PlayStation 4 sales were given a thorough kicking by Xbox One in the U.K. last week, as the release of the Xbox One S sent sales of Microsoft’s current-generation console through the roof by a staggering 989 percent.
PS4 vs Xbox One – Microsoft turns up the heat in console war
For the week ended September 24, the Xbox One nabbed a massive 71 percent of the console market, all thanks to the launch of the slimmer, sexier version of the previously bulky machine. The ‘S’ version comes in two flavors: 500GB and 1TB.
Interestingly, PS4 sales have been pretty slow, MCV reports, with sales of Xbox One around 361 percent higher than Sony’s machine despite the launch of the Slim version of the console.
Microsoft is, understandably, feeling pretty chuffed with itself right now:
"It’s great to see how popular both the Xbox One S and the FIFA 17 Xbox One S consoles are with fans, not just over the last week but since the Xbox One S was released in August. 4K video streaming and 4K UHD Blu-ray have been extremely well received by gamers and critics and we believe there is no better value right now for those looking to upgrade their console,” said Xbox U.K.’s marketing boss, Harvey Eagle.
"It’s a fantastic time for gamers with the range of upcoming titles appealing to all audiences, from Gears of War 4 to Skyrim Special Edition and the release this week of the acclaimed Forza Horizon 3. There’s never been a better time to own an Xbox One."
Sony of course is gearing up for the release of the PS4 Pro on November 10, 2016, priced at $399/£349. The system features meatier innards than the original version of the console, and allows for 4K gaming and improved frame rates, though isn’t designed to kick start a new generation of hardware.
The PS4 Slim was released in mid-September following its announcement alongside the PS4 Pro during the PlayStation Meeting in New York City. Sony launched the original PS4 back in November 2013 and has sold over 40 million units worldwide to date, putting it comfortably ahead of the Xbox One in terms of global sales.