Tuesday, July 20th 2021
Xbox Outsells PlayStation in the US by $200 million in June, Sets Hardware Sales Record
According to NPD data, Xbox just set a new hardware sales record the past month of June in the U.S., outselling PlayStation to the tune of a cool $200 million. The Xbox division cumulatively brought in a total $401 million dollars in the past month of June, marking a year-over-year (YoY) revenue growth to the tune of 112%. That large, $401 million number also marks a new record for Xbox and its Microsoft parent - the previous revenue record for the Xbox division was set way back in 2011. ten years later, it can be said that Xbox is better than ever before.
That same $401 million revenue from Xbox hardware clearly puts Sony's PlayStation in the rear-view mirror, as the company "only" achieved a $207 million revenue for June 2021 - a 1% decline YoY. That Microsoft managed to pull this off in the hardware shortage scenario we currently live in is impressive; and it does speak to the amount of pent-up demand that's still vying to enter the company's coffers. The record comes a month after Microsoft announced the deployment of Xbox Series X server blades to its xCloud programme, which occurred on June 26th. It appears likely that the company was distributing its Series X production capabilities between the retail sector and its own xCloud service before June 26th (with the additional time required for installation and all that entails), which would explain the sudden record in June. As Microsoft freed xCloud-bound capacity to the retail sector, the record thus ensued.
Impressive as that record (and outselling PlayStation specifically) are, hardware really is one of the lesser sources of revenue in the gaming landscape. Hardware gaming sales for the first half of 2021 totaled $2.3 billion for Hardware (consoles) and $1.2 billion for Accessories - but the brunt of the revenue flows from Content (which includes software sales, DLC, and subscriptions), which brought in some $25.4 billion in revenues in the same timeframe.
Source:
Thurrot.com
That same $401 million revenue from Xbox hardware clearly puts Sony's PlayStation in the rear-view mirror, as the company "only" achieved a $207 million revenue for June 2021 - a 1% decline YoY. That Microsoft managed to pull this off in the hardware shortage scenario we currently live in is impressive; and it does speak to the amount of pent-up demand that's still vying to enter the company's coffers. The record comes a month after Microsoft announced the deployment of Xbox Series X server blades to its xCloud programme, which occurred on June 26th. It appears likely that the company was distributing its Series X production capabilities between the retail sector and its own xCloud service before June 26th (with the additional time required for installation and all that entails), which would explain the sudden record in June. As Microsoft freed xCloud-bound capacity to the retail sector, the record thus ensued.
54 Comments on Xbox Outsells PlayStation in the US by $200 million in June, Sets Hardware Sales Record
Roles seem to have switched this generation with Microsoft buying up studios by the handful.
If it wasn't for miners and scalpers, I think PS5 would have coasted to another victory lap, with most Xbox players instead being on PCs given the increasing effort of MS to focus gameplay development on PC with Xbox support and many games being jointly available across both platforms for 1 cost. Heck, that was what the initial death-cries of the Xbox fanbase were due to MS shifting priorities towards PCs with Xbox Game Pass and Play Anywhere.
On the other end, it really doesn't help Sony that their exclusives are lacking, and they're reversing their stance of being the mostly uncensored console (from the PS2/PS3 era), trading places with MS on that front (MS kind of allows it now, when they used to be somewhat conservative in the OG/360 era; notably in JRPGs that both systems got). They made a bad bet that they could coast off MS' shift towards PC gaming with Xbox as a side-grade/gateway, and were caught off-guard by multiple events coinciding at once.
I ain't a fan of Sony for a lot of things but this ain't it... Just a bunch of mad little boys upset they can't see Jill valentines underwear in her "skort"... Etc... Etc
On a serious note. If anything the Xbox is dragging as much as Sony is, if not worse. Just look at Forza, usually the first thing releasing for next gen was Forza Motorsport, this gen we will have Horizon 5 instead, which basically uses tuned up FH4 engine (RT added in showcase mode only). And Horizon 5 releases when? In November? If anything it's Sony that actually managed to deliver actual "next-gen" exclusive titles within the first 9 months from the launch.
I also sub to Gamepass Ultimate. It's really nice to be able to play games on my PC, but if I want to plop down in front of the TV and play there I can do so. With the Series X now I don't have to deal with long load times and such. It operates so fast and so like a PC now that I can just sit down and game wherever and whenever I like.
I still think sonys been dead in the water since ps3 considering one of the next gen ps5 games is a reamster and honestly the fact the xbox supports the pc is amazing it means my friends and I don't all need the same device most of the time. and considering the series x supports almost every game released on any xbox console I would def pick it over the ps5 not to mention DEV mode
PS3 - 87.4m sold
X360 - 85.8m
PS4 - 115.8m
Xb1 - 50.2m
PS5 - 10.01m
X/S - 5.93m
These numbers don't say "dead in the water"
I think pure sony fanbase sells consoles on it's own not to mention most asian countries will be predominantly sony. I reckon it'll end up pretty close this gen, both machines are pretty similarly specced, the differences aren't really much to harp on about but you just know fanbois will. Going to wait until the hype dies down a bit and just buy both again.