Though it had an undeniably amazing run, everything must still come to an end, as the saying goes. Sony will finally stop manufacturing any more units of the PlayStation 3, at least in Japan, according to reports.
PS3 Production Stops In Japan
The halt comes a little over a decade after the PlayStation 3 was first released in 2006, one of that generation's most successful and popular home consoles, alongside Microsoft's Xbox 360 and Nintendo's Wii.
Notice of the halt was first spotted by Gematsu, whose report states that PlayStation official Japanese website has been updated with the message: "Shipments are scheduled to end soon."
The PS3 Will Still Be Here
The halt in the Japanese market, however, doesn't imply a global halt. Other countries received the PS3 later on in its shelf life, so while the Japanese and Western markets are relatively rapid when it comes to adopting new technology, as noted by GameSpot, PS3 shipments may still see some continuation in other parts of the world. Take Brazil for instance, which received the said console in 2010, four years after its original release. This means that the PS3 could see a longer sales tail in that country and others as well.
Upon release, one of the many gripes consumers had with the console was its steep price point, alongside rumors that it was a system that was hard to develop games for. The console did, however, enjoy late acclaim as it ambled through its lifespan, being home to many an acclaimed titles the likes of Uncharted 2: Among Thieves, The Last of Us, and God of War 3, among others.
While the Wii was the undisputed winner of that generation's lineup of consoles in terms of sales figures, at least, the PlayStation 3 went head-to-head with the Xbox 360 in terms of graphical performance, with the two consoles cornering much of the hardcore gaming demographic.
PS3 And Other Consoles' Lifetime Sales
The PS3 moved past 84 million units in its lifetime, according to GameSpot's report, a figure that puts it near parallel with that of the Xbox 360. Both Microsoft and Sony, however, have stopped disclosing sales for these home consoles, so actual and exact numbers are everybody's guess. The PlayStation 2 is still the best-selling console of all time with over 155 million units sold. It's followed by the Nintendo DS, which is the best-selling handheld console of all time with nearly 155 million units sold.
The PS4, the successor to the PS3, was released in November 2013, but not before Sony released several editions of the PS3, including a Slim and Super Slim models. The PS4 is the best-selling home console of its generation, usurping sales of Microsoft's Xbox One and Nintendo's ill-fated Wii U.
Whether PS3 production in the West will also halt remains to be seen.
Thoughts about Japan ending PS3 production? What are some of your best memories associated with the beloved home console? Feel free to sound off in the comments section below!
