PlayStation 5 will be more popular than Xbox Series X and S, but Microsoft has a trump card – Xbox Game Pass

The main difference between the two platforms is the approach to the subscription service. Microsoft is offering an Xbox Game Pass subscription with a catalog of over 100 games released on its three previous consoles for $ 10 per month. Sony has a similar offering, the PS Plus Collection, with just 20 PlayStation 4 games for $ 5 per month, bundled with a subscription to the PlayStation Plus online multiplayer service.

Seamus Blackley, one of the original Xbox designers, believes Sony will have an edge over Microsoft, at least initially. “ I don’t see any technology in this generation (Xbox) that would significantly improve the content, ” he told CNBC. His opinion is shared by the analytical company IDC. Lewis Ward, director of game research at IDC, said Sony could sell up to 5 million PlayStation 5 consoles this year, while Microsoft’s Xbox Series X and S consoles are expected to sell 3. 8 million units.

But that doesn’t mean the Xbox will fail. “ I really think Sony will probably sell the PlayStation 5 better, but I don’t think Microsoft is worried about that, ” Ben Throop, co-founder of game developer Frame Interactive, told CNBC.

In turn, Jerret West, director of marketing for Microsoft’s Xbox division, told CNBC in an email that Microsoft will sell all consoles that will be released this year and that he expects record sales in the games segment.