Microsoft: Sony Is 'Out of Touch,' 360 Will Outsell PS3

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Sony Computer Entertainment chairman Kazuo Hirai recently made several bold comments, claiming that the PlayStation 3 will eventually outsell Microsoft's rival Xbox 360 "unless things go really bad" and that the Xbox is "something that lacks longevity."

He also said that Sony has "official leadership" of the console industry regardless of what company sells more consoles, and that the PlayStation 3 was intentionally hard to develop for.

Microsoft's Xbox 360 product management director Aaron Greenberg has now fired back, saying that he "can't imagine" the PS3 outselling Xbox 360 this generation, and that Sony sounds like a complacent "old hardware company."

The entirety of Greenberg's e-mail to the The Bitbag follows:

This sounds like an old hardware company that's comfortable with its market position. That complacent attitude is out of touch with where the industry and consumer is today. This generation won't be won over just hardware specs, but who can out-innovate when it comes to online and software. This is the kind of stuff that's in our DNA, and frankly moves the console war onto our home court.

I'm confident we will outsell the PS3 throughout the entire generation by providing more innovation and building the best and broadest games library while growing our entertainment experiences on the leading online network. With a U.S. install base lead now of more than 7 million units (according to NPD), I can't imagine any scenario where the PS3 can catch up with us. In fact, even if you doubled the current PS3 sales and Xbox 360 remained flat, they couldn't close the gap until 2014.

Photo credit: Kotaku

Chris Faylor was previously a games journalist creating content at Shacknews.

From The Chatty
  • reply
    January 21, 2009 9:33 AM

    I was kinda hoping for something crazy. After the circus yesterday this seems like a pretty tame return volley. Ah well I guess not all video game execs can be legally insane.

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      January 21, 2009 9:39 AM

      this was actually an appropriate response though, haha

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      January 21, 2009 9:42 AM

      Well, Greenberg did make this announcement in his open bathrobe; Chris just cropped the photo.

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        January 21, 2009 9:44 AM

        wow I just clicked the photo to see the rest. I guess Mr Greenburg is living it up in Redmond. And ya it was a well thought out respectful response. Not much fun but taking the high road usually is the best way to avoid giving the enemy ammunition to use against you.

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          January 21, 2009 10:07 AM

          Make Xbox Live free, and you'll completely plow through Sony.

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            January 21, 2009 10:11 AM

            [deleted]

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              January 21, 2009 11:02 AM

              With the momentum the the 360 has right now if MS decided to cut Live cost in half that would cut through the one remaining argument that Sony still has in claiming superiority and it would be a deathblow to the console wars. End Game. $2.50 a month for all you get with Live would just be too good a deal to pass up. Please MS make it happen. You are Simon Belmont holding the stake over the beaten and bloodied Count Dracula. Drive that stake home and claim your prize!

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                January 21, 2009 11:06 AM

                I think if they hadn't taken that huge hit on the red ring warranty stuff they probably would have lowered some of the prices on accessories and Live by now. I don't think they will cut prices on those things until they feel it's absolutely critical.

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            January 21, 2009 10:21 AM

            only real reason i refuse to buy a 360 is the cost of live, if it was free id go pick one up instantly. but im not gonna pay for internet and then pay for the right to use internet on my xbox. ill stick to pc gaming till then.

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              January 21, 2009 10:28 AM

              Well, you know that the only thing you have to actually pay for is online play and early access to some demos right? Everything else is available to everyone.

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              January 21, 2009 10:53 AM

              What a silly reason not to buy a 360.

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                January 21, 2009 11:25 AM

                how is it a shitty reason that i feel ripped off for paying $30 a year for stuff i can get for free on pc.

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                  January 21, 2009 11:41 AM

                  There are quite a few things you can't get on your PC, they are mainly things such as you know the demos will work on your system (your PC might not run something) and the standards of Xbox Live are just great compared to the scattered state of PC games. It isn't a HUGE deal, but well worth the price of xbox live for what you get. Plus it has a huge library of awesome games.

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                  January 21, 2009 12:50 PM

                  Well, that's why you do research on the service instead of just dismissing it outright. Then you'll see why it's worth $30 a year, and even more than that imho.

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              January 21, 2009 10:55 AM

              That's a shitty reason. $30 for a year?

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                January 21, 2009 11:27 AM

                yep considering he probably pays $15+ a month for WoW

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              January 21, 2009 10:59 AM

              Amazon is offering 13 months for $30.

              http://www.xbox360fanboy.com/2009/01/18/amazon-12-1-months-of-live-for-29-97/

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                January 21, 2009 11:05 AM

                It's like $38 if you click through. A better deal but still not the magic $30 yet.

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                  January 21, 2009 11:39 AM

                  It was 30, I just ordered one Sunday. Must have gone back up since then.

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                    January 21, 2009 12:51 PM

                    I bought mine for $29.97 on Monday. Just checked, it's now $38.99...too bad. You snooze you lose.

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          January 21, 2009 1:22 PM

          That chick on the right has done tons of softcore porn (she's the subway girl!) and she's fucking hot.

          Lucky guy :(

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