Which Sold More: The Xbox One Or PS4?
It is a timeless debate: what console is superior? The Xbox or the PlayStation? Gamers have been arguing since the release of Microsoft's Xbox, back in November 2001. It cannot be denied — the Xbox changed how companies approached home consoles. The use of PC technology really helped mold the gaming landscape.
The PlayStation quickly became a staple in the gaming industry. Sony released its first major console with so many exclusive titles. Crash Bandicoot, Spyro the Dragon, and Ape Escape all became fan favorite games. The PlayStation was known for its prized titles, but Sony quickly adapted its hardware to match Microsoft's Xbox.
Both companies and systems went through multiple evolutions. The Xbox One and the PlayStation 4 were built with some of the highest quality hardware that the gaming industry has ever seen. Microsoft and Sony both continuously tried to outdo one another. The companies released enhanced and updated versions of their consoles on more than one occasion.
In the beginning, it seemed PlayStation would always be destined to chase after the Xbox and its superior hardware. How does that compare to today?
The PS4 dominates the market
Microsoft stopped reporting sales figures back in 2015, but recent figures suggest that the company has not been able to keep up with the competitive sales of Sony. Sony, on the other hand, has had no issues divulging console sales data.
As of November 2020, the PlayStation 4 had sold more than 114 million units. It's worth noting that the console sold more units in its third and fourth year than in the first and second — which is unusual, but certainly welcomed.
According to a 2020 presentation by AMD, it was estimated that the PS4 and Xbox One have shipped over 150 million units combined. If Sony has shipped around 114 million units, then it might be safe to assume that Microsoft is sitting somewhere around 30-40 million units shipped. In other words, it appears that the PS4 just completely outpaced the Xbox One in this console war.
Though Sony has the lead, it should be interesting to see how the numbers turn out for the newest generation of consoles.