I don't think there's a straight answer to the question of the topic, because every buyer had different reasons to buy one console or the other.

In terms of exclusives (and this is a really subjective topic, so IMHO), I feel both party has done a great job. I think we should be talking about launch window, rather than the actual launch lineup. Microsoft's main strength always was the aggressive approach. Get good, quality exclusives from 1st and 3rd party at the start at the generation.

Forza 5 was a given, a quality racer and a true showstopper. That's their mid-level franchise saleswise, because we all know, nobody will blow the biggest ace at launch.

Dead Rising 3 could be called a "moneyhat", but this game never would've been made, if MS doesn't pay for it. A good open wold action game.

Ryse was (we all know that) a failed kinect game (which says more about Crytek, then the kinect actually) and then converted to a X1 launch title. Given the circumstances I feel the mediocre gameplay is a fault of that design decision, but a truly great looking title, a new IP, and a possible way to race against God of War (no offense).

And Killer Instinct is a good F2P launch title, that everybody has as soon as they get a console, without the need of bundled game.

And they released LocoCycle, Crimson Dragon, Zoo Tycoon, Fighter Within, Powerstar Golf and in a month Max:CotB, Halo:SA, Peggle 2! Altough some of those games are bad, there is a great variety there.

In the launch window they will have (one of 2014s most anticipated title) TitanFall and Garden Warfare. They have the CoD and BF4 DLCs sooner.

That's a friggin' good offering for the first 6 months. I think they did a wonderful job.

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In comparison Sony did almost the same, but with their more passive approach, where everything should be 1st party, or if it's done by a 3rd party, it should/will be a Sony IP:

They released a game from proven franchise, with mid-level sales (much like Forza): Killzone - Shadow Fall. Killzone is a 10 year old franchise, so rebooting was a good choice which could make it bigger seller, and being a launch title gives it enough light to shine.

They released a new IP with Knack. It was Mark Cerny's game, who wanted to make a game for the children, which is an excellent choice, but being the main hardware designer, and being the game director right before launch was a bad decision, and it come down to mediocre gameplay. It had a fair share of development problems, much like Ryse.

They're making DriveClub as their F2P game, similarly to KI form MS, but with a different business modell, where a PS+ Edition will be given out for free. I think the fact that Evolution wasn't ready for launch was a mistake, because they didn't "bundle" a single AAA game with the PS4. Luckly they didn't needed to.

And Infamous: Second Son is an open world, action adventure title, from a proven mid-seller franchise. Ring any bells? Yeah it's their Dead Rising 3 basicly.

Sony has a lot of F2P/PS+ title such as Warframe, Blacklight, DCUO, War Thunder, Contrast, Don't Starve, Playroom and Resogun, to fill the gaps and make variety.

They have the exclusive DLCs for ACIV and Watch Dogs, and exclusive beta for Destiny, FFXIV and Deep Down. And I'm sure MLB: The Show is coming.

That's a friggin' good offering for the first 6 months too! I think they did an excellent job, and the delay with DriveClub and Watch Dogs only played out for the better for them, thanks to their excellent job in all 2013 in terms of PS4 PR. They didn't need that game now, and they can use it before E3, around April or May to keep momentum going.

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I feel Microsoft offering is a bit better for my taste, I'm a sucker for Ancient Rome, I love zombie games, and I usually don't like FPS games, yet I bought a PS4. Why?

Not because of PR. No.
Not because of pricepoint, I've bought to biggest memory card available for Vita a few years ago. So not that.
I bought a PS4, because of my personal experience.

Out of all those games, only one was made by an MS 1st party studio: Forza 5

Dead Rising 4 could be a multiplatform game again from Capcom.
I'm not sure who owns the Ryse IP, and Crytek would make another one.
Killer Instinct could get 8 characters, and that's it.

MS 1st party only has Halo now.
Nobody knows Epic will or not make a new Gears of War, and will it be exclusive.
Nobody knows Lionhead is making a traditional Fable game, or some multiplayer nonsense.
I don't care for a new Forza Horizon game, we just get Forza 5.
Black Tusk is an unproven studio, with an unproven new IP.

That's what concerns me. MS will still have Quantum Break and Sunset Overdrive, which looks great, but Alan Wake came to PC, and Insomniac could be hit or miss.

PS4 will have new Naughty Dog, Santa Monica, Guerilla, Japan Studio, Sucker Punch, Media Molecule, Evolution, Quantic Dream and Polyphony game. It could be Uncharted, God of War, GT7, LBP or anything else, the games won't stop coming, and the new IPs won't stop coming. That's what reassures me, and that's why I feel most people think PS4 is the better choice, especially for early adopters.

Yup it is actually.  You are talking about comparing it to a Wii, with a massive library that is 8 years old, and a dreamcast that had a full library of Sonic Games,2K sports games, and plenty of other titles to try and move the console.    The Wii U litterally gets 1 game, and gets boosted to dreamcast numbers.   Deny it if you want, but if 1 game did that, then DK and Mario Kart on top of that would have outsold the Xbone and PS4.   Nintendo screwed up big time by not having them ready.

I think bit of both

Hardware specs are not the same, atleast not unless developers themselves want to gimp the PS4 version of their games and lock it to lower FPS/visuals. You just get better visuals and sharper image 100$ cheaper on the PS4.

How good exclusives are is subjective, and some of MS exclusives are also on PC usually. I might give Titanfall a spin if I get the urge even without XB1, but I can't play Second Son without PS4.


Only ways I see XB1 selling better than PS4 is if it becomes cheaper and gets noticeably more exclusives than PS4. and not just PC shared exclusives or timed ones.

The PS brand is just a lot more relevant in the console industry than people think. Sony just happens to know what they're doing, and their consoles are always the best because of it.

I'd say both, but Microsoft actually came back with a really strong launch line-up.

They both did great in the end, and the amazing sales reflect that. Sony just did better.

Took me a while to read all this lol. But I think you are on point. I buy the PS4. But right now I am enjoying all the free Game on the PS+: Uncharted 3, Devil May Cry, Bioshock Infinite, Gravity Rush. I have played KZ Shadow Fall, BattleField and COD on the PS4 but I think my shooter craving is coming to an end. Even so I am not worried at all, cause I know PS4 will bring me some amazing games.  Seeing the support PS3 is still receiving this year: Tales Of Xillia 2, the other new Tales of Xiniesta, Persona 5... Sony has proven me that they will support their system with games.

Both of them.

It should be a combination of both, but it's not just that. I think a lot of people was gonna switch to ps4, despite the DRM , mainly because the support that ps3 received all these years.

The important thing is, Playstation was and is still the stronger brand. Just take a look at the sales of ps3, releasing a year later (4-5 months more in Europe), complicated structure, and the high price it had.

The first buyers are mostly the fans of every company, the price make a difference, yes, but someone who can paid $400 can add $100 more. The first figures just shows Sony is taking back what they lost in the US for bad decisions with ps3. On the other hand Europe will be Sonyland more than ever.