Home Gaming Can Microsoft stop the PlayStation 4 train?

Can Microsoft stop the PlayStation 4 train?

2 min read
86

CHOO CHOO!

May’s NPD stats are out, giving us a wee bit of insight in to the retail sales of games and hardware within the United States. As is usual, the NPD doesn’t cover digital sales or second-hand, so only paints a small part of the picture – but it certainly looks as if the videogame industry’s health is getting better, and much of that renewed vigour is because of the PlayStation 4. 

Sony’s PlayStation 4 was the best-selling console in North America for the month of May. That’s the fifth straight month that the system has been at the top of the charts, and it’s responsible for most video game sales too.

It’s unusual, as May is usually a bit of a dead month when it comes to videogames. Usually games are released only in the holiday periods. This year, thanks to a number of high profile delays from last year, we have releases spread through the whole year, and it shows. In the month of May, we have year-on-year sales climbing 52% to reach $586 million.

Hardware and software sales are up by 95% and 57% year-on-year, explained away by the new consoles from Microsoft and Sony; and big releases on both systems have done wonders for software sales.

The PlayStation 4 has come out on top, but it’s not Microsoft’s competing Xbox One that’s taking second place. Nor is it Nintendo’s Wii U, which has benefited from Mario Kart 8’s release. Instead, the second best selling hardware is Nintendo’s 3DS.

Speaking off Mario Kart though; it’s the single best selling platform exclusive for May, coming up second only to Watch Dogs in software sales. That’s rather impressive, as Watch Dogs was released on five platforms.

Here’s a full look at the software sales:

May 2014 Software top ten

  1. Watch Dogs – Ubisoft (PC, PS3, PS4, Xbox 360, Xbox One)
  2. Mario Kart – Nintendo (Wii U)
  3. MLB 14: The Show (PS3, PS4, Vita)
  4. Wolfenstein: The New Order – Bethesda (PC, PS3, PS4, Xbox 360, Xbox One)
  5. Minecraft – Microsoft/Sony (PS3, Xbox 360)
  6. The Amazing Spider-Man 2 (3DS, PS3, PS4, Wii U, Xbox 360, Xbox One)
  7. NBA 2K14 – 2K (PC, PS3, PS4, Xbox 360, Xbox One)
  8. Titanfall – EA(PC, Xbox 360, Xbox One)
  9. Kirby Triple Deluxe – Nintendo (3DS)
  10. Call of Duty: Ghosts (PC, PS3, PS4, Wii U, Xbox 360, Xbox One)

Interesting to see Call of Duty’s slide to tenth, which is unusual for May. This could be because actual games have been released, and less of a stain on this particular release and it’s perceived lack of quality. Maybe.

PlayStation 4 is still king, but we do expect this to change a bit in June. For one, the Kinect-free Xbox One is available, and coupled with a relatively successful E3 showing, Microsoft may have convinced quite a few pundits to go green. Likewise with Nintendo’s Wii U; its own E3 and continued long-tail success of Mario Kart 8 mean the system is likely to become more of a contender going forward.

Can either system put enough of a dent in PlayStation 4 sales to wrest away the crown from Sony? We’ll have to see.

Last Updated: June 18, 2014

86 Comments

  1. Alien Emperor Trevor

    June 18, 2014 at 10:35

    I’m surprised Titanfall is there. It’s pretty much dropped off the radar.

    Reply

    • Hammersteyn

      June 18, 2014 at 10:36

      I’m even more surprised by The Amazing Spider-Man 2but the again, it’s America.

      Reply

      • Alien Emperor Trevor

        June 18, 2014 at 10:40

        Only reason for MLB & NBA being there too.

        Reply

      • MakeItLegal

        June 18, 2014 at 10:45

        lol

        Reply

      • Rince&exhale

        June 18, 2014 at 11:05

        Merica!

        Reply

    • Jim Lenoir (Banana Jim)

      June 18, 2014 at 11:19

      Titanfall took a nose dive. Not surprised really, it was overhyped and dismally undercooked. I will say though, the gameplay is amazing, but there’s just not much in the package. It really needed more modes, and as it stands, I can’t justify paying R700 for it.

      Reply

  2. Monado

    June 18, 2014 at 10:35

    Spider-Man 2……………

    Reply

    • Hammersteyn

      June 18, 2014 at 10:36

      LOL just as I said. No accounting for taste when it comes to the Yanks I guess.

      Reply

      • Brenz

        June 18, 2014 at 10:37

        At least they got their console right this time.

        Reply

        • Hammersteyn

          June 18, 2014 at 10:45

          Now they can at least buy XBOX without Kinect, another reason for them not to exercise

          Reply

          • Brenz

            June 18, 2014 at 10:47

            the lord knows they dont need any more reasons

      • Monado

        June 18, 2014 at 10:40

        Spider-Man 2 and NBA….’MURICA

        Reply

        • Hammersteyn

          June 18, 2014 at 10:44

          LOL and MLB

          Reply

  3. Brenz

    June 18, 2014 at 10:37

    Very surprising, Xbox always used to own North America hands down no contest.
    Come over to the dark side……

    Reply

    • Pieter Kruger

      June 18, 2014 at 10:47

      MS IS the dark side you rebel scum!!!! ????
      Also….

      Reply

      • Brenz

        June 18, 2014 at 10:47

        There you are!
        I knew a little bit of MS bashing would get your attention.

        Reply

        • CAE9872

          June 18, 2014 at 11:16

          That’s mean…

          Reply

          • Brenz

            June 18, 2014 at 11:18

            awww

          • CAE9872

            June 18, 2014 at 11:24

            😉

          • Brenz

            June 18, 2014 at 11:26

            Myself and Pieter have an understanding, we agree to disagree on everything.

          • Rince&exhale

            June 18, 2014 at 11:35

            Hey, get in line. I was there way before you :p

          • Brenz

            June 18, 2014 at 11:37

            Im afraid we are going to have to agree to disagree on that 😉

          • Rince&exhale

            June 18, 2014 at 11:44

            I don’t agree do!

          • Jonah Cash

            June 18, 2014 at 11:37

            I think poor Pieter must be wondering where he went wrong, and goes into his living room and sees the boner and starts crying uncontrollably as he realises the huge mistake that he made!! Shame man I feel for him, blind loyalty is a difficult thing to overcome…..

          • Brenz

            June 18, 2014 at 11:39

            its never too late to repent, he should cut his losses, sell the glorified cable box, buy the actual gaming console, and join the rest of us in jolly co-operation!

          • Alien Emperor Trevor

            June 18, 2014 at 11:40

            I don’t think he does that. Kinect is always watching… judging…

          • Jim Lenoir (Banana Jim)

            June 18, 2014 at 11:42

            I can identify, I owned a gamecube.

            There’s nothing worse than owning kit that the rest of the world just can’t or won’t respect. That or Pieter rubs himself with the boner and couldn’t give a damn about all you dirty peasants.

            “Ohhhh.. Xbawks… you’re so… hard”

        • Jim Lenoir (Banana Jim)

          June 18, 2014 at 11:20

          Comeon guys, stop picking on Tiny Major Nelson.

          Reply

          • Rince&exhale

            June 18, 2014 at 11:35

            Mini Major Nelson 🙂

          • Jim Lenoir (Banana Jim)

            June 18, 2014 at 11:35

            Mini Nelson!

  4. Dutch Matrix

    June 18, 2014 at 10:40

    Dear Nintendo:
    Now imagine the Gazzillions of dollars you could have made if you released Mario Kart on Xbox and PS.
    Love,
    Dutch

    Reply

    • Jim Lenoir (Banana Jim)

      June 18, 2014 at 11:29

      Dear Dutch

      NEVA!

      Love
      Nintendo 😛

      Reply

  5. oVg FX

    June 18, 2014 at 10:40

    The Last of US remastered is out July 29th. Another great month.

    Reply

    • Hammersteyn

      June 18, 2014 at 10:44

      hahaha FX!

      Reply

    • Hammersteyn

      June 18, 2014 at 10:44

      Have you played TLOU?

      Reply

      • oVg FX

        June 18, 2014 at 10:46

        Never owned a PS3 🙁

        Reply

        • Hammersteyn

          June 18, 2014 at 10:47

          Nows the time. Preorder!

          Reply

          • oVg FX

            June 18, 2014 at 10:48

            Done in two shakes of a puppy dogs tail.

        • Tauriq Moosa

          June 18, 2014 at 12:43

          WANT TO BE IN YOUR POSITION SO MUCH RIGHT NOW GODDAMIT.

          Reply

          • oVg FX

            June 18, 2014 at 13:26

            I will have to take leave and lock myself away to saver the moment 🙂

    • Rince&exhale

      June 18, 2014 at 11:10

      Not for your wallet 😉

      Reply

      • oVg FX

        June 18, 2014 at 11:25

        The benefits of not reproducing 😛

        Reply

  6. oVg FX

    June 18, 2014 at 10:44

    Is The Walking Dead Game Of the Year Edition worth getting?

    Reply

    • Monado

      June 18, 2014 at 10:45

      Yes. Million times yes

      Reply

      • oVg FX

        June 18, 2014 at 10:46

        sweet, pre-order coming up.

        Reply

    • CAE9872

      June 18, 2014 at 10:48

      Oh hell YES – it is NOT your typical game though. So if you looking for shooty-shooty bang-bang you will be disappointed.

      If you love a great story you can influence to some degree it is very good. I personally loved the game! And I love shooting and racing and platforming and…

      Reply

    • Jim Lenoir (Banana Jim)

      June 18, 2014 at 11:20

      Yes!

      Reply

  7. Ryanza

    June 18, 2014 at 10:50

    Microsoft has no chance in stopping the PS4 train.

    When Sony released the PS3 they were so cocky and lost the focus on us the gamers. But slowly and surely Sony creep back with exclusive games to balance itself out against the Xbox 360.

    Xbox One is not for all gamers. Microsoft made a console for half of it’s Xbox 360 numbers. So that’s about 40 million Xbox Live users. So if this generation is only going to last 5 years, good luck Microsoft, I do not feel sorry for you. Fuck your DRM agenda.

    Anybody can not pick up an Xbox One and play games on it. So can Microsoft win back gamers with lots of exclusive games? lol.

    PS4 is for anybody and the numbers show it.

    Don’t support DRM

    Reply

    • Sk3tz0

      June 18, 2014 at 11:17

      RyanZa.. can u stop it with the Dont Support DRM.. U been beating and whipping that dead horse now in every one of your comments.. we get it. you dont like DRM. get over it FFS.

      Reply

      • Ryanza

        June 18, 2014 at 11:18

        Don’t DRM my comments

        Reply

      • oVg FX

        June 18, 2014 at 11:20

        I can see why he does it because humans forget very quickly and will allow themselves to be boiled slowly by the plans of greedy marketing execs.
        Just look at what became of on-disc DLC, it became the norm because not enough people boycotted CAPCOM.

        Reply

  8. veggiesaurus ZA

    June 18, 2014 at 10:52

    Glad MK8 is there… it deserves it!

    Reply

    • Hammersteyn

      June 18, 2014 at 10:56

      Agreed, Nintendo is immortal!

      Reply

    • J_Joestar

      June 18, 2014 at 20:38

      and with only roughly 2 day of sales too.

      Reply

  9. Ryanza

    June 18, 2014 at 10:53

    Just to add why the PS4 is doing so well.
    Hear him say, focused on what gamers want.

    I guess that’s a good thing!!!

    Reply

    • Ryanza

      June 18, 2014 at 10:54

      • Hammersteyn

        June 18, 2014 at 10:57

        Never ever gets old

        Reply

      • Ryanza

        June 18, 2014 at 11:14

        We have a product for people who ain’t able to get some form of connectivity it’s called PS4. If you have zero access to the internet that is an offline device.

        Xbox One still needs an initial form of connectivity to the internet before you can play games.

        Still wondering why Xbox One is doing so badly…

        Reply

        • oVg FX

          June 18, 2014 at 11:17

          Ohhhhh I forgot about this marketing blunder lol

          Reply

          • Rince&exhale

            June 18, 2014 at 11:22

            Well let’s be fair. There are so many it’s difficult to pin down which one we are talking about…

        • Jim Lenoir (Banana Jim)

          June 18, 2014 at 11:22

          I think that single-handedly killed off the boner. That and Sony’s brilliant response video about sharing games.

          Reply

    • oVg FX

      June 18, 2014 at 10:56

      To make things worse, the PS4 reveal was out before the XBOX Infinity. Yet Microsoft still did not change a darn thing except tell us all to DEAL WITH IT.
      Very arrogant AKA GET TWO JOBS style.

      Reply

  10. Martin du preez (D4RKL1NGza)

    June 18, 2014 at 10:56

    By gamers FOR gamers,the SONY way.

    Reply

  11. Martin du preez (D4RKL1NGza)

    June 18, 2014 at 10:58

    • Jim Lenoir (Banana Jim)

      June 18, 2014 at 11:23

      Agent Phil!!!

      Reply

    • Brian Murphy

      June 19, 2014 at 23:04

      Noone fucks with De Hirai!

      Reply

  12. CAE9872

    June 18, 2014 at 11:05

    I just hope that Sony don’t go back to old ways and get arrogant themselves. I really hope they learned from the PS3 launch. So far so good…

    Reply

    • Jim Lenoir (Banana Jim)

      June 18, 2014 at 11:27

      You and I both know that Arrogant Sony will be back. But that’s good, it means Samsung will stand a chance to take the ball from Microsoft and become a player in the gaming arena.

      Samsung Pleasurecast vs PS5 vs Nintendo-Capcom UiuUuIU (FIGHT!!!)

      Reply

  13. Rince&exhale

    June 18, 2014 at 11:10

    Very interesting figures.

    Reply

  14. Jim Lenoir (Banana Jim)

    June 18, 2014 at 11:18

    Yes, Don Mattrick’s jacket will stop this train!

    Yes, TV will stop this train!

    Yes… Forza will stop this train…

    Yes…. Kinect will stop this train…

    Yes, Titanfall will stop this train…

    Yes, Phil Spencer will stop this train!

    Yes, A lack of Kinect will stop this train!

    Yes… Sunset Overdrive will stop this train.

    Yes… Halo will stop this train

    Yes… Gears of War will stop this train

    Reply

    • Martin du preez (D4RKL1NGza)

      June 18, 2014 at 11:35

      Back to the drawing board!

      Reply

      • Jim Lenoir (Banana Jim)

        June 18, 2014 at 11:44

        How to make delusional statements
        Tier 2 countries will win the war! Sales in South Africa will help MS to victory

        Reply

      • Guest

        June 19, 2014 at 22:59

        You need the updated chalkboard.

        Reply

  15. Sk3tz0

    June 18, 2014 at 11:19

    Only thing that can Stop a train is Metro Rail. they brilliant at making a train not move a fucking inch when u late for work or on your way home.

    Reply

    • Jim Lenoir (Banana Jim)

      June 18, 2014 at 11:19

      Metro Rail will definitely stop the Playstation 4 train! Especially on a Monday!!!

      Reply

      • Sk3tz0

        June 18, 2014 at 11:25

        And Sundays and Public Holidays..

        Reply

  16. Jim Lenoir (Banana Jim)

    June 18, 2014 at 11:25

    Apparently, the Wii U is believed to be a contender for second place, with analysts believing it will outsell the boner in June and July.

    Reply

    • Sk3tz0

      June 18, 2014 at 11:26

      Once the Wii U brings out POkemon MMO … that will be the end of the console wars..

      Reply

      • Jim Lenoir (Banana Jim)

        June 18, 2014 at 11:28

        Yep, the boner will be dead. And the Wii U will be the heir apparent. As it should be!

        Reply

    • oVg FX

      June 18, 2014 at 11:31

      If the Watch Dogs game runs at 1080p then the Boner is dead.

      Reply

  17. Jonah Cash

    June 18, 2014 at 11:31

    If MS loses in North America who was supposed to be their number 1 target market how badly are they doing in the rest of their release regions???? Shocking stats that!! It would be akin to being the home team and getting your ass handed to you every month, that must suck!!!

    Reply

    • Guest

      June 19, 2014 at 23:01

      PS4 8+ million, Xbox about 4.5 million right now. So PS4 has a ~3.5 million lead.

      Reply

  18. Jim Lenoir (Banana Jim)

    June 18, 2014 at 11:45

    The xboner hasn’t reached its final form yet!

    Reply

    • oVg FX

      June 18, 2014 at 12:08

      Nor has the PS4 😛

      Reply

  19. Brian Murphy

    June 18, 2014 at 15:10

    In the US, the One has a punchers chance for June. WW they have no chance.

    Reply

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