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Sony cuts price of PlayStation 4 as Xbox One still drags behind

GameSpot reports on the findings of video game market research firm NPD during the month of September. Although exact numbers aren’t available, the PlayStation 4 has continued to dominate the U.S. console market even as Microsoft has released hit titles including Forza Motorsport 6.
Both consoles exhibited double-digit growth between August and September as the market as a whole continues to grow. The current-generation Xbox One and PS4 are also selling much more strongly than their lower-priced predecessors, the Xbox 360 and PS3. The new consoles have combined sales 40 percent higher than the old ones when assessed over a 23 month period.
However, sales are down significantly compared with the same time last year. During September 2015, 8th and 7th generation consoles as well as handheld devices fell 23 percent compared with September 2014.
Sony is attempting to combat this by lowering the price of the PlayStation 4, a move it has already made in Japan and the U.S. It is expected to announce reductions in continental Europe and the UK tomorrow which could further bolster the PS4’s lead over the Xbox One.
This should come as no surprise to gamers as even Microsoft seems to have admitted defeat for this generation. Despite the Xbox One boasting more unique features than the PlayStation 4, its slow start ruined by confusion caused by Microsoft’s initial talk of aggressive DRM policies led to the Sony console being more popular right from the outset. Microsoft’s Phil Spencer, head of Xbox, recently admitted that the company doesn’t think it will be able to catch Sony this generation.
In a statement today, Microsoft’s corporate VP of marketing, Mike Nichols, remained positive and again emphasized the number of exclusive games set to be released on Xbox One this holiday. The company said: “Xbox One continued to see strong momentum on the heels of Forza Motorsport 6 and EA Sports FIFA 16, with solid year-over-year growth in console sales and strong engagement on Xbox Live. This holiday Xbox One owners will enjoy the greatest games line-up in the industry and in Xbox history, led by Halo 5: Guardians, Rise of the Tomb Raider, Fallout 4, Call of Duty: Black Ops III, Star Wars Battlefront, and the ability to play Xbox 360 games. Xbox One owners will have all this on the fastest most social Xbox experience ever and with advanced hardware such as the Xbox Elite Wireless Controller. Xbox fans and first-time console buyers can look forward to an epic holiday!”
Microsoft is clearly remaining optimistic but Sony’s statement appears more upbeat in comparison: “As we kick off the holiday season, we would like to take a moment to thank fans for making PlayStation 4 the best-selling console and #1 in software sales in September. PlayStation 4 was the number one console for NBA 2K16, Madden NFL 16, Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain, and FIFA 16. Including the highly successful limited edition console bundle, PS4 also led retail sales for Destiny: The Taken King.”
Sony’s PlayStation 4 went on sale on November 15th 2013, one week before Microsoft’s Xbox One. Both consoles are powered by processors manufactured by AMD but use customised configurations optimised for their specific platforms. Microsoft initially bundled a Kinect motion-tracking sensor with every Xbox One sold but subsequently made it optional and lowered the price of the core console as it became apparent that most players did not frequently use Kinect.
The holiday season could give Microsoft the chance it needs to get a new foothold in the market. With an all-new interface rolling out to all users next month and a healthy line-up of popular games coming in time for December, the Xbox One seems to have more unique and new things to offer than the PlayStation 4. Despite this, it is the Sony device that continues to dominate the charts, helped by recent price cuts and Microsoft’s initial DRM debacle that caused many fans to turn away from the brand.

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