Sony clarifies 14 million-user PSN milestone

Sony confirms its recently announced network numbers include accounts from both the PlayStation 3 and PSP, but no duplicates; analyst estimates 50 percent of PS3s have gone online.

On Tuesday, Sony made a stir when it announced that its free PlayStation Network had attained 14 million "active users." The number, revealed to celebrate the PlayStation 3's second birthday, was remarkable, as it appeared to match the 14-million-strong subscriber base for the pay-to-play Xbox Live. Microsoft's online service launched in 2002 and has been a central pillar of its strategy since the Xbox 360 launched in 2005, one year before the PS3.

Three days later, Sony has now clarified what exactly it counts as an active PlayStation Network user. "Seeing as PlayStation Portable does include PlayStation Network services (i.e. games store natively on PSP), yes those numbers do include all PlayStation Network registrations," said a Sony representative.

The rep also said, to guard against duplication, Sony does not count a registration made on the PS3 and then used on the PSP (or vice versa) as two accounts. Like with Xbox Live, the figure also includes multiple accounts used on the same console or in the same household.

So how many PSN users are logging on via the PS3? Sony declined to release any specific numbers, preferring to play up the PS3's rising registration rate. "We've seen an increase in unique [PS3] consoles registered for PSN compared to the sell through rate, which means we are seeing more PlayStation 3 owners who didn't previously register, do so lately, based on the new features we've added to PSN, such as Video Store and Trophies," said the rep.

IDC game-industry analyst Billy Pidgeon concurs, estimating that PS3 PSN registration has skyrocketed 160 percent since January 2008. That said, he still estimates that only around 50 percent of PS3s have logged onto PSN, versus 60 percent for Xbox Live. With Sony announcing last month that 17 million PS3s have been sold worldwide, Pidgeon's estimate pegs the number of PS3-based PSN users at 8.5 million, not 14 million. "Remember, though, they're not claiming that every account is a connected PS3," he told GameSpot.

However, as a veteran of game-industry analysis, Pidgeon knows that the tide can turn. "Sony has released some numbers for SOCOM and Resistance 2 that are pretty impressive in terms of concurrent users," he elaborated. "It's got a ways to go until they get to the level where they're putting out their PSN IDs, but that's changing with Little Big Planet. When the beta for that launched, that's when people really started wanting to connect with people online, and that's really promising."

319 Comments

  • fps_d0minat0r

    Posted Feb 26, 2009 5:49 am GMT

    lol PSN accounts beat XBL gold accounts.

    more online palyers on PSN and plus Home kicked XBL's ass.

    xbox only had 1 decent game last year, that was gears and it was only 10 players, how pathetic.....i thought XBL was better.....how comes it cant even offer 30 players???

    and what about GTA4 DLC everyone was hyping.....turned out to be £15 hahahaha what a ripper......id rather get killzone for £30.

    and who cares if sony are making a loss?? their not gonna close down are they? thier just gonna be bailed out like the car industry........PS3 will always have better exclusives.

    killzone, god of war and gran turismo them selves will pwn Xbox's lineup of 09.

    xbox started with a failure, halo wars....whats next lol...oh yh the little expansion for a game 2 years old with lame graphics and doenst even do 720p......yep your right, its halo 3.

  • ROCKINGFOOL

    Posted Dec 3, 2008 11:11 am GMT

    sony lied OMG i cant believe it ............

  • Autolycus

    Posted Nov 26, 2008 7:34 am GMT

    akiwak

    Posted Nov 25, 2008 5:38 pm PT

    I wonder how many read the fine print in the terms and conditions to sign up for LIVE. I didn't cause I bought a card but in order to activate the card I needed to buy 1 month online then the card could be redeemed. Well after 8 months I stopped playing LIVE in September 07 my term finished and I thought I was done but no MS been charging me 7.99 a month and I just never paid attention to it. If you sign up online you are signing a lifetime contract with your credit card so watch out!!!!
    -----


    Then you screwed up because when my 13 month card that I purchased ran out.... my service stopped.

  • MagicOneUp

    Posted Nov 25, 2008 9:54 pm GMT

    Its just reminded me about how rumble was "last gen"... and now the dualshock3 shelling out for $99au when 360 wireless (with rumble standard) controller for $70au... sony are at it again... 14 million... dream on

  • MagicOneUp

    Posted Nov 25, 2008 9:42 pm GMT

    14 million "active users"??? its hard to believe anything sony says. Even so, they have to give it for free or so. its more like One million active users...

  • akiwak

    Posted Nov 25, 2008 5:59 pm GMT

    All 3 companies are having epic failures why we tend to focus on one is beyond me. I guess fanboys need a place to feel good about themselves. I personally really like the competition right now and and what all 3 companies bring to the table. This is a great time to be a gamer because should you ever be let down by one company you have 2 others to choose from, so please stop coming here bashing one company when the company you are praising has also had its faults.
    Getting back to the PSN:
    I created a PSN for my wife and put things that she enjoys and I now find her every once in a while exploring the PSN store. Also I bought some games with her in mind and I'll see her playing them from time to time. My 4 year old also has his own PSN and already knows how to log in and play his favorite games. He has been playing Lego Star Wars and I'm surprised at what he is able to do. I only had to help him out in the POD Racing scene so far and that took me some time to figure out.

  • akiwak

    Posted Nov 25, 2008 5:38 pm GMT

    I wonder how many read the fine print in the terms and conditions to sign up for LIVE. I didn't cause I bought a card but in order to activate the card I needed to buy 1 month online then the card could be redeemed. Well after 8 months I stopped playing LIVE in September 07 my term finished and I thought I was done but no MS been charging me 7.99 a month and I just never paid attention to it. If you sign up online you are signing a lifetime contract with your credit card so watch out!!!!

  • Autolycus

    Posted Nov 25, 2008 1:10 pm GMT

    @Fareru



    You right, in that view it's not an epic failure, but Sony has been their own worst enemy from the start of the PS3. Promising it can do things that it simply can not (being busted a gaming convention/show using prerendered (aka CGI) to make Killzone 2 appear awesome on the PS3. And then even after doing that a second time, they were caught showing another demo on a X86 CPU with a better NVIDIA gfx card then the PS3 has).



    In doing so, consumers got a fake idea of what the PS3 was capable of. Then continuing down a bad path, Sony had a difficult time convincing consumers what exactly the PS3 was going to be a game console or a media server by showing that they can run Linux on it and host all types of different files.



    Then continuing down that confusing path, they failed to lock exclusives because they thought the fact that they are Sony was enough. The failed to get a good developer kit out in time to developers and the failed to do research on how the CeLL processor would function on gaming functions (not very good at all, if you dont know)., compared the even the Wii or the Xenon's in the 360.



    They failed to give developers what they needed, instead giving the system 256 mb of shared memory between the GPU and CPU, all on top of a difficult API (application programmable interface).



    Continuing to confuse consumers by showing them how great 1080p was in on Blu-Ray (which is the main purpose of the PS3, not gaming). Launched TV across the world, that don't show anything about games and the PS3 but more so 3 or 4 different movies including Spider-Man (big money maker for Sony).



    Making a big press statement about how the future of gaming isn't about rumbling and making a last second change by adding the SIX-AXIS function which doesnt detect MOTION and only angles, tilt, yaw, etc. to only add the Rumble Feature a year later and strip the PS3 of the ability to play ps2 games without the developers making an effort to create some downloadable pack/wrapper to play it.



    If that doesn't show how Sony has gotten into the mess they are in (financially and in their foot in the video game industry) I don't know what does.

  • Fareru

    Posted Nov 25, 2008 8:18 am GMT

    @ Autolycus

    This may be true, Blu-Ray may not be quite what Sony expected, but I'm refering to an absolute failure. It may be failing at certain aspects of its release, but it hasn't dropped out, stopped production, and producers are still making games for it. You are right in the aspects of blu-ray failing, but I'm talking about a total failure to the point of dropping out of the race and not having a successor. I hope that actually made sense... Although, I personally do enjoy Blu-Ray, although part of this is the fact that I never started a DVD collection so I'm not really re-buying movies when I buy into Blu-Ray... I certainly see what you're saying though.

  • Autolycus

    Posted Nov 25, 2008 6:58 am GMT

    Fareru

    Posted Nov 24, 2008 5:13 pm PT

    It's kind of funny to see people saying the PS3 failed... I mean, it's still selling, people are still making games for it, it still has third party support.

    ------


    Thats all according to Sony which is known for stretching the truth. It's not hard to look at the PS2 and compare it to the PS3 and see that the PS3 is a complete epic failure.



    Sony's goal with the PS3 was to help make Blu-Ray a standard. And while it's a standard in the high def media (not including downloads), consumers still don't see a demand for Blu-Ray which is throwing a big monkey wrench into the Sony's plans for Blu-Ray



    Sony has spent more money, then in the ENTIRE HISTORY of Sony to make sure that that Blu-Ray become a standard. It's still falling WAYYYYY short of Sony's expectation and Sony still needs to make up for what they lost get get Blu-Ray where it is now. Just another format. I can tell you first hand, I would rather download a 1080p high def and play it on my 360 or any HTPC (including the PS3) then pay 25-40 dollars for a movie that I already have on DVD.

  • Autolycus

    Posted Nov 25, 2008 6:46 am GMT

    yawn, Sony blowing more smoke up everyone's arse

  • drsnobby

    Posted Nov 25, 2008 2:55 am GMT

    @brumley October 2008 Hardware Sales Wii -- 803,000 Nintendo DS -- 491,000 Xbox 360 -- 371,000 PlayStation Portable -- 193,000 PlayStation 3 -- 190,000 PlayStation 2 -- 136,000 October 2008 Software Sales Fable 2 (360) -- 790,000 Wii Fit (Wii) -- 487,000 Fallout 3 (360) -- 375,000 Mario Kart Wii (Wii) -- 290,000 Wii Play (Wii) -- 282,000 Saints Row 2 (360) -- 270,000 SOCOM: Confrontation (PS3) -- 231,000 Little Big Planet (PS3) -- 215,000 NBA 2K9 (360) -- 202,000 Dead Space (360) -- 193,000 how is microsoft not making a profit? it,s the PS3 that is losing money.,get your facts straight sir

  • brumley53

    Posted Nov 25, 2008 1:44 am GMT

    Its funny when people say that sony arent making much profit on the ps3 and while that is true microsoft is continually losing money on every sale of the xbox 360.

  • Humorguy_basic

    Posted Nov 25, 2008 12:30 am GMT

    Just a little insight to the number juggling to show there are not necessarily 11 million WoW subscribers, etc. What this shows above all else, is how little regulation there is on the web and how numbers just cannot be trusted - especially when they are big numbers!

  • Xion3362

    Posted Nov 24, 2008 7:55 pm GMT

    I signed up when I received my PS3 then I added my kids after LittleBigPlanet was released. A bit time consuming, but they enjoy it. I guess we are four of the 14 million (or whatever).

  • Fareru

    Posted Nov 24, 2008 5:13 pm GMT

    It's kind of funny to see people saying the PS3 failed... I mean, it's still selling, people are still making games for it, it still has third party support. Yep... sounds like a failure to me.

    None of the consoles have failed yet, we won't know which ones failed until we see which ones don't get a sequel in the next gen.

  • GUTZandRAGE

    Posted Nov 24, 2008 5:04 pm GMT

    50% on a free service? Come on now.

  • starphaser

    Posted Nov 24, 2008 4:36 pm GMT

    @mixcal

    sorry to bring this up, but do you know what thread programming is? do you know anything about v0, v1, v2, etc? if you knew about that, you'd know that the playstation 3 is far superior when compared to the xbox 360 in terms of pure raw power.

  • drsnobby

    Posted Nov 24, 2008 4:19 pm GMT

    This story is just spin.take a look at reality. October 2008 Software Sales Fable 2 (360) -- 790,000 Wii Fit (Wii) -- 487,000 Fallout 3 (360) -- 375,000 Mario Kart Wii (Wii) -- 290,000 Wii Play (Wii) -- 282,000 Saints Row 2 (360) -- 270,000 SOCOM: Confrontation (PS3) -- 231,000 Little Big Planet (PS3) -- 215,000 NBA 2K9 (360) -- 202,000 Dead Space (360) -- 193,000 October 2008 Hardware Sales Wii -- 803,000 Nintendo DS -- 491,000 Xbox 360 -- 371,000 PlayStation Portable -- 193,000 PlayStation 3 -- 190,000 PlayStation 2 -- 136,000

  • Merl57

    Posted Nov 24, 2008 3:55 pm GMT

    god of war 3, res 2, little big planet, mgs4 are the temptations for me getting a PS3 but i probably wont

  • epross

    Posted Nov 24, 2008 3:47 pm GMT

    Does this really mean anything? Sony doesn't charge for PSN so there is no incentive to sign-on for many users. They don't even really push it. A lot of users may skip this step, especially casual gamers who bought a PS3 for the blu-ray and to play some games. A lot of my co-workers have PS3 and they hesitate to go on PSN because they've heard of a lot of hacking and credit cards being stolen (I haven't heard this myself.) I've signed-on to PSN and downloaded a lot of demos and wallpapers/themes, but I shy away from actually purchasing games that I can't try out first. Secondly, I live in Canada and I think we get a 'dumbed down' version of PSN up here. I haven't see any really good movies, TV shows or anything like that I keep hearing about. I have to assume that its only for USA due to dumb CRTC regulations etc. The other reason I really don't use PSN much is that I have little time for multiplayer as I have young children who are always hogging the TV. Now if there was a multiplayer 'Slay Barney' I'd be there!

  • Red_Dawn345

    Posted Nov 24, 2008 3:31 pm GMT

    thats good news for a ps3 owner like me hope they update the store more often

  • thekodaman

    Posted Nov 24, 2008 3:30 pm GMT

    17 Million PS3's sold in 2 years isn't a bad figure at all, still they're still not making much if any profit on PS3 sales so I'm left wondering how long Sony can afford to keep taking hits like this given the current economic crisis.

  • TheArcade

    Posted Nov 24, 2008 3:20 pm GMT

    Well you know Mixcal, atleast they still have the PS2.

  • korno640

    Posted Nov 24, 2008 3:18 pm GMT

    @mixcal

    xbox doesnt have any exclusive retardicon. microsoft does. seeing as how many xbox "exclusives also come out for the pc.

    also. just stfu. no one wants to hear petty little xbox fanboys run their mouths

  • mixcal posted Nov 24, 2008 3:06 pm GMT (does not meet display criteria. sign in to show)

    mixcal

    Posted Nov 24, 2008 3:06 pm GMT (hide)

    Wow.. well believe it or not, but the PS3 FAILED! yep, so many games are now Xbox 360 exclusives its not even funny, Sony just made a fancy machine that has Blu-Ray, and the funny thing is, its "supposed" to be more powerful than the 360.. when in reality most of the games standards are based on 360's capabilities, and the PS3 only titles only look more polished, I dont know if its the 360 thats dragging the PS3 down performance wise and making it dumb down the game so that its multi-platform, or maybe its just too obvious by now that Sony does not give a **** about their console and they are just trying to get it over with, maybe try out with the next gen, or cancel it all together... I blame Sony for losing their man that made PS possible =(

  • TheArcade

    Posted Nov 24, 2008 2:45 pm GMT

    Could it be most Sony folk prefer to be "hardcore" and offline? And we've come to the center of the problem. Microsoft pushes XBL as a major part of their gaming experience while Sony doesn't even though they should.

    Does that answer your question atrainvii?

  • atrainvii

    Posted Nov 24, 2008 2:33 pm GMT

    Interesting. This is not a diss on the PS3. I don't have the system and I'm not going to buy it anytime soon but if you have a PS3 why wouldn't you use the service? I love my XBOX and XBOXLive but I'd love it even more if it was free! The systems carry the same games and most support on-line play. Even some of the exclusives (MGS4 and Resistance 2) are great games. Would the PS3 owners tell me why they wouldn't use the service? And when I say PS3 owners I don't mean fanboys, PS3 Haters or people who play at their friends house. I mean people who took money out of their own pockets, stood in line, purchased a PS3 and got a receipt PS3 owner.

  • b0yd1e

    Posted Nov 24, 2008 2:29 pm GMT

    KOTYK! If you dont use PSN why the f@@$ are you reading this! and your updates are needed you complete a$$ eater! if you never played online i don't know why you have a 3rd gen console. and chances are your just a little 360 batty boy anyway!

  • Archebius

    Posted Nov 24, 2008 2:27 pm GMT

    Eh, I started losing my respect for sony after the New Game Enhancement.

  • Media_Mind

    Posted Nov 24, 2008 2:25 pm GMT

    yup

  • kotyk

    Posted Nov 24, 2008 1:24 pm GMT

    I'm literally forced to go on-line with the PS3 every couple weeks to do a tedious needless software update.....that doesn't mean I actually use the service. Never play on PSN.

  • PhilWil92

    Posted Nov 24, 2008 1:18 pm GMT

    Why would Sony go out of their way and boast that they have as many people online as the 360 when they know that only half of their numbers are ACTUALLY the ps3? I always respected Sony, but things like these make them look weak. After things like the Killzone's "actual" gameplay scandal and now this I think I'm done with Sony.....

  • Alphamale001

    Posted Nov 24, 2008 1:11 pm GMT

    I am not bashing when I say this, but I am surprised it isn't over 50% with a PS3 have gone online with it. I mean, it is a free service and has both options to go online right out of the box. Anyway, whatever. I am included in all those numbers. I love not missing nay exclusive and a choice of what version of game I get. Choice is nice.

  • themyth01

    Posted Nov 24, 2008 1:09 pm GMT

    Including the psp as well now, haha, funny how Sony is trying to spin things around.

  • Tagan55

    Posted Nov 24, 2008 12:36 pm GMT

    ok everyone please stop the fighting!! Both systems are great , they both have great games, they both have good online service lets compare

    Ps3 system- Blu-ray player, Bluetooth, wireless built in, More like an entertainment system than game player but mainly for games.
    360-Cheaper, More towards gaming, Faster disc reading, No need to instal (but you can) and much more.

    Games: top 3 atm for both systems
    Ps3- Littlebigplanet, Resistance 2, and Metal gear solid 4
    360-Halo 3, Fable 2, and GOW2

    Online
    Ps3-Free, Psp to ps3 connectivity, no add's when signed it only on the ps store, big online cummunity.
    360-Huge online community, Lots of exclusive dlc, Heavily supported.

    Both systems are great they both have great aspects I myself own a ps3 but i love halo. So when it comes down to it arent we all here just to have fun and play games? not argue over witch service is better?

  • dmish82

    Posted Nov 24, 2008 12:35 pm GMT

    14 million is 14 million. Not sure why people are bashing larger families for "inflating" the numbers. 5 gamers in a household is still 5 gamers anyway you cut it.

  • bojan_sokol

    Posted Nov 24, 2008 12:05 pm GMT

    Good news, i'm PC player my self. I never want to pay for just playing online when I already paid the game.

  • Roggirek

    Posted Nov 24, 2008 11:49 am GMT

    @ stereotype14

    word

  • stereotype14

    Posted Nov 24, 2008 11:15 am GMT

    Who cares about numbers, I hope the people with a PS3 enjoy the console and I hope people with a 360 enjoy their console and same for those with a Wii. I've enjoyed all three consoles and each has their strengths and weaknesses and it is amusing when people have to be complete buffoons trying to prove that their console is better. Grow up. You sound insecure.

  • xatman911

    Posted Nov 24, 2008 11:14 am GMT

    It is good that it is free. I really do not want to pay anything to play on-line except my electricity bill and broadband connection. That was one of the turning points that lead me to buy PS3 over Xbox 360. I do not think that it really matters on how many subscribers are there on each console. It there is a good game, a lot of people will play it, simple. Oh, fact to point out:

    " Like with Xbox Live, the figure also includes multiple accounts used on the same console or in the same household. "

    So bigger families make bigger impact...

  • george999819 posted Nov 24, 2008 11:07 am GMT (does not meet display criteria. sign in to show)

    george999819

    Posted Nov 24, 2008 11:07 am GMT (hide)

    So Xbox Live and PSN have the same amount of users. So what? About half of those Xbox Live users are active, while probably only 10% of the PSN users are active.

  • twodollarcuts

    Posted Nov 24, 2008 10:58 am GMT

    I know it was mentioned more than a few threads back that Live = Xbox Live + GFW Live, but honestly, who the heck on a PC pays for GFW Live? I really don't think the data for Live can be skewed as greatly with GFW as the PSP accounts can on the PSN, but I could be wrong.

  • Supericano2

    Posted Nov 24, 2008 10:45 am GMT

    @ thegame1980

    Why are you so obsessed with paying to play games online? I have a PS3 and one of the deciding factors was the free online community for you see some people are not made out of money. Also HOME is free & will remain so, there are things within HOME that will cost you money but that is optional just like the Qore subscription. The Xbox is a good system & so is the PS3 so lets just leave it at that

  • Canadian-Navy

    Posted Nov 24, 2008 10:44 am GMT

    The more members PSN has the more ad money they can generate. So even though it is free they are getting large sums of money through ads.

    This is good news as well sinceSony is feeling the affects of the global recession and revenue losses across all sectors of its company. If I saw this I would be happy at least there is an area of the company that is expanding and not contracting as world markets begin to tumble.

  • TheArcade

    Posted Nov 24, 2008 9:29 am GMT

    @ascalon94

    Sony said Homes open beta would be coming within' the next 12 months. That's almost a year!

    "[The] PlayStation Network has truly hit its stride with unique downloadable games and a video delivery service featuring movies, TV shows, and original programming that you can watch in HD with your PS3," Koller boasted. "And with 14 million active accounts and 273 million pieces of content downloaded, we know that you're thirsting for this digital entertainment." At the Tokyo Game Show last month, Microsoft announced Xbox Live currently had 14 million subscribers. The executive also mentioned the 17-million-unit worldwide sales milestone the PS3 hit last month, roughly 5 million units behind the 360's lifetime-to-date sales. He made brief mention of the long-in-development PlayStation Home service, and referenced its upcoming open beta would occur in the next 12 months. However, he did not say when the avatar-based virtual world, still ostensibly slated to launch by year's end, would go online.

    This was ofcourse stated in the previous Playstation Network article.

    Source: http://www.gamespot.com/news/6201303.html

  • Petri87

    Posted Nov 24, 2008 9:28 am GMT

    Thats actually pretty impressive figguring that the PS3 isn't a super online focused console like the 360 and that the japaneese dont really get the internet.
    Though the 360 having 14mill gold members(or so thay said on 1Up yours) isnt all that bad eather considering it costs 5 bucks a month.

  • ascalon94

    Posted Nov 24, 2008 9:11 am GMT

    I wonder when Home will come out, probably when Xbox 720 is out then it will be outdated

  • thegame1980

    Posted Nov 24, 2008 8:50 am GMT

    @runstalker.

    Well I own both (All three actually) and frankly I'm not impressed with Sony or the PS3. I know I don't HAVE to do my multiplayer or multiplat gaming on one console but I do so out of choice. I prefer the look and ease use the 360 offers, I prefer the MANDATORY Achievements system 360 offers, I prefer multiplayer gaming on 360 since more people I know own and use a 360 over PS3 not to mention the people who I do know who play PS3 don't have mics as neither do I. I prefer the 360's online content over the PSN store. So I'm WELL aware of the fact I don't HAVE to stick to one console and can enjoy both (or all three) but honestly I don't enjoy my gaming experience on PS3 or Wii. They are more of a chore and hassle to me. I feel like I have to force myself to enjoy it which is NOT good. I feel like when I invest time into playing a PS3 game or Wii game I'm missing much more fun on 360 (Which I usually am) When I'm playing Ratchet and Clank or some other PS3 game, 10 of my good friends are having a BLAST playing Gears 2 trying to nail those Achievements I oh so enjoy getting. So I miss an awesome session of Gears or Left 4 Dead or CoD WaW. Which upsets me And FINALLY again Sony's numbers are unimpressive given the fact sign up to PSN is free. There's no worries of spending money to consider when signing up. When the Qore subscriber base (Paid PSN service) comes up with 14 million paid subscribers I'll be impressed OR when Sony starts charging for PSN sign up or HOME sign up and can continue to boast 14 million PAID subscribers I'll be impressed. Until then it's a moot point and does nothing to tarnish the 360's MUCH more impressive feat of 14 million PAID subscribers.

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