If there’s a video game company that should know more about console sales than most, it’s Take-Two Interactive. As the owners of several subsidiaries that make best-selling titles like Rockstar Games and 2K Sports, it’s aware of which games are selling and where and that’s exactly what it talked about in its most recent earnings presentation.
Take-Two Interactive shed light on the sales gap between PlayStation and Xbox, revealing a significant lead by Sony’s PlayStation 5 over Microsoft’s Xbox Series X|S.
According to a Take-Two slide, there have been 77 million ninth-generation console sales as of December 31, 2023. With Microsoft refraining from releasing console sales data, a simple calculation based on PlayStation 5 hitting 50 million units sold by November 2023 suggests Xbox Series X|S sales are just under 27 million. This indicates the PlayStation 5 may have outsold the Xbox Series X|S by roughly a 2:1 margin.
The disparity in sales figures is not just a number but paints a broader picture of the console war between Sony and Microsoft.
The PS5’s success continues Sony’s trend of leading in the console market, a position it has seemingly reinforced with each passing generation. On the other hand, Xbox’s strategy has evolved to focus more on services like Xbox Game Pass rather than console sales alone. This shift comes as Microsoft grapples with the challenges of maintaining competitive console sales figures alongside Sony.
The sales gap also influences software and game development decisions. Rumors suggest a shift where Xbox first-party games like Indiana Jones and the Great Circle and Starfield are making their way to PS5 as Microsoft seeks to capitalize on the PlayStation’s much larger audience. Amidst these rumors, Xbox head Phil Spencer has hinted at updates on Xbox’s future plans, possibly addressing the speculation and outlining a path forward for Xbox in the competitive gaming landscape.
Sony’s dominance might also be a direct result of its ongoing success since the tail end of the PlayStation 3’s lifecycle and the start of the PlayStation 4’s release. The switch from the physical to digital media during better part of the last two decades means gamers are more likely to stick with the ecosystem where their digital library resides, making the initial choice of console more critical than ever. Microsoft’s missteps during the Xbox One launch have had long-lasting impacts, affecting gamer loyalty and ecosystem preference.
Despite the competitive dynamics between PlayStation and Xbox, the gaming community recognizes the importance of competition for consumer benefit. Services like PS Plus Extra, inspired by Xbox’s Game Pass, highlight how rivalry leads to innovation and better services for gamers. The future of Xbox may not necessarily involve ceasing console production but could see a more platform-agnostic approach to game releases, potentially bringing Xbox exclusives to other platforms after an initial period of exclusivity.
While Sony enjoys its lead with the PlayStation 5, both Sony and Microsoft are navigating a rapidly changing landscape that could very well see a sudden shift.
