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State of the Screens

Can Sony Retain The Belt In Latest Console Title Fight?

By December 3, 2020No Comments

Big News #1: Microsoft and Sony released their next-generation video game consoles in time for the holiday season for the lucky few who can find one.

Projected first-year sales according to Omdia:
1) Sony Playstation 5 – 4.6M
2) Microsoft Xbox Series S and X – 3.2M

Fourth-generation console sales, according to IBT:
1) 
Sony Playstation 4 – 114M
2) 
Microsoft Xbox One – 49M

Big question #1: What is Mr. Screens doing right now?

Quick answer:

Big question #2: How big is the video game market?

Global video game revenue (YoY growth) according to Activate Consulting:
1) 2016 – $92B
2) 2017 – $105B (↑ 14%)
3) 2018 – $113B (↑ 8%)
4) 2019P – $123B (↑ 9%)
5) 2020P – $133B (↑ 8%)
6) 2021P – $145B (↑ 9%)
7) 2022P – $156B (↑ 8%)
8) 2023P – $171B (↑ 10%)

The chart below (h/t: Matthew Ball) shows the shift from arcades in the 1970s to mobile today.

Top selling game consoles, according to Statista:
1) Sony Playstation 2 – 158M
2) Sony Playstation 4 – 112M
3) Sony Playstation 1 – 103M
4) Nintendo Wii – 102M
5) Sony Playstation 3 – 87M

Podcast: Microsoft’s Phil Spencer on Launching the New Xbox and the Future of Games

More #1: For Microsoft and Sony, it’s all about the games again

More #2: From ‘Fall Guys’ to ‘Among Us,’ How America Turned to Videogames Under Lockdown

Michael Beach

Michael Beach is the Chief Executive Officer of Cross Screen Media, a media analytics and software company that enables marketers to plan, activate, and measure CTV and linear TV at the local level. Michael is also the founder and editor of State of the Screens, a weekly newsletter focused on video advertising that is a must-read for thought leaders in the advertising industry. He has appeared in such publications as PBS Frontline, The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, Axios, CNBC and Bloomberg, and on NPR’s Planet Money podcast.