PS3 over 500,000 in the Middle East

For PlayStation®3, the global installed base of which is approximately 30 million units with more than half a million units in the Middle East

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Ps3 at 450,000 in the Middle East

Sony Gulf claim 450,000 PS3s sold (almost certainly to retail) as of December 2009, with 350,000 PSN accounts. Presumably the PSN accounts also include PSP owners.

Based on those figures, the firm claims the PS3 is "easily the best-selling next-gen console".

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Middle Eastern installed base estimates

MCV's full Middle Eastern Market Report can be read on page 32 of this PDF.

MARKET OVERVIEW

Chris Stanton-Jones of emerging markets specialists Catapult Business Solutions provides us with a detailed look at the Middle East games market…

The video games business in the Middle East is thriving. Driven by the favourable economic conditions of high oil revenues, foreign investment and a population explosion.

However, in 2009 trading has been tough, particularly in the first half of the year, and consumer spending, particularly in UAE, was severely hit. Hardware revenues will be down in 2009 but software revenues should rise in the region of 14 to 18 per cent.

Consoles performing well with year-on-year sales increases are PS3, 360, PSP and Wii. PS2 and PC formats are in decline. Software-wise PS3 continues to be the main source of revenue for the games business thanks to it being the only format which has not been pirated.

What’s driving the market is a maturing retail sector fuelled by both the mall culture and the growing presence of Western retailers. Furthermore, whilst Western markets have one peak selling period, the Middle East has two. The first is the October to December period, and the second is in the summer when high temperatures force families to take shelter in the cool of their airconditioned homes or shopping malls.

Piracy still continues to be the regions’ biggest issue.

United Arab Emirates hardware market up in 2009 (GfK)

Image Credit: Source: GFK Retail and Technology

Hardware unit sales are forecast to increase from 376,464 in 2008 to 404,344 in 2009 and to 444,778 in 2010 according to GfK.

In terms of value the hardware market is expected to increase from $72,326,000 in 2008 to $74,057,000 in 2009 and to $74,797,000 in 2010.

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"PS3 enjoys strong sales in Middle East"

An interesting article on the Middle East;

"At least 20,000 to 25,000 PS3s have been sold in developing countries this year and 80 per cent of that was in the Middle East."

According to Sony, the entire gaming market in the Middle East, including hardware and software, is worth $750m, and the Middle East market is worth at least $250m to the company.

Back in September 2008 Eidos creative director Ian Livingstone gave the keynote speech at Games ‘08 in Dubai, in which he revealed some Playstation lifetime sales in the region;

PS2 - 4,000,000
PSP - 1,000,000
PS3 - 200,000

“PlayStation is the dominant brand with significant installed bases in the Gulf Co-operation Council with over four million PS2s, over one million PSPs and around 200,000 PS3s” he said.

“The Middle Eastern video games market today is worth $750m, of which $600m is made up of hardware and peripherals