The game console industry is alive and kicking, thanks to the success of both the Sony Corp (ADR)(NYSE:SNE) PlayStation 4 and Microsoft Corp (NASDAQ:MSFT) Xbox One. Competition is healthy and it breeds success. Sony has had a better Spring than Microsoft this year. According to Cinema Blend, Sony’s PS4 has remained dominant over Microsoft for the entire season. However, the Xbox One has also sold relatively well in the markets.
Both the companies’ recent reports show signs of a healthy console gaming industry. This time, the effort by both Sony and Microsoft to focus on gaming, is a great sign. Microsoft’s report did not separate Xbox One from Xbox 360, but grouped them together as Xbox consoles. However, Sony paid more emphasis to the phenomenal track record of the PS4.
The PS4 has seen a remarkable success this year, thanks to the exclusive Bloodborne and multiplatform titles such as "Batman: Arkham Knight", "The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt" and "Mortal Kombat X". Cinema Blend reports that the PS4’s sales for Spring were easily twice over Microsoft’s Xbox consoles. It is clear that the combined strength of Xbox One and Xbox 360 is not enough to beat the PS4. Both Xbox consoles sold 1.4 million units compared to 3 million units of the PS4. Clearly, Sony doesn’t need to rely on the PS3 as the PS4 is quite formidable on its own.
This brings us back to the topic of backwards compatibility on the Xbox One. Considering the fact that both Xbox consoles can’t compete with the PS4, how much impact will backwards compatibility have in the long run. The only good thing backwards compatibility can do is to give the Xbox One a larger library, but these are titles released in previous years. Moving forward, the upcoming titles will make an impact.
Microsoft has hopes with a strong list of titles in the fall, which are mostly exclusives. However, Sony doesn’t need to worry. Historically, multiplatform titles have done much better on the PS4 than the Xbox One. However, Sony should not take that for granted. "Halo 5: Guardians" and later "Forza Motorsport 6" are strong exclusives for Xbox One this year, but Sony has "Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End" and Capcom’s "Street Fighter V" next year, which are two promising exclusives.
Sony expects to sell 16.5 million more units of the PS4 until March 2016, which would be incredible, and it is quite possible the way the PS4 has performed in less than two years. At least this will inspire Microsoft to do even better.
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