Another day, another stack of games console sales figures to argue over. Microsoft were first out of the blocks, claiming that the 360 outsold the PS3 by three to one on Black Friday. Surprised? Xbox head Don Mattrick wasn't.
Record Black Friday sales in the US coupled with our existing global install base of 25 million have laid the groundwork for continued global sales momentum in 2009.
Price cuts – down to the important $200 price point in the US - and a decent release schedule – though it isn't massively superior to the PS3's - have helped, but the 360 has always done well on home territory. The European Christmas sales figures will be a lot more interesting.
And then there is the Wii. Nintendo's console is almost certain to have won the Black Friday sales battle and is certain to win the war this Christmas. And analysts have now – rather conservatively - estimated that each Wii console makes $6 of profit for Nintendo. This compares favourably to Sony, who lose money on every PlayStation 3 sold.
So what have we learnt today? That the 360 is big in the US? That the PS3 is long-term project for Sony? That the Wii is omnipresent and actually makes money? No changes there then.
