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Ubisoft Reckons The PS3 Faces An “Uphill Struggle” In The UK

Ubisoft UK Reckon Sony Have A Tough Task In The Region.

Ubisoft UK Reckon Sony Have A Tough Task In The Region.

Ubisoft’s British marketing boss Murray Pannel has stated his belief that the Playstation 3 faces an uphill struggle in the UK. However he did concede that the brand name still carries enormous weight throughout the region.

Speaking to GamesIndustry.biz, the former Microsoft employee of six years said:

“So if I’m just looking at the UK specifically, we all know that Nintendo has done an amazing job, the 360 has solidified its position and is still doing well, and PlayStation I think would say themselves that they would have liked to have sold more hardware units.”

“Coming at it from a platform perspective, when I was at Xbox we never underestimated the power of the brand for PlayStation – despite the hiccups they had at launch, and the price particularly, there’s still a latent demand for that product. And if they can get their value proposition right in terms of pricing and online, and a software line-up that’s unbeatable, they’re still a force to be reckoned with.”

“But they will take a long time to even get their installed base up to that of the Xbox, let alone Nintendo’s level, so they’ve got an uphill struggle in the UK,” he continued.

“Obviously we support all platforms, and frankly, the more installed base you’ve got, the more games you can sell. So we’d rather have all the platform holders growing the IP as much as they can, so there are more people playing games that we can sell to.”

“That’s very much our hope, and we support all the platform holders where we can to push that, if that’s exclusive games, or specific games for specific platforms to help drive those to new audiences.”

He then continued to talk about the state of the economy and how he feels the games industry as a whole can grow once again in the coming year. With Sony’s platform currently the most expensive, there’s no doubt that the Playstation has a fight on its hands for supremacy. Alas, that system really is built to last.

  • SCOOB101
    Have you noticed that the PS3 faithful always refer to *unreleased* games as proof that their console is superior?

    I wonder why that is??
  • Bob
    Unbiased has hit the nail on the head.

    Although he didn't realise he was using an egg, instead of a hammer.
  • Michael
    The PS3 is a premium console selling at a premium price. With signs that the recession is likely to fade by the end of the year, not only will Sony garner more new users, but will also gain users who are upgrading from their xbox to play Killzone 2, inFamous, 'Uncharted 2', MAG, Heavy Rain, God of War 3 and ultimately GT5.

    Rumours suggest a Ps3 price cut for the xmas holidays and this will only re-enforce the PS3 position.

    Most developers are now coming out to admit that the xbox is maxed out. It had a good run, and is now slipping to 'entry level' status alongside the PS2 (Which also has great games. Resi 4 and SOTC are 2 of my favourites)

    Meanwhile I've just completed the superb 'inFamous', one of the funnest games I've played since Uncharted: Drakes Fortune and I'm now patiently waiting for 'Batman: Arkham Asylum (complete with 'play as Joker' areas) and the DLC for Fallout 3. Now exclusive to both consoles ;-)
    I'm guessing that the exclusive Joker thing will make it's way over to xbox in time too.
  • SCOOB101
    "Yet despite all these factors the PS3 is still OUTSELLING the 360."

    Erm, no. The reality is much different.

    PS3 trails 360 sales globally by around 7.5 million units. Based on their *current* sales volumes, it`ll take until the end of the much touted "10 year lifespan" to get neck-and neck. The idea of the PS3 outselling the 360 right now is pure fantasy.

    Please, check the data for yourself, its plastered everywhere, including here::

    http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=newsarch...
  • John
    Unbiased has hit the nail on the head.
  • Unbiased
    I stopped reading at "the former Microsoft employee of six years"

    Fact is Sony launched in Europe a full 16 months after the 360 and now they are virtually identical in terms of hardware sales. Adjust global hardware figures to assume a joint launch and the PS3 has sold 3-4 million more than the 360.

    That alone makes his comment nul and void. Seems those six years at the big M left an impression on him...

    Let's just break that down a bit more - 360 launches as the only next gen console with no competition, is relatively cheap for the basic setup, has quite a few launch games, has MS's big pot of advertising money, has the press and blogsphere eating out of their hands. PS3 launches up against and established Wii and 360 competitors, is relatively expensive, is critised for lack of launch games, doesn't have the money to advertise, and is subject to a torrent of negative press. Yet despite all these factors the PS3 is still OUTSELLING the 360.

    Look forward 12 months in which time we'll have events like Uncharted 2, MAG, Heavy Rain, God of War III, possibly GT5 launching, the motion controller launching, and crucially the 3rd year price cut (possibly with redesigned hardware) and I think you'll be looking at a different picture.

    I don't expect them to catch the Wii (unless their motion controller really really takes off) but I'm pretty certain the Microsoft will finish in last place again - the only reason they aren't last now is the fact they rushed to market (at the expense of hardware quality) in order to buld up an artificial lead.
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