It’s no secret that Microsoft’s initially-flagging Xbox One has made a stellar recovery in recent months, selling upwards of 10 million consoles to retailers in total. What still remains murky is whether or not this momentum will continue, and to what extent the playing field between Microsoft and Sony will be leveled going forward.
EA’s Blake Jorgensen has a few ideas of his own regarding the matter, and he expressed them today at the 2014 UBS Global Technology Conference.
Clearly, Sony has jumped out to a lead with a great console and I think a great pricing strategy. But Microsoft is catching up quickly. And pricing actions that are taking place, particularly within this Christmas season, driven by Microsoft around reductions plus a lot of bundled software, I think will continue to help pull the consumer into the new consoles.
The reductions Jorgensen points to are well documented, most notably the Xbox One’s $50 price cut for the holidays that was implemented last month, as well as Assassin’s Creed and Call of Duty bundles that offer impressive value.
Jorgensen also noted that according to his predictions, there will be “north of 25 million” Xbox Ones and PS4s sold to consumers once the holidays have concluded. The current number sits around 15 million, so clearly he’s expecting big numbers.
Related: Microsoft Says Xbox One Sales Are on the Rise, with 10 Million Units Shipped to Retailers
Finally, Jorgensen noted that PS4 and Xbox One combined are selling at approximately 50-70 percent better rates than their forebears, the PS3 and Xbox 360. While not terribly shocking news (the PS3’s early days were abysmal sales-wise, and both systems at the time cost more than their successors), the improved rates of attachment are certainly good news for gamers and game-makers alike.
The real question, then, is this — will Sony retain its lead? There was a time long ago (read: before 2014) when I thought scheduled AAA lineups could indicate a platform’s success in advance. If this past year has taught us something, it’s that you can’t take anything for granted.
