Sony, on the other hand, counteracted all of Microsoft’s negative publicity by announcing more gamer-friendly approaches to said issues in their E3 press conference. And what seemed to make the biggest impact was the lower retail price of the PlayStation 4. Sony was met with a roaring applause when they announced that the PS4 would retail at $399 dollars.
While Sony’s entire approach to PS4 marketing has put them in the good graces everywhere, Gamespot is reporting that the price difference alone may have preemptively won the early console war between Sony and Microsoft.
What does this all mean? It means that all of the questionable decisions combined with a price that is $100 dollars more than the opposition could have lost Microsoft the preliminary battle. It also shows that first impressions mean a lot to gamers, and that the power of the Internet is legitimate. E3 2013 proved this theory - and now that analysts are predicting the PlayStation 4 will outsell the Xbox One - it is possible that Sony will reign supreme this time around.
In addition to this news, the IDC has also predicted an increase in digital downloads through 2014. Considering the success of Steam, it was expected that Microsoft, Sony, and even Nintendo are going to push their downloadable content on their consumers. It’s no secret that downloadable content is an easy way of generating revenue without having to go through an electronics distributor. However with Sony already ahead in projected sales, pay close attention to how the next-gen console wars shake out this holiday season.
Are you leaning toward the Xbox One or the PS4? Which aspects of each are you questioning? Are you considering the price alone as a major factor in your decision? Will Microsoft bounce back from the negative publicity?
The Xbox One is set to release on November 22, 2013. The PlayStation 4 is set to release on November 15, 2013.
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Source: Gamespot
