Consoles
IDC Analyst: Xbox Lost to Sony this Generation
The eighth generation race for console sales continues and it’s a very heated competition. The bigger advantage has been for Sony with their lead in 70 Million Units sold. Coming at a far second (or some could argue third) is the Xbox One. It’s been some time since Microsoft last provided data about the sales performance of their console after all. However, it’s obvious that this console has trouble keeping up with the industry.
Lewis Ward, an IDC analyst talked to Gamingbolt about his opinion regarding the sales on consoles of the current generation. Soon mentioning the fact that the Xbox One X and some console exclusive games coming that are going to come next year.
“Yes, they don’t have much of a choice. I think the exclusive lineup is respectable, at least as far as we can see it into 2018,” said Lewis. “I’m sure there’ll be some massive Halo title coming to Xbox One in 2018. As far as the broader eighth gen war is concerned, it’s already been lost to Sony. Microsoft will not catch Sony this generation.”
Lewis then makes special mention of the gaming ecosystem provided by Windows 10. The importance of dominating the PC market this generation has increased and, according to him, the goal should be to unify their PC and Console ecosystems.
Now, I don’t really want to bring mention to the spectacular comeback performed by the Nintendo Switch this year. However, I think it’s also important to remember that Nintendo’s Hybrid Console has managed to steal the spotlight this year while marking Nintendo’s grand return.
This marks a huge problem with Microsoft, especially considering the possibility that the Xbox One X has been nothing but a wasted effort. Sony’s PS4 Pro is cheaper, but the Xbox One X is more powerful, what could 2018 hold for us in the eighth gen race?
Consoles
Despite popular belief, PS4 sales in the UK skyrocketed last year
PS4 sales in the UK climbed by a shocking 633 percent year-over-year in 2023, so apparently the old system isn’t dead yet. The previous year’s very limited supply of the system is likely a major factor in this figure, since the console’s lifespan was drastically reduced because of chip shortages caused by the pandemic. Still, it’s proof that PlayStation’s original platform has unmet demand.
With the very low prices of PS4 software (both in-store and online at the PS Store), this strategy makes a lot of sense. Plus, it’s future-proof, so there’s no harm in stocking up on PS4s while new-gen pricing is still high, since if you decide to switch to a PS5 in the future, you can transfer all of your purchases across. Not to mention that the majority of new releases still come out on the PS4, with several offering free PS5 upgrades.
While the percentage rise may seem huge, real PS4 sales will probably be much lower. It’s a sign that the gadget, which is now a decade old, isn’t completely dead yet, and we expect it to keep receiving maintenance for a while longer. Of course, this is great news for Sony, because the company would rather have PS4 players playing on its last-gen gadget than none at all, even if it would love to have them upgrade to PS5.
Consoles
New PS5 firmware is available for download!
A PS5 firmware update on a cold winter morning is unmatched. The latest PS5 system software update is 23.02–08.40.00 from Sony. Does this one add useful features or just boost system performance?
Though closer to the latter, it’s more than Sony’s favorite patch note. It fixes security issues, improves messages and usability, and boosts system software performance. Official patch notes for this 1.185GB update:
- We updated system software security
- We improved system software stability and performance
- Some screens now have better messages and usability
That’s it. PS5 gets another win to recover from its midweek slump. Do you share our enthusiasm for this firmware update? Comment below. To spice things up, make your comment rhyme.
Consoles
Baldur’s Gate 3’s Xbox Version Will Help PS5
Belgian developer Larian Studios’ work on Baldur’s Gate 3’s Xbox Series S version will improve performance on all platforms, including PS5. The game’s fifth major patch, expected to launch this week, will include upgrades and new features. More details will be revealed later today.
Director of Publishing Michael Douse says PS5 performance improvements may be the “least exciting thing” in the title’s next update, so it sounds like a big one. Larian Studios employees are proud of “finally” implementing tweaks, fixes, and changes, Douse says. Later today, we’ll bring you all the Baldur’s Gate 3 update details.
Those who reached the RPG’s third act have reported technical issues during the narrative’s conclusion, especially in co-op, so today’s update should fix them. New features like a permadeath mode are expected, along with Xbox Series S optimization fixes. What else should be added to the game?
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