PS4, Xbox One will sell 100 million units each, research firm predicts

The PlayStation 4 and Xbox One are off to a wildly successful start which at least one research firm believes is indicative of the systems' future sales. In its upcoming report, DFC Intelligence expresses its belief that both the PS4 and Xbox One will hit the 100 million units sold mark, a feat that only one console from the last generation — the Wii — has accomplished so far. If the prediction holds true, it would be the first time two competing systems both reach that milestone.

In its report (via GamesIndustry International), DFC forecasts that both the PS4 and Xbox One will hit 100 million units sold by 2020. Of the two, DFC believes that "price and strength in Europe give the Playstation 4 a slight edge." And while the PS4 "could easily become [the] lead platform for Western and Japanese developer/publishers," DFC also feels there's still a "great deal of room for positioning by both companies."

DFC is said to have factored into its new forecast the probability of future price cuts and even the potential of competing systems launching. Amazon, in particular, has been heavily rumored of late to be working on its own Android-based gaming console. A gaming machine from Apple has also been rumored in the past. And, of course, we're all familiar with the newly announced Steam Machine from Valve.

Point being, there's plenty of obstacles in the way to 100 million, and because of that DFC's David Cole says the company took a more "conservative" approach with its estimates. The company also believes price cuts will happen "fairly slowly," with Sony and Microsoft opting for bundles as opposed to straight price cuts.

In the grand scheme of things, DFC estimates that by 2018 the gaming industry will be approaching $100 billion thanks to the "core gamer spending more than ever."