Console Makers Respond to February Sales Data; Sony Claims 2008 Is 'The Year for PS3'

Console manufacturers Sony, Microsoft and Nintendo have all chimed in on NPD's sales figures for February, which saw Nintendo's Wii once again outsell both Sony's PlayStation 3 and Microsoft's Xbox 360 in North America.

As in January, the PlayStation 3 outsold the Xbox 360, which Microsoft again attributed to supply issues. Both Sony and Microsoft expressed high expectations for Rockstar North's Grand Theft Auto IV (PS3, X360), which arrives on April 29.

"Xbox 360 remained in a supply constrained situation," stated a Microsoft representative, who once again reaffirmed that Microsoft is not in talks to bring Blu-ray movie playback to the Xbox 360.

"The [supply] situation is improving," Microsoft continued, "and we are confident consumers will soon be able to find the Xbox 360 SKU they seek, in time for the launch of Grand Theft Auto IV, which we expect to be one of the biggest titles of the year with huge impact on the Xbox 360 platform."

Referring to 2008 as "the year for PS3," Sony Computer Entertainment America president and CEO Jack Tretton trumpeted the PlayStation 3's Blu-ray movie playback functionality and highlighted the system's upcoming lineup.

"Consumers are recognizing the tremendous value of PS3 and we believe that Blu-ray becoming the high-def format of choice was the tipping point for many consumers," stated Tretton.

"With monster titles like Gran Turismo 5 Prologue and Grand Theft Auto IV launching in April and Metal Gear Solid 4 in June, we're demonstrating this is the year for PS3," Tretton continued.

As for Nintendo, executive sales and marketing VP Cammie Dunaway emphasized the broad appeal and now-routine chart-topping performance of the Wii and Nintendo DS hardware.

"Our momentum has not let up since the holidays and we expect it to continue throughout the year," Dunaway said. "We have the industry's strongest lineup of games for everyone from core to casual gamers."

Across 2007, there were only three instances when the Wii and the DS were not the month's top two best-selling pieces of hardware in North America.

Though the Wii ranked as top-selling hardware in January 2007, supply problems dropped the Nintendo DS to the month's fifth best-selling system.

March 2007 saw the PlayStation 2 gain a slight lead over the Wii while the Nintendo DS topped the charts. In September, the launch of Bungie's Halo 3 (X360) briefly pushed Xbox 360 sales over those of the Wii and the Nintendo DS.