Xbox One Price Cut Wasn’t Just About Sales; It’s About Bigger Things to Come

The Xbox One did an amazing turnaround this holiday over what they started out of the gate with. While we await the final sales figures from the entire holiday season, including the sales from after Christmas and all the kiddies cashing in their gift cards, there is little doubt the Xbox One outsold the PlayStation 4 yet again. It happened the previous month and it looks to be two months in a row that the Xbox One will sustain the momentum. It is easy for gamers and most consumer analysts to see why they have been able to capture the numbers they have, the sale on the Xbox One over the holiday with $50 off was too good for many to pass up. The Xbox 360 didn’t have the same issues with sales as what the Xbox One has had, actually it was quite the opposite when it comes to early success. It took the Xbox One predecessor two years for a price cut, versus the Xbox One just one.

[xHeavYx]

So... I read the article and the "bigger things to come" is just the chance of a slim console?

[Naga]

Headline should have been "slimmer things to come," then. Just saying.

Though there was a broad and vague reference to increased hard drive space and "change". Personally, I think the author is dead wrong - this was all about sales.

[Mr Pumblechook]

"While we await the final sales figures from the entire holiday season, including the sales from after Christmas and all the kiddies cashing in their gift cards, there is little doubt the Xbox One outsold the PlayStation 4 yet again."

Talk about conjecture! Maybe it did outsell and maybe it didn't. But the strong sales of both PS4 and XBO mean it's premature to call one the winner. And to say XBO has outsold the PS4 'Yet again' is just silly because it implies a consistent record of doing so- when the reality is is has done in the USA for one month possibly two.

The article reveals the bias of the writer.

[XisThatKid]

All in all now that enough people have the console word of mouth will get even more X1's to gamers rooms.
The price isn't going to hold this thing back.

[Giul_Xainx]

Agreed. If fanboys truly believe that it is all about the size of a console... they are deeply mistaken. Look at ps3... how many years before a slim model came out?

And how about the xbox 360?

Microsoft should sell the xbox brand to apple and get it over with.

I don't think any other company would be able to turn around the xbox one.

I think Microsoft really should just take the hit for the xbox one and just let it die and bring out a new xbox.

They put forth too much effort into something people were phasing out because they truly believed watching tv shows would suddenly make a comback. Problem is no one likes the hassle of watching it live anymore.

TV is like facebook, or better yet your fridge. You keep opening it to see if anything in it is good. Even though you know what to expect seeing inside. This is what netflix is starting to become. Hulu is in the same boat as tv already and pretty soon the news will become a part of netflix, or hulu. Possibly both. And when that happens... tv will die.

So Microsoft, why not just admit it? You built the xbox one to prepare for this without realising you were holding a bag with a dead cat inside. In other words you were taken for a ride.

So cut it loose this round.

[Naga]

@Giul_Xianx

I think your negative bias against the Xbox is coloring your understanding of its performance and potential. Sell Xbox to Apple? Just let it die?

It's not dying. It's not dead weight. From an economic standpoint, the Xbox brand continues to be a very profitable asset to Microsoft. Although the O.G. Xbox originally started off developing losses, the Xbox 360 and Xbox One - especially with Xbox Live - have been generating profitable year after profitable year. From that standpoint alone, it's simply unwise to drop it.

I agree with you that Microsoft kicked off the Xbox One with the wrong intentions and the wrong trajectory. Their leadership was all kinds of wrong, and they suffered dearly for their decisions. However, they have righted the ship and corrected its course.

Are they playing second fiddle to Sony and the Playstation 4? Yeah. Absolutely. But the fact that the PS4 has been selling worldwide like frosted hotcakes doesn't mean that the XB1 has been doing poorly. In fact, the Xbox One has been out-doing its X360 predecessor and selling very strongly. With the new direction, the strong library of existing games, the genuinely original and interesting IPs on the horizon, the Xbox One is going to be well-positioned to continue competing with the Playstation 4.

It won't beat the international success of the PS4, but that is hardly a good reason to kick it to the curb wholesale. I think you're being a bit unreasonable to suggest otherwise.

[xx4xx]

Yeah, that and larger storage.

Probably not the 'bigger things to come' you anticipated. In other words: click bait.

[MRMagoo123]

I am guessing when they say the xbone won 2 months in a row they mean US and UK only right ? Because ps4 outsold the xbone world wide in both months.

[Wh15ky]

Must just be US.

There was an article yesterday that said PS4 outsold X1 in UK in December. X1 just won November in UK but PS4 won both months combined. Unless that article has been debunked.

Edit @below

I'm not with you.

[blackout]

The most important region. Ask why Sony for the first time launched there console first in the US. The US is the number one region when it come to sale of almost anything. The #1 consumer market.

[Wh15ky]

So... what's your point?

In fact forget it, I'll just hit the ignore button and I won't have to read any more of your silly little ramblings.

[dcbronco]

I'm not sure why people are disagreeing with Blackouts comment. It is true that when it comes to retail, the US is the most important market. At the same time, it's nothing to brag about. In a country with so much personal debt, you would think we would be a little more careful. But no. Poor people have $200 sneakers and a empty refrigerator. Middle class have two cars and zero life savings. Rich people have pockets full of money but miserable lives. And a bunch of politicians in their pockets given to them by the people the rich keep broke.

We're a republic to stupid to vote our own interest.

[FITgamer]

Just US. PS4 won November and December combined in the UK according MCVUK.

http://www.mcvuk.com/news/r...

[NeoGamer232]

There are three strong sales areas for consoles...

USA/UK, Mainland Europe, and Japan.

Sony is only winning in Mainland Europe. Its funny when fanboys say X1 ONLY won in USA/UK. The reality is that Sony ONLY won mainland Europe.

They are second in both USA/UK to the X1, and second to the Wii U in Japan.

And no, they aren't outselling the Wii U and destined to take over in Japan... If you look at the sales, Wii U is handily ahead week-to-week.

Sony is strong in all major markets so its global numbers are ahead. But the global numbers are skewed by its strength in Europe.

[MRMagoo123]

You are missing the fact the xbone won 1 month in those 2 countries Sony has won the other 11 in all countries, so what is your point ?

[hello12]

If those sales are accurate Sony is killing it in Europe and Microsoft is falling behind there. The three biggest areas for sales are the United States the UK and Europe. Sony is still selling good in the UK and United States, so all Sony has do is keeping beating Microsoft in Europe and Microsoft will never catch up or even get near to Sony. Its basic math really. However sales for Sony was lot less than expected going into November and i knew that was the case. Figures thrown around here of 16 million sold to customers heading into November was totally wrong. You only had to look at what they had shipped end of September it was 13.5 million that meant they must have sold less for that month.

December was an amazing month 3 to 4 million sales is incredible if you think about it. Sony reports this as sold to customers i will see in feb if that holds up when they release their quarterly earnings.

Regards to Microsoft they haven't released shipped numbers since the start of November. What they sold in the last two months is heard to know. It was just 10 million shipped to retailers last we heard. They've a conference in two weeks and i expect some news around then and some awesome announcements that will build hype again for x box 1

[Kingdomcome247]

Microsoft may eventually take the lead in the U.S. and the U.K., but as it currently stands they're behind Sony. Not sure where you got that they were ahead in those markets from?

[Christopher]

Nope. It was 100% about sales. Sales = increased market share. Increased market share = more games made by third-parties. More games means more gamers and continued chance to grow the market share.

It was 100% about sales.

[wynams]

1000% abt sales, why else would MS eat $650M?

[BitbyDeath]

$650M?
Where did that come from?

[Eonjay]

Its a business. It better be about sales. Its not charity.

[Christopher]

Exactly!

[Josuey]

The xbox one DID NOT OUTSELL the PS4 ever. PS4 outsold xbox one worldwide every month of 2014

Xbox one took the NOV NPD's but thats only USA.

[NegativeCreep427]

Get with the times MAN! Didn't you hear? Only Teh USA salez Matter! /s

[Ristul]

Yeah, it's Amazing that some people just won't understand this simple fact.

[strangeaeon]

Good god, calm yourself man.

[Kribwalker]

There is the fact though that the U.S. market made up over 105 million sales of consoles last gen, which makes it by far the biggest single market at over 40% of total sales last gen. So I would say winning the U.S. would be the biggest priority for most game manufacturers.

http://www.gamasutra.com/vi...

It's not all that matters, but it is the biggest market

[Josuey]

Even if PS4 was behind in USA which it is not, PS4 would outsell xbox one due to europe and worldwide

[Wh15ky]

I thought it wasn't a price cut.

[corroios]

Lol, and lol and lol

[MasterCornholio]

It was about improving future software sales by increasing market share.

So in the end it was about sales.

[DougLord]

The only markets that matter to me are the ones that buy the kind of games I like to play. Japan, China and SE Asia - not so much. Continental Europeans count for maybe 0.5 per person. US, Canada, UK and Australia count full.

The only reason I care about sales is continued developer support for making AAA blockbusters. Zone has that in spades having sold 11 million units while 360 took until May 2008 to hit 10 million.

The idea that I need the PS4 to fail to be happy is ridiculous. I just don't get these stupid fanbois.

[OldDude]

@itachi

I hope you are getting paid by Sony to spew that crap, if not you are getting screwed.

For starters, not everyone that owned a 360 bought an X1. Here's news, some bought PS4's! Also some that owned PS3's bought X1's! Wow what a concept, they don't immediately just follow a brand!

Also, this generation like the last one MS front loads their new system with games and support while Sony tends to be dry and supports it heavily in the end. Remember the PS3? There were songs published about how little there was to play on it. Look at this Christmas, LBP? Seriously? That was their holiday. So stuff your nonsense about people being sheep and buying a name and rethink your support as you have zero idea what you are talking about.

[CorndogBurglar]

It was all about being nice.

It was the time of year to bring joy to people.

They only cut the price to bring smiles to people's faces. They didn't care about the money. It was all about the holiday season. The season of good tidings.

I bet it warmed their X-Hearts to see so many people happy. Thats what its all about boys and girls. Smiles.

[DarXyde]

A bit left field, but I just looked around online for XBOX One's current pricing and, sure enough, it's back up in price (but still cheaper since Assassin's Creed Unity is bundled with it at $400).

I'm not sure why, but part of me wasn't expecting Microsoft to follow through and increase the price again.

[Gwiz]

This price-cut definitely was about sales while your direct competition has sold more units and the other competitor released great games.

[Predaking77]

The PS4 was the best selling console in 2014 in UK, Japan and US.

Wining 1 or 2 months, only on the US, while the PS4 outsold the xbone the whole year worldwide is not something I would call a "turn around".

http://www.mcvuk.com/news/r...

[BladerunnerZX]

Interesting.

I live in North Texas and today at my local Walmart there were 5 Xbox Ones and 1 PS4 in store.

[AstroCyborg]

its all about sales

[Bytor]

Xbox One took November in Us because they were giving them away Black Friday PS4 had decent priced bundles Black Friday but they weren't giving them away.I wonder how may took back their gifts back to get what they really wanted PS4.The PS4 might have taken December that's when they had the pick a game bundle you got to choose between 3 brand new games or one fairly new game instead of getting forced to play a broken game and a old game.Best buy probably sold a shit load they had a different free gifts every week with the bundles and the last day or two before Christmas they had the bundles for $349 plus a $70 head set free.and those bundles came with a $10 PSN code which wasn't listed on the box.