Xbox Live rated as the fastest, most reliable gaming network in study

An independent IHS Markit study has found that Xbox Live is the fastest and most reliable gaming network. Looking measure network experiences, IHS Markit focused on the "core network performance delivered by each side during full-blown gameplay."

Basically, the study honed in on three categories on both Xbox Live and the PlayStation Network: Reliability, Speed, and Overall Quality. IHS Markit tested the networks in controlled lab settings,as well as the "real-world environment where gamers live and play."

The study found (this is a concise version, read more on the Xbox blog):

• Speed: According to the IHS Markit study, Xbox Live was noticeably faster in the category of network speed which included tests that measured time to log in to the network service, log in to game servers, join friends in a party, and upload an image to the network service.
• Reliability: Xbox Live dropped players from games less than its competitor. The IHS Markit measured how often the network was successful in allowing the gamer to join the network service, log in to game servers, and stay in the game to match completion without a network interruption.
• Overall Quality: Xbox Live ranked ahead in the overall experience category which included tests that measured speed to invite friends to a party and a measurement of voice chat quality.

The entire study is based on the multiplayer performance from five of the top selling Xbox One ad PlayStation 4 games, specifically tested in June and July of this Summer. Basically, the study is extremely limited and while it reveals something for those two months, it isn't a very good indication of overall performance for either platform's network.

Oh and it wasn't endorsed, according to the fine print.