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Microsoft has made massive changes to its console strategy over the last two years. The Xbox One is cheaper, less restrictive, and more feature-rich than it once was. But in spite of these strides in the right direction, the PS4 still remains dominant. And if a recent analyst report is to be believed, Microsoft’s console is doomed to play second fiddle to the PS4 well into 2018.

Recently, Strategy Analytics released a report on the sales trends of the current console generation. By the end of 2018, this analyst predicts that Sony will have sold 80 million PS4s. On the other hand, Microsoft will have sold just 57 million Xbox Ones. Neither number is anything to sneeze at, but that estimation puts Sony way out in front.



More than anything, this report just adds credence to the idea that the PS4 is Sony’s return to the glory days of the PS2. Perhaps the sales gap won’t be quite as steep as it was two generations ago, but the Xbox team must be upset that they’ve burned so much good will with early mistakes. Hot off the Xbox 360, this was Microsoft’s generation to lose, and lose it did.
What about the Wii U? Well, it looks like Nintendo’s platform will be hovering between 15 and 20 million if this report is to be believed. Even with last year’s top-notch first-party showing, hardware sales were weak. The Legend of Zelda is supposed to ship sometime in 2015, but even that won’t be able to pull the Wii U out of the gutter. I’m certainly not saying that it will sink Nintendo, but the Wii U continues to reek of failure.

Meanwhile, PS4 exclusives have been few and far between. Even worse, Sony’s The Order: 1886 has received shockingly harsh review scores. At this point, Bloodborne and Uncharted 4 are pretty much the only major exclusives on the horizon. The PS4’s hardware is superior, and Sony’s messaging has been more consistent, but the severe lack of compelling titles could hurt the PS4 in the long run.

So, can Microsoft change its fate? It’s definitely in the realm of possibilities. Redmond has been surprisingly proactive with massive shifts in strategy, and the Xbox One even managed to outsell the PS4 for a number of months in 2014. At this point, what these consoles need more than anything is content. And since Microsoft has Halo, Gears of War, and Tomb Raider on lockdown, the future looks bright for Xbox One owners even if the sales gap never shrinks.



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