PlayStation magazines suffer circulation slump

While Xbox 360 titles see improved performance

PlayStation, PC and multiformat magazines in the UK have once again posted declining circulation figures, although the performance of a handful of Xbox 360 titles have managed to grow for the six months ended June 30, 2007.

Future Publishing's Official Xbox 360 has increased its circulation to almost 65,700, up from 56,000 for the six months ended December 2006. Imagine Publishing's 360 has also seen a marginal increase from 11,369 to 12,017.

Xbox World 360, another title from Future, has seen circulation climb from 23,000 to 30,200 and Uncooked Media's 360 Gamer has risen to 12,500, from 10,600. Imagine's X360 has also benefited from improved circulation from 28,000 to just over 30,100 issues.

Future's PlayStation portfolio is looking grim in contrast, with all titles recording a drop in circulation. Official PlayStation 2 figures are now below 44,200, compared to 76,300 for the period ended in December.

Unofficial titles PlayStation World (17,132) PSM3 (24,121) and cheat magazine Powerstation (15,171) are all down.

Future's PC gaming titles have also suffered over the past six months, with PC Gamer (41,600), PC Zone (24,400) and PC Format (28,300) all taking a knock in circulation.

Edge and Games Master, Future's multiformat titles, continue the downward trend, recording figures of 30,000 (down from 35,000) and 47,800 (down from 53,900).

The Official Nintendo magazine has seen a rise in circulation, with numbers growing from around 43,000 to almost 48,000.

Imagine Publishing does not release six month circulation figures for PS2 magazine Play and multiformat title GamesTM.

in before the lock

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Does this really surprise anybody??

Go in any electronics retailer and look for yourself.. half of these stores dont even have a PS3 display unit setup.. a quarter of them have one setup but its not turned on.. and the last quarter has a fully functioning unit but rarely do you see any anyone even bother to use it.. while the 360 and the Wii usually have stations up, running and being used by customers.. even worse when is the last time you've seen a PS3 commercial?? Its like Sony isnt even trying to promote it. I consistently see commercials for the Wii.. and the every major gaming commercial or event I see the 360 logo (look at Madden08 for example.. even the HQ launch in Times Square NYC had the 360 logo beside it).

Besides the Playstation2.. there really isnt much Playstation buzz at all going on right now.. upcoming exclusives have been announced this holiday season but outside of a Playstion based website nobody talkes about it.. things may change a year from now for the Playstation name.. but the reality of it is.. PS3 news is pretty dry and far from what someone would label exciting..

If it werent for the recent $100 price drop things would be even more grim on the PS3 front..

My question is, what is the point of this thread? The title to this thread alone seems to me like just nonsense news to feed the fanboys. Seriously, is there any need for topics like this?

It's really getting old and IMO childish with all the post that lead to a PS3 vs 360 everytime something like this is posted. I'm glad the 360 is doing well, but you know where this thread is going.... "Yeah 360 > ALL 111!!!1111"

My question is, what is the point of this thread? The title to this thread alone seems to me like just nonsense news to feed the fanboys. Seriously, is there any need for topics like this?

It's really getting old and IMO childish with all the post that lead to a PS3 vs 360 everytime something like this is posted. I'm glad the 360 is doing well, but you know where this thread is going.... "Yeah 360 > ALL 111!!!1111"

The point of this thread is to show interested people something other then pure PR. The market is showing a prevalent choice towards XBox platform as in this case there's clearly more and more people picking up Xbox oriented magazine than PC or PS3 ones.

It is not in any way intended to feed anything as it is posted in XBox part of forum. It is news, it is Xbox oriented thus it is relevant to Xbox owners to know that they've made a good decision or to assure any potentional customer that Xbox 360 is indeed a hugely supported platform.

You are the only one who has problems with this.

Actually I don't buy any of the mags anymore except EGM and that is very seldom. It used to be Xbox Magazine until the new version of Live for the 360 came out. No need to spend money for a magazine just to get demos. Plus I get all the latest news(and magazine scans) from the internet.

I am only shocked that ANY print game magazine is increasing!

I am only shocked that ANY print game magazine is increasing!

Gotta have somethin' to read on the toilet bro.

Dreamaster

I am only shocked that ANY print game magazine is increasing!

Agreed. Who buys a mag full of last months news?

Its not just print *gaming* mags that are hurting; most specialty print mags are seriously hurting. The web is eating them up alive. PC mags in particular; PC Shopper used to be a phone book-sized must-buy, now its irrelevant. PC Mag is now on its third reinvention in two years and getting skinnier with each issue...
And now free electronic magazines are starting to get into the business.
Official XBOX mag (US) has read the handwriting on the XBL wall and are looking to get inside before the door closes. Smart folks. I expect it'll take them a while to figure out the new medium but at least they're acting in time.
As pointed out, the shock isn't that PS3 mags are declining; its that the 360 mags are growing amidst a *general* specialty print decline.

As for throne room reading, that's what ebook readers (PDAs, smartphones, tablets, UMPCs, dedicated readers, etc) are for. I favor PDAs; if there's nothing worth reading, they're always good for a quick game of solitaire... ;-)

Gotta have somethin' to read on the toilet bro.

Dreamaster


It is sad but Cell phones and laptops have replaced them there :D

Ziff Davis has filed for bankruptcy. EGM falls under them.