Let’s face the reality. Even if a lot of people doesn’t want to admit it. they have been disappointed more than once by the poor performance of the latest Sony console. 2007 can be easily considered as the worst year for the PlayStation brand. The sales are depressing, Sony “Father” Ken Kutaragi got kicked out from the company, all the “hits” have been smashed by the critics and media, let’s take a look of why the 2007 is something that no PS fan would like to remember.
Lair:

Average ratio: 54/100
# copies sold: 163k in 13 weeks.
Heavenly Sword:

Average ratio: 79/100
# copies sold: 212k in 11 weeks.
Loco Roco Cocoreccho:

Average ratio: 71/100
# copies sold: N/A
Folklore:

Average ratio: 74/100
# copies sold: 66k in 7 weeks.
Ratchet & Clank Future:

Average ratio: 89/100
# copies sold: 180k in 5 weeks.
Uncharted: Drake’s Fortune:

Average ratio: 89/100
# copies sold: 75k in debut week.
The Eye of Judgment:

Average ratio: 74/100
# copies sold: 72k in 5 weeks.
Warhawk:

Average ratio: 84/100
# copies sold: 166k in 13 weeks (bundle version).
As everybody can see, most, if not all of the PS3 first-party games have failed in some way. Let’s take for example Lair, arguably the biggest disappointmend of the year, which got a mediocre average ratio of 54/100 and basically bombed in retailers selling only 163k in 13 weeks. Heavenly Sword, portrayed numerous times by Sony like one of the first “next-gen” experiences, and an AAA game. What was the result? a game with a decent average of 79/100 wich also bombed in retailers selling barely 210k. Folklore, probably nobody was expecting something really big from this game, and that’s reflected in the sales; 66k in more than one month.
Ok, probably the reason of why those games are selling so poor it’s because people consider them mediocre. But, what’s wrong with the Sony consumer? Even the highest rated games of the console have sold really low numbers, take for example the Imsomniac game; Ratchet & Clank future. This one, being the highest rated game of the PS3 only sold around 200k in more than 4 weeks. Also, Uncharted Drake’s Fortune debuted with an inexcusable 75k.
Those 2 games are below the average of what Metacritic considers an AAA title, but, even if they don’t are high-quality software, they are by no means bad games. So what’s wrong with the sales? Publicity? No. Every month you see gigantic advertisments for PS3 games in popular American magazines such as MAD, Electronic Gaming Monthly, Playboy, Game Informer, etc. and the sales are still disappointing.
The same happens with the hardware sales. Honestly, I don’t believe that 5.000.000 around the world in 1 year is something to be proud of. Not even the reduced prices are working well for the PS3 in America, where the Microsoft console it’s outselling the PS3 by a considerable margin. Nintendo Wii, a console that’s being sold only in bundles that cost more than the PS3 is selling incredible well too. (Wal-Mart). So there’s no excuse for Sony.
Sony, you have 2 rivals that get exclusive triple A games frequently, and are selling software in amazing rates. What’s wrong with you? Do you wanna be considered a failure such as the Sega Dreamcast? or the Atari Jaguar? If you don’t wanna end like one of those consoles, you better have to start making some quality software and get back your audience that probably is getting more fun with the competition.
Thanks to Metacritic for the averages and the NPD & VGChartz for the sales.