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CNBC — Can The Sony PlayStation Remain The Top-Selling Gaming Console?
- Thread starter Thick Thighs Save Lives
- Start date
MISTER INVEIGLER
Member
Yeah, I really like both Sony and Nintendo. N64 is one my favorite consoles of all time. It's up there with the SNES imo.
Dr.brain64
Member
Another gen, another win for sony. 
solidus12
Member
Xbox is the market leader
ZiggyPop1991
Member
Not taking from Nintendo at all. I’m sure SONY will do the same if they ever have to. But Nintendo’s biggest caveat in my opinion with the switch. Was combining their resources for their handheld and home console output. You can see the struggle the big 2 are having with production cost. With Nintendo’s great software output being thrown at one console. Them only needing to market one console. Then successfully doing a hybrid. They set theirselves up for success.
We can argue for days if the switch is a handheld or home console. But the truth is it got the pc companies looking to capitalize on that market with the handhelds we’ve seen come after. The pandemic also helped in Nintendos favor and they ran with it. I honestly think Sony needs to scale back their games with these high production costs and throw in those random titles that do or can take off. LBP, Astro Bots, Helldivers, etc. We need more games that are just fun. Especially since they to at soon to rely on subscriptions.
I think these companies know they’re hitting a plateau to how much people are willing to spend to just have fun. We might be loud on this forum. But truth be told the highest selling games are the same iterations of established franchises. Not the pretty graphics and stuff. As for Microsoft. Just get your developer in line and knock out game after game and put it on all the systems and reap the rewards. Especially with game pass.
Aenima
Member
PleazureDome
Member
The only thing Xbox is 'Leading' is their business off a cliff.
Get your ass and your head wired together soldier and come in for the big win.
TropicanaTwista
Member
This is what I don't understand from a majority of posts on here. Nintendo consoles sales have fallen off a cliff since Sony joined the industry. Their handhelds have done well and they have beaten Sony in that market but their consoles have sold like shit. The Wii is the only real success story and that was due to the gimmick and super cheap price point. I mean the Wii only sold about 20 mil more than sonys WEAKEST console in the PS3 since they joined the industry. If the next Nintendo system is a straight up home console (it won't be), no doubt in my mind it will bomb, as all of their other consoles pretty much have the past 30ish years.
To Nintendo's credit they have pivoted and killed in a different market and leverage their IP really well.
ChorizoPicozo
Member
the fact that these mainstream/business centric outlets are making these articles tells you that is pseudo officially over.
this timeline really is fast and furious.
this timeline really is fast and furious.
thicc_girls_are_teh_best
Member
Good questions worth considering, but better to ask if PlayStation beat Nintendo. Sony as a whole isn't competing with Nintendo, just SIE, and in less direct a way they do with Xbox.
FWIW, SIE did push Nintendo out of traditional home console space they dominated with the Famicom/NES and Super Famicom/SNES. But I think people are seriously underestimating Switch 2 in terms of what 3P support it'll get, and certain 3P exclusives that have been easy for SIE to get for PS vs. Xbox, could get a lot harder to make with a competent Switch 2 around.
But we'll see how that all shakes out.
Let's hope that includes a good number of AA games & traditional games, and genuine exclusives for the console.
In comparison to SIE, yeah, that might be a fair assessment. Bringing budgets under control and maximizing the value of their tentpole IPs (the current PC strategy porting them at the frequency & timing of current is arguably devaluing them, IMHO) are big priorities for SIE.
Yep, plus amortizing the costs of Bungie over multiple fiscal quarters.
I think you're underestimating what pull Switch 2 will have with 3P. If the upscaling is on-point and the base performance good enough, if it can replicate roughly Series S levels of performance when docked or even in handheld mode (via upscaling tech), Nintendo will be getting a lot more 3P support from Day 1 than the Switch did. The Switch came after the disaster of Wii U, so it had to re-establish a lot of trust. Switch 2 won't have to go through those steps since the Switch has proven its market viability so well.
Some of the 3P exclusives Sony have managed so far, are probably going to be a lot harder to get once Switch 2 launches and builds up its install base. Those sales splits are going to be a lot more competitive between PlayStation 5 and Switch 2 for a lot of 3P games going forward too, especially if Switch 2's install base builds very quickly. You bring up Hogwarts Legacy, yet the Switch version has been decimating the Xbox version in UK charts for months now, since the Switch port released, actually.
As for Nintendo conceding the traditional home console market, well I would say Sony were significantly more instrumental in that than Microsoft. The PS2 mangled Gamecube so badly that Nintendo basically remade the whole system and repackaged it as the Wii, which specifically avoided competition with 360 but, specifically, the PS3. PS4 and, I'd even say, the failure of PS Vita, probably alerted Nintendo to the growing difficulty with making unique software for both a home console and portable, and that by focusing on one rather than both they could address growing costs and maximize operations.
But instead of just abandoning handhelds outright like Sony did, Nintendo merged that and home console into a single product. That's a big reason how they were able to assert so much dominance in markets like Japan, for example. Xbox had no portable + home console strategy at the time that could've been gauged by Nintendo for what to do with Switch, the way Sony did with PS3 + PSP, then PS4 + PS Vita.
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Killjoy-NL
Gold Member
ShadyAcshuns
Member
Pretty sure Wii beat the pants off PS3 and DS destroyed PSP, oh and 3DS ate Vita's lunch every day.
Kataploom
Gold Member
What year is it? .gif
Gaiff
SBI’s Resident Gaslighter
But Nintendo still makes more profits and has 1st-party sales that make Sony's top-sellers look like a bunch of indie games.
That they hopped out of the graphics arms race before inevitably crashing like Sony is about to might have been more foresight rather than an admission of defeat. Now, Sony are the ones producing games costing $200M+ with no end in sight. They even need to port them to PC to recoup their investments and effectively cannot turn back because it's their niche and they're the best at it.
Sony definitely beat Nintendo with the PS1 and PS2. Nintendo got smart with the Wii, bombed with the Wii U but came back stronger than ever with the Switch. Nintendo is in a better position now than they were with the DS and Wii.
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Killjoy-NL
Gold Member
The Wii was also the least-used console and WiiU showed that the Wii was a lucky strike because of the motion-controller fad.
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ShadyAcshuns
Member
Oh yeah, and the Switch laps PS5 regularly as well. But as others have said, Sony has beaten Nintendo plenty of times as well so it's a very healthy rivalry.
Damigos
Member
Nintendo may be in a safer position, but i personally consider playstation as the winner due to the fact that it covers everyone. Handhelds (ahem), VR, cutting edge tech, strong IPs, exclusives, controller, price (compared to pc ofc) etc.
I am on PS since 1995 and except for a couple of years with PS3 i wasnt dissappointed.
MS is in the worst position because they lack vision and dont have the ability to produce >90 exclusives. Also its irrelevant to have an xbox if you own a PC
I am on PS since 1995 and except for a couple of years with PS3 i wasnt dissappointed.
MS is in the worst position because they lack vision and dont have the ability to produce >90 exclusives. Also its irrelevant to have an xbox if you own a PC
Gaiff
SBI’s Resident Gaslighter
Nintendo has been in the business since the late 70s. What are you talking about with their core audience of children growing up? You think 120M+ units sold are just children?
Kataploom
Gold Member
This is a failed argument and makes absolutely no sense to use for the switch.
Back then, Nintendo DS and Wii had two completely different libraries, you could see houses having several very very cheap Nintendo DS due to how cheap they were.
Right now there's basically no reason to have multiple switches for a single person since Lite and normal have same library, but houses can have multiple switches anyway for different people which is way bigger profit margin then Wii and DS combined.
It's simply a too different scenario and in terms of sales, switch is more sustained and brings more money to them. They lost nothing, but the opposite.
S0ULZB0URNE
Member
Caused them to use gimmicks each generation instead of traditional consoles.Sony beat Nintendo?
jm89
Member
I don't kniow about software sales between wii and ps3.
But hardware sales atleast it wasn't a huge diffrence.
Wii ended on around 101 million, ps3 ended on around 87 million units.
On the non handheld front Sony stomped nintendo most generations, even the weakest sony gen wasn't a big diffrence between nintendo or sony. Reverse was true for handhelds.
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Lions Gate
Member
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ManaByte
Banned
Nintendo is the richest company in Japan and they're about to beat the PS2's lifetime sales. So who gives a shit?
Deerock71
Member
It's more fun to watch a puncher than a boxer, so Nintendo's more fun to watch than Sony; it's true Sony scores more points, but Nintendo can knock you out with one punch.
Cyber_hunter026
Member
Suspected there would be Chad warden references, was not left disappointed.
Stay ballin gaf
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tmlDan
Member
its always easier to reduce costs than to gain revenue. Nintendo is significantly lower than PS in overall revenue.
I get their profits being high, but how will they gain more revenue? thats much harder to do than cut costs, lay off people, and be more cost efficient.
S0ULZB0URNE
Member
You do with this off point reply.
Doesn't change what I said.
PS2 is a console.
Sony caused them to stop making traditional consoles.
Switch isn't a traditional console.
It is a hybrid(gimmick)and generations weaker(uses a mobile chipset)
Nintendo knows not to reenter the traditional console market.
Killjoy-NL
Gold Member
Honestly, both Sony and Nintendo are punchers and boxers.
Sure, but on the other hand, Playstation is carrying the console-industry hard right now.
We also shouldn't ignore the fact that the success of Switch is due to it being a hybrid and Nintendo managing to lump their handheld and console installbases together.
But I agree, both will provide healthy competition, which I think is good for the console-space in general.
ManaByte
Banned
Nintendo owns the gaming industry in Japan. They’re doing something right.
ChorizoPicozo
Member
Wii was an anomaly
Syphon Filter
Member
Nintendo is dominating Sony and Microsoft actually.
Clear
CliffyB's Cock Holster
I've got to disagree with that on the basis that the Nintendo and Playstation both give the other a bit of market-space to exploit. They don't go after each other too hard, or at least certainly not in the same way that Xbox was always kinda pitched as a like-for-like alternative to Playstation.
Nintendo have a very specific and clearly defined market identity. Their stuff looks, feels and is perceived differently. For lack of a better analogy they are very much like golden-age Disney, they inhabit the same market generally but play by their own rules. In my view were they to try and aggressively expand the way modern day Disney has, i think they'd meet the same fate. An initial bloom of success that is followed by a catastrophic loss of identity and brand prestige.
tmlDan
Member
How so? I really don't get this logic unless you only focus on static games and console (they're pretty equal in console sales) sales numbers. You have to look at Revenue, business acumen, and future proofing.
PS has cloud, a sub service, way more revenue, way more options to expand than Nintendo.
Gaiff
SBI’s Resident Gaslighter
Sony are the ones fiddling around trying to figure out way to reduce costs and increase profit margins, not Nintendo who aren’t even considering porting their games to PC.
tmlDan
Member
thats what i said, what are you even saying?
jm89
Member
Well that's the current state yes, even nintendo went though multiple points were they were figuring things out.
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Deerock71
Member
I actually have to tip my cap to Sony. They've hung in the ring with Nintendo much longer than I ever anticipated.
Gaiff
SBI’s Resident Gaslighter
You asked how Nintendo would gain more revenues, didn’t you? That’s something Sony is worrying about and not even revenues since they get plenty but off the back of $200M+ games.
darrylgorn
Member
StreetsofBeige
Gold Member
Nintendo is in much better financial shape with zero debt. They make more profit and and margin too than Sony's gaming division. Wii beat PS3, and Switch beat out PS4, will beat out PS2 soon, and will beat PS5 too.
Investors feel the same. Nintendo market cap is $65B and all they do is games. Sony as an entire company is $107B.
Investors feel the same. Nintendo market cap is $65B and all they do is games. Sony as an entire company is $107B.
Woopah
Member
As I've said in a previous thread, they are strong in different areas.
Sony wins in revenue, third party sales, subscriptions, and overall in Europe.
Nintendo wins in profit, first party sales, hardware and overall in Asia.
We should also take into account that the two companies report third party digital sales in different ways, and Sony's revenue would be noticeably lower if they switched to the Nintendo way (their overall revenue would still be way higher though).
Sony wins in revenue, third party sales, subscriptions, and overall in Europe.
Nintendo wins in profit, first party sales, hardware and overall in Asia.
Easiest way for Nintendo to gain more revenue is release the Switch 2.
We should also take into account that the two companies report third party digital sales in different ways, and Sony's revenue would be noticeably lower if they switched to the Nintendo way (their overall revenue would still be way higher though).
Bumblebeetuna
Member
It’s easy to tell who is in the best spot.
Microsoft would switch Xbox’s place in the world with either PlayStation or Nintendo in a heartbeat.
Sony would not switch with Xbox but would love to switch with Nintendo.
Nintendo would not switch with either.
You can’t say someone “beat” the other when the market is always changing and new hardware is always coming out.
Microsoft would switch Xbox’s place in the world with either PlayStation or Nintendo in a heartbeat.
Sony would not switch with Xbox but would love to switch with Nintendo.
Nintendo would not switch with either.
You can’t say someone “beat” the other when the market is always changing and new hardware is always coming out.
LordOcidax
Member
Lol. Sony damage control at full force engage. It was an error to include Nintendo there.
S0ULZB0URNE
Member
Nah just there hardware.
If they hurry up they still have a chance to be successful as a 3rd party.
Makes me laughs when clueless people says Sony caused Nintendo to steer away from traditional console.
Nintendo is a trend-setter by vocation, in fact their unique hardware/software integration is cited left and right when Nintendo explains why they are so successful.
Their business thrives by introducing novel concepts that differ from the past.
When Nintendo imposed the d-pad with the introduction of the Famicom/NES what was perceived as the tradition was the crappy joysticks from Atari and others console makers of the time before.
Detractors use the term 'tradition' thinking to belittle Nintendo when Nintendo couldn't care less about previously set standards (instead Nintendo very much cares about 'legacy').
Nintendo is a trend-setter by vocation, in fact their unique hardware/software integration is cited left and right when Nintendo explains why they are so successful.
Their business thrives by introducing novel concepts that differ from the past.
When Nintendo imposed the d-pad with the introduction of the Famicom/NES what was perceived as the tradition was the crappy joysticks from Atari and others console makers of the time before.
Detractors use the term 'tradition' thinking to belittle Nintendo when Nintendo couldn't care less about previously set standards (instead Nintendo very much cares about 'legacy').
And yet Nintendo outprofiting PlayStation (SIE/SCE) is a constant through decades (with a couple exceptions) and not a spotty occurrence.
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tmlDan
Member
But that's also something Nintendo has to worry about, they are also trying to grow and yet they're still significantly behind playstation. As i said, its easier to cut costs than gain revenue.
