Earlier this month, we reported that Microsoft’s Xbox One gaming console was outselling Sony’s PlayStation 4 for the second month in a row according to new data from NPD. At the time, Xbox marketing boss Mike Nichols said in a public statement that this success was a consequence of the release of the brand new Xbox One S, “the only console available this holiday with built-in UHD 4K Blu-ray, 4K video streaming, and HDR for video and gaming,” explained the exec.
Today, MCV UK is sharing additional data from GfK proving the early success of the new Xbox One S in the country (via Pocket-Lint):
- Xbox One sales have increased by 989% week-on-week.
- The Xbox One claimed a 71% share of the console market for the week ending September 24th, which represents an increase of 76% year-on-year.
- Sony’s PlayStation 4 had a 19% market share in the country last week, even though the company launched a slimmer PlayStation 4 on September 16th.
- Comparing the launch weeks for the Xbox One S and the PlayStation 4 Slim in the country, Microsoft’s sales were 361% higher than its rival.
In a statement released to MCV UK, Xbox UK marketing boss Harvey Eagle reiterated that the Xbox One S 4K UHD Blu-ray player and 4K video streaming support have clearly resonated with consumers:
It’s great to see how popular both the Xbox One S and the FIFA 17 Xbox One S consoles are with fans, not just over the last week but since the Xbox One S was released in August. 4K video streaming and 4K UHD Blu-ray have been extremely well received and we believe there is no better value right now for those looking to upgrade their console.
As of today, Microsoft’s Xbox One S is clearly the best option for 4K video enthusiasts as the console supports both 4K Blu-rays and 4K video streaming. Sony’s PlayStation 4 Pro which is expected to be released in November will also support 4K video streaming, though the premium console won’t feature a 4K Blu-Ray player. It’s not clear yet if 4K video content is a big incentive to upgrade today as 4K TV sets remain pretty expensive for now.
However, we expect Sony to put a heavy emphasis on 4K gaming with its PlayStation 4 Pro later this year, even though President and Global CEO of Sony Interactive Entertainment Andrew House recently explained that “the majority (of games) will be upscaled.” In the end, games are the real system sellers and we can’t wait to see how the upcoming Xbox One exclusives will compare to what Sony will have to offer in the holiday season.
