PlayStation wins Black Friday and no one buys Xbox anymore

While some consoles fly off the shelves, others are stranded and their future is uncertain: PlayStation wins Black Friday and no one wants to buy an Xbox anymore!

Recent international market data indicate a significant change in Microsoft’s behavior regarding its current consoles.

During a Black Friday weektraditionally a crucial period for sales, the Xbox Series X|S models did not even appear among the top three best sellers in the United States.

And before you ask what our source is, the information comes from the video game analyst Mat Piscatellafrom the company Circa.

According to him, the Microsoft’s share of the sales chart that week she was run over by direct competitors and for one unexpected device.

Before we continue with more detailed explanations, check out a table with summary of the news in this publication:

O console from Sony dominated salescorresponding to 47% of the total between November 22nd and 29th. This performance is directly linked to the aggressive discounts offered, which reached 40% in some retail chains — a trend that was also observed in Brazil, as reported on our website.

Both the digital edition and the disc player version of the PS5 were offered for prices considerably lower than those charged before the recent price increases.

Em second placethe Nintendo Switch 2, com 24% of sales. The laptop was also boosted by interesting offers, both in Tupiniquin lands as in foreigners.

NEX Playground family console surprises and surpasses Xbox

A third positionand now highlighting an unexpected participant, was occupied by NEX Playgroundcom 14% of the market. This device, less known to the general public, is a platform based on Android system aimed at children.

It works with motion sensors for games like Fruit Ninja and licensed titles such as How to Train Your Dragon: Riders of the Skiesremembering the proposal of the old Kinectfrom its own Microsoft.

Its presence in international podium (since this is not a device known to a large part of the Brazilian public) suggests a strong demand for low-cost options for families.

Piscatella commented on his social network that products that do not promote price reductions generally do not register an increase in sales during seasonal times.

The complete absence of Xbox in the ranking is attributed to the lack of direct promotions from the manufacturer. While competitors reduced prices, Microsoft maintained the values ​​of its consoles.

O Xbox Series Xfor example, in the United States, it currently costs US$ 650 (whereas the PS5 Pro it cost the same US$ 650 or less on quick offers), a significant increase from US$500 of its launch in 2020.

With the PS5 being offered in multiple national and international offersthe Japanese giant’s current generation machine naturally captured most of the demand during the period.

Microsoft strategy migrates to software and services

The company’s shares reinforce a strategic change already perceived by the market. Xbox’s main focus appears to have shifted entirely to the gaming segment. software e serviceslike the Game Pass and the xCloud.

Reports indicate that the Microsoft has been shipping smaller quantities of physical consoles to stores, a fact that resulted in the removal of the brand’s products from the company’s websites. Costco nos USA and no United Kingdom.

This repositioning, however, comes at a time of global challenges for the industry. The cost of RAM and SSD memory components has increased significantly, pressured by the high demand from artificial intelligence data centers (IA).

O leaker known as Moore’s Law is Dead reported that Sony had stockpiled for the short term, but that RAM memory shortage could extend until 2028keeping prices high.

At the same time, Microsoft observes a growth in usage time of its streaming gaming serviceo xCloud. However, the company does not disclose updated Game Pass subscriber numbersmaking it difficult to measure the real growth of its base.

Future of Xbox hardware will be premium and contested

In any case, the perspective is that any new console launched by the brand in the future will be a premium and high-cost deviceaimed at a specific audience.

The competitive landscape will also become more complex. The launch of the Steam Machine and Valvewhich should inspire a new wave of compact PCs in console format.

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PlayStation wins Black Friday and no one wants to buy an Xbox anymore; conclusions

All this information means that the next generation of Xbox hardware it will not only compete with a possible Sony platform. She will enter a more fragmented marketwith several manufacturers vying for space in consumers’ living rooms.

While a portion of users, whether Nintendo fans, Sony or the Xbox itselfstay in useless fights about “which is the best“, it seems that the hardware and physical console market is entering a dangerous era.

We are talking about a period that is heading towards massive component shortagesas well as for a scenario with lack of competitors for big names in the segmentlike Nintendo, Valve e Sony

Finally, we remind you that It is NEVER a good idea for Sonylike this any companyhave no competition — see the launch of the PS3which luckily was overshadowed by the legendary Xbox 360.

Therefore, We just have to wait and see how this tense situation unfolds.. But what then? What are your expectations for the future? Share your point of view in this post and continue following Adrenaline!

Source: Gizmodo