Microsoft announces Xbox has lost the console wars to Sony
There has been a huge competition going on between the big gaming companies over the past decades. Sony, Nintendo and Microsoft — the top three gaming companies in the industry — comprise the majority of gaming console sales.
This competition, which was declared the console wars, was dealing with the number of console sales between the three companies. This battle has been waged for decades, with multiple generations of consoles from each company being birthed in the competition.
Now, it seems Microsoft admitted their Xbox consoles have lost the war.
Console Wars Are Finally Over: Microsoft Waves The White Flag And Says Xbox Lost To Sony https://t.co/MHeSRngG0r pic.twitter.com/eEz3g7J5S2
— Barstool Sports (@barstoolsports) June 22, 2023
Xbox has trailed both PlayStation and Nintendo in sales over the past couple of years. In 2021, Xbox had a 16% share of gaming console sales. This is still a great amount of the gaming community and it by no means determines Xbox as inferior; however, there is likely one reason that Microsoft claims Xbox lost the console wars.
Microsoft is currently trying to buy the game developer Activision-Blizzard, the company which has made World of Warcraft, Overwatch and the iconic Call of Duty franchise.
This possible acquisition has worried gamers and other gaming companies because Microsoft could then make Activision-Blizzard games Xbox exclusives. If Call of Duty became an Xbox exclusive, it would give Xbox a huge advantage over other consoles because Call of Duty is an enormous franchise with a vast fan base.
Microsoft is likely admitting that they lost the console wars so the FTC doesn’t continue to fight Microsoft’s Activision-Blizzard acquisition in court.
Console Wars
The console wars were never really serious to gamers. Some gamers always buy Xbox consoles, some only buy PlayStation consoles and others buy both consoles.
However, there was never any real animosity or hatred towards the other side for it to be declared a “war.” This battle was more between the huge corporations competing to make the most money off gamers.
As of right now, the console wars are over and gamers can have a good laugh about the decades-long standoff.
Still, I have a feeling that, depending on the outcome of the Microsoft-FTC case, the competition may start again. All it takes is a new exclusive to release or God forbid when the next generation of consoles comes out, which is better Xbox or PlayStation will be in the headlines.
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