PS5 vs. Xbox Series X: Who is Winning the Console War so Far?

While the world has mostly moved on from the concept of “console wars” in video games, the launch of each new generation of video game systems will inevitably spark a debate over which company – and which console – is winning the war. Microsoft and Sony both threw down the gauntlet and let the world know what to expect when their new consoles launch this holiday season. The back and forth has already started. Most people have the data they need to know if they should choose a Playstation 5 or an Xbox Series X.

The battle between Microsoft and Sony could represent something different from anything seen before in video games. Games consoles are getting a lot of competition from the emergence – and low-cost – of good quality mobile games. People are slowly but surely taking mobile gaming more seriously with games such as Among Us and Genshin Impact. New console platforms are coming in the next few months, not to mention new phones. All of this goes together to make this console generation potentially one of the most exciting – and competitive – since the days of SEGA.

What Do We Know About the New Consoles?

The technical specs of the consoles have been common knowledge for some time now. Both the PS5 and Xbox Series X rely on SSD drives and have better processors than the previous generation. Sony has made a big deal over the audio prowess of their new system. While audio quality has been less important in recent years, perhaps the lack of importance is due to how difficult it is to convey audio prowess without actual demonstrations.

There’s more to selling a system than just the technical aspects, though, unless games on the system take advantage of every drop of power in the console. So far, Sony has done better at showcasing titles that take advantage of their new console’s power. Microsoft and Sony have both promised games will run in 4K at 60FPS, but Sony took things a bit further. During a demo of Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart, Sony showcased how quickly Ratchet jumped between dimensions to show the incredible loading speeds the PS5 is capable of. The gameplay from the demo was faster than anything we’ve ever seen before, and it could be the edge Sony needs to attract gamers looking for new experiences.

The Short Game vs. The Long Game

If the initial social media response is anything to go by, Sony has come out of the gate stronger and really caught the immediate attention of the gaming world. This is hardly a surprise as the PS4 was so popular. There was sure to be plenty of attention on the PS5 based on that popularity.

It’s understandable that the PS5 would get more early attention than the new Xbox, but this doesn’t mean people will be turning their noses up at it. Both systems will no doubt be sold out for months after their release. Sony is likely to take an early lead in the sales, as they did with the PS4.

Things really get interesting after those initial few months.

Microsoft is handling this generation a little differently than the last one. The company is making a bigger deal out of Xbox Game Pass, a flat-fee service where people pay a monthly fee to play a range of first-party games on the system. Xbox Game Pass members also get access to a wide selection of older games. This subscription model has worked well for other industries and is sure to be a big hit with gamers who balk at the prospect of paying $70 for new games.

The Xbox Game Pass can also attract casual gamers and undecided voters. It is games that sell consoles, but the price of those games is also a significant factor.

Microsoft plans on combining Game Pass with the xCloud game streaming service as standard. This will get people familiar with game streaming and encourage people to try xCloud without feeling they don’t have a choice. This could be what secures a long-term victory for Microsoft.

Many developers, publishers, and industry insiders consider game streaming to be the future of gaming, no matter how badly Google Stadia failed. Microsoft is in a better position to deal with the demands of streaming than Sony is. Pairing game streaming with their “Netflix of gaming” service and including first-party titles makes the option incredibly attractive.

Who is Winning Right Now?

One study of gamers in the United States suggests that Sony is currently winning the battle, despite the future prospects for Microsoft. According to new research from VGM, most people who have pre-ordered next-generation consoles say they went for the PlayStation 5.

The survey showed that only 15% of people had already managed to secure a pre-order for a next-gen console. Of that 15%, 72% went for the standard PS5, and 10% purchased the digital-only version of the PS5.

In contrast, around 30% of the people who managed to secure a pre-order purchased the Xbox Series X. 8% of them went for the Xbox Series S. Don’t worry if the numbers don’t add up, as it means that some people are lucky enough to have bought both consoles already.

The survey isn’t necessarily proof that Microsoft has already lost the war. For a start, the survey only asked 511 people – which is a small sample size for a study like this.

The survey could say more about the pre-order process than which console is likely to win the war. The survey noted that 29% of people could not secure a pre-order for a new console, which was around double the number of people who did secure their pre-order.

When looking at people who weren’t able to make their order, 58% of them were trying to secure a standard PS5 while 40% were looking to buy an Xbox Series X. 21% of those wanted a digital PS5 while 11% were after the Xbox Series S.

These numbers suggest that Xbox consoles were harder to come by for pre-orders.

The survey likely tells us that the more powerful versions of the consoles are the more popular ones. The early adopters are almost always hardcore gamers who are proud to obtain a console as soon as it is released. We could see more casual gamers adopt cheaper options in time.

We believe the more affordable versions of the consoles will become more popular as the holiday season arrives. Gamers may want to buy the best versions of the consoles for themselves, but parents and loved ones might not think about the decision as much and choose the lower-priced option.

Each new console generation promises to be more exciting. The upcoming battle between Microsoft and Sony could be something unlike anything we’ve ever seen. This is a multi-tiered war that will be fought across several fronts. This could lead to good things for players as well, as companies adopt more consumer-friendly practices in an effort to get more attention.

Of course, all of these numbers could be thrown out the window if – and when – Nintendo announces the follow-up for the Nintendo Switch. The Switch itself remains popular and could still have a part to play in the first half of the upcoming console war.