Reuters: US Consumers Prefer PS4

[Karloff]

Reuters: US Consumers Prefer PS4

The numbers get even more intriguing when you talk to the under-40 crowd.

The PS4 will go head to head with the Xbox One in November - just in time for those all-important Christmas shopping days = and the question both manufacturers are puzzling over is, which will be the better seller? Will the $100 price tag difference sway hearts and minds [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/news/view/124883-PS4-and-Xbox-One-Preorder-Comparison], or will American consumers stay loyal to the Xbox? A recent Reuters poll suggests that, at least in the States, consumers are choosing Sony's PS4 over the Xbox One, by a fairly healthy margin. Of 1,297 people polled, 27% said they were likely to purchase the PS4 when it becomes available, as opposed to 15% who prefer the Xbox One.

But what about the under-40 crowd, the ones most eager for a gaming console? Of those 408, 40% go for the PS4, and only 27% for the Xbox One. Mind you, that's assuming they go for anything at all. One other highlight of this poll was the number of people who weren't keen on buying any console, at least not right away. Maybe after the Christmas rush, or once a few titles are out, but for 64% of the 1,297 total, a new console generation meant nothing. It didn't matter what choices were on offer - even the Steam box - these consumers aren't about to shell out for a game system this Christmas.

Some of you will have already made your choice - probably also made your preorder - but for the rest, if Reuters is to be believed, you'll be sitting on your hands this year. If so, that spells very bad news for the console makers; good sales are the gift Microsoft and Sony really need come December.

Source: Reuters [http://in.reuters.com/article/2013/09/29/us-microsoft-sony-poll-idINBRE98S08C20130929]


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[NightHawk21]

Microsoft better hope that's not the case as NA was/is? their largest market.

 

[9thRequiem]

I'm more surprised that 27% of the under-40s want the X1 - given that it's a lot more expensive, due to a peripheral no-one really wants (Given by sales figures for the Kinect 1), and that's even ignoring the massive PR problems caused by always online / restricted used games etc etc.

Personally, I'm in the 64% who won't be buying a new console. I just can't see the benefit of being an early adopter anyway, and this new generation doesn't really offer me anything I want anyway.

 

[Ed130 The Vanguard]

Microsoft better hope that's not the case as NA was/is? their largest market.

Yeah, remember all those additional 'features' like fantasy football that was only available for the US or something?

This does not look good.

 

[Erttheking]

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This really does make me happier than it should be. The USA market really was Microsoft's planned fallback, arguably their target acudience. Now that they don't have that...things aren't looking so great for them. Sorry Microsoft, it doesn't matter how many Xbones you can make if no one WANTS them!

 

[Remus]

I wouldn't mind throwing my paycheck at Sony, if I was earning a paycheck. But right now I'm not and the market for that piece of paper is far more fierce than anything that may happen between 2 billion-dollar games manufacturers.

 

[Griffolion]

Wow, Microsoft getting beat on their home ground? Truly embarrassing. Oh well, hopefully Sony can deliver what has been hyped.

 

[Spaceman Spiff]

Meh, this is only one poll. The XB180 will still sell well enough. There's plenty of people who genuinely like the console with all of it's features and specs, and plenty of other people who will buy it because of brand name familiarity.

 

[The_Echo]

Frankly, this doesn't surprise me.

Microsoft really screwed the pooch with PR earlier this year, and the more casual consumers that heard about it probably didn't hear about their slew of 180s. Even many active gamers who did see the news either don't believe it'll stick or won't buy an Xbone on principle. Not to mention that, yes, $100 is really really going to make a difference, unless you just love Halo that much.

And worldwide? Xbone's initial (and total) global reach is crippled comparatively, and many of its touted features are US-exclusive.

Even with the backpedaling, it really feels almost as if Microsoft doesn't want the Xbox One to succeed.

Sorry Microsoft, it doesn't matter how many Xbones you can make if no one WANTS them!

I wonder how many people planning to buy an Xbone are doing so expecting it to attain Virtual Boy status among collectors in a decade.

 

[BrotherRool]

Maybe after the Christmas rush, or once a few titles are out, but for 64% of the 1,297 total, a new console generation meant nothing. It didn't matter what choices were on offer - even the Steam box - these consumers aren't about to shell out for a game system this Christmas.

...If so, that spells very bad news for the console makers; good sales are the gift Microsoft and Sony really need come December.

I'm sure Sony and Microsoft are going to be devastated that over a third of the market wants to buy a console on launch day.

 

[Zeckt]

I got to admit, when I was ready to throw consoles away for good sony has really picked up their game. Even now they are releasing non stop high quality exclusives that grab my attention. I never even HEARD of the Puppeteer since 2 days ago when my sister called me telling me how great it was and from what I see of psn they have definitely made it worth the cost in my eyes.

Where sony has surpassed my expectations and got me excited for their new console when I swore off this gen of consoles, microsoft has done absolutely nothing of interest after disgusting me.

 

[InterrogationBear]

Meh, this is only one poll.

And it's an online poll.

 

[fix-the-spade]

Microsoft better hope that's not the case as NA was/is? their largest market.

Always their largest market. The 360 has been interesting, it benefited more from the PS3's enormous price than from it's own quality. Given the reversal in prices and Sony apparently learning to be nice(ish) to developers it seems likely for Microsoft to fall away from the parity in sales they've had this generation. It won't fall off a cliff like the Xbox did ten years ago (or at least Microsoft hope it won't) but unless Titanfall's Xbone version is truly mind blowing it's hard to see where they're ahead software wise.

 

[Jamash]

Is an online poll of 1,297 out of 316,756,000 people really a big enough sample size to claim the results represent the entire nation?

 

[-Dragmire-]

I'm more surprised that 27% of the under-40s want the X1 - given that it's a lot more expensive, due to a peripheral no-one really wants (Given by sales figures for the Kinect 1), and that's even ignoring the massive PR problems caused by always online / restricted used games etc etc.

Personally, I'm in the 64% who won't be buying a new console. I just can't see the benefit of being an early adopter anyway, and this new generation doesn't really offer me anything I want anyway.

My friend was going to get an X1 regardless, though he was less sure before the backtrack. His loyalty was gained through his experience with his 360.

I've also found that there are quite a few people who have a high preference to the 360 controller. It's enough of a preference to sway their console purchase based on comfort during play.

 

[ExtraDebit]

I'm one of those that wouldn't buy an X180 out of principle.

 

[Strazdas]

anyone following preorders on sitesl ike amazon could already tell you that. Microsoft is loosing big time on their home turf. In fact amazon preorders for PS4 software is more than double that of Xbox One software in USA - the home turf of Xbox. They arent loosing this generation, they already lost. and unless they pull some truly magical things and mnage to ship 10 million copies on launch day or something thier not going to stand, either way.

Is an online poll of 1,297 out of 316,756,000 people really a big enough sample size to claim the results represent the entire nation?

Yes.

Meh, this is only one poll.

Correction: Its only one of many polls.

 

[RJ 17]

Depends on what my financial situation is at the time. That said, though, I'd obviously be leaning towards PS4 considering the fact that it's $100 cheaper and my financial situation is the determining factor of if I'll get getting a new console at all before Christmas.

To be fair, the fact that MS finally did roll back EVERYTHING that made the XBone a horrendous concept does make it appealing to me...just because I'm pretty sure that all my friends will likely be getting XBones. At this point the only thing holding me back would be the extra $100.

I still say that now that they've made the Kinect completely optional they should therefor swallow their pride and offer a cheaper version of the console that doesn't come with a Kinect. I really can't see why they're so obsessed with that failed product.