(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); It’s hard to argue against the fact that the PlayStation 3 has been picking up steam as of late. From getting once-exclusive 360 franchises on the PS3 (Mass Effect 2 comes to mind), to its exclusives being as diverse as they are, From DC Universe Online, LittleBigPlanet 2 to SOCOM 4. The machine is having a good year so far but will it “beat” the Xbox 360 in sales this year? Michael Pachter, Wedbush Securities analyst, doesn’t seem to think so. (via Industrygamers)

Pachter argues that "It's really hard to argue that console sales are tied to release schedules, now that we're in the sixth year of the console cycle. I doubt that many hard core gamers have held off purchasing a PS3 while they waited for Killzone 3 to come out."

He further adds that the only people who have waited are those who planned to buy a console at a price point that’s under $200. He also thinks that there are a lot of these people and that prices are still “stubbornly high.”

Pachter also thinks that Microsoft has gained an advantage with their motion-controller, Kinect. Even comparing that the 4GB Kinect Xbox 360 bundle costs the same as the entry level price point of the PS3 - Thus giving Microsoft a sales advantage.

While Sony can be aggressive in their pricing scheme, Pachter believes it’s not bound to happen soon.

"Sony can retake the advantage if it can afford to lower price and attract the cost-conscious consumer, but I think that they will wait to see what Microsoft does first, then merely match them on pricing, so I expect Microsoft to remain ahead in 2011."

Does Pachter have a point? Will having a price-drop what Sony needs to overtake the 360 in units sold? I personally think it's a mix of aggressive pricing and a having a good gaming catalog that will make or break a game’s “year.”


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