A new report by Strategy Analytics, via Gamesindustry.biz, states that the PS4 will be the dominant console in this generation at least until 2018. The estimated sales for the PS4 total about 80 million units, while the Xbox One is estimated to sell only 57 million. This reprents a 40% lead for the Sony console.The report summarized their findings by saying that the PlayStation 4Â “is on path to reproduce the success of the PlayStation 2 and Nintendo Wii.”
Core gamers have moved faster to this current generation than in any previous generation
Many of the factors that are holding the Xbox One back from reaching the PS4’s level of sales are the same that faced Sony’s previous console, the PS3. A higher price point was cited as a major contributor to the lower overall sales, for example. This seems accurate as, for the months that the Xbox One was cheaper than the PS4, it was able to swing the US and UK markets into its favor.
As for the Wii U, the firm feels that it is on somewhat of a comeback at the moment, though it will likely not sell in the same range as the other two systems. Recent game releases like Mario Kart 8, Super Smash Bros. for Wii U, and Hyrule Warriors are likely to thank for the recent success. So if Nintendo can continue to publish games of the same quality they should pull enough sales to remain a formidable force in gaming.
Overall the home console market is doing much better than analysts had originally predicted, according to the report. Strategy Analytics senior analyst Eric Smith stated, “Core gamers have moved faster to this current generation than in any previous generation. The main difference in this generation is that casual gamers who bought a Wii are remaining largely on the side lines as free-to-play casual games and midcore games on tablets and smartphones have captured this segment of consumers.”
