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Software industry

Consumer Expectations Portend Potential Market Share Shift for Sony, Microsoft, and Nintendo

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

The results of an Ipsos Insight study, conducted between August 21 and 28, 2006, show that consumer expectations surrounding next-generation video gaming consoles, including the PlayStation 3 (PS3), Xbox 360, and Nintendo Wii, may lead to a potential market share shift for Sony, Microsoft, and Nintendo. The study, sponsored by Immersion Corporation, gathered data from 1,075 respondents aged 18 and older who own a video game console and play games for more than four hours each week.

Key Takeaways:

  • Almost three in four respondents (72 percent) agree that rumble/vibration feedback enhances their game experience, and 83 percent consider it "important" or "very important" that the new version of a video game console offer backward compatibility for video games made for the previous console version.
  • The study highlights that gamers of a wide range of console game genres, such as racing, action/adventure, first-person shooter, fighting, and sports, value vibration feedback as a positive part of the gaming experience.
  • More than four out of every five gamers surveyed (83 percent) feel that it is "important" or "very important" that the new version of a video game console offer backward compatibility for video games made for the previous console version.
  • The majority of previous-generation consoles owned by respondents are PS1/PS2 (61 percent), followed by Xbox (20 percent), and GameCube (19 percent).
  • Microsoft may be poised to gain ground in the coming year, with a possible decrease to 48 percent share of next-generation consoles units for PS3 by summer 2007, compared to an increase to 37 percent for Xbox 360, and a decrease to 15 percent for Wii.
  • The lack of vibration feedback on the PS3 may affect ps3 sales, with 5 percent of people indicating that they will definitely not buy the PS3, and 32 percent are somewhat less likely to purchase.
  • A majority of console gamers use rumble/vibration quite regularly and clearly value it, and a majority expect existing rumble/vibration capability to carry forward to the PS3.
  • The price premium for the PS3 may be a potentially hidden but pervasive risk factor attached to their release strategy.

Statistics:

  • 72 percent of gamers agree that rumble/vibration feedback enhances their game experience.
  • 83 percent consider it "important" or "very important" that the new version of a video game console offer backward compatibility for video games made for the previous console version.
  • 61 percent of previous-generation consoles owned by respondents are PS1/PS2.
  • 20 percent of previous-generation consoles owned by respondents are Xbox.
  • 19 percent of previous-generation consoles owned by respondents are GameCube.
  • 48 percent share of next-generation consoles units for PS3 by summer 2007.
  • 37 percent increase to for Xbox 360 by summer 2007.
  • 15 percent decrease to for Wii by summer 2007.

Sources:

  • Ipsos Insight study, "Ipsos Insight Study Shows Consumer Expectations Of PS3, Xbox 360, And Wii Portend Potential Market Share Shift For Sony, Microsoft, And Nintendo"
  • PR Newswire, "Ipsos Insight Study Shows Consumer Expectations Of PS3, Xbox 360, And Wii Portend Potential Market Share Shift For Sony, Microsoft, And Nintendo"
  • The Entertainment Software Association (ESA)
  • The NPD Group

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