Ampere Analysis has stated in a recent article by the Financial Times that Nintendo has shifted an estimated 16.4 million units worldwide in 2023. The figure is down eighteen percent year over year; however, the analytical group has noted that it’s widely expected that a successor will be announced next year. Sony’s PlayStation 5 sold the most number of units worldwide this year at 22.5 million, while Microsoft’s Xbox Series X|S came in third with a 7.6 million estimate.
- PS5 sales grew about 65 per cent to 22.5 million units this year,
- Xbox Series X|S fell about 15 per cent to 7.6 million units
- Nintendo’s Switch, fell 18 per cent to 16.4 million units
I don’t know who plays Xbox anymore. Yeah, the Series X is powerful, but like, who needs that console when you can play Xbox Games on PC, or just plain stream them to whatever you have. That removes the barrier to invest in dedicated hardware.
Then again, most Sony stuff ends up on Steam(exceptions yeah). They’re just delaying those releases. Nintendo is the last bation to console exclusives (that and Playdate lol).
I actually prefer my series X to my gaming Pc and yes it is an updated PC. I do also have my PC connected to my big screen for when I want to play it with a controller as well.
Main reasons to have a console. 1: comfort, a pc you are sitting in a freaking chair playing. I can kick back on the couch with a console.
2: physical copies. I collect because of like we are starting to see games are becoming unsupported online and even being pulled completely. You never own anything digital.
3: cost is another good one. A console is over half the cost less than what the same powered PC would cost you.
4: game pass actually has more and many different games than the pc counterpart.
5:it works as my 4k player as well.
I could keep going but there are many many reasons to have a XBox console but for them to sell what they have e considering most games are in PC already Microsoft is still winning over PS. They offer on PC what PS doesn’t so add in that crowd and they literally are outselling them by double at least. Xbox is worth over 600 billion now while Nintendo is worth over 90 and PS only around 45.
I do agree with you on there always being a reason to have a Nintendo though. The other 3 it is really just what is your preference. I own all of them actually and my PS5 gets literally no play time followed by my PC and then my Xbox and my switch gets most of my time. The Xbox and Switch bounce back and forth every couple years due to games available when competing for my time.
I understand why you would want to play on an Xbox; I own two Series X consoles myself and get the appeal. I was thinking of a more general mass-market appeal rather than selective hardcore enthusiasts like myself (and you).
Some comments about your points of view:
You’re saying you can play PC on TV but also claiming Xbox is better because you can do it on your TV, similar to what you’re doing with your PC… kind of lost me a bit there.
Xbox Series games aren’t really physical games. Don’t get me wrong; I’m buying physical games until I either die or it’s not possible anymore. However, Xbox discs are essentially license keys for downloads. Also, there are internal parts of an Xbox that will render the console useless at some point, and you won’t be able to play those physical games anymore due to internal “clocks” synced up against servers as a form of DRM.
Cost is the one thing I loosely mentioned in my original comment. The Xbox Series X isn’t cheap, but it’s a good value for what you get. The S is a better value proposition. However, you don’t have to own dedicated hardware for playing Xbox. Not saying streaming is as good as playing locally, far from it, but in a world where the economy goes down the gutter, I don’t understand why people don’t just use the Xbox App on Windows or stream it on another platform rather than paying for an Xbox Series X or S (mass appeal, not hardcore enthusiasts).
Yeah, I guess a lot of the older games are available on the console, but I think streaming does the same. And aren’t there some RTS games only available for PC as well? (I might be wrong on that one).
Yeah, I use Xbox for 4K Blu-ray since they have better bandwidth on their HDMI tech compared to PS5. But again, most people are just streaming from whatever. I think you have to be enthusiastic to enjoy this feature a lot as well.
But yeah, I see the appeal of Xbox; believe me, I love it. And this is in NO WAY meant to bash your preference or saying you’re wrong.
The things that would make me go for Xbox before PC would be “Games just work,” and controller support is never a problem. The system interface is so smooth, and you don’t have to find a keyboard or do something janky just to play. And for parents it’s probably better and safer to have them on a closed system rather than a PC/tablet; then again if that’s a concern, Switch would be a good option.
Personally, I only play with Steam nowadays – big screen mode, PC, and on Rog Ally. I have the same library and saves across devices. Love it so much. The Switch gets played when there is a new exclusive, so that’s why I really, really hope they can make a Switch 2 soon, so we can have a bit more frames. All I want.”
First of all not all PC games are controller friendly which leaves me on the couch not playing them but playing them on my console or not at all where I can kick back and relax with my controller. I also tend to buy games that are cheaper because platform doesn’t matter to me. Steam will have some cheap games but physical if possible is cheaper faster and has resale value.
As for getting having one for a hardcore like us is quite the opposite. The casual players would much rather use a console. They do not want to spend 1k plus on a pc for gaming and have that big tower and monitor. They are not going to go out of their way to make it work on their tv etc etc. so casuals are definitely more console players.
As for the DRM thing that is incorrect, any game that needs internet to play will not be playable when the servers go down for it just like any other platform. They license check is on the disk and games that are on disk and are not online games will be playable. Many games will not be though but they will not be able to be played on PC either or PS even. It is literally only effecting online games and many companies are literally moving towards that where they make the system constantly check for a license. You have to watch what games you buy.
Everyone has their own thing and for parents they tend to get the safe bet which would be a Switch or whatever console their kids want. PC’s come later for kids in their teens usually.
As for streaming if you’re talking about actual streaming then that is literally horrible for modern games if you care about latency at all. It is better than it use to be but still bad.
We are in the end in a world where digital will sadly end up being the end game. At that point I will buy few games and many companies will go belly up as well. There will be less sales and prices will not drop. It is sad but I already see it happening. At that point I will probably play my big backlog of physicals.
I am truly one if I am not going to own it then I sure will not give you full price for it.
There is no wrong side here, it is literally whatever each person prefers.
For your 1st point, its not really much of one in the 1st place when you can do the exact same thing; You can even bother making a ITX sized PC build (portable at this point) that is purely JUST for gaming and make it act just like a console with similar specs to a PS5/XSeries. Have it sit directly under your TV on a shelf.
For your 2nd point, majority if not all physical media for consoles are increasingly becoming just Keys for you to download the game. So once those services for the system eventually go down, then those physical media copies become worthless and are only useful as Collector’s Items.
For your 3rd point, when it comes to short term costs then I agree.
But for long term if you are able to fork the expensiveness of the “Entry Barrier”, then you have much more options when it comes to getting games for cheap. A lot more Sales opportunities and if your savvy enough online, then you can easily get games for even cheaper through Key websites.
Your 4th point doesn’t really hold much weight to begin with. While yes Gamepass has many a wide selection of games for cheap, it does sorely lack when it comes to certain older titles and especially the indie industry at large; Lets not even forget the Emulation side of PC gaming and that massively expands your game library of choice. (But its your choice if you want to participate in that)
Your 5th point, I get to some capacity. But personally im fine with my desktop bluray player as is.
Which all of this just comes down to convenience, front costs and ease of use.
People willing to put the time and effort in will get almost everything a console has to offer.
For others a console is serviceable enough.
I still have my Switch for portable play and really the only console that keeps majority of its exclusives.
None of your points even matter because we are not discussing building a gaming PC. You need to think about people that don’t have the knowledge, funds or care to even do so. This is about everyone not just you.
As for most of it though I replied to original poster so hope that helps cover all of it.
I will say you sound like a straight PC fan boy and regardless right or wrong you will refuse to see anyone else’s views.
I counter-argued your points from a different pov of benefits that PC gaming can have if people want to get into it.
Especially considering the future of gaming will be like with a lot of things “You will own nothing and be happy”
Even Gaming as a media is one of the worst perpetrators when it comes to preservation. Especially declining quality when it comes to CD/DVD manufacturing as those are more easily vulnerable to damage compared to blu-ray discs or carts.
Which is why I also advocate for emulation since, despite it being digital, it will keep games online forever as long as someone owns an iso copy.
But anyways, I never degraded your choice of platform or called you names like “console peasant” from idiotic ppl tht participate in highschool argument of elitism and “console wars”.
So idk where the hell im getting this weird hostility from u.
Besides you are talking to someone whose only gotten into PC gaming the last 3yrs (and regularly consumes gaming tech info/news), and still regularly collects physical media of their fav films/shows; Have an entire standing 4 shelf completely filled with them.
Maybe check your attitude and re-read people’s responses before assuming someone’s intentions.
Biggest reason for me is the ease of use. I don’t have to start my PC, open a launcher, or any other shenanigans. Don’t get me wrong, I do play on my PC, but nothing beats turning on my Xbox, or switch, and just laying down or sitting in the sofa. It’s just, ready.
Bingo. Comfort while playing and ease of use is always a big one, this hits almost every casual gamer out there.
Even if down 18%, just the fact it’s an 8th gen system selling well into the 9th gen shows how Nintendo absolutely owned the 8th generation! The PS4 was completely slaughtered by Switch.
Nintendo has actually owned the 9th gen pretty much halfway through. This right here shows you that the highest specs and flashy graphics don’t always matter.
You can’t tell them that though, because they’ll quickly tell you that the switch doesn’t count. Somehow they have convince themselves that Nintendo consoles only count, when they aren’t outselling anyone, especifically their choice of box.