The combined sales of the Sony PlayStation 4 (PS4) and Microsoft Xbox One may reach 108 million units by 2019.
Microsoft announced the Xbox One in May 2014 and Sony launched the PS4 in February 2013. The PS4 and the Xbox One are currently the most popular gaming consoles in the market and they have reached millions of gamers worldwide.
In January this year, the Japanese electronics giant said it has sold over 35.9 million PS4s, which is a big milestone for Sony. Microsoft has not confirmed the sale figures of the Xbox One but reports estimate that the company has sold about 19 million units worldwide, which is far less than the PS4's sales volume.
According to a latest prediction [PDF] revealed during the Game Developers Conference presentation by TJ Wagner, the creative director and executive producer of Wargaming, PS4 will continue to trounce Xbox One in the near term. Wagner says by 2019 the combined sales of PS4 and Xbox One will reach 108 million: 69 million PS4s and 39 million Xbox Ones.
Wargaming compiled the data from sources like HIS, Superdata and IDG Consulting and not directly from Sony and Microsoft.
During the GeekWire conference in October 2015, chief of Xbox Phil Spencer said he is not concerned about the comparisons made between PS4 and Xbox One.
"[Market] share is important, but more important than share is are we gaining new customers, are they buying games, are they engaged in the service?" said Spencer. "[Sony and Nintendo] can have success and it doesn't necessarily come at the expense of what Microsoft's main ambitions are."
Spencer acknowledged that Sony's PS4 has a big lead over Xbox One, and Microsoft may not beat the Japanese console maker.
"They have a huge lead and they have a great product. [But] we're not motivated by beating Sony, we're motivated by gaining as many customers as we can," added Spencer.
With the launch of virtual reality (VR) headsets, the gaming industry is expected to witness big changes. Sony has already prepared itself for the change and has announced the PlayStation VR. Preorders for the PS VR had already started and they will hit the shelves in October 2016. Sony is also expecting 50 VR games will be available at the launch of its headmount, which will keep gamers engaged.
Photo: Mark Farrell | Flickr
