Microsoft will need to make some changes if they plan on surpassing Sony this year. If you can recall back in November of 2014, Microsoft made a huge change that allowed their Xbox One console to outsell the PlayStation 4 both that month and for the month of December 2014. During November 2014, Microsoft made the decision to reduce the price of the Xbox One from $399 to $349 which did not include the latest generation of the Kinect and the results were extremely positive in terms of sales.
During the two months that the Microsoft Xbox One console was sold at a reduced price, Microsoft came out on top in sales but now that the console is back to its set price of $399, we may see PlayStation 4 outsell the console once again, that is unless Microsoft makes some swift changes. We've seen Microsoft make those changes in the past for gamers, we wonder just what they plan on doing for 2015.
Xbox One vs PS4
Let's discuss the price drop in more detail. Microsoft made the decision for the price cut at a pretty important time, the holiday season. Since both the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One are new to the market and early in their console generation, both items were going to be a hot ticket item for Christmas. Though during that price drop, Microsoft was taking a $50 million hit due to the manufacturing costs for each unit. Nevertheless, the reduce price tactic worked allowing Microsoft to move units from store shelves into the homes of gamers.
This was a solid two months that were in favor for Microsoft as gamers were seeing the Xbox One as a viable solution for a next generation video game console. Microsoft needed that sudden change, this was a company that had to double back from their strand of bad press and poor decision making with DRM restrictions when we first saw the Xbox One. Gamers were upset and made their voices heard that ultimately lead to drastic changes on Microsoft's part for their soon to be released console.
Fast forward now to present day. Microsoft has now brought the console back to the $399 price tag and even though the console is matching Sony's PlayStation 4 in price for most retailers, the Xbox One may still be in some serious trouble for this particular year. Video games are going to be the clear deciding winner between the Xbox One and PlayStation 4.
Sony has a nice lineup of exclusive titles hitting store shelves this year such as The Order: 1886, Let it Die, Bloodborne, No Man's Sky, Uncharted 4: A Thief's End and Ratchet and Clank Remastered. Whereas the Xbox One holds Halo 5, Scalebound, Quantum Break and Crackdown 3 among a few other new IP's.
Microsoft will have to plan on some very big launches for their exclusive lineups throughout the year to keep the Xbox One in the limelight. Additionally, Microsoft could go back and make price cuts once again allowing gamers to pick up the console with a $349 price tag. If we see results in sales slowly drift back below the PlayStation 4 then perhaps Microsoft will add more incentive with their $399 price tag. There could easily be countless bundles tossed in from different first party video game titles, a years worth of Xbox Live subscription or even tossing in another extra controller could justify the price point.
Recently, Sony announced that PlayStation 4 has surpassed 18.5 Million units as of January 4, 2015. This is a massive growth, up from 13.5 Million units at the end of October 2014. On the other side, Microsoft are keeping their cards close to their chest when it comes to announcing Xbox One sales figure details. The last time we heard any update from Microsoft on Xbox One sales was way back in early November 2014. The firm stated that Xbox One has shipped (to retailers, not consumers) 10 Million units.
So folks, this Xbox One price rise again from "$349 to $399" will clear go as one of the worst decision of Microsoft to kick off 2015 and after making a remarkable comeback in November 2014. Xbox One is still far behind PlayStation 4 in terms of hardware sales. To catch up, $349 price tag should have stayed as it is.
We're keeping tabs on the Xbox One and can't wait to see what Microsoft does to bring more attention to their latest console as the same can be said with Sony. We're curious, for the exclusives already announced for this year, which console sounds like the best option to run with?
During the two months that the Microsoft Xbox One console was sold at a reduced price, Microsoft came out on top in sales but now that the console is back to its set price of $399, we may see PlayStation 4 outsell the console once again, that is unless Microsoft makes some swift changes. We've seen Microsoft make those changes in the past for gamers, we wonder just what they plan on doing for 2015.
Xbox One vs PS4
Let's discuss the price drop in more detail. Microsoft made the decision for the price cut at a pretty important time, the holiday season. Since both the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One are new to the market and early in their console generation, both items were going to be a hot ticket item for Christmas. Though during that price drop, Microsoft was taking a $50 million hit due to the manufacturing costs for each unit. Nevertheless, the reduce price tactic worked allowing Microsoft to move units from store shelves into the homes of gamers.
This was a solid two months that were in favor for Microsoft as gamers were seeing the Xbox One as a viable solution for a next generation video game console. Microsoft needed that sudden change, this was a company that had to double back from their strand of bad press and poor decision making with DRM restrictions when we first saw the Xbox One. Gamers were upset and made their voices heard that ultimately lead to drastic changes on Microsoft's part for their soon to be released console.
Fast forward now to present day. Microsoft has now brought the console back to the $399 price tag and even though the console is matching Sony's PlayStation 4 in price for most retailers, the Xbox One may still be in some serious trouble for this particular year. Video games are going to be the clear deciding winner between the Xbox One and PlayStation 4.
Sony has a nice lineup of exclusive titles hitting store shelves this year such as The Order: 1886, Let it Die, Bloodborne, No Man's Sky, Uncharted 4: A Thief's End and Ratchet and Clank Remastered. Whereas the Xbox One holds Halo 5, Scalebound, Quantum Break and Crackdown 3 among a few other new IP's.
Microsoft will have to plan on some very big launches for their exclusive lineups throughout the year to keep the Xbox One in the limelight. Additionally, Microsoft could go back and make price cuts once again allowing gamers to pick up the console with a $349 price tag. If we see results in sales slowly drift back below the PlayStation 4 then perhaps Microsoft will add more incentive with their $399 price tag. There could easily be countless bundles tossed in from different first party video game titles, a years worth of Xbox Live subscription or even tossing in another extra controller could justify the price point.
Recently, Sony announced that PlayStation 4 has surpassed 18.5 Million units as of January 4, 2015. This is a massive growth, up from 13.5 Million units at the end of October 2014. On the other side, Microsoft are keeping their cards close to their chest when it comes to announcing Xbox One sales figure details. The last time we heard any update from Microsoft on Xbox One sales was way back in early November 2014. The firm stated that Xbox One has shipped (to retailers, not consumers) 10 Million units.
So folks, this Xbox One price rise again from "$349 to $399" will clear go as one of the worst decision of Microsoft to kick off 2015 and after making a remarkable comeback in November 2014. Xbox One is still far behind PlayStation 4 in terms of hardware sales. To catch up, $349 price tag should have stayed as it is.
We're keeping tabs on the Xbox One and can't wait to see what Microsoft does to bring more attention to their latest console as the same can be said with Sony. We're curious, for the exclusives already announced for this year, which console sounds like the best option to run with?
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