They say time flies when you’re having fun… I just can’t believe we’re already about halfway into the lifecycle of the PS4 and Xbox One. There are rumors about a PS4.5/Neo, although the fact that Uncharted 4 looks so gorgeous makes me wonder if instead of boosting output of the console they just need to train developers how to use the existing power. Still, it’s interesting to realize just how many people have a current generation console – that install base is already rather large, and estimated to just keep on growing.
During EA’s earning call, they discussed the install base, particularly in reference to potential customers for games like Titanfall 2, Battlefield 1 and Mass Effect: Andromeda. According to the publisher, Sony and Microsoft sold 55 million PS4 and Xbox One consoles through to consumers in 2015. That’s numbers sold through, not just sold in to retail. EA also estimates that an additional 25 million consoles will be in consumers’ homes by the end of 2016, bringing that total to 80 million.
I’m rather impressed by that number. Consoles aren’t cheap, and while consumers in general are used to dishing out cash for their tech and devices thanks to smart phones, tablets and other toys, it’s still a rather hefty investment for some people to make, especially if they aren’t hard core gamers. 80 million consoles by the end of the year? That’s a huge opportunity for a whole host of new games that are coming down the pipeline.
As for the console war split, back in January, Sony announced that they were at about 36 million PS4s sold through. So, of the 55 million units sold by 2015, 36 were PS4s, meaning that “only” 19 million Xbox Ones were sold through by the end of the year. That’s pretty much in line with the predictions and estimates we’ve heard thus far – Xbox One is selling incredibly well, but only grabbing about a third of the new generation console market. Oh, unless we try to include the Wii U in those numbers.
Last Updated: May 11, 2016
Pariah
May 11, 2016 at 11:34
Including the Wii U in those numbers is like including the fat kid in the Athletics team. You’re doing it because of social and political pressure, not because you want to.
HairyEwok
May 11, 2016 at 11:36
Either way, the Wii U will add some weight on those numbers.
Pariah
May 11, 2016 at 11:37
My word that’s brilliant. Holy hell.
LOL!!!!!
HairyEwok
May 11, 2016 at 11:34
One word….. Neo.
Pariah
May 11, 2016 at 11:34
*No
Admiral Chief in New York
May 11, 2016 at 11:35
PS4NO
Has a lekker ring to it
HairyEwok
May 11, 2016 at 11:35
Thanks for correcting my horrible error. For some reason my hands thought Neo when I wanted to say no.
Pariah
May 11, 2016 at 11:36
You are most welcome dear sir. I will be here to correct your thoughts any time of the day.
iusedtobe(a)regular
May 11, 2016 at 11:50
I’ll tel you where you can shove that red pill! 😉
HairyEwok
May 11, 2016 at 12:03
No senpai, anywhere but there!
Strawman Jim
May 11, 2016 at 11:45
lol that domination! #TitanFaill #EAgOnFace
Greylingad[He Charges!]
May 11, 2016 at 11:57
If that’s one person per console, that estimate would amount to 1.143 percent of the total population on the planet…
HairyEwok
May 11, 2016 at 11:59
Now if we deduct the populace of all the poverty stricken countries, that amounts to 74.883 percent.
Greylingad[He Charges!]
May 11, 2016 at 12:03
Well, strictly speaking our statistic is flawed, as we don’t account for many of the variables like the people that own two, or the guy with a leer jet parked in his driveway-airport on his front lawn that owns twenty seven and eight hundred of them, then it’d be 74.882 percent….
HairyEwok
May 11, 2016 at 12:07
I haven’t actually done the math. 74.882 was merely a number I just thought up to case that consoles aren’t cheap and not every person can afford them 😛
Greylingad[He Charges!]
May 11, 2016 at 12:09
Exactly!! we also forgot to exclude the countries that they’re not sold in, like…uhm.. not so sure I know where that is…
On that same point, have you seen what smartphones cost? 😛
HairyEwok
May 11, 2016 at 12:23
Antarctica is one country that pops into mind. Smartphones is so expensive but they lure you into getting one with the monthly contract, I think if you could buy a PS4/Xbone and pay it off monthly with the Play Store or Xbox Store MANY more people would have a console.
Greylingad[He Charges!]
May 11, 2016 at 12:44
You joke! Check FNB, Game, even Vodacom has a few on contract, Telkom, MTN… the option is there… what is shocking though is what they charge for insurance on those devices…
HairyEwok
May 11, 2016 at 12:46
Insurance and the interest rate! Oh Lord the interest rate…..
miaau
May 11, 2016 at 12:36
Install base or active usage base?
Also, as per @Greylingad:disqus , that does into perspective that we are pretty privileged. However, his stat just looks at total population, not at the subset that actually want this but cannot afford it or the subset that may want if they knew it existed.
We are privileged people!
Alien Emperor Trevor
May 11, 2016 at 14:09
Indeed. That’s why I get irritated when I heard people talking about how affordable R8k graphics cards are. That’s more than what half the people in this country earn in a month.