It’s hard for some gamers to admit this, but the best possible conclusion to the overhyped console war of 2013 would be three systems that all sell exceptionally well. After an extended console generation, hardware sales had become relatively stagnant, and the initial response to the Wii U was frighteningly underwhelming. Thankfully, the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One came along to pick up the slack, and the Wii U has started to see a slight rebound in the process. Now that the dust from the console launches has settled, the biggest holiday for video game hardware in years is right around the corner, but one writer thinks that no matter the outcome, everybody wins.
Forbes contributor Paul Tassi wrote a piece this past weekend in an attempt to dispel the ludicrous idea of the “console war,” a phrase that has been perpetuated by gamers, bloggers and even the higher-ups at Sony and Microsoft throughout the launch cycle.
“So far, this console launch has played out the way many expected,” wrote Tassi. “Both systems set records, and while Sony may have a small edge due to Microsoft’s pre-launch issues and the general love for PlayStation outside the US, it’s incredibly close and the gap between the two really isn’t meaningful at this point.”
Despite the drama that often surrounded the battle between the PS4 and Xbox One in 2013, both Sony and Microsoft moved over 2 million units in a month, smashing every conceivable record for console sales. Even the Wii U has started to gain some momentum, aided by the release of the spectacular Super Mario 3D World and the promise of a great first-party lineup next year.
Most people will have a preference, as we did in our comparison between the PS4 and Xbox One, but both consoles have a lot to offer, most notably the potential to allow for entirely new experiences that weren’t possible on the Xbox 360, PS3 and Wii. It’s going to be a slow holiday season for game releases, but this is just the calm before the storm of 2014. Whichever console you pick, even if it’s a Steam Machine, keep in mind that this is a great time to be a gamer.
