Figures Show PlayStation Is ‘Crushing’ Xbox This Generation
While the potential purchase of Activision Blizzard lit the fire beneath the console wars, the figures are speaking for themselves. It looks like we've got a clear winner... for now.
Chances are, you'll fall into the camp of either Sony Pony or Xbot, while Nintendo does its own thing and the Switch is clear of the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series in terms of console sales. As Microsoft and Sony continue to lock horns, Jim Ryan has Phil Spencer in a pickle.
Is Sony Beating Microsoft?
Posting on Twitter, @nib_95 shared the results for both gaming giants from the past quarter. Microsoft's hardware sales for Xbox were down by 13%, content and service sales dipped by 12%, and total gaming revenue dropped by 13%.
Over in the blue camp, the same period saw hardware sales leap by 46%, network services like PlayStation plus rose by 19%, and total gaming revenue soar by an impressive 53%. So what's going on?
Industry analyst Tae Kim added their own two cents and added, "Sony's PlayStation is crushing Microsoft’s Xbox." Crunching the numbers, Ryan's promise that the PS5 shortage is officially over is likely part of the massive increase in hardware sales.
Remember, Microsoft has already confirmed it's never made a profit on Xbox consoles, so the hardware numbers make sense.
What's Next For Microsoft Vs Sony?
Remember, PS5 had a pretty bumper period, with Sony Santa Monica's God of War Ragnarok doing the heavy lifting and sales being bolstered by the remastered The Last of Us Part I. The latter saw another boost thanks to the popularity of HBO's live-action series.
Sony celebrated a new era of PS5 availability with a glossy campaign that seemed to confirm Ghost of Tsushima 2 and a new Uncharted game. Since this generation hit the market toward the end of 2020, there have been complaints that Microsoft lacks a catalogue of exclusives.
2023 should change that with the likes of Starfield and Redfall, but the jury is out on both. In fact, the question of exclusives is a contributing factor in the Activision Blizzard deal, as both sides go to war over Call of Duty.
Sony has a bright future with Marvel's Spider-Man 2, Silent Hill 2, and more, while Microsoft has Fable (if it ever comes out) and a shaky future for Halo. Then again, the recent success of High on Life and Hi-Fi Rush shows Xbox is doing just fine with Game Pass.
Everyone seems to be gambling on the CoDverse as make or break, and while it's ridiculous to put all of your eggs in one basket, there's no denying the Activision Blizzard deal is something both sides are willing to go to war over. Don't count the greens out just yet.