UK Q1/March 2023: PS5 half of all consoles sold in Q1, Q1: PS5 (180%+), NSW (-25%), XSX (-18%)

[enpleinjour]

Hogwarts Legacy and PS5 rescue UK games market in Q1 2023 | UK Monthly Charts

But sales dipped very slightly in March

www.gamesindustry.biz

The console hardware space is up a substantial 24.2% for the first quarter of the year, GfK data shows. This is due to the PS5, which is now in fully supply but was largely missing from shelves during Q1 last year. PS5 sales are up over 180% for the first three months of the year, and Sony's new console accounted for over half the market during the quarter.

The success off-set a steep decline in Nintendo Switch sales (down over 25%), which is the No.2 console of the year so far. Xbox Series S and X sales were also down 18% for the first quarter.

The Resident Evil 4 remake claimed the No.1 spot, despite launching late in the month. The Capcom game didn't sell quite as strongly as the Resident Evil 2 Remake or the recent Resident Evil Village, but surpassed the performance of 2020's Resident Evil 3 remake.

65% of Resident Evil 4 sales were on PlayStation platforms, 20% on Xbox and 15% on PC.

• Huge split for RE4R for Playstation. 65% including digital and PC. More than 3 times the units sold on XBS.
• SW decline is in the expected ballpark iirc ~20%
• Q1 software sales are (+1%) which is very impressive considering last year had HFW, Arceus, and Elden Ring. Hogwarts doing a lot of the lifiting
• XBS decline in its 2nd strongest market in a year where consoles should be close to their peak should definintely be a red flag to MSFT.

January: 125,000
February: 143,000
March: 138,000

Total consoles sold: 406,000
PS5 sold: > 203,000

 

[Aostia82]

PS5 stock availability is doing wonders!

 

[Magic]

I always wonder where the PS5 would be now with no shortages. Sony’s sales this year in the UK and US are showing people have appetite for the console even with no showcase since 2021.

 

[Himura Kenshin]

I always wonder where the PS5 would be now with no shortages. Sony’s sales this year in the UK and US are showing people have appetite for the console even with no showcase since 2021.

They've been set way back by the whole shortage situation. People picking up other consoles in the meantime, jumping to PC, or just losing the impulse purchase bug that would have caused them to jump on board had they been readily available in the early days. I'm sure a lot of those lost sales they won't make up until PS6 and the craze starts all over again. It's a testament to their brand that they'll probably still go on to sell 100-plus million PS5s regardless.

 

[Magic]

They've been set way back by the whole shortage situation. People picking up other consoles in the meantime, jumping to PC, or just losing the impulse purchase bug that would have caused them to jump on board had they been readily available in the early days. I'm sure a lot of those lost sales they won't make up until PS6 and the craze starts all over again. It's a testament to their brand that they'll probably still go on to sell 100-plus million PS5s regardless.

Jumping to PC now is more expensive than ever with the crypto boom and Nvidia and AMD just hiking prices gen on gen sadly. Sony aren’t just relying on brand though. They have delivered on games since the launch of the console for me personally, solid launch lineup which was night and day compared to the PS4. Spider Man Miles Morales, Demon’s Souls Remake, Returnal, Horizon Forbidden West, GT7, God of War Ragnarok, Ratchet & Clank Rift Apart is such a better offering than Killzone Shadowfall.

 

[sfortunato]

The Mario movie and the new Zelda should help Switch a little bit but nonetheless these numbers are pretty strong considering Switch has just entered its 7th year in the market.

 

[enpleinjour]

Also Tchia seems to have done well. Another success for Sony's "premium" Indie backings like Bugsnax, Kena, Sifu, Stray.

 

[The Hunter]

PS5 is a beast.
Very worrying numbers for Xbox in their second strongest market.
People are not only not buying Xbox consoles, they are also not buying the games for Xbox. Not normal that highly anticipated and popular games like Re4 sells that low on Xbox, and is not normal that a console with only 3 years of life sells that low in its second strongest market.

 

[Welfare]

This is what I have

PS5: 204K
NSW: 102K
XBS: 94K

	Xbox Series	PS5	Switch
Jan-23	29,000​	58,000​	38,000​
Feb-23	34,000​	74,000​	32,000​
Mar-23	31,000​	72,000​	32,000​

LTD would be ~2M for XBS and ~2.5M for PS5, or 56:44

 

[1st_horseman]

PS5 is a beast.
Very worrying numbers for Xbox in their second strongest market.
People are not only not buying Xbox consoles, they are also not buying the games for Xbox. Not normal that highly anticipated and popular games like Re4 sells that low on Xbox, and is not normal that a console with only 3 years of life sells that low in its second strongest market.

Mantra "will wait till it come to Gamepass" is taking a full effect it seems. Well, that happens when company is advertising a sub. as the main way to play games on your plastic box.

 

[Remember_spinal]

Mantra "will wait till it come to Gamepass" is taking a full effect it seems. Well, that happens when company is advertising a sub. as the main way to play games on your plastic box.

This is part of the reason i feel subs are dangerous. I even feel my buying habits changing with smaller games because of it and it feels bad

 

[Astral_lion02]

This is what I have

PS5: 204K
NSW: 102K
XBS: 94K

	Xbox Series	PS5	Switch
Jan-23	29,000​	58,000​	38,000​
Feb-23	34,000​	74,000​	32,000​
Mar-23	31,000​	72,000​	32,000​

LTD would be ~2M for XBS and ~2.5M for PS5, or 56:44

Do you have previous months for PS5 XBS and NSW since November 2020 ?

I want to make a graph.

 

[opaidiota]

Xbox numbers are kinda are worrying, and I don't think Redfall will change anything.

They need Starfield ASAP.

Not normal that highly anticipated and popular games like Re4 sells that low on Xbox, and is not normal that a console with only 3 years of life sells that low in its second strongest market.

I say without any irony that I currently see big third party multiplatform games as PlayStation console exclusives.

In markets like Japan these games (Hogwarts Legacy, Resident Evil 4 Remake...) are already treated as PlayStation exclusives and I think this could become a trend in other markets.

 

[Xevross]

I'll echo the sentiment of this being worrying for xbox. They shouldn't be on a downward trajectory with better supply and a massive game like Hogwarts Legacy which is currently next gen only. Xbox need a Series X price cut and to have some more exclusives start landing. Hi-Fi Rush was a good start quality-wise but it's not a console seller. Redfall, Starfield and Forza landing this year will be good progress.

Xbox software sales being bad is expected given the game pass strategy, Microsoft don't mind as they're still on a net positive but other publishers probably aren't happy.

Also Tchia seems to have done well. Another success for Sony's "premium" Indie backings like Bugsnax, Kena, Sifu, Stray.

Having just played through Tchia, "premium" is a massive stretch in this case, but no doubt the indies Sony have backed this gen have been very successful critically and commercially.

 

[Pancracio17]

Isnt XSX production still in the dumps? Whats taking them so long to get it going? Sony producing numbers like that kills any excuse they had.

 

[GaiusBaltar25]

Once Starfield gets close to releasing, I think Xbox needs to have a massive marketing campaign that's similar to Sony's "Live from PS5" campaign. Combining Starfield with a massive influx of XSX consoles could help them gain some momentum. Once Starfield is out and the ABK acquisition goes through, they should have a steady cadence of game releases for years to come. However, this doesn't fully make up for the fact that they've squandered an entire year for no reason.

 

[unkindlynice]

MS

Once Starfield gets close to releasing, I think Xbox needs to have a massive marketing campaign that's similar to Sony's "Live from PS5" campaign. Combining Starfield with a massive influx of XSX consoles could help them gain some momentum. Once Starfield is out and the ABK acquisition goes through, they should have a steady cadence of game releases for years to come. However, this doesn't fully make up for the fact that they've squandered an entire year for no reason.

Yeah their marketing has been quite weak honestly, they need a real focus. Do wonder if they are waiting for the acquisition before they start spending. It’ll be a big saving. Basically Acti and MS spending costs are one.

 

[Xevross]

Isnt XSX production still in the dumps? Whats taking them so long to get it going? Sony producing numbers like that kills any excuse they had.

It's not great but Series X is still available in the UK. I could buy one for next day delivering on amazon right now, in fact it would come with FH5 ultimate edition for only £15 extra (5% discount on the bundle), still cheaper than standalone PS5, seems like a good deal.

 

[MrTired]

Isnt XSX production still in the dumps? Whats taking them so long to get it going? Sony producing numbers like that kills any excuse they had.

Specifically in the UK there's an abundance of Series X so it isn't a cause of held back by a lack of stock. The Series X has been available consistently for like 6 months.

 

[GaiusBaltar25]

MS

Yeah their marketing has been quite weak honestly, they need a real focus. Do wonder if they are waiting for the acquisition before they start spending. It’ll be a big saving. Basically Acti and MS spending costs are one.

That would make sense. They should also take some cues from Bethesda on marketing, which is something they've always excelled at.

 

[peter42O]

I believe that Microsoft will have a massive amount of consoles in June especially with the Diablo IV Xbox Series X bundle releasing on the 6th and of course, in September when Starfield releases which I also believe will have a bundle like Diablo IV.

Software wise, do the sales include digital? Isn't digital more on Xbox than PlayStation while physical is more on PlayStation than Xbox?

 

[enpleinjour]

IMO the real shocker here is the RE split. Its 76:24 PS:XB in the UK. Globally, we could be looking at 85:15 even with digital.

That's like FF level of attachment for PS, something we haven't seen before for RE. Hard to know if its a one off situation (like the lack of XB1) or if this is a trend.

I believe that Microsoft will have a massive amount of consoles in June especially with the Diablo IV Xbox Series X bundle releasing on the 6th and of course, in September when Starfield releases which I also believe will have a bundle like Diablo IV.

Software wise, do the sales include digital? Isn't digital more on Xbox than PlayStation while physical is more on PlayStation than Xbox?

This includes digital.

 

[Magic]

Spider Man 2 lurking just seems ominous really.

 

[MrTired]

IMO the real shocker here is the RE split. Its 66:34 PS:XB in the UK. Globally, we could be looking at 80:20 even with digital.

That's like FF level of attachment for PS, something we haven't seen before for RE. Hard to know if its a one off situation (like the lack of XB1) or if this is a trend.



This includes digital.

With Street Fighter 6 also not releasing on the XBO I expect it to repeat itself.

 

[Astral_lion02]

IMO the real shocker here is the RE split. Its 66:34 PS:XB in the UK. Globally, we could be looking at 80:20 even with digital.

If Hardware is bad then Software is bad.

Absence of Xbox one SKU doesn't help.

 

[Spiegel]

IMO the real shocker here is the RE split. Its 66:34 PS:XB in the UK. Globally, we could be looking at 80:20 even with digital.

That's like FF level of attachment for PS, something we haven't seen before for RE. Hard to know if its a one off situation (like the lack of XB1) or if this is a trend.



This includes digital.

Split without Pc is 76:24

 

[MrTired]

I believe that Microsoft will have a massive amount of consoles in June especially with the Diablo IV Xbox Series X bundle releasing on the 6th and of course, in September when Starfield releases which I also believe will have a bundle like Diablo IV.

Software wise, do the sales include digital? Isn't digital more on Xbox than PlayStation while physical is more on PlayStation than Xbox?

I keep seeing this sentiment repeated but it makes no logically sense. Why would Microsoft hold back supply till June or September when in this scenario the risk losing customers to Sony for the rest of the generation? Why isn't Sony holding stock for Spider-Man 2? In the UK demand isn't being constrained by stock and the Series X is readily available.

 

[Avitsky]

Si le matériel est mauvais, le logiciel est mauvais.

L'absence de SKU Xbox One n'aide pas.

Exactement.

Il ne faut pas oublier que les productions japonaises se vendent moins sur Xbox.

Star Wars Jedi Survivor sauvera Xbox, les joueurs Xbox adorent ce genre de jeux.

 

[Pancracio17]

hey dejen de hablar frances

 

[enpleinjour]

If Hardware is bad then Software is bad.

Absence of Xbox one SKU doesn't help.

At best the hardware split is like 60:40 from the top of my head. Its the software ratio being so much worse than the hardware ratio that is interesting.

85:15 is FF levels of alliance with PS.

Split without Pc is 76:24

Edited to 85:15 now. Unbelievable.

 

[peter42O]

I keep seeing this sentiment repeated but it makes no logically sense. Why would Microsoft hold back supply till June or September when in this scenario the risk losing customers to Sony for the rest of the generation? Why isn't Sony holding stock for Spider-Man 2? In the UK demand isn't being constrained by stock and the Series X is readily available.

I don't think that they're "holding back" supply. First, I believe that they're still using Series X consoles for their server blades which to be honest is far more important long term than the console because while the console is important, it's not the end all be all. Its just one piece of the puzzle. Second, because of this, they have less stock. Third, they do seem to push Series S more due to the fact that two of them can be made for every one of Series X. I see Series S as being a brilliant move because it allows those who are primarily PlayStation gamers/owners to get into the Xbox platform and eco-system at a far cheaper price. Series S is more for casuals as opposed to the Series X which is for someone like me who wants the better Xbox console because for me, it's my primary. Long term wise, this makes more sense you'll get those who aren't really Xbox fans or are just mild Xbox fans to own the console and get into it so by next generation, perhaps they jump to Xbox as their primary where as with this generation, I don't see it happening all that often. Fourth, while Microsoft has released Hi Fi Rush this past January along with Age of Empires 2 DE, a Forza expansion two weeks ago, Ghostwire Tokyo port tomorrow, Minecraft Legends later this month and Redfall in three weeks, none of this is really going to pull in someone to buy a Series X but a Series S is a lot more likely. Fifth, if you're Microsoft you want to have as many Series X consoles available for Diablo IV and Starfield because they will be the two biggest games for Microsoft this year by far. Sixth, we all know Spider Man 2 is going to sell a lot of PlayStation 5 units this Fall/Holiday season and including everything else I just mentioned, I think Microsoft will want to be close this Fall/Holiday season so they'll sacrifice some sales in the first half of 2023 while still accomplishing other goals that they have such as increasing their server blades with the Series X consoles.

 

[Remember_spinal]

Diablo IV isn’t going to be a big mover, its a multiplatform game that will see the majority of sales on PC

 

[Balb]

Microsoft really needs that Activision deal to clear huh.

 

[sixsilum]

With that RE4R ratio, i wonder if this could open the possibility for Sony to sign big japanese title exclusivity for console , launching day 1 on PC, outside of FF.

Anyway, each month seem more likely that this gen will end with a similar ratio between PS/Xbox than the previous one.

 

[Magic]

Microsoft really needs that Activision deal to clear huh.

Nah, EA, Take 2 and Capcom should even things out.

 

[1st_horseman]

I keep seeing this sentiment repeated but it makes no logically sense. Why would Microsoft hold back supply till June or September when in this scenario the risk losing customers to Sony for the rest of the generation? Why isn't Sony holding stock for Spider-Man 2? In the UK demand isn't being constrained by stock and the Series X is readily available.

It is just excuse after excusr when Xbox console sales are bad. Nothing more or less

I believe that Microsoft will have a massive amount of consoles in June especially with the Diablo IV Xbox Series X bundle releasing on the 6th and of course, in September when Starfield releases which I also believe will have a bundle like Diablo IV.

Software wise, do the sales include digital? Isn't digital more on Xbox than PlayStation while physical is more on PlayStation than Xbox?

Diablo IV won't save Xbox nor push Xbox Series X sales if that consoles hard to find ( well, in US probaby, not here in Europe). Also, Diablo IV XSX is just very limited to, well, XSX. Diablo is very PC centric game and majority of sales will be on PC.

I don't think that they're "holding back" supply. First, I believe that they're still using Series X consoles for their server blades which to be honest is far more important long term than the console because while the console is important, it's not the end all be all. Its just one piece of the puzzle. Second, because of this, they have less stock. Third, they do seem to push Series S more due to the fact that two of them can be made for every one of Series X. I see Series S as being a brilliant move because it allows those who are primarily PlayStation gamers/owners to get into the Xbox platform and eco-system at a far cheaper price. Series S is more for casuals as opposed to the Series X which is for someone like me who wants the better Xbox console because for me, it's my primary. Long term wise, this makes more sense you'll get those who aren't really Xbox fans or are just mild Xbox fans to own the console and get into it so by next generation, perhaps they jump to Xbox as their primary where as with this generation, I don't see it happening all that often. Fourth, while Microsoft has released Hi Fi Rush this past January along with Age of Empires 2 DE, a Forza expansion two weeks ago, Ghostwire Tokyo port tomorrow, Minecraft Legends later this month and Redfall in three weeks, none of this is really going to pull in someone to buy a Series X but a Series S is a lot more likely. Fifth, if you're Microsoft you want to have as many Series X consoles available for Diablo IV and Starfield because they will be the two biggest games for Microsoft this year by far. Sixth, we all know Spider Man 2 is going to sell a lot of PlayStation 5 units this Fall/Holiday season and including everything else I just mentioned, I think Microsoft will want to be close this Fall/Holiday season so they'll sacrifice some sales in the first half of 2023 while still accomplishing other goals that they have such as increasing their server blades with the Series X consoles.

If MS is supplying cloud servers so much with XSX, why XSX isn't hard to find across Europe then?
No, MS doesn't have a stock problem with Xbox. They've overstuffed channels with XSS everywhere. If XSX is easy to find in Europe, MS can easily relocate XSX supply from Europe to US and concentrate XSX sales there for a while. And demand is low. Low XSS price or even more lower price with some discount didn’t pushed demand, Gamepass didn’t pushed demand for almost a year. You mentioned Hifi Rush, FH5 expansion, Age Of Empires which are already out for weeks/months. You said that people will buy XSS more likely for that. No, they didn’t. Especially casuals didn’t jump in nor PlayStation gamers. Nor Redfall will do it too ( there will be also Redfall XSX speciall edition too) . Richard Ledbetter from DF mentioned on podcast that he saw on used market XSS already for 100£. It wouldn't be at that price if there is a demand for it on used market. Looks like there is demand problem too.

Also



I would expect that in Japan, but not in UK at biggest retailer

 

[jesusraz]

I would expect that in Japan, but not in UK at biggest retailer

It's like the Wii U... GameCube... N64... days!

 

[Pancracio17]

Xbox has got to move the needle in their favor by the end of the year. By then theyll have put out Starfield and various other AAA games, plus the ABK acquisition will have already been closed. If that doesnt show in the sales I wonder if its already over.

 

[MrTired]

I don't think that they're "holding back" supply. First, I believe that they're still using Series X consoles for their server blades which to be honest is far more important long term than the console because while the console is important, it's not the end all be all. Its just one piece of the puzzle. Second, because of this, they have less stock. Third, they do seem to push Series S more due to the fact that two of them can be made for every one of Series X. I see Series S as being a brilliant move because it allows those who are primarily PlayStation gamers/owners to get into the Xbox platform and eco-system at a far cheaper price. Series S is more for casuals as opposed to the Series X which is for someone like me who wants the better Xbox console because for me, it's my primary. Long term wise, this makes more sense you'll get those who aren't really Xbox fans or are just mild Xbox fans to own the console and get into it so by next generation, perhaps they jump to Xbox as their primary where as with this generation, I don't see it happening all that often. Fourth, while Microsoft has released Hi Fi Rush this past January along with Age of Empires 2 DE, a Forza expansion two weeks ago, Ghostwire Tokyo port tomorrow, Minecraft Legends later this month and Redfall in three weeks, none of this is really going to pull in someone to buy a Series X but a Series S is a lot more likely. Fifth, if you're Microsoft you want to have as many Series X consoles available for Diablo IV and Starfield because they will be the two biggest games for Microsoft this year by far. Sixth, we all know Spider Man 2 is going to sell a lot of PlayStation 5 units this Fall/Holiday season and including everything else I just mentioned, I think Microsoft will want to be close this Fall/Holiday season so they'll sacrifice some sales in the first half of 2023 while still accomplishing other goals that they have such as increasing their server blades with the Series X consoles.

How you can say cloud is more important that console hardware market when the addressable market for cloud is magnitude smaller the console hardware business is beyond me. In May 22 Microsoft reported 10 million players and used Xcloud to date. Most of users I would hazard to guess are Fornite players and aren't paying for Game pass Ultimate. Why would they prioritise a user like this who would actually cost them money than enthusiast who worth some much more over the lifetime of the generation.

The Series S is failing in your hypothesis of attracting console owners of other platforms or not a rate of replacing owners lost to other platforms. Xbox series sales are very close if not fallen behind the XBO sales. The Series S is aimed at casual yet a console that is £120-£200 more is double it up. The software you outlined isn't stopping the year on year decline and 2022 software release was dire so it can't be said that it big software release are responsible for decline due to lack of software release this year.

You still haven't given me a logic reason for delaying onboarding a console user to the ecosystem. When they could possibly lose that user to the competitor just so they have series X for those 2 game launches. Diablo 4 bundle isn't a custom console so again makes no sense to stockpile.

 

[peter42O]

Diablo IV won't save Xbox nor push Xbox Series X sales if that consoles hard to find ( well, in US probaby, not here in Europe). Also, Diablo IV XSX is just very limited to, well, XSX. Diablo is very PC centric game and majority of sales will be on PC.

I don't think that Diablo IV will save Xbox or Series X sales but the game is going to be huge for Microsoft as a whole and it will still help the Xbox brand console wise.

If MS is supplying cloud servers so much with XSX, why XSX isn't hard to find across Europe then?
No, MS doesn't have a stock problem with Xbox. They've overstuffed channels with XSS everywhere. If XSX is easy to find in Europe, MS can easily relocate XSX supply from Europe to US and concentrate XSX sales there for a while. And demand is low. Low XSS price or even more lower price with some discount didn’t pushed demand, Gamepass didn’t pushed demand for almost a year. You mentioned Hifi Rush, FH5 expansion, Age Of Empires which are already out for weeks/months. You said that people will buy XSS more likely for that. No, they didn’t. Especially casuals didn’t jump in nor PlayStation gamers. Nor Redfall will do it too ( there will be also Redfall XSX speciall edition too) . Richard Ledbetter from DF mentioned on podcast that he saw on used market XSS already for 100£. It wouldn't be at that price if there is a demand for it on used market. Looks like there is demand problem too.

Microsoft has definitely overstocked stores with Series S and even if Series X is easier to find in Europe, Xbox brand isn't big there. Demand isn't going to be high until Microsoft starts releasing great games on a consistent year by year basis which hasn't really happened yet. Game Pass wasn't going to push demand in 2022 because there was nothing really there. Even thus far this year, the major release is Starfield. Everything else is minor in comparison.

If anything, I don't know why anyone would expect Microsoft to have a great sales quarter after coming off a bad year and including launch, they only had the second half of 2021 that was strong which was reflected in sales and subscriptions. But since then, they've been weak so in all honesty, I don't know why this is even a surprise to anyone.

 

[peter42O]

How you can say cloud is more important that console hardware market when the addressable market for cloud is magnitude smaller the console hardware business is beyond me. In May 22 Microsoft reported 10 million players and used Xcloud to date. Most of users I would hazard to guess are Fornite players and aren't paying for Game pass Ultimate. Why would they prioritise a user like this who would actually cost them money than enthusiast who worth some much more over the lifetime of the generation.

The Series S is failing in your hypothesis of attracting console owners of other platforms or not a rate of replacing owners lost to other platforms. Xbox series sales are very close if not fallen behind the XBO sales. The Series S is aimed at casual yet a console that is £120-£200 more is double it up. The software you outlined isn't stopping the year on year decline and 2022 software release was dire so it can't be said that it big software release are responsible for decline due to lack of software release this year.

You still haven't given me a logic reason for delaying onboarding a console user to the ecosystem. When they could possibly lose that user to the competitor just so they have series X for those 2 game launches. Diablo 4 bundle isn't a custom console so again makes no sense to stockpile.

I didn't say that cloud was more important. I said Microsoft getting their server blades and whatnot to where they want them is what's important. Too many people believe that Microsoft is doing what they're doing for now. They're not. What Microsoft is doing is for the long term. Next generation and beyond. Anyone expecting Microsoft to match Sony in console/software sales this generation is going to be very disappointed.

Falling behind Xbox One isn't saying much because last generation was horrible for Microsoft and it was decreased to $400 in June 2014 where as almost two and a half years later, the Series X is still $500. Series S is $300 and goes on sale at times but that's because Microsoft just "wants you in". They don't care how.

Microsoft technically isn't delaying a console user into the eco-system because they do have Series S widely available and granted, it's probably not the Xbox console some people want but from a Microsoft standpoint, it makes sense because the vast majority of those who aren't Xbox fans or already own/want an Xbox Series X aren't going to just go head first with Series X. For majority of consumers, Xbox is secondary at best so how do you get those people into the eco-system? By offering a cheaper console option in Series S.

Someone who's not into Microsoft's first party games or their direction isn't going to jump in anyway so losing them isn't a loss because they never had them in the first place. Diablo IV isn't a custom console which is a miss on Microsoft's part but the game is still going to be huge and while it will be bigger on PC, I do believe that it's bigger on Xbox compared to PlayStation. Also, if the ABK deal goes through before Diablo IV releases, then I can see a lot of people jumping into Xbox with the bundle or just the console and subscribe to Game Pass for Diablo IV.

People need to understand that this generation isn't where Microsoft will somehow catch up or be tied. Not happening. This generation is literally for the overall plan of the future of Xbox in regards to the platform and the eco-system. As the years keep passing by, people will realize that Microsoft's plan isn't just for the consoles. It's for so many other ways to get into their eco-system. But in order to do that, they need to build up their infrastructure and foundation for future generations because if they don't do this first and get everything setup for the future, what Microsoft as a company is doing in regards to Xbox isn't going to matter.

 

[salesguy]

i cant decide whether to be doom and gloom on xbox or if these numbers are weirdly, faintly positive for xbox. the positive argument is it seems to be holding up decently (knowing the ps5 stock onslaught was going to suck a lot of air out of the room, but that wont last forever as supply catches up to demand). less drop than switch for example.

i think it's clear though S was a mistake. they need to get a 399 xbox de out asap, and then think about dropping it to 349 (allocating the S drop funds from last holiday). i continue to ask, what the hell is phil doing/thinking. but, there may be hardware lead times of months here if presumably a X DE is in the pipe. i would hope to see something, ANYTHING on a Xbox SKU rejiggering by September-ish? The other option is he just thinks Starfield is going to save everything.

• Huge split for RE4R for Playstation. 65% including digital and PC. More than 3 times the units sold on XBS.

I'm not sure why people are expressing surprise at this, especially on this board. titles like RE and many others ALWAYS have a huge playstation split going back to ps4 and ps3.

I always wonder where the PS5 would be now with no shortages. Sony’s sales this year in the UK and US are showing people have appetite for the console even with no showcase since 2021.

The key thing to me is compare with PS4, which it was 5+m behind PS4 going into this quarter, so PS5 has sold so far way worse than PS4. However, it is likely to make up again I forget, but 3-4m this quarter vs PS4. So it could start getting close to PS4 after this, maybe 1-3m behind. Then the question will be on a fully supplied playing field will it outrun PS4 going forward.

Sony has played this great, my friend works in distribution and says and there are a ton of PS5's coming down the pike. When/if stores sell out they have plenty more to back that up. Sony really had a clear plan to massively increase supply. Phil/MS seems to have nothing.

Microsoft technically isn't delaying a console user into the eco-system because they do have Series S widely available and granted,

Easy to play monday morning QB (although I said S was a terrible idea from prior to Day 1, so I guess I can pat myself on the back). But just transferring it to myself, I've thought of buying a S (already have X). But one thought that really plagues me is it's only a 1080P console. This means you really have to be buying it for a small TV, since those are the only 720/1080 TV's. If you are buying it for a big screen 4K TV, you just have to know it's not made for that. That's a problem! I have a 65" 4k, and then in a bedroom a 32" I guess 1080P. S is only for that 2nd TV really, and my 2k PC monitor maybe. it's not going to look good trying to drive a 65 or 75" 4k!

Even I who was against it from day 1 and still sometimes surprised it doesnt sell better though, as a kids/2nd console, but mostly the kids angle. But it just doesnt, debate over!

 

[Remember_spinal]

The key thing to me is compare with PS4, which it was 5+m behind PS4 going into this quarter, so PS5 has sold so far way worse than PS4. However, it is likely to make up again I forget, but 3-4m this quarter vs PS4. So it could start getting close to PS4 after this, maybe 1-3m behind. Then the question will be on a fully supplied playing field will it outrun PS4 going forward.

I think they claimed last year during their annual fiscal report that they would surpass the PS4 by early 2024?

 

[Bernd Lauert]

This is part of the reason i feel subs are dangerous. I even feel my buying habits changing with smaller games because of it and it feels bad

Dangerous for retail, maybe. The game publishers will still make their money.

 

[Pancracio17]

Dangerous for retail, maybe. The game publishers will still make their money.

Xbox has the double retail danger of having gamepass and having half their consoles not even have a disc drive. I always thought theyd get chased out of retail by the end of the gen.

 

[Avitsky]

I think they claimed last year during their annual fiscal report that they would surpass the PS4 by early 2024?

PS5
2023 - 23 million
2022 - 19 million
= 61.3 million


PS4
2016 - 20 million
2015 - 17.7 million
= 60 million

 

[salesguy]

Xbox has the double retail danger of having gamepass and having half their consoles not even have a disc drive. I always thought theyd get chased out of retail by the end of the gen.

I mean this old false saw again? Guess Playstation will get chased next, because inevitably most console game sales will be digital (in fact isnt rumor the base PS5 will not have a disc drive soon? Only as an add on?).

If not one physical disc is ever sold every major retailer will still carry consoles (and dont forget profitable accessories and points cards). We see this with countless products right now (ipad?). Consoles are low margin, but not no margin, and TONS of low margin products are carried in every store every day. The biggest selling consumer staples like tide are actually low to no margin, they're just something every retailer has to carry at near cost to compete and drive traffic.

 

[Pancracio17]

I mean this old false saw again? Guess Playstation will get chased next, because inevitably most console game sales will be digital (in fact isnt rumor the base PS5 will not have a disc drive soon? Only as an add on?).

If not one physical disc is ever sold every major retailer will still carry consoles (and dont forget profitable accessories and points cards). We see this with countless products right now (ipad?). Consoles are low margin, but not no margin, and TONS of low margin products are carried in every store every day. The biggest selling consumer staples like tide are actually low to no margin, they're just something every retailer has to carry at near cost to compete and drive traffic.

I mean yes of course for big retailers like walmart, but for game only retailers this doesnt seem to be working out. Xbox doesnt sell a lot, and the costumers they do sell to dont come back often except to buy the odd controller. Its less that this is the driver of being driven out and more like the last straw. Granted I only have the tweets here as my source that its happening so take my post with a grain of salt.

edit: also note that I mean consoles wont dissappear, but shelf space for games might.

 

[epicene101]

Microsoft/Xbox numbers are very underwhelming. They don’t have a reliable 2nd market like handhelds either.

I don’t really expect Mario Movie and Zelda to change the positions of the consoles in the West honestly, but if it does push Switch to #1, that’s great for Nintendo.

Zelda is going to be a monster in sales this year. Can’t wait.

Great Numbers Sony /PlayStation.

 

[AruanaRiva]

Not a good week for Xbox but that has been told even starting last year. At the moment, i feel the momentum that they had starting this gen has more or less gone.

It is now all dependent on their big first party offering to carry them as they atm is not really doing good even in their usual stronger region