This is the very reason I chose VGChartz as my home: the numbers! I have enjoyed the console wars since the great 16 bit console wars! Genesis does what Nntendon't, blast processing, Snes mode 7, etc! That was the most exciting war ever, but this years coming war could surpass that as this is a 3 console war! I will analize this:
1. The PS4 is the established console king. Much as the PS2 was in the 6th generation. The console king returned after an embarrassing PS3 loss to the much weaker Wii, and a very slim victory against the 360. This generation--the 8th--has been smooth sailing for PS4, until now. It has the most variety of games, the units sold, the momentum, and the most power; especially with the PS4 Pro. The Switch, though 9th generation, has opened up it's cannons on the PS4 and is challenging it for its console crown! Also Microsoft seems like a flea on Sony's back, but it has a monster coming, the Scorpio.
2. Nintendo had the Wii U. A failure. Almost as bad as the Sega Saturn. The PS4 and XB1 crushed it like an aluminum can. Though Wii U had many major 1st party games, the core Nintendo fans couldn't save it this time. It needed 3rd party support. It got little because the Wii U was just too weak for an 8th generation system (leading to ports of PS3/360 games that would soon become PS4/XB1 games that were way out of Wii Us league.) Wii U was released too late. Two years before would have helped. Plus it's name confused the casuals and it's price was steep. However, Switch has found a way to make a weaker system (not as weak as Wii U) but still attract a large early following. It has Zelda: Breath of the Wild, which is considered one of the top 5 best games of all time. Plus it's console/ portable hybrid newness is exciting to many. Lastly it has the HD rumble gimmick in it's controllers and offers new play styles with the joycons. It could even bring back the local multiplayer focus of yesteryear. The Switch does suffer from overpricing and the aforementioned lack of power that the XB1/PS4 has. After the newness wears off, we will have to see how it goes. Plus it needs more major games fast.
3. Microsoft really screwed up with XB1 from day one. It needed online connection, didn't play used games, etc. It launched at $500 (which was $100 more than the slightly more advanced PS4) with the forced dick pics and Kinect purchase that were said to be integral to XB1s future in the porn industry. Of course it wasn't and made MS look even worse. They soon dropped Kinect in favor of a cheaper XB1 only console at $100 cheaper. However, the damage was done and PS4 beat it worldwide and has worldwide pretty much every week, if not every week. Even in the US--it's stronghold--PS4 has overall won for the 3 years after their releases. PS4 has nearly doubled XB1 worldwide in sales. Even worse, in 2017 MS has had almost no exclusives while PS4 has had several high rated exclusives. It looks grim for XB1. But, they have a massive weapon to fight back with soon, Project Scorpio, which will be a Super XB1 even more Powerful than PS4 Pro! It is called the most powerful console ever made. It has the potential to be a game changer, however, there are 2 potential problems: 1. So far we have seen no great game announcements to take advantage of it's power. Perhaps E3 will change that though. 2. MS has stated that this is a premium product for the premium customer, which likely means a $500 or higher price tag. Ouch!
My take: Switch and Scorpio will be overpriced. Switch may drop it's price if PS4 does too well against it after the newness dies down. That would make it competitive. However, I am less optimistic for Scorpio. If it releases at $500 with few games, it might be dead on arrival. Even if it comes out at $450 with a good batch of games, Sony will be in position to drop PS4 Pro's price to $350 or even $300 with Horizon Zero Dawn packed in. My prediction is that PS4 will remain on top, Switch second, and Scorpio/XB1 3rd worldwide.
Please give your predictions on this exciting battle and who will win!
