Wii Sells Fewer Games per Console than Xbox 360, PS3

Thu Nov 1, 2007 11:30AM EDT

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New sales figures indicate that gamers are buying more than 6.5 games for every Xbox 360 console sold, versus barely 3.5 titles for each Wii—numbers that add more fuel to the "Wii is just a fad" fire.

Joystiq has a report on the latest sales figures from gaming-industry research group NPD, which has calculated "hardware to software" ratios based on the total number of console and game-title sales for each platform. The results? So far, it's a landslide for the Xbox 360, with a total of 6.8 million consoles and 44.8 million games sold, for a hardware-to-software ratio of 6.59:1. Next up? The PlayStation 3, with a ratio of 3.58:1 (6.8 million games and 1.9 million consoles sold). Bringing up the rear is the Wii, with a hardware-to-software ratio of 3.44 (15.5 million games, 4.5 million consoles). Joystiq points out that the Wii's figures include (and are, arguably, inflated by) Wii Play, a title that comes bundled with sold-separately Wiimote controllers. Take out the Wii Play numbers, and the Wii's hardware-to-software ratio drops to about 3:1.

Of course, like all raw statistics, these numbers are totally open to interpretation. You could argue that the Xbox 360 had a year's head start on both the Wii and the PS3, which means there are more games—and more attractive choices—for gamers, hence the higher games-to-consoles ratio. On the other hand, the report also bolsters the fears of gaming developers (reported in Chris Null's post) that the same people who are buying Wii consoles like hotcakes aren't actively playing them, or that they're content to play Wii Sports over and over.

So I'll ask the same question that Chris posed in his post: how many games do you Wii'ers have at home? Planning on buying any more?

Related:
360 leads hardware to software ratio, Wii and PS3 trail with similar ratios [Joystiq]

Comments on Wii Sells Fewer Games per Console than Xbox 360, PS3

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  • 1 Posted by darleneclark2 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 3:36PM EDT Report Abuse

    We have 4 Wii games right now (bought one just today). We plan to buy more at Christmas. I hope the Wii isn't a fad. It has so much potential.

  • 2 Posted by devilsfan19952000 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 3:42PM EDT Report Abuse

    Are they considering the older games that are downloaded on to the Wii? Have you heard anything about the possibility of being able to download new titles?

  • 3 Posted by munoz.ma on Thu Sep 3, 2009 7:30PM EDT Report Abuse

    i do plan to buy more games, but the ones that are included in the system are very addictive. i've also downloaded the older games as well, those should be included in the figures seeing in how the other consoles don't offer that luxury.

  • 4 Posted by countryliving_50 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 3:30PM EDT Report Abuse

    Wii is head over heels ahead of the Xbox & PS3. There is no comparison. The games are addicting and fun. Of course I plan to buy more games, but the 4 that I have are great and I am waiting for the new Mario Galaxy game..

  • 5 Posted by cmui1978 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 3:27PM EDT Report Abuse

    I am really interested to know the total number of titles available to Wii...

  • 7 Posted by mjsswim on Thu Sep 3, 2009 7:23PM EDT Report Abuse

    I have one game in addition to Wii Sports. I'm happy with playing the occasional tennis game. And anticipate having bowling parties. I'm a casual gamer, but my Wii is and will continue to be important to me for quite some time.

  • 8 Posted by freeman48083 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:03PM EDT Report Abuse

    Did anyone conclude that better games (for Wii) means that people don't get bored as quickly and hence don't need to buy another game so soon? Games that are fun, have staying power.

  • 9 Posted by bat.attack on Thu Sep 3, 2009 3:02PM EDT Report Abuse

    I have somwhere betwwn 10 and 15 and I plan on getting alote more.

  • 10 Posted by reebs07 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 8:35PM EDT Report Abuse

    if the downloaded games were included i'm sure the 360 would be winning by even more. you can get older games for all three consoles. and no the wii isnt head over heels over the competition. come on i have games on my psp than look just as good as some games on the wii. the only thing the wii has is the wiimote, and serious gamers get sick of the thing as i did, which made me sell it. wii isnt next gen its just a fad. i'm guessing that a lot of people that bought the wii did so because it was alot cheaper than the other 2 and they simply couldent afford one of the better consoles. which is also a reason there are less games per console as they cant afford a bunch of games. not saying everyone that has a wii is poor, only that the salary to console ratio is also lower on the wii. it is only going to get worse for the wii as the ps3 is making a seriously awesome ad campaign joined with great upcoming games, and of course the price cut. so alot of people are gonna see you can get a whole usage out of a ps3 with all the other stuff built in to the console for only a little over a hundred more. wii cant even play dvd's yet ps3 can and play blu-ray discs as well. both of my next gen consoles are the ones that are gonna be leaving your wii in the dust. also another reason for so little games to console for the wii is lack of good games, i got sick of mario after the n64. only 2 games i would even waste time playing on the wii are zelda and metroid, i'm not the only one who sees this and it shows with the numbers up above. long rant sorry i've just gotten so sick of nintendo fanboys i cant help myself.

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