It's amazing how things can become a story when they aren't even intended to be. An analytics and data tracking firm called SuperData recently took a look at the Nintendo Switch and its objectives as it sets out on a very competitive global market. However, one tiny blurb in the firm's analysis about the Switch's competitors, the Xbox One, and the PS4, seems to have provided an insight it (probably) wasn't intending to turn into anything major.
The report says that the install base for the PS4 is "dominating" that of the Xbox One, with totals coming in at Sony's 55 million to Microsoft's 26 million. Even if Xbox One were to double its install base magically, it would still be behind. But that's not the real issue.
As Gaming Bolt points out, at this time last year, the Xbox One had moved 19.1 million units, which means that in 2016, only 7 million units were sold. By comparison, Sony had 35.9 million units sold at the end of 2015, so they were able to move almost 20 million units in 2016. The gap only got larger.
That's not to say that it's all gloom and doom for the Xbox One. Microsoft saw a 75% increase in sales following the release of the Xbox One S, so in theory, the Scorpio's release could be one way to help close the gap. These figures come out on the heels of the now-infamous Scalebound cancellation, which has caused many Xbox One gamers to question the future of the platform. Phil Spencer has been active in assuring fans on social media that the future remains bright for the system.
I don't think for a second that Xbox is in any trouble, but what is clear is that they are not winning the console wars this time around.
Sources: [Super Data, Gaming Bolt]
