Nov. 10 will mark three years since the release of Microsoft’s Xbox Series X and Sony’s PlayStation 5.
Both consoles were released amid the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 to give users a more powerful gaming console to start the decade.
Now in 2023, each console has gone through its share of highs and lows.
Since “p” comes before “x” alphabetically, let’s start with the PlayStation 5.
For the PS5, a global microchip shortage in 2020 caused the PS5’s production to slow down and not keep up with the demand, making it extremely hard to acquire sufficient supplies for the consoles up until the early 2023.
In January, Sony CEO Jim Ryan announced that people “should have a much easier time finding one at retailers globally starting from this point forward,” during the company’s 2023 Consumer Electronics Show.
Similar to the sneaker retail and resell market, online scalpers would buy the console in bulk to resell with a higher price than retail.
The retail price for the PS5 is $499 but scalpers would list the console to around $700 to $1,000 on websites like EBay and Facebook Marketplace. Although the issue has long passed, it was a major hurdle for potential consumers looking to purchase the console.
“It was so hard to get [a PS5], I tried looking online, at stores but I finally did buy one last Christmas,” said Cristian Dominguez, a 22-year-old PS5 owner. “I hated seeing people selling them for like $800 on Ebay and stuff but I just had to wait to get them for the regular price.”
According to a Sony press release on July 17, the console has sold over 40 million units since its release.
The PS5’s exclusive games have aided sales of the console. Historically, PlayStation fans have enjoyed titles such as “Uncharted” and “The Last of Us.”
Marvel’s Spider-Man games have been hits with the first game selling 33 million copies globally since May 2022 according to Gamespot. “Marvel’s Spider-Man 2” was recently released and sold 2.5 million copies in the first 24 hours of the game’s launch according to Sony.
“Yeah I’m going to get that game soon, I liked the last one and it’s cool to know only PS5 guys can play with it,” said Dominguez. “I’m happy with [the PS5] and it’s going to be what I use for a while.”
Onto its counterpart — Xbox.
The Xbox Series X, like their Japanese competitors, dealt with production issues and delays due to the microchip shortage. With Xbox’s launch however, Microsoft was selling two new consoles. The Series X was the flagship console with most powerful hardware while the Series S was a smaller and less potent system for $299 – the Series X price starts at $499.
Xbox’s system integration with Microsoft makes it easier to game across devices. You can stream your game and play on your Windows Laptop or the Xbox App on your mobile device. It’s a feature that allows people to game as much as possible.
One feature that Xbox has found success is in its Xbox Game Pass services. For a monthly fee of $9.99, Xbox users receive access to over 400 game titles.
Omar Ramirez, a 25-year-old XBox Series X owner, has owned the Series X since the console’s launch. “I’ve played lots of games on it and I’ve found it useful that they like to switch up the games and make it worth it,” said Ramirez
According to a presentation held by Microsoft for the Xbox Developer Accelerator Program in late June, the Xbox Series X sold 21 million units, approximately half of the sales of PS5.
One reason the Xbox has struggled to keep up with the PS5 is a lack of attractive exclusive games. The Halo and Forza Racing franchises that are meant to attract customers are available on PC.
In 2023, Microsoft acquired Activision’s Blizzard, a game developer that makes the “Overwatch” and “Call of Duty” games, for a reported 68.7 billion dollars in early October. Unlike the Playstation, Xbox doesn’t boast many popular exclusive games that grab the attention of pop culture.
The Blizzard acquisition was an ambitious effort to get more exclusive games and compete with the PS5. Having established franchises on the Xbox is what Microsoft is hoping can lead to more sales of their console.
“I play lots of [Call of Duty] so it for sure makes it a lot interesting to be an Xbox owner,” said Ramirez. “I think it’ll help get more people on Xbox but I don’t know just how much it will truly help keep up with the PS5, but it may not matter anymore though.”
Many popular games are now cross-play — meaning gamers can play together regardless of what console they are using.
At the moment, PlayStation has a solid grip on console gamers but Xbox is making moves it hopes will pay off to expand its users.
Let’s wait to see if Microsoft’s moves will shape the landscape between the two systems in another three years.
