Both Microsoft and Sony are making their bids for the next generation of console gaming this holiday. While many like to talk about the “Console Wars” every generation, it is partially true that both companies are dictating the future of gaming in various capacities this year. Microsoft and Sony are both taking very different approaches compared to previous generations, both of which have had its own degree of success. Each side will determine what happens to the gaming industry moving forward, and which perspective consumers favor most.
Microsoft has shifted focus away from the traditional offering of games in favor of a Netflix-style subscription model with Game Pass, alongside a degree of inclusiveness with crossplay and Xbox games coming to PC. Sony represents the emphasis of games industry tradition, offering premium prices for premium first-party games and services. Differing approaches as they may be, both are vying for what defines gaming in 2020, and what may define gaming in the next few years.
Microsoft’s poor run during this console generation has forced quite the changing of perspective within the Xbox brand. Rather than attempting to mimic Sony’s runaway success with PS4, Xbox has refocused into a very different brand from what it was in 2013. Xbox in 2020 is a gamers-first brand. Great efforts on behalf of Microsoft and the Xbox team have transformed the brand into a very consumer-friendly gaming ecosystem. The Play Anywhere initiative bringing Xbox games to PC, Game Pass providing an alternative value for players to jump into games, alongside various studio acquisitions, has brought that gamer-focused desire to life in 2020.
On the other hand, Sony has been relishing it’s success with PlayStation in the last console generation. The PlayStation 4 has very quickly become one of the best-selling video game consoles of all time, and for good reason. Sony made it very clear that PlayStation was the console to play this generation, with a slew of first-party games that cemented the console’s massive success. All of this was done by Sony doubling down on the traditional strategy for console makers, focusing on high profile exclusive titles alongside full price games. Sony has offerings like PlayStation Now that offer alternative options for playing games, but these offerings never supplanted $60 full price games.
As a result, both companies are taking a stand for what the gaming industry is meant to become in the coming years. Consumer trends over the next few years will ultimately show which offering stands to be the best approach to next-gen gaming. Plenty of fans would argue that Sony’s traditional approach with PlayStation still remains the status quo, but in a world where triple-A games are raising in price, that may not always be the case. Xbox, on the other hand, is placing most of its eggs in the Game Pass basket to give players more options at a more affordable value.
Frankly, there’s evidence from both perspectives linked to each company’s success. Game Pass subscriptions continue to soar as the games library expands. Not only are higher profile third-party games making their way to the program, but all first-party Xbox releases will release on Game Pass on launch and remain there (presumably) forever. Of course, PlayStation 4 sold over 100 million consoles, and could possibly sell even more consoles with PS5. Sony’s use of high profile, exclusive first-party games continues to drive the company’s amazing success in gaming. There’s no definitive “winner” by any means moving into the next generation.
How these next few years will shake out is fairly uncertain, but it’s clear this generation will shape and change the gaming industry in more ways than one. Whether that’s good or bad will come in time, but for now the future is bright for both Sony and Microsoft.
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