While NPD numbers declared Microsoft as the top dog for December with its Xbox One managing to outsell Sony's PS4 in the U.S. that month, Sony has been quick to remind everyone of its long term performance over the boys at Redmond. DualShockers is reporting a statement from Sony's Director of Corporate Communications, Dan Race:
"According to the latest NPD report, PlayStation 4 remains the cumulative leader for next-gen console sales in the U.S. since its launch on November 15. We sold every PS4 available at retail in the U.S. and were out of stock in December due to overwhelming consumer demand. With more than 4.2 million PS4 systems sold worldwide, it's clear that the PS4′s gaming and entertainment features are resonating with large audiences and we're doing our best to provide additional inventory in all of the 53 countries where it's available."
Earlier this month, Microsoft announced that the Xbox One had sold over three million consoles in 2013. Not to be outdone, Sony's own CEO Kaz Hirai revealed during a keynote at CES that Sony had pulled an upset over Microsoft, announcing that has managed to sell over 4.2 million of its own PlayStation 4 since the console launched in November.
The chances of Microsoft's next-gen console overtaking Sony's? That depends on who you ask, but if you're picking the brain of the infamous and oft-quoted Wedbush analyst Michael Pachter, the only hope Microsoft has to beat Sony is to drop its price.
During yesterday's episode of Bonus Round, Pachter has said Sony will remain as the lead dog in the console war, "as long as they have a $100 price advantage. Microsoft will not turn that around. It's not possible."
This early in the consoles' respective lifespans, no one can expect a price drop any time soon, so expect Sony to be in front for a long time to come, especially with PlayStation Now to go into beta very shortly.
Under the hood, the PlayStation 4 boasts Supercharged PC architecture, X86 CPU, Enhanced PC GPU, and 8GB Unified Memory according to the official specs.
It supports the same PlayStation Plus service as the Vita and PlayStation 3. However, a Plus subscription is required for online multiplayer games, but not for additional media services like Netflix. Sony has also updated the Dual Shock controllers with a touch screen and improved shoulder triggers, and bundles the console with a headset.
Available titles for the system include Killzone: Shadow Fall, Knack, Resogun, and more. You can check out a complete list of launch titles' prices and install sizes here. It currently retails for $399.
In the opposite corner, Microsoft's Xbox One claims an 8-core x86 processor and Microsoft hopes it will take the place of the family room cable box by letting you watch Blu-ray movies and TV through the console, in a "seamless transition" that lets players switch from playing games to watching shows and/or movies. It will come fully loaded with 8GB of RAM and a 500GB hard drive.
The console's exclusives include Dead Rising 3, Killer Instinct, Ryse: Son of Rome, and more. You can check out a list of the install sizes for all of the launch games here. The Xbox One retails for $499.
