PSP initial sales solid but not a sellout as expected

April 6, 2005

Both analysts and Sony expected the PlayStation Portable to be a real sellout. The small widescreen device is doing well at retail for the first week or so, but 1 million units were predicted to fly off the shelves the first weekend at $250 a copy. Here it is, some several days later and two-thirds of stores still don't need to re-order.

"A solid but not spectacular launch" is how analyst P.J. McNealy of American Technology Research saw it. Of 150 retailers contacted on Thursday, 50 had sold out. McNealy estimated 475,000 to 575,000 units were purchased in the first week; official figures from Sony were not available.

Toys R Us, Circuit City and Best Buy all say PSPs remain at some locations. "It is pretty much hit and miss at this point," Best Buy's Brian Lucas says. "You basically have to call around."

That's good news for game fans. Carrie Yarbrough, 32, of Dallas found plenty of PSPs at a Target on Friday. "I like it, and I think I will enjoy it," she says. "The real test will be how many movies and good games are available these next few months."