Sony, Nintendo and Microsoft Respond to June NPD Data

NPD revealed sales figures for software and hardware for the month of June earlier today, and the results were dramatically predictable. As expected, the DS took home the honours of being at the top spot, with the Xbox 360 edging out the Wii for a first place victory, spurred no doubt by the release of the new redesign. Sony performed dismally, with the PS3 and the PSP bringing in the rear.

Of course, Sony isn’t bothered in the least by the PS3’s momentary advantage fading away. Pointing to the fact that the PS3 has had eleven consecutive months of year by year increase in console unit sales, Sony said, ”

Videogames are fuelling new innovation for the entire consumer entertainment category, and today’s numbers are a testament to the big impact we’ll play this holiday,” said Sony America’s Patrick Seybold.

“With a healthy flow of PS3s back in the channel, and 11 months of PS3’s consecutive growth behind us, we’re confident the PS3 will become the main entertainment hub for many new consumers this year and provide countless reasons to congregate in the living room.”

He pointed out, yet again, to the Move and 3D gaming as the reason why the PS3 would soon achieve unprecedented sales, calling both features groundbreaking (never mind the fact that the Move is largely a Wiimote rip off).

On the other hand, Microsoft finally had something to boast about after months of feeling the heat of the PS3 chipping away at the 360’s lead. “Retail demand for the new Xbox 360 250GB console remains high, and retailers continue to order as many units as Microsoft is able to supply,” said the company in a statement. “Collectively, Microsoft has also heard from retailers around the US that Kinect and its related games are a top priority this holiday,” Ballmer’s bunch added.

And then there was Nintendo. Ending up in first place has become quite the habit for them, and while they were trumped this month in the console arena, they still led on the total hardware sales front. Of course, they’re happy about it.

“Consumers continue to look to Nintendo for exceptional value and one-of-a-kind gaming experiences,” said Nintendo of America’s Cammie Dunaway. “Between games like Super Mario Galaxy 2, the pioneering motion controls of the Wii system and the portable fun of Nintendo DS systems, Nintendo offers something for everyone.

“As we prepare to launch a remarkable line-up of new games in the second half of the year, we are grateful that consumers are supporting Nintendo consoles to continue their run as the nation’s most popular game systems.”

Well, looks like all three believe they’re gonna take the cake this holiday season. With all three consoles lined up with what are probably the biggest titles in their lifespans so far, it should provide for an interesting duel.

Incidentally, here are some more numbers, for those who like to crunch on statistics:

The lifetime sales of the Playstation 3 in the US stands at 13 million units sold. The PSP is barely ahead at 17 million units sold.

The Xbox 360 has a US lifetime tally of 20.6 million units sold, of which 1.9 million units were moved in the first half of this year.

Finally, Nintendo has sold a whopping 42 million DS’s un the US so far, with the Wii, standing at 29.5 million, inching ever closer to that elusive 30 million mark.