The console war between Sony and Microsoft this year could be closer than ever. Both the consoles, the PS5 and the Xbox Series X, have great specifications that are almost identical. However, there’s a huge difference in pricing as well as features when it comes to the PS5 digital edition and the Xbox Series S.

Xbox Series S is priced at $299 and the PS5 digital edition at $399, but the Series S is a much less powerful machine than the PlayStation 5. At first glance, the pricing has led most to believe that Sony would outsell its counterpart rather easily. However, there are other things to consider before making this conclusion.

Sony’s chaotic management of the preorders

Soon after the PS5 showcase event, Sony had announced the pre-orders would go live soon. But the corporation didn’t really talk about any timings or retailers in this announcement, causing a major rush among the fans. As a result of the poor planning by Sony, many missed out on the chance to place a pre-order.

Due to this blunder by Sony, Xbox will fetch appreciation for doing the bare minimum of planning its pre-orders. Xbox also took a sly dig at the Japanese tech-giant.

Backward’s compatibility is a major issue for the PS5

Another aspect that Sony hasn’t clarified well enough is their stance on cross-generations. Sony was firm in its belief in segregating gaming generations. Surprisingly, however, they announced that games like Marvel’s Spiderman: Miles Morales and Horizon Forbidden West would also release on PlayStation 4.

On the other side, Xbox has worked significantly well on providing backward compatibility. Microsoft’s gaming console supports compatibility with three of its previous generations.

Price hike in first-party Sony games

The internet is divided on the price hike in Sony’s console, but the actual winner in this debate is Xbox. Xbox has successfully improved its financing programs with the introduction of project xCloud and the Xbox Game Pass. While Xbox seems to be pursuing a more long-term approach, Sony seems happy to take advantage of its huge brand value.

Moreover, in terms of consumer engagement, Xbox is more interactive and open. In recent times, Xbox has been trying its best to improve its image and consumer relationship, and has been successful in doing so.

Sony won the current generational war quite emphatically, but Xbox looks capable of giving them a run for their money this time around.