Sony have announced they’ve cumulatively sold
more than 7 million units of its PlayStation 4
console. Meanwhile, Microsoft has reported no
real sales figures for Xbox One, but has
announced 5 million units shipped to retailers
since the console launched.
These numbers have renewed interest in the next-
generation console wars, leading many to again
question which of the three — PlayStation 4, Xbox
One or Nintendo’s Wii U — has really come out
on top. But ultimately, does it matter? The new
generation of consoles can be considered a
success for almost everyone involved (well,
maybe not Nintendo), especially consumers.





1. Rumors of console
gaming’s death have been
greatly exaggerated.
Two years ago, everyone said the console game
was a dying breed, and that the future of gaming
was not in the living room, but on mobile.
Several million new console owners say
otherwise. The console wars earned Xbox and
PlayStation, even Nintendo, massive amounts of
publicity and attention — even from non-gamers.
Some anecdotal evidence here that I’m sure most
gamers can appreciate: In the past year alone,
I’ve had more people than ever before ask me if I
favour Xbox One or PlayStation. Most of the time,
this question came from non-gamers looking for
some insight into which console was better than
the other.
Everyone likes a good battle between industry
titans, and it may be safe to conclude that the
publicity surrounding next-gen consoles
encouraged a few first-time buyers to pick one
up, or, at the very least, play on someone else’s
Xbox 360 or PS3 (now that they’re not getting as
much use), potentially creating new customers
down the road.
And both Sony and Microsoft have plenty to
celebrate when it comes to their sales. Despite
Microsoft’s “mum’s the word” attitude regarding
sales numbers, it’s easy to see that PlayStation is
currently on top and will remain there for some
time. But Microsoft is not a loser in any sense.
Just by estimating the number of new Xbox sales,
based on how many units Microsoft has shipped,
we feel confident saying the Xbox One has sold
enough consoles to be considered a success,
even if it hasn’t earned the top spot.
Both Xbox and PlayStation sales numbers are
even more impressive when you consider the lack
of must-have content available for each. Though
the Xbox-exclusive “Titanfall” was the most
popular game in its launch month of March, it has
not closed the gap between the two consoles.
And there’s no doubting that a game can change
the course of fate for a failing console. The
popular “Halo” series has long kept consumers
on Xbox. Some, like the folks at investment blog
The Motley Fool, think the “Halo” franchise’s next
instalment, coming out in 2014, might just give
Xbox One the edge it needs.




2. Competition breeds
innovation.
In 2006, Nintendo revolutionized the way we
interact with video games by introducing a
motion-sensing controller. The Wii opened up a
new demographic of gamers that Sony and
Microsoft had never tapped into: grandparents.
The unlikely customers helped Nintendo solidify
itself as a serious contender in that round of the
console wars.
Fast-forward to 2014, and you have an Xbox
console that wants to control your living room, a
Wii U that wants to give you a second-screen
gaming experience and a PlayStation that could
offer backwards compatibility.
Innovation has always been a huge focus in the
gaming industry, and this new generation is no
different. While each of these three new consoles
are comparable in terms of power, their
differences highlight the attempt to strike the right
note with consumers, even if it means failing once
or twice.
Go to the comment section of any console war
article, and you’ll find nay-sayers from all sides,
arguing that the Xbox forsook its gaming
audience or that the PlayStation refused to
innovate. Regardless of where you stand, the fact
that Xbox is experimenting with cable integration
and the Wii U has messed up its marketing
strategy (once, twice, many times), means that all
current and future consoles will be better in tune
with what the public wants.
And what all of this boils down to is that the
consumer has a choice.



3. Innovation Creates
Choice.
Sony may have racked up the most sales, but at
the end of the day, any mistakes, pitfalls or
lacklustre sales push all three companies to be
better, which is a big win for the consumer, no
matter how you slice it. Different consoles create
a different experience, and the “winner” for one
consumer might not be the best option for
another.
The great news is that there are three excellent
consoles for sale from three different companies
working tirelessly to make them better. All the
consumer has to do is choose.
Like your history teacher taught you, to best
understand the events of today we need only
examine the past. Sony, Microsoft and Nintendo
have been duking it out for a while, but there’s
never been a clear winner. And that’s probably
best for all involved.