Sony's Playstation 4 and Microsoft's Xbox One both launched with more than a million consoles sold, but the early success doesn't necessarily guarantee future sales, according to Bloomberg.
Xbox One sales worldwide topped 1 million in the first 24 hours, breaking the company sales record, Microsoft reported over the weekend. The new device debuted exactly a week after Sony's Playstation 4, which sold more than a million in North America alone.
Each console has had some glitches--Playstation 4 users complained of a blue flashing light, while a small minority of Xbox One devices had to be replaced due to faulty disc drives--but overall the launches were successful enough "for both companies to declare victory."
So far, so good. But can the expensive devices, which come in at $400 for the Playstation 4 and $500 for the Xbox One, appeal to a wider demographic than just gamers?
"What has yet to be seen is whether happy launch numbers translates into lasting success," Bloomberg noted.
Both devices attempt to offer more than the typical gaming experience, adding digital entertainment options in the hopes of becoming the new household hub for entertainment.
"This could be a challenge, given that the most popular video streaming devices cost less than $100," Bloomberg said about the strategy.
Sony may not know if the strategy has been a success for another year. Persuading non-gamers to purchase the consoles will be a test for the company, according to John Koller, Playstation's vice president for marketing.
"We as a company need to bring in the later adopter at the right time," he said. "That's probably earlier than this last generation."
Sony has put sales estimates as high as 5 million; analysts predict that both companies will sell around 3 million consoles during the holiday season.
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