sales long term. A price cut coupled with numerous exclusives is the ticket, and they're not there yet.
 
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