Scarcity spoiled initial sales of PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X and Series S
As the analytical company Ampere Analysis points out, the shortage of microcircuits led to the fact that the volume of initial sales of the new generation of PlayStation 5 consoles was not much higher than the PlayStation 4 for the same period. In turn, for Microsoft, the situation turned out to be worse – the sales volumes of the Xbox Series X and Series S consoles did not even reach the level of the initial sales of the Xbox One.
According to analysts, since the start of sales in November last year, Microsoft has sold only 2.8 million Xbox Series X, and Series S consoles, which is 100 thousand fewer consoles than Xbox One models same reporting period. The volume of sales of consoles PlayStation 5, in turn, to date slightly exceeded the sales of PlayStation 4, which at the start of sales sold 4.2 million units. It is important to note that the PlayStation 4 managed to do this even without its home market, since the console appeared in Japan only in the first quarter of 2014, while the PlayStation 5 took place almost simultaneously around the world.
Last week, Sony reported that the launch of the PlayStation 5 was the most successful in the history of its game console launches. 4.5 million set-top boxes were sold. However, according to analyst firm Ampere Analysis, Sony’s numbers are usually based on in-store sales of game consoles rather than direct sales to end consumers. According to analysts, the manufacturer could have sold more than 5 million consoles if it were not for the pandemic that disrupted the components’ supply chain.
According to Ampere Analysis forecasts, the total sales of PlayStation 5 game consoles by the end of March 2021 could range from 7.6 to 8 million units. For comparison, by the end of March 2014, PlayStation 4 consoles had sold 7.5 million units within the same reporting period.
The situation is sadder for Microsoft. Its new consoles have not been able to gain the same level of popularity as the PlayStation 5 consoles, even though the company has chosen the correct and attractive sales approach for the consumer. In addition to the Xbox Series X model, Microsoft also offers the most affordable next-generation console – the Xbox Series S. Besides, the market coverage at the launch of new consoles was three times greater than at the launch of the Xbox One in November 2013, which was released in a limited number countries. But despite this, the total sales of new consoles turned out to be 100 thousand less than that of the previous generation.
Microsoft’s primary revenue will receive from the sale of subscriptions to its game service, Game Pass. The company attracts a new audience not only on consoles but also on PCs and even on mobile devices. However, according to Ampere Analysis, Microsoft will observe the gap in the size of the audience of Xbox Series X and Series S owners at least until 2025.
