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[Aquamarine]

That still doesn't really speak on how the price going back up is a trust issue. People miss out on deals all the time, including within this industry. Never before the Wii U and XBO have I seen people so quick to pull the betrayal card at bundles and deals coming about, and have never until now when a temporary, as advertised, deal expired.


Why though? Why would PS4 get such a substantial lead again? With the system now having been given great consumer exposure where most, if not all, of that pre-launch bullshit being put in the past, what is now holding the XBO back?

• PS4 is getting The Order 1886 and Bloodborne. However, one (Bloodborne) is a fairly niche game and The Order can go any direction in quality. Sony also has to market the hell out of them to the wider market than enthusiasts like us, something they are generally terrible at.
• Microsoft has marketing exclusivity on Turtle Rock's Evolve. Now, I'll lead off by saying that game needs a strong market push in order to be successful as there hasn't been much done with it outside of tradeshows and cons. But as evidenced by this last holiday Microsoft does know how to market and can do something similar as they did with Assassin's Creed Unity (minus the bundle advantage...so far). Doubt the impact in sales though, let alone for driving a system.
• PS4 had momentum between the lead in sales and people buying what people they knew were buying. Now that XBO had a surge, the adoption rate should be higher as people seek to connect with their friends online as they move forward. (EDIT due to mods making fanboy shit posts: PS4 deserved its lead to all the shit Microsoft pulled, cheaper price, and hardware advantage. This point was merely about how a sale lead in consoles tends to lead to more sales due to people going where people they know are. If their friends have PS4s, a person is going to get a PS4 instead of an XBO.)
• As of right now, XBO is still leading in marketing and exclusives. By February this may change depending if SCEA marketing has found its balls for the sake of its upcoming exclusives.
• Framerate and resolution don't have quite the same pull as it does on enthusiast boards. Most people will go where people they know are and where the games they want to play are and supported. The differences now between the systems are nowhere near as severe as they used to be and XBO has the stronger content. Only Destiny is giving PS4 a notable, if still minor, content lead.

The $399 XBO vs $399 PS4 before this holiday is no longer equally applicable given how much the libraries and consumer exposure has changed.

you're greatly understating consumer sensitivity towards price changes.

this is a cutthroat market. a $50-$70 raise and price parity (as opposed to undercutting the ps4) is a big deal to consumer perception since the xbox one is perceived as a weaker console.

it's enough to propel ps4 back into the lead again.

WTH Bishoptl? You know damn well I'm not an XBO (or any) fanboy. Didn't realize Kev taking one quote out of context changes all that. Or is it false that PS4 leading in sales tends to translate to greater sale adoption due to online connectivity?

Teaches me to enter sales threads I guess and trying to have a discussion. At least some folks, non-mods mind you, are able to argue me (thanks to those who highlighted I was addressing WW sales on accident) without delving into that type of bullshit.

oh hush with your meta-drama

 

[On Demand]

Why though? Why would PS4 get such a substantial lead again? With the system now having been given great consumer exposure where most, if not all, of that pre-launch bullshit being put in the past, what is now holding the XBO back?

Consumers have made it clear to MS this past holiday that the only way their going to buy an XB1 is if it's cheaper than PS4. On top of other deals too. The other things MS did throughout the year to compete with PS4 didn't work. Consumers didn't care. They still bought PS4's. Maby some of the momentum from the holiday sales will carry over into January before things return to the way they were.

The rest of your post are just guesses and assumptions.

 

[ArkkAngel007]

The Ps4 is the stronger console, and at similar prices is why it outsold Xb1 every month.

IF we believed the Enthusiast boards everybody would be playing Bayonneta on the WiiU.

Everybody knows the Ps4 is the 'technically' stronger hardware and runs games better, go ask an 11 year old (my son is 11 LOL). He might not understand why - this is social media and word of mouth and why Ps4 sells well IMO....

Xb1 had sale and got cheap, it sold well. If price parity comes back, things will probably revert to what they were before (but who knows, we would be rich if we could predict the future).

Which I addressed in other points between friend adoptions and Microsoft's terrible plans/PR. I don't understand why each individual bullet is being looked at as if they are the single driving factor. Hell, it's not even an argument on XBO will be a lead seller in the US or be neck and neck with the PS4 like some people seem to be reacting. It's just my take on why it won't be as severe of a situation on the price drop alone.

Ark's bolded edit about mods shitposting lol

Yeah, that was uncalled for of me and edited. I'm just going to drop it outside of some clarifications on what I meant/intended. I should have done more research. Kev (and Bishoptl initially) should have talked to me instead of labeling me. It's whatever.

Edit: And of course my OG post was guesses and assumptions, as are nearly everyone else's here. I don't know what's going to happen. I just assume PS4 will lead NPD, but not the 2X sales as before unless The Order 1886 and Bloodborne get fair marketing. Doesn't mean they'll be close. Just not as severe as some believe.

 

[geordiemp]

you're greatly understating consumer sensitivity towards price changes.

this is a cutthroat market. a $50-$70 raise and price parity (as opposed to undercutting the ps4) is a big deal to consumer perception since the xbox one is perceived as a weaker console.

I tried to say the same thing, it just did not come out right. I'm good at maths, bad at English !

 

[Thunder Monkey]

Yes it did.

Sales are gonna crater so badly for One. By the latest of June this year it will have a permanent cut down to at least $349. Hell maybe even sooner. I expect One to have almost WiiU level bad sales for a good chunk of this year because of this move. People will just plan on waiting until the end of this year, hoping for more really good fire sales. Which they will get. Especially if Sony decides price cutting time is coming soon.

Granted we've never seen a console manufacturer do something like this. We'd never seen a manufacturer effectively slash $150 off their price in a single year either though. I mean I almost feel bad for a giant faceless corporation because of how badly these moves could bite them.

 

[Biker19]

Granted we've never seen a console manufacturer do something like this. We'd never seen a manufacturer effectively slash $150 off their price in a single year either though. I mean I almost feel bad for a giant faceless corporation because of how badly these moves could bite them.

Plus bundle free games on top. It's more or less the same strategy that Sega used with the Sega Saturn, only that Microsoft has money.

Those of you who were gaming in the 90's like myself will know what I'm talking about.

 

[geordiemp]

Fanboy wank

Do mods have battles ?

 

[BPoole]

I didn't think MS would bring it back up. I thought they would have liked outselling the PS4. Oh well, I'll take my crow deep fried

 

[Daviii]

I think you're mostly negative.

Microsoft managed to sell lots of consoles during these past two months. And the new owners will bring new owners.

Whether those new owners will wait until the next sale, it's a different story.

Whatever happens there's an important factor as others have said. PS4 is perceived as a better value even being more expensive.

That means Microsoft will need to struggle either in sales or revenue, and Sony will probably be in a very comfortable position for years to come.

But time will tell.

PS: US/UK only. Everywhere else is a bloodbath.

 

[Daviii]

Do mods have battles ?

Have you played God of war?

 

[ArkkAngel007]

I didn't think MS would bring it back up. I thought they would have liked outselling the PS4. Oh well, I'll take my crow deep fried

I agree with others that a permanent drop this year is near inevitable. When? No idea. Depends on how far back this sets them.

Someone said June, and yeah, that wouldn't be a bad time to do it given I don't expect Quantum Break until around then. Summer isn't the strongest point in the year AFAIK (those who follow hardware numbers on NPD more closely can chime in) due to lack of notable software output, but sets them up early.

As others have said though, Sony has the time to drop the price as well to counter it and right now their 2015 outlook has a solid foundation.

I think you're mostly negative.

Microsoft managed to sell lots of consoles during these past two months. And the new owners will bring new owners.

Whether those new owners will wait until the next sale, it's a different story.

Whatever happens there's an important factor as others have said. PS4 is perceived as a better value even being more expensive.

That means Microsoft will need to struggle either in sales or revenue, and Sony will probably be in a very comfortable position for years to come.

But time will tell.

PS: US/UK only. Everywhere else is a bloodbath.

This is what I was going for.

 

[RedAssedApe]

329.99 at amazon is oos

 

[Super_Cobra]

I want my crow baked please

 

[Game4life]

I never said being mods is an issue. I just expect those with that distinction, especially Kev who usually puts out some of the more insightful posts on the board, to actually discuss things than basically do a drive by. If I'm wrong, I apologize.

And I don't have much faith in Evolve. It's Alpha's were IMO mishandled and displayed what sounds to be the worst mode in the game. It's not a pick-up-and-play friendly as L4D, and the asymmetric gameplay can be just as much of a bane, if not moreso, as a boon. But if Microsoft is at least marketing it out and Sony treats The Order/Bloodborne as Tearaway in marketing than The Last of Us, that puts out mindshare for the XBO. I'm not saying that will actually be successful or not. People can pass up Evolve as I said and Evolve isn't exactly hot shit here on GAF to where I question how it will do for the core market, to where I know Bloodborne will do better.

As for my niche comment, I didn't realize FROMsoft games were big things in the US. If that was my mistake, than just tell/correct me.

Edit: I'm speaking retail, not PSN in exclusives. I honestly didn't really think about that and feel stupid for it. How impactful that is, I don't know.


I've just seen more marketing between Dead Rising 3 (now on PC), Titanfall (PC, 360), and Assassin's Creed Unity than I have between Infamous Second Son, LB3, and Destiny (which the last two were given good marketing).

I'm mainly coming from looking at how Tearaway, Vita, and last gen on how Sony tends to market their products, not to mention how The Order has been mostly handled. I do hope Bloodborne and The Order 1886 get great campaigns. That doesn't mean they will though.

You may have seen more but that is just anecdotal evidence. What about Sales of Dead Rising 3 vs Infamous Second Son. Which sold more? How about Forza Horizon 2 and Drive Club? Which sold more? You still have not given any compelling examples this gen of poor marketing on Sony's part using last gen as a barometer when the game has clearly changed this gen. I wont respond to AC Unity because it does not come close to Sony's destiny marketing. In fact Sony still seems to shove Destiny in everyone's faces every chance they get. It did work wonders for Sony though. Anyways all we can go by are sales and actual marketing stats including coverage, budgets etc... anecdotal evidence will not get this discussion anywhere.

 

[Duxxy3]

Smart play for sony would be to do a price drop now. It would force microsoft to cut to $299, because when the systems are evenly priced the PS4 dominates. Maybe sony loses a bit, but microsoft would lose a ton just to stay a little ahead in one country.

 

[RedAssedApe]

Smart play for sony would be to do a price drop now. It would force microsoft to cut to $299, because when the systems are evenly priced the PS4 dominates. Maybe sony loses a bit, but microsoft would lose a ton just to stay a little ahead in one country.

sony needs the profits for its company wide bottom line. also why do the price drop now if they don't even have any data on how ms's pricing change back to 399 will actually affect sales in a traditionally down month.

 

[Thunder Monkey]

Plus bundle free games on top. It's more or less the same strategy that Sega used with the Sega Saturn, only that Microsoft has money.

Those of you who were gaming in the 90's like myself will know what I'm talking about.

I hadn't actually thought of that, but it is really similar.

My best friend bought a Saturn about a year and half after launch, for $249 with three or four games included. I think his came with VF2, Nights, and one of the Capcom Marvel games. There might have been another, but I can't remember. Reaching too far back through clouds of pot, rivers of alcohol to get back to high school.

 

[Kazuma Kiryu]

For another piece of shocking news, Sony will do nothing to "react" to this temporary price drop.
Honestly, I'm glad this is official now. The last two months reading that the price would never go back up, and that Sony would be forced to react just made sales threads unbearable.

 

[Thunder Monkey]

For another piece of shocking news, Sony will do nothing to "react" to this temporary price drop.
Honestly, I'm glad this is official now. The last two months reading that the price would never go back up, and that Sony would be forced to react just made sales threads unbearable.

Because random GAFers seem to have better market sense than MS executives.

Sony would have to react, because no corp would be stupid enough to raise their price again after seeing how appreciable effect it had on sales... unless you're crazy uncle MS!

 

[JayEH]

I never said being mods is an issue. I just expect those with that distinction, especially Kev who usually puts out some of the more insightful posts on the board, to actually discuss things than basically do a drive by. If I'm wrong, I apologize.

And I don't have much faith in Evolve. It's Alpha's were IMO mishandled and displayed what sounds to be the worst mode in the game. It's not a pick-up-and-play friendly as L4D, and the asymmetric gameplay can be just as much of a bane, if not moreso, as a boon. But if Microsoft is at least marketing it out and Sony treats The Order/Bloodborne as Tearaway in marketing than The Last of Us, that puts out mindshare for the XBO. I'm not saying that will actually be successful or not. People can pass up Evolve as I said and Evolve isn't exactly hot shit here on GAF to where I question how it will do for the core market, to where I know Bloodborne will do better.

As for my niche comment, I didn't realize FROMsoft games were big things in the US. If that was my mistake, than just tell/correct me.

Edit: I'm speaking retail, not PSN in exclusives. I honestly didn't really think about that and feel stupid for it. How impactful that is, I don't know.


I've just seen more marketing between Dead Rising 3 (now on PC), Titanfall (PC, 360), and Assassin's Creed Unity than I have between Infamous Second Son, LB3, and Destiny (which the last two were given good marketing).

I'm mainly coming from looking at how Tearaway, Vita, and last gen on how Sony tends to market their products, not to mention how The Order has been mostly handled. I do hope Bloodborne and The Order 1886 get great campaigns. That doesn't mean they will though.

What? Why would they do that? Souls games are a fairly big since they sell >2 million and the Order is a big budget shooter with amazing graphics. Bloodborne and The Order are going to get marketed a lot. You can't say they're going to pull a Teraway. Context is key here. Tearaway was a very, very niche title for an even nicher handheld system. I don't even know how you compare the two.

 

[Chobel]

I'm eating crow and I still can't believe it. What the hell MS is thinking?

Smart play for sony would be to do a price drop now. It would force microsoft to cut to $299, because when the systems are evenly priced the PS4 dominates. Maybe sony loses a bit, but microsoft would lose a ton just to stay a little ahead in one country.

If they're in draining MS money business (all that less than 1% of it) and not making profit, then sure it's a smart play.

 

[Frag Waffles]

Wellthereitis.gif

I believe the X1 will see very poor sales until the next heavy set of promotions. This wasn't some weekend sale, this thing lasted over 2 months with crazy deals flying around everywhere, I don't think I'm reaching when I say that people who wanted one...got one. It's gonna be tough convincing people to pick it up at this price.

 

[Bgamer90]

Before the November NPD results came out I originally thought that MS would bring the price back up in January. Weeks later though I thought that they would keep the system at the $350 price due to how well the system did.

Just have to see what happens from here. There's going to be a big drop simply because its January and January always has a big drop. Will the drop be big to the point in which the PS4 will beat the Xbox One this month though? Don't know -- hard to say right now. The Xbox One will get sales during these next few months due to the multiplats (late 2014 and 2015), recent exclusives, as well as "friend play" ("my friend got an Xbox One this past Christmas season so I'm going to get one too so I can play games with him"). The system would be in a better position for the first half of the year if MS had just one AAA exclusive. They are holding many of them for the second half of the year though with some of those 2015 exclusives more than likely not getting revealed until this year's E3.

Current gen NPD sales have shown that being the cheapest console in upfront price is a good spot to be in since many people are buying these consoles to play the current gen multiplats. One Xbox One SKU under $400 would have greatly helped during these next few months without the system having a new AAA exclusive. I really can't predict how much of a drop the system will have this month.

 

[Xando]

I'm eating crow and I still can't believe it. What the hell MS is thinking?

Has to be something with their budget, maybe lost too much money. Can't see why they would go back up if it wasn't for budget reasons.

 

[USC-fan]

So its back to $399 without a game too? Wtf...

Guess they only care about holiday sales.

 

[Serenity]

Knew they would raise the price when they threw in the $70 GC right before Christmas. That showed me they were going to maximize holiday sales and go back to the original price like they said.

Glad they went back up too so that we can stop hearing about how they have endless money and that they weren't losing any money cutting the price and bundling in games and GCs.

Anyone else getting only 6 Ps4s in stock on Amazon?

 

[Chobel]

Before the November NPD results came out I originally thought that MS would bring the price back up in January. Weeks later though I thought that they would keep the system at the $350 price due to how well the system did.

Just have to see what happens from here. There's going to be a big drop simply because its January and January always has a big drop. Will the drop be big to the point in which the PS4 will beat the Xbox One this month though? Don't know -- hard to say right now. The Xbox One will get sales during these next few months due to the multiplats (late 2014 and 2015), recent exclusives, as well as "friend play" ("my friend got an Xbox One this past Christmas season so I'm going to get one too so I can play games with him"). The system would be in a better position for the first half of the year if MS had just one AAA exclusive. They are holding many of them for the second half of the year though with some of those 2015 exclusives more than likely not getting revealed until this year's E3.

Current gen NPD sales have shown that being the cheapest console in upfront price is a good spot to be in since many people are buying these consoles to play the current gen multiplats. One Xbox One SKU under $400 would have greatly helped during these next few months without the system having a new AAA exclusive. I really can't predict how much of a drop the system will have this month.

It's not that hard, really, PS4 will be most likely win this month now the price is back up.

 

[slavesnyder]

I'm eating crow and I still can't believe it. What the hell MS is thinking?



If they're in draining MS money business (all that less than 1% of it) and not making profit, then sure it's a smart play.

Maybe the XBox devision wanted the price drop so hard to at least win a month or two and gain momentum.
Daddy said: Okay, but just until end of 2014. Then you put it back up. We do not want you to burn even more money.

 

[Thunder Monkey]

So its back to $399 without a game too? Wtf...

Guess they only care about holiday sales.

And that's all they'll get now thanks to this move.

Holiday this year is probably going to be crazier than the past year.

I mean not only have they devalued what people were willing to pay for a One in Jan 2014, but they've also devalued the system wholesale through the course of the past two months.

It might be hyperbole, but I don't see One maintaining a pace that much higher than WiiU after this move. Until the next big firesale.

 

[vpance]

I'm eating crow and I still can't believe it. What the hell MS is thinking?

MS only tries when it "counts", since they sell 60%+ of their consoles in Nov and Dec. Think NBA playoffs and the regular season. Arguably they could be onto something in terms of strategy.

 

[Jigorath]

Outside of the media I haven't seen all that much hype for Evolve. A multiplat has to be really big in order to push consoles with a platform marketing deal, like Destiny, COD, GTA etc. As for Bloodborne, it may be a niche title but it has an established and dedicated fanbase. Should sell some consoles. Especially if Sony wisens up and creates a sweet looking Bloodborne bundle.

 

[system11]

[*]As of right now, XBO is still leading in marketing and exclusives.

It just doesn't though, it's a matter of taste.

I fully expected them to put the price back up, but I also fully expected Amazon/etc not to really reflect this due to channel dumping, so the end result is XB1 still having more or less a permanent price cut until it becomes official later this year after the glut of holiday systems have been sold to end users.

No idea what Sony will do, no idea at all. With all those games on the way next year they might be happy to just let it sit there.

 

[slavesnyder]

MS only tries when it "counts", since they sell 60%+ of their consoles in Nov and Dec. Think NBA playoffs and the regular season. Arguably they could be onto something in terms of strategy.

Like this they will end up selling 80% in Nov/Dec.
But don't ask me if it's because they are selling more in these two months or so much less in the other ten...

 

[Bgamer90]

It's not that hard, really, PS4 will be most likely win this month now the price is back up.

I can't really say that yet. Both will have big drops in sales and we may see the Xbox One slightly higher due to Xmas word of mouth from people who recently bought it. Depends on how well the system did over the PS4 in December.

Nothing major coming to either system this month so both will still be selling alongside the games that released in November.

 

[vpance]

Like this they will end up selling 80% in Nov/Dec.
But don't ask me if it's because they are selling more in these two months or so much less in the other ten...

With this strategy it's also their best chance at cock blocking PS4 sales, since the fervor to chose one side or the other I imagine is higher during Xmas season. So they will save their ammo (fire sales) until then.

 

[Goodacre0081]

For another piece of shocking news, Sony will do nothing to "react" to this temporary price drop.
Honestly, I'm glad this is official now. The last two months reading that the price would never go back up, and that Sony would be forced to react just made sales threads unbearable.

Sony hasn't needed to react to anything MS has done since their disastrous XB1 reveal back in may2013.

 

[Jigorath]

Can't really say that yet. Both will have big drops and we may see the Xbox One slightly higher due to Xmas word of mouth from people who recently bought it. Depends on how well the system did over the PS4 in December.

Nothing major coming to either system this month so both will still be selling alongside what released in November.

Eh? We have enough sales data to prove that PS4 is the far better seller at price parity.

 

[Birgitte2004]

MS only tries when it "counts", since they sell 60%+ of their consoles in Nov and Dec. Think NBA playoffs and the regular season. Arguably they could be onto something in terms of strategy.

Not if the PS4's lead grows more in Jan-October than MS gets back in November/December.

And at some point the bottom will fall out on the holiday plan working. In a couple years when the PS4 is 300$ normally and for holidays comes bundled with sales and gift cards and the like, it gets harder and harder for Microsoft to absorb the massive undercut.

 

[RedAssedApe]

Can't really say that yet. Both will have big drops in sales and we may see the Xbox One slightly higher due to Xmas word of mouth from people who recently bought it. Depends on how well the system did over the PS4 in December.

Nothing major coming to either system this month so both will still be selling alongside the games that released in November.

word of mouth was over pricing not software lineup and that advantage is gone.

 

[slavesnyder]

With this strategy it's also their best chance at cock blocking PS4 sales, since the fervor to chose one side or the other I imagine is higher during Xmas season. So they will save their ammo (fire sales) until then.

So they practically give away the next ten months and let Sony build up an even bigger community? Good luck with that.
In other news:

African and South American lungfish are capable of surviving seasonal drying out of their habitats by burrowing into mud and estivating throughout the dry season.

 

[vpance]

Not if the PS4's lead grows more in Jan-October than MS gets back in November/December.

And at some point the bottom will fall out on the holiday plan working. In a couple years when the PS4 is 300$ normally and for holidays comes bundled with sales and gift cards and the like, it gets harder and harder for Microsoft to absorb the massive undercut.

Well at this point I don't think MS can do much else aside from these sorts of run and gun tactics. It's definitely a war of attrition but I imagine they'll continue to do whatever they can to hang onto some meaningful amount of marketshare in their main region.

 

[ClearData]

I'm interested to see if this leads to backlash among general consumers that maybe couldn't pick up an Xbox over the holidays. There has been enough confusion over the temporary price cut that I don't doubt someone's relative is going to walk in to a Gamestop and wonder where all the $349 Xbox Ones are.

If that sounds implausible consider how long it took / is taking for people to believe that the Xbox One plays used games after the initial reveal.

 

[Darknight]

So its back to $399 without a game too? Wtf...

Guess they only care about holiday sales.

Im surprised myself. I dont keep track of sales in general but if $350 works for you, you should keep it that way. Maybe the regular SKU without games.

Weird that MS (Im assuming) just wanted to get the november sales or maybe just to break Sony's "record" from month to month. If I were MS, id fight tooth and nail for NA/UK market like its armageddon. They showed it but now its back to regular?

What I cant wait though is for PS4 to hit the magic $299. Thing must scare MS for sure.

 

[RichiRamjag]

Smart play for sony would be to do a price drop now. It would force microsoft to cut to $299, because when the systems are evenly priced the PS4 dominates. Maybe sony loses a bit, but microsoft would lose a ton just to stay a little ahead in one country.

That isn't a smart play. Sony can outsell Xbox globally when Xbox was discounted, they can definitely outsell them when the Xbox is full price. There is no need to make knee jerk price drops until toward the end of this year possibly.

 

[Bgamer90]

Eh? We have enough sales data to prove that PS4 is the far better seller at price parity.

Those months were before this past Christmas season though. Major games like COD: AW have done better on the Xbox One (NPD) and since there's nothing major coming to either console this month with January usually being very low in console sales, I personally can't make a guess in terms of who will get the #1 spot in January NPD right now. I personally wouldn't be able to make a confident guess until I know how big the gap is for December NPD.

Like I said in my previous post, both consoles will get sales from people hearing "how good" the consoles are from people who got them during the Christmas season. Xbox One selling more during that period may help a bit to push people into getting one at $400 this month. I can't really say yet until I know how December went.

I know many here feel differently and that's fine (and reasonable). We all agree though that the Xbox One would be in a much better position for the first half of 2015 if the system had at least one SKU that stayed at $350.

_________

word of mouth was over pricing not software lineup and that advantage is gone.

Not totally. The deals definitely helped but there were people simply talking about playing the most recent games on their new system; especially the kids/teens who didn't buy the consoles they got.

 

[Chobel]

Can't really say that yet. Both will have big drops in sales and we may see the Xbox One slightly higher due to Xmas word of mouth from people who recently bought it. Depends on how well the system did over the PS4 in December.

Nothing major coming to either system this month so both will still be selling alongside the games that released in November.

C'mon, you don't actually believe that? Word of mouth won't be associated with XBO, it will be associated with $350.

Those months were before this past Christmas season though. Major games like COD: AW have done better on the Xbox One (NPD) and since there's nothing major coming to either console this month with January usually being very low in console sales, I personally can't make a guess in terms of who will get the #1 spot in January NPD right now. I personally wouldn't be able to make a confident guess until I know how big the gap is for December NPD.

Shooters did better on XBO even when it was not $350. Xbox is still associated with shooters and that won't change anytime soon. CoD doing better in Xbox doesn't imply a shift in popularity.

 

[Jigorath]

Those months were before this past Christmas season though. Major games like COD: AW have done better on the Xbox One (NPD) and since there's nothing major coming to either console this month with January usually being very low in console sales, I personally can't make a guess in terms of who will get the #1 spot in January NPD right now. I personally wouldn't be able to make a confident guess until I know how big the gap is for December NPD.

Like I said in my previous post, both consoles will get sales from people hearing "how good" the consoles are from people who got them during the Christmas season. Xbox One selling more during that period may help a bit to push people into getting one at $400 this month. I can't really say yet until I know how December went.

I know many here feel differently and that's fine (and reasonable). We all agree though that the Xbox One would be in a much better position for the first half of 2015 if the system had at least one SKU that stayed at $350.

I don't think that word of mouth will have the effect you expect it to but we'll see.

 

[Bgamer90]

C'mon, you don't actually believe that? Word of mouth won't be associated with XBO, it will be associated with $350.

Yes, I actually believe that because sales in January will be low for both systems anyway. If a person has friends who recently got a certain system for Christmas than he/she may side with getting that system this month to play games with them.

As I said before though, this is simply due to December NPD not being out yet. My feelings would change if the Xbox One beat the PS4 by a pretty small amount in December (as well as if the Xbox One was still $100 more than the PS4).

 

[Bam Bam Baklava]

Feels so good to be right. I would post a bunch of links to threads where I argued with complete fools but I'm too lazy to care.

But I was right and you know who you are those who doubted me.

 

[Rogue_Ledr]

Yup.

Not sure how long it sticks or not yet though.

IF the sales plummet (which they will) it won't take too long for it to go back down.

I still do not comprehend the point of having a temporary price drop.

Friggin retarded! Either drop the price permanently or don't bother.