No, it doesn't make sense to compare them. The Wii U was the first launch of the gen, which means comparisons with the XBO or PS4 don't make sense. Just as comparing the 360 launch with the Wii or PS3 launches didn't make sense in late 2006.

To make my point, consider that the Dreamcast broke a few records with 225k sold in the US in the first day. PS2 outperformed this nicely, but then GameCube did even better: http://news.cnet.com/2100-1040-276374.html - this is a standard pattern, launches tend to be bigger for the later launchers within a generation - hype levels are higher, more units can be made, and consumers have more information, making them more willing to make a decision.

This.

Well, obviously a good or exceptional launch isn't everything, but if the producer keeps on doing well thereafter, it helps.

About cannibalization, we won't be able to observe it untill early adopters will run out, but these numbers made me a little bit optimistic http://www.vgchartz.com/weekly/41595/USA/  : during PS4 huge USA launch week, every other platform grew, including the almost dead there PSP. It looks like PS4 launch marketing machine attracted a lot of people to gaming, even casuals or just curious people, and many of them ended up buying something. It's not unlikely that XBOne launch have a similar effect (at least in USA, UK and other countries or regions that already got out of the crisis, while OTOH in many countries in EU still deep inside the crisis it's quite likely that the two launches, despite one big and the other huge, won't have such flywheel effect on other sales, even though they'll attract curious people to stores).
OTOH, despite the good initial attach rate, SW sales weren't enough to offset the huge PS3 and XB360 CoD drop on overall SW sales, maybe we'll see a better overall SW effect both regional, in EU, and worlwide, during PS4 EU launch, that will happen during BF week in USA: that could be one of the biggest weeks ever for gaming, and while taken alone it would be like a big launch, a good and welcome help, but not much more if not followed by a good overall performance, if we sum these launches to BF and Xmas, we could see a significant positive effect on the gaming industry. Seven huge weeks in a row (eight including after Xmas clearance sales, Epiphany and Orthodox Xmas) will be able to offset the slow periods sales a lot better, and tip the balance towards growth, this in turn will boost 3rd party devs and publishers production, that in turn will return the favour boosting HW and 1st parties. A virtuous circle could be started by all this hype and euphoria, because it won't last just three weeks, or five, like a normal BF+Xmas, but two whole months.

PS: PC gaming too is doing well, now we just need Wii U and PSV to do better too and a new golden age of gaming could start.

Well with all the negative bs i think the haters need to worry, the xbox one has the biggest launch ever!

1M+ launches are impressive indeed.

...i wait for relative impressions until Dec 31st. ps4 appears like it will have more stock as i have to assume they will have a lot for their european and asian launches but they also said 5M by march 2014. not sure how that all works out. either ps4 won't have much for follow-up shipments in NA this holiday or they are lying about their shipment expectations.

Biggest launch ever? It sold roughly the same as the PS4. So how to you come to this conclusion?

Because it launched in more countries? Do I even need to point out how this argument is ludicrous?

Alternative 3; impressed with both but not too confident about amazing sales lifetime by default. I see people talking about a new "PS2 era" and other nonsense, that's just way overboard.

Yes, the PS4 and One had amazing launches, but; so did the Wii U.

1milx400

1milx500

begs to differ

How about being impressed for both ?

PS4 is selling off the major Hype it has gotten from E3 and most other events. Once everything calms down its a different ballgame. While XB1 still sold 1 million units with the criticism it has recieved is actrualy amazing. Also theres no guarantee that the PS4 will sell aswell as XB1 in other countrys. History doesnt have to repeat it self.

The PS4 has 5 games coming out in the first quarter of 2014 compared to Wii U's 1 game besides the steady stream of software it will recieve in the rest of the year. The Xbox One's lineup also has 5 games in the quarter hence both should do well.