Ps4 vs xbox one sales

The next-generation video game console war is no longer the next-generation video game console war — it’s now the current-generation video game console war . Each of the three major gaming box makers has now had its new console on sale for more than a year, and it has been quite a roller coaster ride to say the least. Nintendo came up very short in gamers’ eyes when it comes to the new Wii U. Yes, there are definitely some great titles for the console and many more on the way, but gamers didn’t see enough new features on the box to warrant an upgrade from the wildly successful Wii. Where Sony and Microsoft are concerned, Sony took an early lead when the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One both launched in November 2013, and the company never looked back. But how do lifetime sales stack up now? Microsoft has some big plans for the Xbox One in 2015 that could make the console a must-have for people looking for the best possible comprehensive living room experience, but the early days for Microsoft’s new console have dug the company quite a hole. Sony’s PS4 burst onto the scene following a series of public relations snafus from Microsoft’s Xbox marketing and public relations teams, and it led in latest-generation video game console sales all the way until this past holiday season. At that point, Microsoft finally kicked things into high gear and began offering several great Xbox One bundles alongside a serious price cut. As a result, the Xbox One won the holiday shopping season and stayed ahead for a brief period while price cuts continued. It has been a wild ride indeed, and now it’s time to pause for a moment and take a look at where we are. The following chart from VGChartz says it all: Here’s how lifetime sales break down for each console — and don’t forget, the Wii U was released in November 2012, a year before the PS4 and Xbox One: Gaming & Culture / Gaming & Entertainment. But Microsoft is still performing better than it did last generation. by Kyle Orland - Jan 18, 2017 4:57 pm UTC. Microsoft stopped providing concrete sales data for its Xbox line years ago, making it hard to get a read on just how well the Xbox One is doing in the market compared to Sony's PlayStation 4. Recent numbers released by analysts this week, though, suggest that Sony continues to dominate this generation of the console wars, with the PS4 now selling twice as many units worldwide as the Xbox One since both systems launched in late 2013. The first set of numbers comes from a new SuperData report on the Nintendo Switch, which offhandedly mentions an installed base of 26 million Xbox One units and 55 million PS4 units. That report is backed up by Niko Partners analyst Daniel Ahmad, who recently tweeted a chart putting estimated Xbox One sales somewhere near the middle of the 25 million to 30 million range. Ahmad's chart suggests that Microsoft may have sold slightly more than half of the 53.4 million PS4 units that Sony recently announced it had sold through January 1. Specific numbers aside, though, it's clear Microsoft has done little to close its console sales gap with Sony over the past year—and may have actually lost ground in that time. The last time we did our own estimate of worldwide console sales, through the end of 2015, we showed the Xbox One with about 57 percent as many systems sold as the PS4 (21.49 million vs. 37.7 million). That lines up broadly with numbers leaked by EA at the time, which suggest the Xbox One had sold about 52.9 percent as well as the PS4 (19 million vs. 35.9 million). One year later, that ratio has dipped to just above or even a bit below 50 percent, according to these reports. Why does it matter? The relative sales performance of the Xbox One and PS4 doesn't say anything direct about the health or quality of those platforms, of course. Microsoft doesn't seem to be in any danger of abandoning the Xbox One platform any time soon and has, in fact, recently committed to upgrading it via Project Scorpio later this year. The gap between PS4 and Xbox One sales becomes important only if it becomes so big that publishers start to consider the Xbox One market as a minor afterthought that can be safely ignored for everything but niche games. That's what effectively happened in the early 2000s, when the PS2 dominated the console market to the extent that the original Xbox and Gamecube struggled to attract comparable software support (three years after the PS2's launch, it had sold about four times as many systems as the Xbox, which launched a year later). There are a few arguments that the current sales gap isn't as bad for Microsoft as it might seem, though. For one, PS4 users that upgraded to a PS4 Pro after previously buying a standard PS4 are effectively double-counted in Sony's numbers, somewhat inflating the total number of potential buyers for PS4 software. For another, the distribution of console owners isn't identical worldwide: Microsoft's absolutely abysmal console sales in Japan suggest that the Xbox One is selling relatively better in the important North American and European markets compared to the PS4. More importantly, raw console sales don't always line up precisely with the number of "active users" who are continuing to spend money on games and DLC for a console or how much money those users are spending. In fact, there's some evidence from Ubisoft sales reports that Xbox One owners are spending more than their PS4 counterparts on a per-owner basis (though the total PS4 market is still worth much more to Ubisoft overall). That's essentially the argument incoming Xbox chief Phil Spencer made in late 2015, when he said "we're not motivated by beating Sony, we're motivated by gaining as many customers as we can." On that score, the Xbox One is still selling slightly better than the Xbox 360 did at this point in its lifecycle, suggesting that things are at least moving in the right direction for Microsoft's console division. As Spencer put it in 2015: "[Market] share is important, but more important than share is are we gaining new customers, are they buying games, are they engaged in the service. [Sony and Nintendo] can have success and it doesn't necessarily come at the expense of what Microsoft's main ambitions are." Since the PS4 and Xbox One are so similar architecturally, porting games from one console to the other is relatively painless from a technical standpoint. For that reason, absent some sort of paid exclusivity deal, most large third-party publishers will probably continue to sell their games on both the PS4 and the Xbox One. The alternative is to simply ignore 26 million potential customers on the Xbox One, which doesn't make much business sense in most cases. That said, don't be surprised if smaller indie studios (who might not be able to afford costs associated with a port), as well as many Japanese publishers (who don't see the Xbox One as an important domestic sales force), continue to focus many of their titles exclusively on the larger PS4 market in 2017 and beyond. That's the kind of benefit that comes when your console outsells the competition by such a wide margin. Promoted Comments. Kyle Orland / Kyle is the Senior Gaming Editor at Ars Technica, specializing in video game hardware and software. He has journalism and computer science degrees from University of Maryland. He is based in the Washington, DC area. You May Also Like. WIRED Media Group. © 2018 Condé Nast. All rights reserved. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Condé Nast. TechRadar. PS4 vs Xbox One: which is better? The definitive showdown between Xbox One and PS4. The Xbox One vs PS4 comparison is more important in 2017 than ever because both consoles are infinitely more powerful than the previous generation and both Sony and Microsoft tout their hardware as the absolute best. Who's right? Well, currently, there are two separate versions of both console: Sony has PS4 Pro and PS4 Slim, while Microsoft has the Xbox One X and Xbox One S. The PS4 Pro and Xbox One X represent the high-end 4K gaming, with the PS4 Slim and Xbox One S are a much better value for gamers with HD TVs. Microsoft has the lead in the 4K gaming sphere with the powerful Xbox One X - a system that's capable of playing games in native 4K resolution. The PS4 Pro, on the other hand, is only capable of upscaling games to 4K but has the advantage of having a stronger stable of first-party exclusive games. The PS4 vs Xbox One comparison all starts with the price and bundles. PS4 vs Xbox One price comparison. The PS4 and Xbox One prices seem to change by the week, with price drops and bundle deals coming and going faster than handheld PlayStation systems. While all these bundles are great for consumers, it can be hard to keep up with the latest pricing info. So, in an effort to cut through the noise, here are the latest prices and bundles for each console. The Xbox One X is clearly the newest console with few discount available, while the PS4 Pro is now a year old, as of this month. It's seeing more discounts and gives you a bit more power than the PS4 Slim while still staying at a reasonable price. If you want to dial back the cost of either console, check out the latest prices for the Xbox One S and PS4 Slim. Additional reading. Want to compare the slim consoles? Check out our guide to the PS4 Slim vs the Xbox One S. Want to compare 4K apples-to-4K apples? Our PS4 Pro vs Xbox One X guide will give you just that. Look, we can sit here and mete out the differences between each iteration of the consoles, but we really don’t want to be here all day – so, instead we’re going to compare the entire ecosystem of each platform. If you want to really look into the fine details, we have you covered below. Don’t worry. And, don’t forget that Black Friday is coming soon, which you can bet will entail lots of deals on both consoles. PS4 vs Xbox One sales. Both Sony and Microsoft have approached this generation completely differently – with Sony focusing entirely on games, and Microsoft focusing more on having the Xbox One as more of an all-around home theater device. Sony took an early lead this generation, and has currently sold an astounding 70 million PS4s over the last 4 years – more than doubling Microsoft’s 30 million sales. A pretty big part of the reason that Sony dominated Microsoft was that focus that we mentioned earlier. They put all of their attention on building a great game library – and it’s paid off. Don’t write Microsoft off though, 30 million units is nothing to shake your head at, and with the recent release of the Xbox One X, they stand a pretty good chance of closing a bit of that gap. Hardware Versions and Design. Both consoles are available in two different versions, one budget and one premium The PS4 has a slim version and a 4K PS4 Pro The Xbox has the Xbox One S and Xbox One X. Both the Xbox One and the PS4 have two separate hardware versions that you can buy right now. This is different than in the past, when each console existed on its own, and lasted an entire generation. The Xbox One S improved on the design of the original Xbox One by cutting down a lot of the heft, and removing the gigantic power brick – instead opting for an internal power supply. It measures at just 11.6 x 8.9 x 2.5 inches and unlike the previous version includes a 4K Ultra-HD Blu-ray player and can even upscale 1080p games to 4K, as long as you have a TV that can support it. The Xbox One X might be heftier than the Xbox One S, but it’s still considerably smaller than the original Xbox One, measuring in at 11.81 x 9.44 x 2.36 inches and weighing around 8.4 lbs and also opted for an internal power supply. This is the high-powered version of the Xbox One, that allows for native 4K gaming and, much like the Xbox One S, includes a 4K Ultra-HD Blu-ray player, something that not even the PS4 Pro can boast. Our guide to the Xbox One X vs Xbox One S vs Xbox One will clue you in as to the differences in the Xbox family. Then starting out the PS4 side of the equation, the PS4 Slim is straight up the smallest of the major consoles available right now, measuring in at 10.4 x 11.3 x 1.5 inches and serving as the baseline PS4 for most consumers, serving as a complete replacement for the original PS4. It doesn’t allow for even 4K video playback, but it can still play the entire killer PS4 game library. The PS4 was the original 4K console, coming out an entire year before the Xbox One X – even if the ‘X’ eventually outpowered it. It measures in at 12.8 x 11.6 x 2.1 inches. While the PS4 Pro does to at least some extent support native 4K gaming, it doesn’t include a 4K Ultra-HD Blu-Ray Player, an omission that has caught Sony some flak over the last year or so. Our guide to the PS4 Slim vs PS4 Pro outlines the differences between the consoles in more detail. Xbox One vs PS4 connectivity. You can't upgrade Xbox One's internal hard drive, but you can on the PS4. Both consoles support the use of external hard drives. The Xbox One has more ports on its rear. Depending on how your gaming setup is organised, the connectivity of your console could be an extremely important detail. Both the Xbox One S and X have identical ports, each including two HDMI ports, one for receiving an input from a cable or satellite box, and one that inputs to your TV. On top of those, they’ve each got two USB 3 ports, IR outputs, optical audio out, Ethernet ports and, of course, the power cable – which is compatible with both versions of the Xbox. However, due to the quick and tragic downfall of Kinect, if you want to use a Kinect with either version of the Xbox One you’ll have to go out and get an adapter. The PS4 Pro and PS4 Slim have similar inputs, although they are slightly different. Each has a single HDMI out, a single USB port in the back (two in the front), an Ethernet port, and power. The only difference between the Pro and the Slim is that the Pro has an Optical Audio out, while the Slim drops it. One of the most compelling things about the connectivity of the PS4, however, is that both versions allow users to swap out the internal hard drive with one of their choice. All versions of both the Xbox One and PS4 support 802.11 ac Wi-Fi and gigabit Ethernet. So no matter which console you decide on, you won’t have to worry about network compatibility. PS4 and Xbox One are void of remarkable characteristics on the front. There's a Blu-ray/DVD combo drive to the left (which can play Ultra HD Blu-rays on the Xbox One S and Xbox One X) and their respective, muted-color logos to the right. PS4 has a pair of USB ports tucked between its sandwich-like halves next to where the disc drive is located. The best PS4 prices and bundles. Now that we've taken you through the positives and negatives of each console you've probably got a good idea of which is the one for you. Fortunately, we're not going to leave you hanging there – over the next couple of pages you'll find the best deals available for each console to help you take your decision to its final destination. Decided that the PS4 and Sony's attractive exclusives are perfect for you? Below you'll find the best PlayStation 4 deals you can get at the moment. The best Xbox One prices and bundles. Is it the Xbox One that's won you over? We understand, that 4K Blu-ray player is hard to resist. There are some fantastic deals on the latest model of Microsoft's consoles and below you'll find the latest and greatest: Check out our guide to the best soundbars if you want to give your console's audio a boost. Current page: Introduction and design. Related news. Tech deals, prizes and latest news. Get the best tech deals, reviews, product advice, competitions, unmissable tech news and more! No spam, we promise. You can unsubscribe at any time and we'll never share your details without your permission. Samsung Galaxy S9 release date, price, news and rumors. SIM only deals: the best plans in February 2018. AMD Ryzen 2nd generation processors will allow budget gaming without a dedicated graphics card. New Samsung Galaxy S9 and S9 Plus renders show phones off in full. Best fitness tracker 2018: the top 10 activity bands on the planet. iPhone X was a double-edged sword for Apple's earnings. AMD Ryzen 2nd generation processors will allow budget gaming without a dedicated graphics card. Free Nintendo Switch online play ends September 2018. New Samsung Galaxy S9 and S9 Plus renders show phones off in full. Nintendo announces Mario Kart Tour will be its next mobile game. TechRadar is part of Future plc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. Visit our corporate site. © Future Publishing Limited Quay House, The Ambury , Bath BA1 1UA . All rights reserved. England and Wales company registration number 2008885. The PlayStation 4 is selling about twice as fast as the Xbox One. Sony's PlayStation 4 console isn't the most popular console ever, but it's getting there. The PlayStation 4 is just shy of reaching 60 million consoles sold - an impressive number to crest in just 3.5 years. The PlayStation 4 Slim (background) and PlayStation 4 Pro (foreground) make up the PlayStation 4 family of consoles. Ben Gilbert / Business Insider. That announcement puts Sony's PlayStation 4 ahead of Microsoft's Xbox One by a considerable margin: the PlayStation 4 is selling approximately twice as fast as the Xbox One. Though Microsoft stopped reporting sales numbers of its Xbox One console, numbers provided by SuperData Research indicate that Microsoft has sold approximately 26 million Xbox One consoles (as of January 2017). That puts Sony in a dramatic lead over Microsoft when it comes to game console sales, and casts the long-running competition between the two console makers in a very different light. Put simply: Sony has a ridiculous lead over Microsoft when it comes to the video game business. Sony and Microsoft have a long-running competition with each other in the video game business. Christian Petersen/Getty Images. There are a few reasons for this lead, from major game exclusives ("Horizon Zero Dawn") to new models of the PlayStation 4 (the PlayStation 4 Pro is a slightly more powerful version of the original PS4, which launched in late 2016) to an excellent loyalty program (PlayStation Plus). And all of that stuff matters, no doubt, but what may matter even more was Microsoft's major missteps back in 2013 - the year that both the Xbox One and PlayStation 4 debuted and then launched. Right out of the gate, Microsoft turned off potential buyers with a higher price point ($499 for Xbox One compared to $399 for PlayStation 4), and a major messaging problem. To Microsoft, the Xbox One was intended as the center hub of your home entertainment system. To Sony, the PlayStation 4 was intended as the best game console ever made. That subtle difference in messaging - combined with a $100 price difference - hurt the Xbox One in a major way early on, and in many ways doomed the console to years of second place. It wasn't until Microsoft removed its camera/microphone peripheral from the retail box and dropped the Xbox One's price that the system became more competitive with the PlayStation 4. While the Xbox One isn't failing by any means, it's clearly a distant second to the PlayStation 4's sales numbers - and it's unlikely the discrepancy is going to shift any time soon. PS4 vs. Xbox One: Close To 40 Million PlayStation 4 Consoles Have Been Sold Since 2013 Launch. Sony reported strong sales for the PS4 in its fiscal year 2015. Pictured are the PS4, DualShock 4 wireless controller, PlayStation Camera and PlayStation VR headset. Photo: Getty Images. There are around 40 million PS4 consoles in the hands of gamers around the world, Sony revealed in its earnings report released Thursday. The Japanese electronics giant sold 17.7 million PS4 consoles in its year that ended March 31, up from 14.8 million sold in the previous year. Despite revenue being down 1.3 percent year-over-year, Sony reported an operating income of $2.6 billion for its year, a 329 percent increase year-over-year. Sony's Game and Network Services segments reported increased revenue and operating income in 2015 of 11.8 percent and 88.4 percent, respectively. Sales reached $13.7 billion in 2015 with income at $785 million. A 50 percent increase in digital sales on the PlayStation Network was a contributing factor to the year-over-year growth, according to Sony. The decreased cost to manufacture PS4 hardware aided in the increased income for 2015. Strong sales of PS4 software were offset slightly by decreasing PS3 software and hardware sales as the previous generation console nears the end of its life cycle. While Sony has provided regular updates on PS4 sales figures, that has not been the case for Microsoft's Xbox One. During the company's earnings report last week, Xbox One sales were not disclosed. The last known estimate put the number of Xbox One consoles sold at around 19 to 20 million, based on comments made during Electronic Arts' earnings report. Sony's 2016 is expected to be an interesting one based on the continued strong sales of the PS4 along with the introduction of new hardware. The PlayStation VR will ship in October at a price of $399 for the headset. Rumors of NEO, or the PS4K, with support for Ultra HD indicate Sony could have two consoles available for sale in 2016. On the software side, Sony's first three months should be quite strong with the release of "Uncharted 4: A Thief's End" in May. In April, Sony released the "Ratchet & Clank" PS4 game, which acts as a tie-in to the animated movie to be released by Sony in theaters April 29. Sony did not release a forecast for its fiscal year 2016 due to the recent earthquakes in Japan. PS4 vs Xbox One console wars sales. The console wars officially began last November when both platforms were released. The PlayStation 4 came out on the 15th while the Xbox One launched on the 22nd. While one could argue that the PS4 had a one week advantage over the Xbox One ultimately the difference should be negligible, 7 days isn’t much to look at. But enough about that, we’re here to discuss sales figures so let’s get on it. Sony announced a few days ago that they’ve sold more than seven million units as of April 6, 2014 which is more than the company originally anticipated. Sony stated at the end of September 2013 that Play Station 4 sales are expected to reach 5 million by the end of March 2014. The PS4 game sales were equally impressive, with more than 20.5 million copies sold as of April 13. Sony also revealed that there will be about 120 PS4 games available by the end of the year, including upcoming titles. Andrew House, President and Group CEO of Sony Entertainment made the following statement about the sales: “The response from the global gaming community for PS4 has been overwhelming and we are truly humbled that gamers are selecting PS4 as their next generation console of choice” while also adding that “The PS4 journey has just begun, and although we are still facing difficulties keeping up with the strong demand worldwide, we remain steadfast in our commitment to meet the needs of our customers, and surpassing the wildest expectations of gamers by delivering new user experiences that inspire and engage. We look forward to unveiling many of these experiences to our fans in the coming months.” Microsoft have made an announcement as well, just a day after Sony I might add. It seems that up until now the Xbox One sold more than 5 million units. However, this represents the number of units shipped to retailers, not necessarily the number of consoles bought by users. On December 31, 2013 Microsoft announced that the Xbox One had crossed the 3 million milestone so maybe they actually managed to squeeze in another 2 million by now. Microsoft also states that around 311.000 Xbox One consoles were sold last month just in the U.S. This is most likely thanks to Titanfall which was released on March 11 and was last month’s number one selling game. Xbox One and Xbox 360 combined sold a total of 4.1 million games in March, the number representing about 49% of the total software market share. Pretty much all of the Xbox One sales figures were affected by the release of Titanfall. The console made a bit of a comeback last month but I’m guessing they still need a good number of exclusives to really get back into the fight. Only time will tell if Microsoft has what it takes to go neck and neck with Sony but for now chances are slim. Overall the PS4 is clearly dominating sales-wise and will probably continue to do so for the foreseeable future. About Egon Kilin. Related Articles. Tomb Raider – Definitive on the PS4, not so much on the Xbox One. December 18, 2017. Mega Man Legacy Collection Review – Back to Basics. Check Also. Stealing Microsoft account information has stopped. While the subject of fraudulent purchases with stolen information is a serious matter for many, . Only 5 mil and those are sold in’s, I’m guessing it means that the numbers actually sold into homes is not a huge figure. IF MS were near 5 million sold-thru, you’d expect them to wait a few days until they were, then announce it. Since they didn’t, I’d say they are no where near 5 million sold-thru. I like how all these post tal about sales numbers, but they always forget to mention that the xbox one is only available in 14 countries when the ps4 is available in 70+ They are however available in the countries that actually bought a 360 and selling less in each of those territories. Fact is price, message and perception are in Sony’s favor. But with a kart right round the corner, they better get ready for the Wii U. Well, this year, Japan sales for the Xbox 360 console was 3,700. But Japan sales of the PS3 was 176,424 according to VGChartz. Does this picture help you realize why the Xbox ONE has not launched in Japan yet? My question to MS fans; who cares if Xbone is not selling quite as fast. I have PS4, and I don’t give a shit its selling faster. Its just funny everytime something is said nice about Sony or MS, the other team has to chime in with “why they think’ something is skewed. EVERYONE, GROW UP AND LET IT GO. To each their own, both consoles are doing well, each has its own definition of what they think next-gen is supposed to be, both are doing things well, so shut up about such petty BS and enjoy your new console!! Based upon Vgchartz, the PS4 has sold approximately 7 million and Xbox ONE nearly 4.2 million. This gives the PS4 a very big lead over the Xbox ONE. But also observe that the PS4 is still experiencing supply constraints. These are the facts for what they are worth. The bottom-line is that Sony took the competition seriously and made the right moves. The PS4 gives gamers the added security that their next generation games will play at 1080p @ 60 fps (frames per second) comfortably. Whenever the PS4 drops below these performance specs, it is usually because the developers were using old PS3 software graphics engine and did not have time to upgrade it fully for the PS4 or in one instance there was a bug in their software which a simple fix resolved. Or the developer was deliberately targeting lower specs not knowing the eventual power of the console. Whatever the reason, this time around Sony delivered! MS XBO lost my purchase when then announced the mandatory camera connection and the games locked to a council I know they have changed that stance since then, but MS tipped their long term plans. I preordered two PS4s, and now just ordered a third. This is a complete switch to my previous councils, where I had two 360s, one PS3 and a Wii. I have no plans on getting an XBO. Xbox’s new pricing will certainly lead to more interest in the the console, there is a huge cult following for the Xbox Live platform and they will surely go out and buy drive up demand. Gamestop stand to http://goo.gl/IBSPDD. these numbers mean nothing. The companies lose money on the consoles. Its all about games and microsoft because of windows 10 and the fact that people dont care about the brand they want access to the most games on one system. Microsoft is about to deliver that. Nintendo and Sony will be software only sooner rather than later. When you have an install base of windows built in, barring a huge f up microsoft 1. Could drop xbox tomorrow and it wouldnt effect their stock. (so they can experiment and do things slower and get them right), Comparing the two comapnies finacial positions doesnt even make sense. I honestly dont care who wins, but its going to be microsoft. ITS ALSO SO FRIGGIN EARLY, but again console sales alone tell you absolutely nothing unless one isnt selling at all. Game Deals. 15% off with code LTG on your checkout. Follow us on Google+ Can Gaming Before Bedtime Ruin Your Sleep. The Impact of VR on the World of Gaming. You’ll never believe how much these four esports players earn. Three Games you can win money playing. Poker Star Fedor Holz Invests In Team EnVy And Dallas Fuel. PS4 vs Xbox One: Sony keeps widening the gap with each passing month. iPhone 6 vs Samsung Galaxy Alpha – Progress vs Stagnation. Xbox One vs PS4: Microsoft is turning the tide. Apple Watch vs. Moto 360 showdown. No Fallout 4 at E3, but game promises complex choices. Subscribe to LTG Newsletter. Copyright © 2015 - LoadTheGame | All rights reserved. PS4 vs. Xbox One vs. Wii U Comparison Chart. The PS4 vs. Xbox One vs. Wii U Comparison Chart provides an easy visual aid to compare hardware, user interface, media compatibility and other features of the three "next-gen" systems. By popular demand, a Wii U column has been added to the chart for reference. More PS4 vs. Xbox One Comparisons. Hardware Feature Comparison. Confirmed to IGN by a Microsoft representative. Online Feature Comparison Chart. *Based on current Xbox Live Gold requirements. Console Bundle Comparison Chart. This chart compares the physical contents of the launch day bundles of the PlayStation 4, Xbox One and Wii U. Other console comparison features are outlined above. A console is not just the sum of its tech specs and features. Games matter too! PS4 vs. Xbox One Native Resolutions and Framerates Previous. Xbox One S vs Xbox One Comparison Chart. © 1996-2018 Ziff Davis, LLC. We have updated our PRIVACY POLICY and encourage you to read it by clicking here. IGN uses cookies and other tracking technologies to customize online advertisements, and for other purposes. IGN supports the Digital Advertising Alliance principles. Learn More. PlayStation 4 Just Outsold Xbox One for the Fourth Month in a Row. Sony’s PlayStation 4 has once more tipped the scales — by how much we’re not certain, since we don’t have official figures — to assume the number one sales spot in the U.S., says retail tracker NPD. This makes April the PS4’s fourth dominant month in a row. The Xbox One placed second, with 115,000 units sold, according to Microsoft, which notes the One has outsold the original Xbox 360 by 76 percent for both of those systems’ first six months in market. Indeed, NPD says that to date, sales of PS4 and Xbox One hardware are more than double the sum total of PS3 and Xbox 360 hardware sales in their respective first six months. That, for all the misleading doomsaying about Microsoft’s less-well-selling new console, is at least a preliminary indication of a far more robust appetite for next-gen set-tops than anyone expected, and positive news for gaming from a purely economic standpoint. And while I don’t read as much into year-on-year increases (or decreases), it’s worth noting that April 2014’s spending on hardware, new physical software (doesn’t include digital) and accessories was up by 17 percent over April 2013’s. All in all, a good month for the games industry viewed monolithically. Here’s NPD’s list of bestselling physical software, with the caveat that SKUs are combined for multi-platform games, and it doesn’t include digital sales. 1. Titanfall (360, Xbox One, PC) 2. Call of Duty: Ghosts (360, PS4, PS3, Xbox One, Wii U, PC) 3. NBA 2K14 (360, PS4, PS3, Xbox One, PC) 4. Minecraft (360) 5. LEGO The Hobbit (360, PS3, Xbox One, PS4, 3DS, Wii U, PS Vita) 6. The LEGO Movie Videogame (360, 3DS, PS3, Wii U, Xbox One, PS4, PS Vita) 7. LEGO Marvel Super Heroes (360, PS3, DS, 3DS, PS4, Wii U, Xbox One, PS Vita, PC) 8. The Amazing Spider-Man 2 (PS4, 360, PS3, Wii U, 3DS) 9. Grand Theft Auto V (360, PS3) 10. Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag (360, PS4, PS4, Xbox One, Wii U, PC) NPD adds that Yoshi’s New Island (3DS), Infamous: Second Son (PS4), MLB 14: The Show (PS3), Kinect Sports Rivals (Xbox One) and Plants vs. Zombies: Garden Warfares (360) rank in the top 10 if you list software without SKU combinations. While the Wii U doesn’t seem to be registering here, NPD says its software sales were up year-on-year by over 80 percent. And while Microsoft’s selling fewer Xbox Ones than Sony is PS4s, it’s still leading in software sales across the Xbox platform, according to Microsoft, selling 2.6 million units (I assume that’s across physical and digital, but Microsoft doesn’t specify). Of that, the Xbox One accounted for 447,000 and the Xbox 360 2.2 million, “totaling 53 percent of the total software market share,” again, according to Microsoft. Microsoft adds that the Xbox 360 is still the dominant seventh-gen console, selling 71,000 units in April. Let’s shift gears and consider a few contextual points. As noted last month, the numbers don’t mean precisely what they seem to (though sales numbers rarely do). But the picture this month is a trifle clearer than last. Gamasutra reminds us, for instance, that on Microsoft’s recent earnings call, CFO Amy Hood admitted Xbox One console supply was outpacing consumer demand. And here’s Gamasutra’s take: “This is a situation that did not appear to exist during the early days of the Xbox 360 or PlayStation 3, which reputedly saw slower, supply-constrained beginnings.” That said, it remains a truism, however bored some are of hearing it at this point, that Sony’s PlayStation 4 is available in far more countries than Microsoft’s Xbox One (72 versus 13 at last count). That’s not an attempt to excuse the unit sales disparity, which is substantial and important in its own right, but it is an attempt to factor in the broader reality. Yes, potential buyer demographics veer and lurch wildly from country to country for more or less obvious reasons (population differences chief among them), and it’s certainly not the case that all the countries Microsoft isn’t in automatically account for all of that 2 million (or more) sales gulf. But it’s also baldfaced nonsense to suggest Sony and Microsoft are competing on precisely equal terms. I doubt anyone disagrees the PS4’s outperforming by wide margins, but the points aren’t mutually exclusive. In any event, as Gamasutra further notes, Microsoft clearly seems to be having problems maintaining next-gen momentum: 115,000 units sold in April is a significant downturn from 311,000 units sold in March. Respawn’s Titanfall was supposed to energize the console, and it did to an extent in March, but not enough to give Microsoft the edge it’s been looking for over Sony: the lion’s share of Titanfall sales in April were for Xbox 360. That edge may have instead arrived this week, however, with a $100 price drop and Microsoft’s excision of its motion-sensing Kinect camera from a new $399 SKU that’ll consist of the Xbox One alone (you can still buy the Xbox One with Kinect for $500, but it seems likely the bulk of Microsoft’s June hardware sales and future ones besides — the new SKU goes live on June 9 — are going to be Kinect-less). Conventional wisdom holds that Sony’s been winning because the PS4 is less expensive and perhaps a shade more powerful (that’s the perception I’d wager most have, rightly or wrongly, reading article after article about this or that multi-platform game running at lower frame rates or pixel counts on Microsoft’s Xbox One). Microsoft just solved its price-perception problem. The questions remains whether it can mitigate this performance-perception one. Its software lineup’s appeal, built largely on multi-platform games at this stage, is arguably on par with Sony’s, and its Xbox Live online community was one of the Xbox 360’s crown jewels, so there’s incentive from that angle for all those Xbox 360 gamers — who’ve outnumbered PS3 gamers by millions in the U.S. for years — to follow the Xbox platform’s flightpath, if only for social network reasons. SPONSORED FINANCIAL CONTENT. You May Like. Stories From. Sign Up for Our Newsletters. Subscribe & Save. Sign Up for Our Newsletters. TIME may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Offers may be subject to change without notice. Gaming & Culture / Gaming & Entertainment. 55 million units combined, minus Sony's 36 million, leaves 19 million for Microsoft. by Mark Walton - Jan 29, 2016 2:30 pm UTC. Lifetime Xbox One sales have reached 19 million units—at least if EA's CFO is to believed. During a financial call last night, Blake Jorgensen said the combined install base of the Xbox One and PlayStation 4 had hit an estimated 55 million units, a mere two years into the life of the current generation. While Microsoft has long stopped reporting on the absolute number of Xboxes sold, Sony continues to push out its own figures. Most recently, Sony revealed it has sold an impressive 35.9 million PS4s, which—when deducted from EA's 55 million figure—leaves around 19 million units for the Xbox One. "I think our business seems to be operating pretty consistent as it has been over the last couple of years," said Jorgensen. "The console purchases are up through the end of calendar year '15. Our estimate is 55 million units out there which has exceeded virtually everyone's forecast for the year and now almost 50 percent higher than previous console cycle so, all of that is very, very positive." While Sony has a significant lead in terms of units sold, as Jorgensen pointed out, both consoles are doing better than their predecessors did at the same point in their lifecycle. That's certainly helped Microsoft's bottom line, with the company reporting a five percent year-on-year increase in revenue from its Games business for the quarter ending December 31, 2015, as part of its latest financial statement. However, hardware revenue declined nine percent, largely as a result of decreased sales of the Xbox 360. Microsoft also took a hit on Xbox One revenue, despite higher sales, thanks to a a lower sales price overall over the holidays. Meanwhile, Xbox Live continues to grow, with a 30 percent year-on-year increase in users. There are now 48 million monthly active users on Xbox One, Xbox 360, PC, and mobile. Nine million of those users were added in the three months ending December 31. Mark Walton / Mark is Consumer Editor at Ars Technica UK by day, and keen musician by night. He hails from the UK, the home of ARM, heavy metal, and superior chocolate. You May Also Like. WIRED Media Group. © 2018 Condé Nast. All rights reserved. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Condé Nast. PS4 vs Xbox One: Which console is the best? Xbox One vs PS4: We examine Microsoft and Sony’s consoles and see how the price, specs, features, games, accessories and more compare to see which console you should buy. 2017 has been a huge year for console gamers, with hardware taking a huge leap forward, particularly in the Xbox family. Last year we saw the launch of the PS4 Pro and Xbox One S, two new hardware iterations that improved upon the 2013 originals with a range of cool new features. The PS4 Pro is a solid upgrade over the PS4, capable of upscaling specific games to 4K using a sophisticated checker-boarding technique. It can also enhance performance using the newly implemented Boost Mode with increased frame rates across multiple titles. Xbox One S, on the other hand, is a smaller, more refined machine complete with a 4K Blu-ray player and HDR support. These are impressive machines, yet both may pale in comparison to Xbox One X. The arrival of the Xbox One S changes the game somewhat. It’s essentially the machine the Xbox One should have been at launch. It’s smaller, more attractive and comes with some serious benefits, such as 4K video playback, support for HDR TVs. There are plenty of reasons to pick up either console depending on your personal preferences. PS4 tends to offer superior performance over Xbox One when it comes to third-party games. Xbox One owners have access to a library of IP not found anywhere else. Halo, Gears of War, Forza and more will forever be at home on Microsoft’s system. Sony has its own set of exclusive games which won’t be available on the Xbox One. Uncharted, Gran Turismo Sport, God of War, Death Stranding, Persona 5, Street Fighter V and The Last Guardian to name just a few. Based on Windows 10, Xbox One’s unique interface – which aims to bring together a multitude of media connections into a single channel – is also worth taking into account if you want a console which is the centre of your entertainment world. In this article we will explore the price differences, exclusive games, design and the all-important controllers. PS4 vs Xbox One Price: How much do they cost? These days, it’s easy to find both consoles at a bargain price bundled with a couple of games and a sizeable hard drive. The Xbox One has been discontinued, but some retailers will still sell the older hardware to shift stock. But the Xbox One S, thanks to the launch of the One X, is now available for incredibly cheap prices for decent bundles. It’s quite possible to get a One S and a game or two for just £200. Also if you’d like to expand the storage capacity, Xbox One consoles support the use of external hard drives which are available for good prices too. Sign up for the newsletter. Get news, competitions and special offers direct to your inbox. PS4 Slim, which is now the standard model going forward, retails for £249 with a 500GB hard drive as standard. As is the case with Xbox One, you shouldn’t have any trouble finding bundles that throw in a couple of games. Larger memory variants can also be found, or you could upgrade the PS4 hard drive yourself. View now: PS4 Slim at Amazon. PS4 Pro is a little more pricey, currently sitting at £349 with a 1TB hard drive. The console itself is twice as powerful, so a £100 premium isn’t bad at all. Unfortunately, stock at most retailers has been intermittent at best since launch, so you might need to shop around. Xbox One S is naturally more expensive than the original model, with the limited edition 2TB version (now entirely sold out, according to Microsoft) costing £349.99. The 500GB and 1TB models are noticeably cheaper, costing £249.99 and £299.99 respectively. PS4 vs Xbox One: Specs. When comparing all four consoles there are plenty of differences to take into account. To make things easier, we’ve compiled them into a single table: PS4 vs Xbox One: Dimensions. We could go into the ins and out of the differences between the designs of the PS4 and Xbox One, but if you’re the type of person that loves a snazzy looking piece of kit on your shelf, here’s what you need to know: The original Xbox One is a lot larger than the PS4, measuring up at 7.9 x 27.4 x 33.3cm compared to the PS4’s 5.3 x 27.5 x 30.5cm dimensions. PS4 vs Xbox One – Controllers. Before we go into any major detail, check out the two controllers in all their splendour below: Both bear the genetic material of their forebears, but the DualShock 4 feels like more of a change. Microsoft has stuck with what worked so well in the Xbox 360 controller, and as such the Xbox One pad is more of a tweak than a full redesign. There are two main changes. The Xbox One pad has rumble motors built into the triggers to give greater feedback when, for example, shooting guns. But those rumble triggers easily make the Xbox One the better console to play racing games on – sorry, DriveClub and Gran Turismo Sport. Microsoft has also made huge improvements to the D-pad. The mushy Xbox 360 D-pad has been switched for one more clicky and responsive, and already works wonders on the likes of Killer Instinct and Mortal Kombat X. Sadly, the Xbox One controller still requires a pair of AA batteries as standard, rather than being rechargeable like the PS4’s DualShock 4. You’ll probably want to buy the Play and Charge kit separately for each controller for £19 a go. However, if you do stick to AA batteries, you’ll definitely see your Xbox One controller pack a longer play time than the PS4 controller, which requires regular charging via micro-usb. The DualShock 4’s changes are more marked. It’s chunkier than the previous DualShock controllers and a lot heavier too, giving a firmer feel than the last-gen DualShock 3 pad. After all that, have we really found a victor? Not as such. If you loved the Xbox 360 pad, you’ll probably prefer the Xbox One controller. However, the DualShock 4 has a robust feel that previous PlayStation pads simply haven’t had. There’s also the Xbox One Elite Controller to consider, which is available now – albeit in limited quantities. If you’re willing to pay the staggering £120 you can get yourself this customisable controller. It’s just perfect for those looking to get a more professional gaming experience from a pad. Swappable D-pad and analogue sticks, Hair Trigger Locks, interchangeable rear paddles and a rubberised diamond grip and customisable inputs thanks to a companion app for Xbox One and PC; you pretty much couldn’t want any more from a controller. To make your purchasing choice even more difficult, it’s worth mentioning that the revised Xbox One S controller brings improvements to the table, too. It boasts a new textured grip, swappable covers, an extended operational range and Bluetooth built-in, which means you can use it with your PC. PS4 vs Xbox One – Exclusive Games. Each console has amassed a hugely impressive library of games since November 2013, many of which you can’t play anywhere else. The best selection is down to your personal taste, with each company hosting a variety of essential first-party talent. We’ve put together some of our favourites below, all of which are worth checking out. Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End – Nathan Drake’s swansong is an utterly captivating adventure that tells a heartfelt story while thrusting you through a series of explosive set-pieces. The Last of Us Remastered – Yet another masterpiece by Naughty Dog, Joel and Ellie’s post-apocalyptic tale sets a new benchmark in gaming storytelling that isn’t to be missed. The Last Guardian – After ten years of waiting The Last Guardian is finally here. Team Ico’s latest effort is a beautiful tale of companionship propelled by its mystifying world. Bloodborne – This could be From Software’s finest work yet, transcending the masterful Dark Souls with a dark, gothic setting and truly brutal combat. Yakuza 0 – This hugely underrated series features varied combat, hysterical minigames and a genuinely compelling narrative based on the Japanese Mafia. Ratchet and Clank – Acting as a complete remake of the original platformer, this is easily one of the best-looking titles on PS4. It’s also a lot of fun! Best Xbox One exclusives. Gears of War 4 – Marcus Fenix is back with all new characters and enemies in Gears 4. The gruesome mixture of cover-based movement and melodic shooting is arguably better than ever. Halo 5: Guardians – 343 Industries has done an excellent job with The Reclaimer Trilogy thus far, with Guardians acting as solid middle chapter in Master Chief’s journey. Ori and the Blind Forest – This gorgeous platformer will make you cry like a baby and scream in frustration with its touching story and challenging gameplay. Rare Replay – Compiling over 30 games from the legendary developer, Rare Replay is a nostalgic trip well worth taking. I mean, who can say no to Viva Pinata? Forza Horizon 3 – One of the finest racers of this generation, Horizon 3 is absolutely packed with hundreds of cars, events and a blistering open world to explore. Quantum Break – This time travelling shooter boasts some commendable star power alongside its range of time-bending abilities. PS4 vs Xbox One – Conclusion. PS4 is a multi-faceted console with plenty of unique features and a bustling library of worthwhile exclusives. Players looking for expansive JRPGs and niche experiences will find so much to love PS4, as well as gaining the upper hand in performance with the majority of third-party titles. PS4 Pro has come into its own since its release, offering benefits beyond its 4K upscaling with its newly introduced Boost Mode. PlayStation VR is the cherry-on-top for PS4 owners, so long as you’re willing to invest in the fancy new peripheral. Xbox One is also a brilliant option to consider, boasting the likes of Halo, Forza and Gears of War under its blockbuster umbrella. Ever since Phil Spencer took charge of the brand we’ve seen the focus shift towards games, despite the cancellation of high-profile exclusives like Scalebound. You also have Xbox Play Anywhere, a service that gives you 2 digital games for the price of one across Xbox One and Windows 10. The recent release of Xbox One S will more than certainly keep us entertained until the arrival of Project Scorpio later this year.