Analysts: Xbox 360 to top US hardware charts, sales to decline through 2011

Industry analyst groups Wedbush and EEDAR have posted their estimates of January's US hardware sales, nominating the Xbox 360 for top spot coming out of the holiday season - but Michael Pachter has warned that sales will drop off without further price cuts.

CVG posted the estimate figures, which both bodies have released ahead of the NPD's official figures later in the week.

"With the exception of Xbox 360, we expect hardware sales over the next few months to decline as we continue to lap the price cuts from 2009," notorious Wedbush analyst Pachter commented.

"In 2009, the PS3 Slim was introduced in August at $299, cutting the price from the old PS3 at $399; the Xbox 360 Elite price was cut in August to $299 from $399; and the Wii price was cut in September to $199 from $249.

"Without further price cuts, we expect hardware sales to be down in 2011."

Pachter previously predicted price cuts across all platforms, beginning with Sony.

Wedbush and Eedar agreed on chart order with relatively minor discrepancies in estimated sales figures; EEDAR was slightly more optimistic. See the full prediction figures below.

Thanks, GoNintendo.

Wedbush / EEDAR January sales estimates (change year-on-year):
360 - 380,000 (14%) / 380,000 (14%)
DS - 350,000 (-17%) / 360,000 (-15%)
Wii - 320,000 (-31%) / 340,000 (-27%)
PS3 - 240,000 (-13%) / 250,000 (-10%)
PSP - 80,000 (-20%) / 85,000 (-15%)
PS2 - 50,000 (23%) / NA
Total - 1, 420,000 (-13%) / 1, 415,000 (-14%)