Sony PSP sells more than 500,000 units in first two days of sales in the US

Sony Computer Entertainment America Inc. has announced the results from the first week of sales of the PSP (PlayStation Portable) handheld entertainment system in the United States. The company reported revenue of more than $150 million at North American retailers, outpacing the launch week sales for any other product in the space. Demand for the product drove the sell through of over 500,000 PSP Value Packs in the first two days alone.

Initial PSP sales were achieved during a traditionally slower non-holiday season launch, and during a period when many retailers were closed for Easter. The PSP launched in North America on 24 March.

Tthe North American launch of PSP saw lines snaking for blocks at retailers across the country with many locations extending business hours for midnight sales or early openings to accommodate anxious consumers. Sony says that thousands of PSP fans at special Sony Computer Entertainment America hosted events in San Francisco and New York even braved rain to be among the first to experience PSP.

"The launch of PSP was everything we hoped for, with extraordinary consumer demand driving sales of hardware units alone upwards of $150 million in first week sales, far and away above those generated by any other product in the space," said Kaz Hirai, president and chief executive officer, Sony Computer Entertainment America. "In only two weeks, PSP is having an immediate impact across the entire industry as consumers are clearly voting it the product of the year in 2005."

"GameStop, Inc. has seen an extraordinary cross section of consumers come through our doors including hard core gamers, business men and women of all ages looking to get a PSP," said Dan DeMatteo, vice-chairman and chief operational officer, GameStop Inc. "The overall entertainment value of PSP is giving it a mass appeal beyond any other product we have ever carried."