Sony PlayStation 3 global sales hit 70 million

November 16, 2012

Sony said Friday it sold its 70 millionth PlayStation 3 console earlier this month, a major milestone for the game console that failed to match the popularity of its predecessor but survived a rocky history to become a hit product for the company. The PlayStation 3 went on sale in November 2006. The console's smash-hit predecessor, the PlayStation 2, shipped over 100 million units in the six years after its launch in March 2000. The PS 3 launched after six-month delay, and faced immediate competition from Nintendo's Wii, a far cheaper alternative that introduced the concept of motion controllers to the gaming masses. Sony's console features a custom central processor developed with IBM and Toshiba, the powerful Cell chip, that took years and millions of dollars to develop. Initial reviews of the console were cautiously optimistic, based on its potential more than the reality of the few games available at launch, but some were critical of how its introduction was handled. PCWorld rated the PS 3 one its "Top 21 Tech Screwups of 2006," criticizing its late launch and high price. To read this article in full or to leave a comment, please click here

Link: http://www.pcworld.com/article/2014290/sony-playstation-3-global-sales-hit-70-million.html