Despite the Xbox 360’s one year head start, the Nintendo Wii has now matched the 360 in total market share.
Heading into Friday’s start to the holiday shopping season, the Xbox 360, however, still maintains a considerable lead on the PlayStation 3.
According to Michael Pachter, analyst at Wedbush Morgan Securities, the holiday season will provide clues of what to expect in the long run, as Xbox 360 and PS3 supplies are better, and their prices have come down somewhat.
“You’ll be able to see who’s gaining traction and losing traction,” Pachter told Seattle Post-Intelligencer.
Traditionally, a large share of console sales are made in November and December. Pachter predicts that the 2008 holiday season will be even more competitive, as the Wii becomes in better supply and the prices of all three consoles drop further.
According to the NPD Group, the Wii pulled ahead of the Xbox 360 in U.S. sales back in October. With that and the Wii’s strength in Japan, the two would be in a dead heat in cumulative sales.
