Since its launch in late 2013, the PlayStation 4 has dominated the UK market. Sony's system has been the best selling console in the UK for the last five years running, but it's starting to look like the ageing king's reign is finally coming to an end.
As GamesIndustry reports, the Nintendo Switch is currently the UK's top seller, and its performance has been bolstered significantly by the recent release of Pokémon Sword and Shield. Unless the PS4 can really pick up the pace over the holiday period, the Big N is primed to take the 2019 crown.
It'll be the end of a seriously impressive run for Sony. It's easy to forget that last generation, the UK was very much a key Xbox territory for a number of years until the PlayStation 3 finally got going later on. With the PS4, the Japanese giant managed to turn things around dramatically. Of course, after five whole years on the market, it's only natural that the console would fall off eventually, and with the PlayStation 5 arriving around this time in 2020, Sony will be looking to replicate the success of its current-gen machine.
[source nintendolife.com]
Comments 11
Almost as impressive as the turnaround in North America. Will be interesting to see if PS5 starts a new run of dominance like this. I'd imagine MS will take the necessary steps to compete better next gen but Sony has gotten the mindshare back to where it was in the PS2 days.
And to think sony still have price trump card, man ps4 sales sure is impressive
I'm surprised we've not had a price reduction this year. I'm not talking about bundles but a full RRP reduction. It's about time considering the PS5 is only a year away and a Pro still retails at £349 (not including deals etc).
@Dange true. i suppose it sells well enough at its current price that sony does not deem it necessary just yet? sometime next year looks like a given, though. maybe $50 off the msrp.
@Neolit yup, as far as market share goes, i would imagine x1 is at around the 25% mark at present time, with the switch at about 20% but starting to pull away. that leaves sony with a commanding 55% market share with little reason to change what it is doing with regards to its current pricing. heck, by this time next year, it is very likely the switch will have surpassed the x1 in total sales despite being on the market for 3+ years less.
Yeah it's been a good run for sure! But PS4 still has FF7 Remake and TLoU Part 2 both of which could be bugged system sellers.
If the PS4 'base' model drops to under £200 with a game or two, expect to see sales rise! I'm also sort of surprised that we haven't had a few different colours for the PS4 like we did with the 3? You can have any colour as long as it's black.
The Switch has just had the cheapo, non-switching (eh?) 'lite' model drop out too so you can expect increases in sales due to that.
@sanderson72
We've had silver, gold, white, red spiderman and blue PS4 consoles. I have 2 blue "days of play" PS4 consoles.
Switch is hitting it's stride and PS4 is on the turn. It's like racing Michael Schumacher in his forties.
I’d be amazed if Sony don’t drop the price of PS4 before Christmas. They know as well as anyone this is going to be the last big one for PS4 before they really go for it with PS5 next Christmas. Surely now is the right time to go after those last few people who haven’t got one. Perfect example, Dad buys himself a PS4 back in 2013, little jimmy is 6 years old so too young for his own one. Little jimmy is now 12 and wants one in his room. Sony drop the price so dad can now go and spend his probably not so hard earned money on a shiny new PS4. Jimmy’s happy as he finally has his own PS4, dads happy as he’s got his one back and Sony are happy because they’ve just made a s**t load of money. Everyone’s a winner.
Well, everyone and their mother already has the console. Glad to see Switch doing great as well.
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