Microsoft laid down the gauntlet in the next generation console wars when it bent to fan demand, a move made more necessary by Sony’s unrestrictive policies boasted at E3, to remove DRM restrictions and allow for used games sales on Xbox One. The effects of the move are being felt based on presale activity at Amazon.com.
The aftermath of this decision did not budge Xbox One Day One edition pre-orders at Amazon.com where the launch day guaranteed console with an exclusive Achievement was already entrenched in the top spot. It has been able to reside squarely in this position due to two factors; Sony’s PS4 launch day pre-order selling out rather quickly, and the return of the PS4 launch day pre-order in four different bundle configurations that has effectively fragmented pre-order sales.
Where the effects of Microsoft’s policy reversal are being reflected in the sales charts are on the software side. Before Microsoft made their big announcement yesterday, there wasn’t a single Xbox One game listed on Amazon’s top 20 bestselling video games list. Instead, PS4 titles like Killzone Shadow Fall, Watch Dogs and Battlefield 4 had become regular residents.
This tune has changed now that Xbox One’s features are more in line with those of PS4. Amazon’s Movers and Shakers for video games is now flooded with Xbox One titles. They include FIFA 14 in position 5, Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag in position 7, Madden NFL 25 in position 9, Call of Duty: Ghosts in position 10, Watch Dogs in position 12, Destiny in position 13, Kingdom Hearts III in position 14, Ryse: Son of Rome Day One Edition in position 15, Battlefield 4 in position 16, Forza Motorsport 5 Day One Edition in position 17, Kinect Sports: Rivals Day One Edition in position 18, and Capcom’s Dead Rising 3 Day One Edition in position 19.
Of those titles, three of them managed to break into Amazon’s video games top 20 bestsellers list. They include Call of Duty: Ghosts in position 17, Dead Rising 3 Day One Edition in position 16, and Forza Motorsport 5 Day One Edition in position 14. Thus far it looks like most Xbox One early adopters are choosing to pre-order Forza 5 above all other titles. Not a single Sony PS4 game is to be seen on the video game bestsellers list outside a PS4 bundle.
Now the race is on to see how long the Xbox One Day One edition will remain in stock at Amazon. Earlier reports suggested Sony was allotting retailers far more PS4 consoles for pre-order than the competitor Xbox One. Thus far none of the PS4 bundles such as Watch Dogs have sold out and, per Amazon.com, is guaranteed to be available on launch day.
Right now the biggest discrepancy between the Xbox One and PS4, aside from the visual aesthetics, is the price. Microsoft just stated that there are no plans to revisit the Xbox One $499 price that includes the Kinect 2.0 camera. Sony is sticking with a $399 base price for their console, but if you want the new PlayStation camera, you will have to purchase it separately.
