As 2005 is expected to be the year of the handhelds, let's have a look at how the main next-generation handheld video game consoles have managed to perform in a market which used to be a Nintendo monopoly.
Although the main two rivals are Nintendo's Dual Screen DS and Sony's powerhouse, the PSP, we have to remember that Gizmondo has been busy in securing deals and promoting its handheld and has managed, so far, to be the surprise hardware of the year, even though it is currently only available in the U.K.
The only way anyone can obtain any meaningful results regarding sales of the two main handheld rivals is to forget the rest of the world and focus on the Japanese market were both devices are currently available.
The final figures then for 2004 are as follows:
Nintendo DS has sold 1,286,007 units while
Sony PSP has sold 352,295 units.
Although the figures point to massive Nintendo DS sales, we have to consider that these figures are but the tip of the iceberg since Nintendo has predicted that U.S. sales of the DS in 2004 will be around the 1.6 million figure.
Before everyone goes off celebrating an overwhelming Nintendo victory some parameters regarding the figures have to be considered. In Japan, the DS has been available since December 2, 2004 and in the U.S. it launched November 21, 2004 while the PSP was only available in Japan since December 12, 2004. Another important piece of information is that Sony experienced tremendous shortage problems with the PSP, leaving many hopeful customers empty handed over the holiday period. The price may have affected sales but the USD 50 separating the two handhelds is unlikely to change by much in the near future.
Finally we all have to remember that the handheld market has been Nintendo's stronghold for over a gaming generation and the company is unlikely to relinquish control easily.
When however, you see Sony knocking at your door you have to be concerned even though both competitors vehemently insist that their products are not and will not be in direct competition.
