The PS4 is favourite to win the inevitable console wars, with bookies pegging the Sony machine to sell more units this year than Microsoft’s newly unveiled Xbox One.
Formally unveiled last night during Microsoft’s big XboxReveal event, the Xbox One was announced as an all-round entertainment device, building on its gaming core with new, deeper Kinect integration and enhanced multimedia options. Despite these benefits, bookie Paddy Power has suggested Sony’s PS4 is more likely to win favour with consumers heading into the lucrative Christmas shopping period.
Although Sony has yet to actually reveal what the PS4 will look like, Paddy Power has listed the PS3 replacement the 4/11 favourite to outsell its closest rival in 2013.
Despite the high-profile launch and detailed analysis of its gaming and wider entertainment credentials, the Xbox One is facing odds of 15/8 to become the highest selling next-gen console of the year and claim bragging rights over its Japanese contender.
“With both consoles set to retail at roughly the same price it should be a case of one or the other for most gamers,” a Paddy Power spokesperson said. The company cheekily added: “There is the third option of a girlfriend.”
While we have mused over the positives and negatives of the new console in out Xbox One first impressions feature, it is unclear on what grounds the PS4 has become favourite to outsell the Xbox 360 follow-on.
With neither new console supporting backwards compatibility with existing games, a blow to many gamers, the Xbox One has caused concern with claims Microsoft will enforce a fee to be paid when buying pre-owned games or simply looking to borrow a game from a friend.
With the PS4 release date confirmed for the ‘2013 holiday season’ and the Xbox One release date scheduled for ‘later this year’, it is expected the two consoles will hit retailers within a matter of weeks of each other, further heightening the importance to come out on top in the console wars. Both consoles will be further explored during individual showcase events on June 10 ahead of E3 2013.
Further Reading: Xbox One vs PS4
