
Lately, there's been a lot of discussion about the sales gap between PS4 and Xbox One. Some people have brought up the FACT that PS4 is currently available in 72 countries, while Xbox One is available in only 13.
It seems that most of the Sony supporters on N4G have concluded that the extra countries are irrelevant because the Playstation brand is strong, and the Xbox brand has historically been weak, in those countries. Not only that, but it seems that anyone who brings up the difference in available countries is attacked and ridiculed for daring to mention it. However, if you look at historic console sales, there's still a large significance to be had from releasing in those extra countries.
Remember, right now PS4 is selling "X" amount of consoles in those countries, while Xbox One is selling ZERO. ANY Xbox One sales will close the deficit, even if Xbox One sells significantly less than PS4 there.
Here's a recent post from a Sony supporter trying to downplay the importance of the extra countries:
"Based on 360 numbers
North America = ~57% of 360 sales
Europe = 31%
Japan = 2%
Other = 10%
Since XBO is fully released in its NA regions we have:
North America = ~3m
Europe = ~1.6m
Japan = 105k
Other = 530k
Total = ~5.2m"
Here's the link - http://n4g.com/news/1498359...
So, let's extrapolate. According to his figures 10% of 360's sales were from "other" countries, and, so far, 10% of Xbox One's sales are from "other" countries.
MS has currently shipped 5.1 Xbox One's, which is right in line with the figures quoted above. So, if MS gets another 10% from the countries that it has yet to release Xbox One in, that means around 510,000 more consoles.
Considering the sales gap between PS4 and Xbox One is currently around 2.2 million, that extra 510,000 would immediately shave off nearly 25% of PS4's lead. Anyone want to argue that 25% isn't significant? Heck, even 15% or 20% would be a significant chunk. Makes the 2:1 sales margin that Sony fans are hoping for seem way out of reach now.
Nobody is claiming that Xbox One needs to outsell PS4, or even come close to PS4's numbers in the countries in which Xbox One hasn't been released. All it needs to do is continue to match it's historic numbers (10%) to remain competitive. PS4 is currently running unopposed in many parts of the world, and that's a big factor in it's EARLY lead. Some people don't want to believe it, but it's true. Once Xbox One is fully released, PS4 will still have the lead, but it won't be by nearly as much.
Here's another quote from a Sony supporter in the same article:
"then what hope does the X1 have in territories that are already PS4 dominated territories and won't bring in a fraction of the sales of the 13 it's in already?"
Once again, there's downplaying of the extra countries because Xbox One may sell only a "fraction" of what it does in the U.S. and U.K. Well, that "fraction" will be enough to quickly eliminate a large percentage of the current worldwide sales deficit.
So, fear not loyal Sony fans - your console will still be in the lead even after the Xbox One launches in the same countries PS4 is currently in. The lead will simply be smaller. However, trying to pretend that those extra countries won't matter is simply naive, and attacking anyone who's capable of doing the math (and seeing the truth therein) is nothing short of desperation.

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I'm going to be able to end the discussion of this blog simply by clarifying a point you are mistaken on.
"It seems that most of the Sony supporters on N4G have concluded that the extra countries are irrelevant because the Playstation brand is strong, and the Xbox brand has historically been weak, in those countries."
No. It isn't that the Playstation brand is stronger in those countries, it's that those countries don't make up significant sales for any of the consoles. The bulk of console sales are in 3 territories. U.S., Europe (mostly U.K.) and Japan. Every other territory never matches even close. So the fact that the PS4 is for sale in 72 countries and the Xbox One isn't even in 20 does make a difference, but not a big difference. And when the Xbox One launches in those territories, it won't move the gap in any meaningful for the Xbox One.
Your math is irrelevant because it's purely speculative. Your extrapolations aren't based on any observable fact, merely the quote of another user who didn't provide his sources and seemed to be giving a rough estimation to try and explain his real point, that being that the other territories are miniscule compared to the other major territories. This means your data is inherently flawed and based on nothing.
"So, fear not loyal Sony fans - your console will still be in the lead even after the Xbox One launches in the same countries PS4 is currently in. *The lead will simply be smaller.*"
Okay - so what are you even attempting to argue about?
If MS fails to get over their seeming bad position yet still pick up sales in these new territories they're still going to fall behind compared to Sony, as you very well point out, but so what?
So long as the 8th console gen doesn't resemble the 6th where the gap between the PS2 and Xbox was 60 million - which was honestly humiliating - WHO THE F*** CARES!?
But what about the cost it takes to ship the X1s to all the new countries? I'm no accountant or anything but I'm sure that that will cost a decent chunk of change. So if they spend all this money to ship, and if they dont sell well then they might just lose money! So there' isn't just a positive turnout for this.
Doesn't matter to me. Doesn't matter to me if the PS4 sells in more countries.
Sales will not make Halo any better or worse. Will not make Haze any better of a game. Will not make Uncharted trash. Will not change how I feel about Killzone.
People care too much. What place did your washer come in?
"Considering the sales gap between PS4 and Xbox One is currently around 2.2 million"
No they did not, that would require them to have sold 5 million units, they have shipped 5 million and sold around 4.2 million so far. The lead is only going to get worse from here. The sooner you accept that the easier this generation will be for you.