Retailers See Strong PSP Demand
But Sony is still hanging on until it can annnounce a total sell-out.
The official numbers are still coming, but early reports suggest that Sony's PSP has been a hit with Europeans. The portable launched across the territory on Thursday, 1 September, and reports since have shown strong demand.
According to High Street retailer Comet, it has seen the most enthusiastic response in the north of the country, which was responsible for more than a third of all PSP sales. Somewhat surprisingly, demand was almost half that in the south.
In Sony's worst-case scenario, the relative indifference in the south could be due to the large number of people who bought imported PSPs already, thanks to the constant availability of so-called grey imports, but there are no firm numbers on how much of an influence this actually had.
Outside of Comet, other stores across the capital have reported good sales of the PSP. At Virgin Megastore on Oxford Street, the retailer, which received around 400 PSPs, had sold 95 per cent of its stock by the end of the first day. Similar anecdotal reports have been received from several other retailers.
Sony will no doubt have a press release out as soon as a sell-out is official. Software sales figures will be available later this week.
Alex Wollenschlaeger
Editor, Kikizo Games
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