| Wman1996 said: The USA is the second-largest video game market in the world and the largest console market. Even in the days of staggered regional launches, November is a very common release month in North America (though not the only one). Every Xbox has launched in North America in November. The last 3 PlayStation consoles have been November launches in North America, and even the Pro consoles are November launches. Nintendo has been doing their own thing, and Wii U was their last November launch. November is a critical shopping month. It's followed by December, another critical shopping month. Holiday shopping seems like a sound time to launch a console because people who are buying other things (like heavily discounted items) will try to pick up the new console. On the other hand, launching a console so late in the year means early shortages and scalping can be excruciating compared to something launched June or earlier. PS5 and Xbox Series X/S both faced shortages and scalping, but some of that was because of the global supply chain crisis. With Xbox 5 and PS6 less than 4 years out in almost all likelihood (and possibly less than 3 years) do we even need November launches anymore? You can consider the North American market, but also all the markets. |
November is the biggest gift-shopping month in North America, which is why Microsoft and Sony launch in November and will almost certainly continue to do so. It's also close to the time when the annual Call of Duty traditionally launches (and they also do that because of the holiday shopping period), and Microsoft and Sony both want to take advantage of that momentum.
Nintendo launches outside of the November window because it has gotten them better exposure launching a console in a traditionally moribund retail period, and because Nintendo has its own blockbuster franchises to sell its hardware. Plus, by the time November rolls around, Nintendo will hopefully have some momentum and plenty of games ready to go for Christmas. They've gotten along just fine without Call of Duty for years. Sony and Microsoft, not so much.
In Nintendo's case, I imagine the bitter memories of jackrabbit fall launches followed by embarrassing software droughts inform their decisions to launch outside of the fall season.
