- On Reddit, a commenter going by the username "wikiTheKid" has written an extensive comparison of both the Xbox Series X (XSX) and the PS5. The person has written that the PS5 has fewer Compute Units (CUs) but higher maximum frequency compared to the XSX. This will lead to higher accelerated ray tracing, higher resolution, and higher framerates generated by the XSX compared to the PS5. However, the Solid-state Drive (SSD) of PS5 is faster than the XSX and also PS5 is offering more custom memory solutions and custom memory hardware than the XSX.
- On Quora, the gamer Aaron Stormcastle has recommended going for the Xbox Series X owing to the machine featuring a more powerful GPU than the PS5. However, he has also written that he expects the PS5 to be cheaper than the XSX.
- On both Quora and Reddit, multiple gamers have commented that the XSX has better specifications, higher storage, and a more powerful system compared to the PS5. The below infographic gives a breakdown of the feature comparison of both the machines. On Quora, Liam Allison has looked at the previous Xbox vs Playstation generations to estimate which among XSX or PS5 will be better in terms of performance. He has commented that PS2 was better than Xbox, Xbox 360 was better than PS3, and PS4 was better than Xbox One. If the same trend continues, XSX will be better than PS5.
- On Quora, commenters have sided with either XSX or PS5 depending on which games they like to play. While Sony have announced the games and exclusive games that will feature on PS5, Microsoft is yet to have a game launch event. Some of the exclusive games that will be available on the PS5 are Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales, Gran Turismo 7, Demon’s Souls, Ratchet and Clank: Rift Apart, and Horizon Forbidden West, among others. Some of the exclusive games that will be available on the Xbox Series X are Halo Infinite, Scorn, The Medium, Call Of The Sea, and The Ascent.
- As Quora user Tom Grennon stated, Microsoft has built up a hype for the future of Xbox by acquiring several game development studios like Double Fine Productions, Inc., Ninja Theory Limited, Obsidian Entertainment, Mojang Studios, and inXile Entertainment, 343 Industries, The Coalition, Rare Limited, and The Initiative, among others. From a personal level, he is excited to purchase the Xbox Series X because of the quality of games, not the hardware.
- Several gamers on Quora like Brandon McCauley, Patrick Stevenson, Jayden Taylor, and Tyler Glisson have also commented about the backward compatibility feature of both the consoles. Microsoft has stated clearly that the Xbox Series X will play every older game that played on the Xbox One and the Xbox 360. Since HDR support will be automatically added to the older games, they will look and play better on the Xbox Series X than they did on the older consoles. However, Sony has yet to make any significant announcement on the backward compatibility feature other than stating that an "overwhelming majority" of the PS4 games will play on the PS5. This has deterred some Playstation fans from purchasing the PS5.
Summary of the Above Findings
Based on the user comments on public opinion forums like Reddit and Quora, and articles and blogs from industry experts, it is clear that the Xbox Series X holds an edge over the Playstation 5 console due to its superior features, higher storage capacity, historical trend, wide variety of games from several studios, and its clear backward compatibility feature. Other than existing users and die-hard fans of Playstation, newer gamers and Xbox fans will most likely purchase the Xbox Series X if the price of both the consoles are similar.
- In February 2020, Ed Boon, the creative director of the video game Mortal Kombat 11, conducted an informal Twitter survey in which he asked his followers to name the features of the next generation video game consoles (like the Xbox Series X and the Playstation 5) that most appeal to them. More than 50,000 followers of Ed Boon and hardcore gamers participated in the survey. 37.5% of the respondents stated that affordable price is the most important aspect. The ability to play last generation games (30%), better graphics (19.2%), and exclusive games (13.2%) were the other important aspects.
- More than 30 million units of the Playstation 4 have sold in the US since its launch, accounting for 30% of the total worldwide sales of the console.
Overview of Video Game Players in the US
- According to the 2018 Gamer Segmentation Report, a study of US video gamers by EEDAR, an NPD Group company, 211.2 million people in the US aged 2 and above (or 67% of the US population) play video games.
- 59% of the gamers play games on one or more platforms like mobile phones, PC, and console, while 41% play on only one platform.
- Mobile phones/smartphones are the most popular devices for gaming with 90% of US gamers playing on their mobile devices. 52% of the gamers play on desktop PCs/laptops, while 43% of gamers play on video game consoles.
- As per Statista, 21% of the US video game players in 2019 were aged under 18 years. 40% were in the age group 18-35 years, 18% in the age group 36-49 years, and 21% were aged 50 years and above.
- As per Statista, Nintendo Switch was the most popular video game console sold in the US in 2018 with 5.59 million units sold. PS4 (with 5.28 million units sold), Xbox One (4.31 million units), and Nintendo 3DS (1.52 million units) were the other top-selling gaming consoles in the US.
General Notes Regarding Console Ownership in the US
- From a statistical point of view, since 24% of the US population are children (18 years and below) and 72% of the population are adults, it can be considered that adults are the biggest purchasers of consoles in the US.
- However, video game consoles are not personal devices like laptops and smartphones. They are like TVs, which means that they can be used by all members of a household. Hence, there cannot be an exact figure for game console ownership since multiple people of a household can report to owning a console.
- It is interesting to note that whereas only 39% of US adults reported to having access to at least one video game console at home, 84% of US teens (13-17 years) reported the same.
- Hence, separate demographic studies for adults and teens have been presented below.
Demographic Study of Adult Game Console Owners in the US
- As per a 2018 study conducted by Pew Research, 39% American adults reported that they owned a video game console. Contrary to popular perception, 42% adult women overall stated that they owned a console, compared to 37% adult men overall.
- However, more young men than women in the US report to owning a console. As per the study by Pew Research, 68% of men in the age group 18-29 years reported that they owned a console, compared to 46% of women in the same age group.
- The console ownership percentages by age groups are as follows: 18-29 years (56% ownership), 30-49 years (55% ownership), 50-64 years (30% ownership), and 65+ years (8% ownership). Hence, there are more young owners of gaming consoles than older owners.
- What is certain is that adults belonging to lower income households are less likely to own a video game console compared to those belonging to higher income households. 33% of adults in households that earn <$30,000 per year own a console. This figure rises to 43% in households that earn between $30,000 and $49,999 per year, 50% in households whose annual earnings lie in the range $50,000-$74,999, and 54% in households that earn $75,000 and above annually.
- Classfication by race/ethnicity: 39% console owners identify themselves as non-Hispanic white, 43% as non-Hispanic black, and 45% as Hispanic.
- Classification by educational levels: 21% console owners have educational attainment of less then high school, 35% have completed high school, 54% have a college degree, and 37% have an advanced college degree.
Demographic Study of Teen Game Console Owners in the US
- Classification by gender: Whereas 84% of the total US teens (in the age group 13-17 years) have access to a console at home, the ownership is divided between boys (92%) and girls (75%).
- Classification by age group: 13-14 years (86% ownership) and 15-17 years (82% ownership).
- Classification by household income levels: <$30,000 annually (85%), between $30,000 and $74,999 annually (82%), and $75,000 and above annually (84%).
- Classification by race/ethnicity: 87% teens identify themselves as non-Hispanic white, 78% as non-Hispanic black, and 81% as Hispanic.
- Classification by the educational level of their parents: The parents of 79% teens have educational attainment of high school or less, the parents of 90% teens went to some college, and the parents of 82% teens have graduated from college or have advanced degrees.
Console Ownership Statistics in Canada
- More than 23 million Canadians actively play video games, out of which 50% are males and 50% are females. The average age of gamers in Canada is 39 years. The average Canadian gamer spends at least 10 hours every week playing video games.
- As of 2018, 42% of all Canadian households own video game consoles. The ownership rates by province is as follows: British Columbia (35%), Alberta (52%), Saskatchewan (41%), Manitoba (41%), Ontario (43%), Quebec (42%), and Atlantic Canada (32%).
- Individually, 60% of all Canadians own at least one gaming console. However, only 26% of Canadian gamers report to playing mostly on consoles. Mobile devices are the most popular gaming platforms in Canada with 46% of Canadian gamers mostly playing on them.
- According to the Entertainment Software Association of Canada (ESAC), 64% of all Canadian males and 56% of all Canadian females own a console. However, 31% of all males and 20% of all females actively play games using consoles.
- In Canada, 31% of male Gen X gamers, 37% of male millennial gamers, 44% of male teen gamers, and 39% of male kid gamers mostly play on consoles.
- Other demographic statistics on console ownership in Canada can be found in this paywalled report (cost of report $4395) by Mintel.
Console Ownership Statistics in Australia
- 67% of all Australians play video games, out of which 54% are males and 46% are females. The average age of gamers in Australia is 34 years. 77% of all Australian gamers are adults (18 years and above).
- While PCs remain the most popular gaming platform in Australia with 82% Australian gamers playing games on PCs, 60% of Australian gamers play games using consoles.
- Almost 8 million Australians (or 39.4% of the total population) aged 14 and above own at least one video game console.
- Among the 8th generation consoles, 2.9 million Australians own a Playstation 4, 1.88 million Australians own a Xbox One, and 637,000 Australians own a Nintendo Wii.
- In 15% of all adult-only homes in which games are played, consoles are the primary devices. However, in 22% of all households that have children under the age of 18, consoles are the primary game-playing devices.
- In Australia, 28% of male gamers and 15% of female gamers play mostly on consoles.
Console Ownership Statistics in the UK
- 32.4 million people in the UK actively play video games, out of which 52% are males and 48% are females.
- The UK video games and console market was estimated to be a £1.17 billion industry in 2019. However, it was worth £1.26 billion in 2018.
- As of Q1 2020, 8.2 million households in the UK own at least one video game console.
- Sony Playstation remains the most popular console in the UK with 4.3 million homes owning at least one. 3.7 million homes own a Xbox console, while 1.7 million homes own a Nintendo Switch.
- Game consoles are the most popular gaming devices in the UK. 29% of all UK gamers play on consoles, 28% on PCs/laptops, 25% on smartphones, 19% on tablets, and 11% on handheld devices. Since multiple people play on multiple devices, the total is more than 100%.
- More than 50% of Gen Z and millennials in the UK own a game console.
- Almost 70% of game console owners in the UK consider upgrading to the next generation. 40% of all customers who consider upgrading will take action within six months of the new product launch. Performance is the key factor for these customers.