PS4 wins the console race by default, but not because of what you'd think

Break it down:

PS3 is currently sold in over 100 countries world wide.
Xbox Live is only available in 41.

Microsoft have made a decision to wilfully cut off two thirds of the world with the Xbox One. They are clearly only aiming the device at North America and Europe. It is so ridiculously unappealing to Japan I doubt they'd even bother launching it there. As for the entire rest of the world? The internet is not robust enough in too many places for them to bother releasing the machine there, and even if they did, half of its features would be useless without contracts in every single country for the provision of TV services.

PS4 will win in sheer units sold because Microsoft obviously dont care about units sold any more. They're trying to set themselves up as a service provider in North America and Europe, much like iTunes is to music. 

PS4 has won next gen by default because for all intents and purposes it will be the only games console on the market other than the WiiU in most countries in the world. 

I also agree with all your points.

As a person who doesn't have cable TV, I could care less about buying the XboxOne.

Good point, however they will be launching in Japan. They have set up a 1st party studio in Osaka

will probably still bomb there though :P

PS4 wins because its a high quality consumer friendly game console made by gamers for gamers.

Just speaking for myself living in Saudi Arabia. I COULD get good enough internet to really use Xbox One, but the thing is, all that neat-o TV stuff won't work over here, and i very much doubt it'd be even adapted for regional channels over on this part of the world. 

Also just talking from trends growing up and living here. Sega was the big favorite in this part of the world back in the day, today it's Sony by far followed by Nintendo. Xbox 360 is available but it's viewed as ancillary to the rest of the machines out there. and i fully expect Xbox One will go through the same fate as the Xbox and 360 did over here in the rich Arab Gulf states. 

It all depends on how the product is viewed, its image and value, and whether or not it'll for us over here. I mean for soccer games (and it's hugely popular in this part of the world) the go-to game was Winning 11 series for the simple fact that you could get Arabic text on it. Now Fifa is the favorite (even though it was clearly one of the best soccer games before) since they added Arabic support. It all depends on how much your game/hardware is attuned for the region. 

Xbox isn't viewed the same way as Sony's Playstation or Nintendo products are - over here. 

and i do agree, i think Xbox One is clearly aimed at just the 1st world markets with little to no thought for the rest of the world. and i think Xbox One's trying to make itself look like an Ipad but as your set top cable box in your house - that happens to play games. 

PS4 wins because its a high quality consumer friendly game console made by gamers for gamers.

NathanDrakeSwag

[QUOTE="NathanDrakeSwag"]

PS4 wins because its a high quality consumer friendly game console made by gamers for gamers.

Ninja-Hippo

Xbox One will get most of the consumers who actually put money into the industry and make it thrive. PeasantStation 4 will get all the free loaders and pirates.

I just want the games, nothing else. Sony excels there.Heil68

[QUOTE="Heil68"]I just want the games, nothing else. Sony excels there.Ninja-Hippo

Doesn't say much about MS's marketing strategy. 

They're not even catering to Europe at this point with the Xbox one. Europeans will not find Kinetic's voice recognition useful. 

Doesn't say much about MS's marketing strategy. 

They're not even catering to Europe at this point with the Xbox one. Europeans will not find Kinetic's voice recognition useful. 

IshmaelSonata

LOL smh

[QUOTE="Ninja-Hippo"][QUOTE="NathanDrakeSwag"]

PS4 wins because its a high quality consumer friendly game console made by gamers for gamers.

Trail_Mix

It doesn't.

MS are prepping the Xbox 360 as a cheap alternative for developing countries. There is no way Sony could cost cut the PS3 to match it.

Yea I don't understand why MS is spitting in Latin America's face. They are the next big market for gaming. Only people in the big cities have the infrastructure to support this system. Venezuela can barely get toilet paper, now they need broadband internet just to play xbox? Mandingo101

Xbox One will get most of the consumers who actually put money into the industry and make it thrive. PeasantStation 4 will get all the free loaders and pirates.

HaRmLeSS_RaGe

Yea I don't understand why MS is spitting in Latin America's face. They are the next big market for gaming. Only people in the big cities have the infrastructure to support this system. Venezuela can barely get toilet paper, now they need broadband internet just to play xbox? Mandingo101

Yea I don't understand why MS is spitting in Latin America's face. They are the next big market for gaming. Only people in the big cities have the infrastructure to support this system. Venezuela can barely get toilet paper, now they need broadband internet just to play xbox? Mandingo101

Something tells me the people in Venezuela who are struggling to get toilet roll aren't going to be worrying about whether they need to get a broadband connection or not to play video games. More likely their worrying about cleaning up after their next crap.

[QUOTE="Mandingo101"]Yea I don't understand why MS is spitting in Latin America's face. They are the next big market for gaming. Only people in the big cities have the infrastructure to support this system. Venezuela can barely get toilet paper, now they need broadband internet just to play xbox? MFDOOM1983

[QUOTE="MFDOOM1983"][QUOTE="Mandingo101"]Yea I don't understand why MS is spitting in Latin America's face. They are the next big market for gaming. Only people in the big cities have the infrastructure to support this system. Venezuela can barely get toilet paper, now they need broadband internet just to play xbox? Mandingo101

1. 360 launched in Brazil in 2006.

2. PS2 launched there in 2009.

3. Ps3 launched 9 months later(2010) for $1200.

Supposedly, Sony is going to start manufacturing current PS3s there. PS2 dropping to $99.99 in U.S. and Europe was probably a bigger contributing factor to continued growth than releasing the console in developing countries. MS is readying the launch of a $99.99 360 for this fall, so expect the 360 to surpass 100 million in the coming years.

Xbox live have 45m paid subscriber that is something sony only can dream of ,i don't think ps4 will win by default it's only microsoft that can mug people and they still happy about it

Good point, however they will be launching in Japan. They have set up a 1st party studio in Osaka

will probably still bomb there though :P

RR360DD

The 360 was only relevant in two countries: the US and the UK. Despite that they were neck and neck with Sony for almost a decade. Those two countries have a big enough gamer population to make lasering in on them just as viable as broadly trying to get everywhere else. Numbers and facts have proven this.  The only other world markets with the potential to be that big (India and China) won't be able to afford consoles until they're like $99 or less, making them consistently viable for prior gen gaming.  The cheapest PS3 is $279.  The cheapest 360 is $199.  If anyone is more suited to get those places, it's MS.

I think the real thing people are missing is PS+.  There are the uber hardcore that buy like 20-50 games every year.  There are casuals who are only interest in 1 or 2 games a year.  I think both of those are relatively small and there is a huge middle group of people gets ignored.  They aren't uber hardcore so they don't need to play every game the day it comes out but they aren't so casual that they'd only want a game or two a year.  PS+ is perfect for them.  They're getting just as many games as the uber hardcore gets but they only have to pay a casual gamer's fee to access it.  I think the 360 is better than the PS3 and there are more X1 features that interest me than PS4 ones, but I'm 100% sure I will be buying a PS4 because MS has nothing to counter the get 30+ awesome games for $50 that PS+ offers.  I think Sony is missing out by not really advertising PS+.  There are tons of people that would be enticed by something showing all of the games to have been in IGC and be like, "you could be playing all of this and more RIGHT NOW for just $50."  I think a tv commercial for that would sell more units for them than any commercial for a game other than like Uncharted, Battlefield, and Assassin's Creed.

Great point, I agree.

We'll see how it turns out in terms of games, Microsoft isn't dumb enough to completely disregard their hardcore audience.

About DRM: Sony's making a smart move. They're not openly stating that there will be DRM, but obviously if there's DRM for the Xbone then publishers will have similar DRM on the PS4 so that it's even. The way Sony's doing it, there's going to be more of a blame on publishers for the DRM rather than Sony for not doing anything.

Looks like I got some of my information wrong.

1. 360 launched in Brazil in 2006.

2. PS2 launched there in 2009.

3. Ps3 launched 9 months later(2010) for $1200.

Supposedly, Sony is going to start manufacturing current PS3s there. PS2 dropping to $99.99 in U.S. and Europe was probably a bigger contributing factor to continued growth than releasing the console in developing countries. MS is readying the launch of a $99.99 360 for this fall, so expect the 360 to surpass 100 million in the coming years.

MFDOOM1983

Xbox live have 45m paid subscriber that is something sony only can dream of ,i don't think ps4 will win by default it's only microsoft that can mug people and they still happy about it

nyzma23

I'm pretty sure that number is for both silver and gold, but MS have not clarified how many of each:)

I could care less about buying the XboxOne.id_mew

Actually you are probably right. I am sure these comapnies would like to be known as the company that sales more units but their first priority will be to make money. M$ is probably gonna make a shit load.

[QUOTE="NathanDrakeSwag"]

PS4 wins because its a high quality consumer friendly game console made by gamers for gamers.

Ninja-Hippo

I didn't think of it this way ... Good points.

[QUOTE="MFDOOM1983"]

Looks like I got some of my information wrong.

1. 360 launched in Brazil in 2006.

2. PS2 launched there in 2009.

3. Ps3 launched 9 months later(2010) for $1200.

Supposedly, Sony is going to start manufacturing current PS3s there. PS2 dropping to $99.99 in U.S. and Europe was probably a bigger contributing factor to continued growth than releasing the console in developing countries. MS is readying the launch of a $99.99 360 for this fall, so expect the 360 to surpass 100 million in the coming years.

Mandingo101

Xbox One will get most of the consumers who actually put money into the industry and make it thrive. PeasantStation 4 will get all the free loaders and pirates.

HaRmLeSS_RaGe

Poor deluded little lem is confusing us with hermits.

[QUOTE="Ninja-Hippo"][QUOTE="NathanDrakeSwag"]

PS4 wins because its a high quality consumer friendly game console made by gamers for gamers.

Eddie-Vedder

[QUOTE="Eddie-Vedder"][QUOTE="Ninja-Hippo"] They've already said it will have DRM if the publishers want to, just like the Xbone. Wipe the tears away and accept it.Ninja-Hippo

[QUOTE="Ninja-Hippo"][QUOTE="Eddie-Vedder"] Nice try lemmo, it'll have DRM if the publishers want it too just like the PS3, the Xbone has DRM built in, not the same. Stop spinning. Eddie-Vedder

Doesn't say much about MS's marketing strategy. 

They're not even catering to Europe at this point with the Xbox one. Europeans will not find Kinetic's voice recognition useful. 

IshmaelSonata

I also agree with all your points.

As a person who doesn't have cable TV, I could care less about buying the XboxOne.

id_mew