Distribution Across the Consoles

Let us put aside inter-console software categories (like PSP vs. PS3) and examine the release schedules for all the consoles against each other and together. The next graph shows how many titles have been released for each console's online service, bi-annually:

The Virtual Console has been a real boon to the Nintendo Wii, giving it a strong catalog of software, as shown above.

However, it is worth noting that the Nintendo Wii did not receive any original, Wii-specific software until the launch of WiiWare in 1H08. By comparison, the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 both launched with original software on their services, and only later offered titles for older systems.

The graph below shows the same data slightly differently. It reveals the trend noted earlier: overall software releases are down in the first half of 2008 compared to the second half of 2007.

(Remember that half of the games offered on the PS Store in 1H08 require a PSP and cannot be played on the PS3 itself.)

In twelve months we will take another survey of the software releases on these service. By that time we will have enough data to see how the service providers are handling the holiday season, whether Sony has turned around the trend in PlayStation 3 games on its service, how far Microsoft chooses to go with its Xbox Originals line of software, and whether WiiWare will take over Nintendo's digitally distributed software completely.

As interesting as the past year has been, the next one promises even more.