Sony’s Won The Hardware Battle

Since the 90’s, Sony has been an established gaming juggernaut in the gaming industry. Over time, it’s built an array of talented teams and even brushed it’s competition to the side. We all know what happened to Sega, right? Well, it’s kind of happening with Xbox. But not in the way we think.

There can be no denying that PlayStation has a lot of the hardware market tied down. In fact, Xbox might be completely removing itself where competition is so strong in regions where PlayStation is dominant. It’s clear, PlayStation has played a very smart game in how they’ve operated and built their brand.

There’s a reason why Microsoft is sending out feedback emails to people to understand why Xbox is faltering in the hardware market. Everyone knows why, every gamer could tell you. Even fans of Xbox know the best days were the 360 days. If Microsoft are to have success in getting Xbox back to that kind of level. It’s going to need to buckle down and sort it’s Xbox Game Studios out.

Maybe the new guy Craig, (great name, by the way, I approve) will be one of them to find their feet again. Because, let’s face it, Microsoft and Xbox are not really competing with PlayStation anymore per se. In fact, what they’re doing is creating hardware that will set them apart in the future based on the plans they have. The plans they have are Xbox Cloud Gaming and the new handheld device.

It’s pivotal Microsoft are the leaders for the next generation of gaming. We’ve already discussed in our previous article the steps they’re taking. But also, it’s becoming clear that they’re ramping up this plan. Because now Call of Duty for the first time will be on Cloud Gaming via xCloud. Not only that, but you will be able to play your purchased games as well.

That is huge news in itself. Obviously, there is a clear plan within Microsoft and Xbox to make sure they’re on top when it comes to being the leaders in gaming of the future. Whether hardware comes into that or not is irrelevant because, ultimately, Xbox is still in the game in one way or another.

Xbox are playing a very different game. One that is a waiting game that’s ‘waiting’ on the possibility of gamer trends changing. Not now, but in the long term. PlayStation have a bright future as well, because they’ve established themselves as the hardware king. The Apple of consoles and the prices to go with it. But let’s not for one moment think that the competition will not be there.

Enter Nintendo, now back off a hugely successful Nintendo Switch era. The Nintendo Switch 2 will be championing physical and backwards compatibility. Not only that, but it will be getting to the point where it’s technology is going to be ‘good enough’ to play your games on the performance you want to play them on. If anything, PlayStation does have that to contend with. Especially if they continue to price gauge.

We already know gamers will vote with their wallets. However, PlayStation might be having it all their own way at the moment with the success they’re having. Nobody can dismiss that competition from Nintendo going into the future. I think it’s a very different competition, but I seriously think that most gamers are looking to the Nintendo Switch 2 for answers. Whether they answer that call is another story.

However, be under no illusions Microsoft and Xbox are looking to the future on a much bigger scale. They aim to improve on hardware, and they aim to sway the majority into the cloud and playing the games wherever and however you want to play them. The choice? Well, that will ultimately be up to you to decide where gaming goes next.