Is PS4 the first console to sell like this without a fad?

[PAOerfulone]

CGI-Quality said:

twintail said:

Thats an incredibly simplistic view, but sure the X1 reveal did play some part.

I agree. The X1 reveal played a role, no doubt, but that's hardly the reason the situation is still so lopsided. For starters, PlayStation and Xbox just aren't on the same playing field. At least, not around the world. The former is just a much, much bigger brand. Couple that with the fact that a plethora of exclusive games gives many incentives to continue to pick up a machine and there you have it (this will also benefit the Switch in a massive way). 

Thus, to answer the question, the previous PlayStation victories were hardly about a "fad". It's just a brand that always has so much to play and resonates with people extremely well around the world.

That's essentially the biggest reason. 
Xbox, PlayStation, and Nintendo are all strong brands of hardware and all of those names resonate and are widely recognized. But it's to software that pushes that brand of hardware forward and helps it evolve. 

That's why all of Nintendo's handhelds have been very popular and consistent money makers because no other hardware out there has Mario and Pokemon in its library (mainline, anyways).

That's why Sony was able to turn the ship around when the PS3 got off to a slow start and eventually overtake the 360, because of games and franchises like Uncharted, Gran Turismo, Last of Us, God of War, LittleBigPlanet, etc. that have become synonymous with not just PlayStation but with gaming. Those franchises were able to turn the tide in the PS3's favor and it gathered momentum that just kept on building and building to where Sony is at now with PS4. 

Meanwhile, you look at Microsoft, they don't have any extensive library of exclusive games that can push the brand forward or that is synonymous with Xbox and gaming. Certainly nowhere near the level of Sony or Nintendo, at the very least. That's why they're currently dead last this year in their biggest market, the U.S.. Not only are they not the #1 system in their own home market, they're not even the #2 system.

Halo, Gears of War and Forza aren't going to cut. Not when Nintendo is expanding and making more franchises and not just sticking to Mario, Pokemon, and Zelda; Not when Sony is expanding and making more franchises and not just sticking to Uncharted, Gran Turismo, and God of War.