Generally a more powerful system came out later and had a higher price than its competitor. This time it came out at same time and for less, then the same as competitor changed model shedding a major peripheral.

The PS4 is just an exception to the rule.

The Wii was also an exception to the rule that every new Nintendo console sells less than the last one.

In the end all these "exceptions" will probably cause a collapse in the natural laws of the Videogame Industry and it will crash and being again.

It is really little to do with Sony's innovations than it has to do with the lack of real competition. Nintendo has released the biggest failure since Virtual Boy, by no means a mandatory secondary or companion console the way the original Wii presented itself.

And MS made two fatal mistakes that can't be erased from the memory of consumers; DRM and Mandatory Kinect.

The PS4 got everything right and that's all there is to it.

Sony has managed to create a trusted & recognized brand in the console market.

Sony has done what Nintendo has done in the HH gaming market or what Apple has done with Smartphones.

People know that they will get their money's worth with the PS brand. Keep your existing consumers happy & they will come back.

1. Sony's reputation
2. Sony's PR department (let's not deny it, they did a good job)
3. Vast majority of multiplats run better and look better on PS4
4. Reputation of their 1st Party studios
5. Best value (both 399$, but one is more powerful than the other)

And I think that's all. Let's admit it, most of the people who bought a PS4 (including me) were thinking about Guerrilla's next game, SSM, Media Molecule, Sony Bend, Naughty Dog, Sucker Punch, From Software, etc...

It was simple, we knew great games were coming on PS4, and it has the best value at the moment.

Cheapest Playstation console at launch.

Exclusive marketing for 2 of the biggest most anticipated ''next'' gen games. 

Microsoft has lost EU. 

Microsoft pissed off a lot of gamers with the ''Mattick'' policy.

Sony dropped DRM when they saw reaction people had against Microsoft and Sony respecting gamer I'm sure they did respect gamer when they released PS3 and said get second Job if you want to buy PS3  . most of companies made a mistake and disrespect gamers at the end didn't stop people buying PS3 last generation ps3 slowly catch up against Xbox 360 same will happen for xbox one it will catch up and will take over USA and UK

It never happened. Sony never had DRM planned out.

At the end of the day nobody will care what Sony had intended. Everybody will remember what Sony did. Plus there is no concrete evidence of PS4 DRM. So stop beating in the fog.