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[IbizaPocholo]

Ampere: Xbox Series S outselling Series X in key markets

Data analysts Ampere says that Xbox Series S is out-selling Series X across several key markets.GamesIndustry.biz has a…

www.gamesindustry.biz

Data analysts Ampere says that Xbox Series S is out-selling Series X across several key markets.

GamesIndustry.biz has also seen figures that show S and X are at least 50/50 in terms of install base in major territories.

Ampere's latest hardware update pins Xbox Series sales at 6.7 million units as of the end of September 2021.

 

[THE DUCK]

How is this possible???.... They said it was horrible and that even in a pandemic it had no chance.......lol

 

[Kataploom]

Well, apart from early adopters that tend to be dedicated players which will mostly prefer the X and resellers that but everything within seconds and are inflating these consoles selling speed rates, a cheaper console is always welcome in most places, as long as features are mostly or literally the same, and those places make the difference in the end

 

[Fahdis]

So, you're telling me that people have these consoles?

 

[SlimySnake]

How is this possible???

Maybe because MS undershipped the XSX and overshipped the cheaper console?

I dont know. I think it's weird for MS to produce just 4 million XSX, a console they proudly proclaimed the most powerful console ever made. Especially when Sony was able to produce 13 million PS5s in the same period. If I had designed the XSX, I would be pretty upset that 4 million out of the 8 million next gen Xbox owners are not getting the best console out there because my bosses decided to allocate the shipments 50-50.

The hardcore were always going to buy the more powerful Xbox. They sold 10 million Xbox Ones in the first year, and for 6 months that console was $100 more expensive than the PS4, and came with the kinect. The hardcore Xbox owners wouldve gone out and bought all 8 million Xbox Series X consoles.

Just a massive miscalculation by MS. They have cost themselves $200 of revenue for 4 million consoles. This is a console that should be sold once they have saturated the hardcore market at around 20-30 million. Then and only then they shouldve allocated more series s units to get the casuals onboard.

 

[01011001]

I mean, the Series S is also benefiting from the fact that the Series X is basically always sold out. the Series S is not even nearly as hard to get and I bet many will buy it in order to play some newer games at better quality (especially those who upgrade from a base XBox One)

 

[ZehDon]

There has been a clear sustained demand for the XSX resulting in it being sold out, while the XSS have often been available far longer.
I wonder if Microsoft produced equal quantities, or, if people bought XSS because they couldn’t get XSX?

 

[01011001]

There has been a clear sustained demand for the XSX resulting in it being sold out, while the XSS have often been available far longer.
I wonder if Microsoft produced equal quantities, or, if people bought XSS because they couldn’t get XSX?

I bet the S is produced at a slightly larger quantity and it also has slightly lower demand, which in combination results in it being way easier to get.

given that the SoC of the Series S is WAY smaller, it would make sense that the yield is way higher as well

 

[DaleinCalgary]

You can actually buy the S. None of these sales new articles make sense these days

 

[Magnific0giganticus]

If that's true it's the most moronic strategy ever concieved, specially during a pandemic.

 

[Neo_game]

Sad. Microsoft is determined for SS to be their main console ? May be the reason is since more SS can be made than SX and as long as they get Gamepass to them it really does not matter.

 

[THE DUCK]

Maybe because MS undershipped the XSX and overshipped the cheaper console?

I dont know. I think it's weird for MS to produce just 4 million XSX, a console they proudly proclaimed the most powerful console ever made. Especially when Sony was able to produce 13 million PS5s in the same period. If I had designed the XSX, I would be pretty upset that 4 million out of the 8 million next gen Xbox owners are not getting the best console out there because my bosses decided to allocate the shipments 50-50.

The hardcore were always going to buy the more powerful Xbox. They sold 10 million Xbox Ones in the first year, and for 6 months that console was $100 more expensive than the PS4, and came with the kinect. The hardcore Xbox owners wouldve gone out and bought all 8 million Xbox Series X consoles.

Just a massive miscalculation by MS. They have cost themselves $200 of revenue for 4 million consoles. This is a console that should be sold once they have saturated the hardcore market at around 20-30 million. Then and only then they shouldve allocated more series s units to get the casuals onboard.

200 million in revenue that cost them an extra 200 million to make, so it's hardly a massive miscalculation. It is however odd that Sony managed to build so many more units overall, perhaps they straight up bribed/paid more per unit to get priority in factories. If they did, its probably money well spent at this point.

 

[THE DUCK]

Sad. Microsoft is determined for SS to be their main console ? May be the reason is since more SS can be made than SX and as long as they get Gamepass to them it really does not matter.

I seriously doubt this is the goal, more likely just a lack of being able to get the parts. (Or an unwillingness to pay more to get priority over said parts)

 

[MrFunSocks]

Anyone with half a brain and eye on the market knew and said that the S would be the biggest selling Xbox this generation. As literally every generation to date has proven, power is not what matters.

The Series S was a masterstroke by MS and is making all the very vocal doubters look like the fools they are.

 

[THE DUCK]

You can actually buy the S. None of these sales new articles make sense these days

Availability does not equal a lack of sales, otherwise you'd automatically say switch doesn't sell.

 

[MrFunSocks]

200 million in revenue that cost them an extra 200 million to make, so it's hardly a massive miscalculation. It is however odd that Sony managed to build so many more units overall, perhaps they straight up bribed/paid more per unit to get priority in factories. If they did, its probably money well spent at this point.

It’s not odd at all. How do you think apple and Samsung can continually get the most SOCs and parts built? They sell the most and get priority. Sony have better buying power than Ms due to selling more consoles consistently.

 

[THE DUCK]

It’s not odd at all. How do you think apple and Samsung can continually get the most SOCs and parts built? They sell the most and get priority. Sony have better buying power than Ms due to selling more consoles consistently.

Well true not odd per say, but its not like ms is lightweight in the market either. They knew they needed to build a lot, and money hats goes a long way. I mean throw 6 billion at a software company they could have thrown 2 billion at this problem too.......

 

[nush]

The upgrade path has been proven to work, cheap entry level console with the same IP and a higher spec pricier console also available. Backwards compatibility helps ease the transition.

Master race is constantly upgrading.

 

[Dr. Claus]

I visit a lot of game stores, both big names like GameStop and smaller, local ones. Not a single person I have spoken with has said they bought a Series S because they wanted an Xbox Console. They bought it because they wanted a good, decent Looking emulation machine.

That is the Series S’s only saving grace. Otherwise it would have literally been a waste of resources to build and sell as it is objectively inferior to the Series X in every concievable way.

If you have to pick one or the other, just save the extra money and get the one with a disk drive. Don’t purposefully gimp yourself to save a few bucks.

 

[nush]

That is the Series S’s only saving grace. Otherwise it would have literally been a waste of resources to build and sell as it is objectively inferior to the Series X in every concievable way.

If you have to pick one or the other, just save the extra money and get the one with a disk drive. Don’t purposefully gimp yourself to save a few bucks.

Parents don't think that way.

 

[THE DUCK]

I visit a lot of game stores, both big names like GameStop and smaller, local ones. Not a single person I have spoken with has said they bought a Series S because they wanted an Xbox Console. They bought it because they wanted a good, decent Looking emulation machine.

That is the Series S’s only saving grace. Otherwise it would have literally been a waste of resources to build and sell as it is objectively inferior to the Series X in every concievable way.

If you have to pick one or the other, just save the extra money and get the one with a disk drive. Don’t purposefully gimp yourself to save a few bucks.

Who cares about the disk drive, it hardly gimps it without. Fine make the argument it's got less storage, or is less powerful, but the disk drive? It's 2021, most people flat out don't care anymore. (ya most people not being the hardcore gamers on this forum that already bought one with a disc drive, and even then the group is shrinking every day)

 

[plip.plop]

Is it possible there is less Series X for sale because MS has been pushing to make cloud gaming better? In turn, this has caused them to allocate hardware that could be sold to now being used to make Series X server blades.

 

[01011001]

Is it possible there is less Series X for sale because MS has been pushing to make cloud gaming better? In turn, this has caused them to allocate hardware that could be sold to now being used to make Series X server blades.

that is certainly a factor I bet. given that the Series X is shipping in noticeably lower quantities than the PS5.
this should be mostly over now tho as most of their server farms seem to be updated

 

[Dr. Claus]

Who cares about the disk drive, it hardly gimps it without. Fine make the argument it's got less storage, or is less powerful, but the disk drive? It's 2021, most people flat out don't care anymore. (ya most people not being the hardcore gamers on this forum that already bought one with a disc drive, and even then the group is shrinking every day)

Considering that physical is still being sold by the truck loads and more and more companies are getting into these “limited run physical prints”, nah a lot of people care. Why are you defending the losing of options? There is literally no good reason to remove a disc drive. You are actively promoting having less control over your games.

 

[Tschumi]

As an owner of a XSS I suggest this: The big dick machine is the most expensive thing out there, and at this stage in the generation at least it isn't sufficiently better than the XSS to justify the boosted price tag.

 

[ReBurn]

 

[ReBurn]

Parents don't think that way.

Neither do like nearly 70% of gamers, tbh. Physical is dying. We all know it. Some of us just don't want to admit it.

 

[THE DUCK]

Considering that physical is still being sold by the truck loads and more and more companies are getting into these “limited run physical prints”, nah a lot of people care. Why are you defending the losing of options? There is literally no good reason to remove a disc drive. You are actively promoting having less control over your games.

It shrinks every year, stop trying to make it sound like it's making a comeback. I haven't barely touched a disk in 10 years and don't miss it one bit. Why?

- All my games are available to me at any time
- They can be played on 2 consoles at the same time - this cannot be understated
- Multiple games on multiple systems simultaneously without running to see which room the disk is in or having to buy 3 copies.
- I can see at a glance and load any of the 400+ games I own. Search by name, release date, size, etc.
- They never get scratched
- They never get stolen
- They never fail to get returned when borrowed
- I can always easily re-load them (yes with disk you do this too but then usually do an large update as well.......)
- Games are on sale all the time on the estore, sometimes the physical store is cheaper, sometimes the electronic version is cheaper, it's a wash. How much you want to bet all the games in the Wal-mart and the Gamestop black friday flyer are the exact same price online?
- I imagine quick resume becomes slow resume if you are finding and swapping disks in between..........if you know what I mean

So for many people, having a disk drive literally has zero value, it's just one more part that will never be used.
The very minor problem of not owning the disk if the world comes to an end doesn't faze me, nor do I care if they "take it away" in 20 years. By then I won't care.
And yes I know I lose out on the trade in value but I tend to buy them on sale anyhow, and honestly most of the people on here who champion disk version claim it to play it a long time later so I don't get that argument for them.
The pros far, far outweigh the cons.

 

[Sosokrates]

Maybe because MS undershipped the XSX and overshipped the cheaper console?

I dont know. I think it's weird for MS to produce just 4 million XSX, a console they proudly proclaimed the most powerful console ever made. Especially when Sony was able to produce 13 million PS5s in the same period. If I had designed the XSX, I would be pretty upset that 4 million out of the 8 million next gen Xbox owners are not getting the best console out there because my bosses decided to allocate the shipments 50-50.

The hardcore were always going to buy the more powerful Xbox. They sold 10 million Xbox Ones in the first year, and for 6 months that console was $100 more expensive than the PS4, and came with the kinect. The hardcore Xbox owners wouldve gone out and bought all 8 million Xbox Series X consoles.

Just a massive miscalculation by MS. They have cost themselves $200 of revenue for 4 million consoles. This is a console that should be sold once they have saturated the hardcore market at around 20-30 million. Then and only then they shouldve allocated more series s units to get the casuals onboard.

These kinds of posts from the same members are getting really tiring.

 

[kingfey]

How Many Xbox Series X/S Consoles Have Sold So Far? October 2021

An industry insider has estimated how many Xbox Series X/S consoles have been sold so far and the number might surprise you.

gamingintel.com

Total Worldwide Xbox Series X/S Sales Figures – October 2021​

The Xbox Series X/S was Microsoft’s most successful console launch ever and the sales keep on rising. This has later led to record earnings from Microsoft.

However, the company is quite secretive regarding the actual numbers of console sales. Luckily, industry expert Daniel Ahmad has provided a reliable estimate on how many Xbox Series X/S consoles have been sold so far.

He believes that Microsoft has sold over 8 million Xbox Series X/S consoles worldwide as of October 2021. Microsoft has not confirmed this figure, but it is likely to be a very good prediction.

 

[kingfey]

The reason Series S is getting sold fast, is because of 300$ console.

No insane parents will spend 500$ on a console. Especially, during a pandemic.

These next gen consoles don't really have impressive games. Mostly are cookie cutter, which old gen can run. Only difference is the ssd speed.

Until we truly have a next gen game, people will keep buying the series S.

Xbox one was the weakest console from the old gen. Yet, it can run forza 5, assassin creed Valhalla. So how the hell does the series S, which has the same teraflop ps4 Pro, and slightly less teraflops than x1x considered a weak already?

 

[GHG]

Sad. Microsoft is determined for SS to be their main console ? May be the reason is since more SS can be made than SX and as long as they get Gamepass to them it really does not matter.

No disk = better margins in games.

It also stands to reason that the negative margins on the console itself might in fact be better than the Series X.

As an owner of a XSS I suggest this: The big dick machine is the most expensive thing out there, and at this stage in the generation at least it isn't sufficiently better than the XSS to justify the boosted price tag.

You're getting a much worse deal on a TF per dollar and GB of storage per dollar basis in buying the Series S.

If you don't want to spend the extra money that's fine but let's not pretend they are giving you a better deal when you buy the S over the X. You're not.

 

[Tschumi]

No disk = better margins in games.

It also stands to reason that the negative margins on the console itself might in fact be better than the Series X.



You're getting a much worse deal on a TF per dollar and GB of storage per dollar basis in buying the Series S.

If you don't want to spend the extra money that's fine but let's not pretend they are giving you a better deal when you buy the S over the X. You're not.

no for real, i do not care about TFs and resolution as much as DF tells me to, i think previous-gen games look good enough, graphics hardly need improving imo, so upscaled 1440p is still gravy to me, or whatever they might choose to put on the XSS

to be honest i struggle to complete most of the games i buy anyway, and i've got a huge backlog on ps4 pro, it'd be a waste for me to buy an XSX just so i could play superfluous games in amazing detail for... nobody but my partly-interested wife and i to see

in my opinion it is good value because i'm not looking for a maxed out experience, i just want something to chuck on when i want - and to play ps2 games in HD on

 

[remember_spinal]

Once series x become readily available the sales for the s will plummet. It’s a half measure for people who waited too long to get into the next gen early. They will probably sell them all off by mid-gen.

I can literally walk into a store right now and buy an S, where as no one knows when they will ever be able to buy an X for the unforeseeable future

 

[S0ULZB0URNE]

Wasn't it recently posted here a 60/40 split?

 

[Tschumi]

Once series x become readily available the sales for the s will plummet. It’s a half measure for people who waited too long to get into the next gen early. They will probably sell them all off by mid-gen.

I can literally walk into a store right now and buy an S, where as no one knows when they will ever be able to buy an X for the unforeseeable future

I agree, I'll get a PS5 the moment i can walk into a shop and get one

 

[GHG]

no for real, i do not care about TFs and resolution as much as DF tells me to, i think previous-gen games look good enough, graphics hardly need improving imo, so upscaled 1440p is still gravy to me, or whatever they might choose to put on the XSS

to be honest i struggle to complete most of the games i buy anyway, and i've got a huge backlog on ps4 pro, it'd be a waste for me to buy an XSX just so i could play superfluous games in amazing detail for... nobody but my partly-interested wife and i to see

in my opinion it is good value because i'm not looking for a maxed out experience, i just want something to chuck on when i want - and to play ps2 games in HD on

Like I said, if you don't want to spend the extra money that's fine (because in your case you don't care about the differences for the reasons listed and the fact that you're also using it for emulation), but factually it's a worse deal than the X for the money you're spending.

 

[Tschumi]

Like I said, if you don't want to spend the extra money that's fine (because in your case you don't care about the differences for the reasons listed and the fact that you're also using it for emulation), but factually it's a worse deal than the X for the money you're spending.

Ah yep, right on

 

[Tschumi]

*brainwave*

Maybe the success of Switch can tell us something about the success of XSS.

 

[OrtizTwelve]

This shouldn’t be a surprise. The Series S:

- Easier to find, I’ve regularly seen it in stock at Best Buy, Target, Walmart, and Costco, more than likely if you’re looking for it you will find it available. Series X is still very hard to find in comparison.
- $299 for the majority of people is the sweet spot for a video game console, I am talking about the general consumer which is 99% of the people shopping this holiday season and not the nerds on here.

None of this is hard to understand if you understand business and the marketplace in regards to the general consumer. Series S was always positioned to do very well for Microsoft, given the price point and the features it offers for $299, along with ability to accumulate more add-on sales for more peripherals (proprietary memory expansion cards) and of course digital game purchases and game pass, all very good sources of revenue for Microsoft.

Its shocking to see the level of ignorance on this forum with regards to business and economics as it pertains to the Series S. I will say this again: the opinions of NeoGAF are NOT representative of the marketplace.

 

[Riky]

Makes all those people screaming that "nobody" wants one look pretty foolish.
Availability is obviously one reason as I've said before and this has probably happened quicker than Microsoft anticipated.
There is no doubt some people want a Series X and can't get one so have settled for an S but there is also people who didn't want to spend £449, who wanted something smaller, who only have a 1080p screen, who are putting the console in a bedroom, who are buying for a child, who want one as a second console. To think that the only reason people buy a Series S is because they can't get an X is very naive. I know one person with a Series S and when I asked why they didn't get an X it was simply because it was "big and ugly"
It costs only £249 here in the UK and actually being available(makes me laugh how people make that out to be a bad thing) will mean good sales over Christmas. I've noticed some big retailers like Argos going in and out of stock so it's obviously moving units.

 

[MrFunSocks]

Its shocking to see the level of ignorance on this forum with regards to business and economics as it pertains to the Series S. I will say this again: the opinions of NeoGAF are NOT representative of the marketplace.

Not only that, I'd go one further and say that whatever the majority opinion of neogaf users is, the opposite is more true.

 

[TheGodfather07]

I almost bought one because of the lack of series x stock, which is non existent.

 

[Gameplaylover]

I'm not surprised because of the scarcity. The S will get much more dominant when cross gen games are no longer being made and the casuals have to switch for their FIFA/COD/BF and so on. Casuals chose the cheaper console. After the PS4 Pro release 80% still bought the Slim although the Pro was almost double the power for just 100 bucks more.

the opinions of NeoGAF are NOT representative of the marketplace.

To say the least. GAf is full of fanatics, hardcore fanboys and (hard)core gamers. In the reality the vast majority of the gamers are casuals that tick completely differently.

 

[CrustyBritches]

XSS SoC is smaller, cheaper, and has better yields. MS is probably happy to get more chips per wafer with XSS, so they can sell more units and get more subs. Sony likely has a superior contract with TSMC and that's why they're able to pump out more consoles.

 

[Riky]

XSS SoC is smaller, cheaper, and has better yields. MS is probably happy to get more chips per wafer with XSS, so they can sell more units and get more subs. Sony likely has a superior contract with TSMC and that's why they're able to pump out more consoles.

Exactly.

To think that they could have made another 4 million Series X instead of the 4 million Series S they have sold shows a total lack of understanding of manufacturing. There are shortages of all sorts of components at the moment and Series S uses less resources overall. Then there is simply shipping and how many you can get on a container, people never actually think through what they are saying in a real world scenario.

 

[Bulletbrain]

Maybe because MS undershipped the XSX and overshipped the cheaper console?

I dont know. I think it's weird for MS to produce just 4 million XSX, a console they proudly proclaimed the most powerful console ever made. Especially when Sony was able to produce 13 million PS5s in the same period. If I had designed the XSX, I would be pretty upset that 4 million out of the 8 million next gen Xbox owners are not getting the best console out there because my bosses decided to allocate the shipments 50-50.

The hardcore were always going to buy the more powerful Xbox. They sold 10 million Xbox Ones in the first year, and for 6 months that console was $100 more expensive than the PS4, and came with the kinect. The hardcore Xbox owners wouldve gone out and bought all 8 million Xbox Series X consoles.

Just a massive miscalculation by MS. They have cost themselves $200 of revenue for 4 million consoles. This is a console that should be sold once they have saturated the hardcore market at around 20-30 million. Then and only then they shouldve allocated more series s units to get the casuals onboard.

You are forgetting a key point: hardware sales do not make MS any profit. The money maker is software. What MS has done is get away from the razor thin margin higher end hardware business and expand the channels on the money making software front. PCs, streaming and the lower cost XSs allows it to expand their addressable market for software. It's a solid strategy imo. Let's see how it plays out.

 

[Helghan]

Before launch Spencer said they expected that the Series S would outsell the Series X. So this shouldn't come as a surprise.

 

[Bernd Lauert]

Anyone with half a brain and eye on the market knew and said that the S would be the biggest selling Xbox this generation. As literally every generation to date has proven, power is not what matters.

The Series S was a masterstroke by MS and is making all the very vocal doubters look like the fools they are.

Yep. I didn't expect it to happen this soon, more down the line. But yeah, Series S will outsell Series X easily.

 

[NeoIkaruGAF]

I see some people still don’t understand that most console gamers only play a handful of games a year, meaning that even a small HDD is enough for them, and that for most people resolution and frame rate are negligible as long as the game is playable.

Being actually able to walk into a store and buy an XSS is relevant too, of course. I had to preorder my XSX, as to this day I’ve never seen a XSX box on a shelf, and the only PS5 I’ve seen in the flesh is a display unit in a big electronics store.