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The global games software market is expected to exceed $100bn in 2017, according to a new report from Futuresource Consulting, with console game sales rising significantly toward the end of the year during Q4.
The report estimates that over 20m physical Switch games will be sold this year, while Xbox One game sales will hit 70m. The report didn’t specify how many PS4 game would be sold this year, but Futuresource analyst and co-author of the report Tristan Veale said he expected any sales growth to be "more muted" compared to Nintendo and Microsoft, despite the introduction of the PS4 Pro and PS4 Slim late last year.
Sony PS4 Pro is a more typical mid-cycle console upgrade,” said Veale. Sony has taken few risks with exception of omitting to include a UHD Blu-ray player but has a dominant position having outsold Xbox by two to one in this generation.”
Despite Sony’s continued dominance, however, Veale said that the introduction of the Xbox One X "may well change the console market forever" as it hints toward the death of the traditional 6-8 year console cycle.
As a result, Veale expects Xbox One game sales to grow by 13 per cent this year. PS4 game sales, meanwhile, are estimated to grow by just 3 per cent.
The PC market has mastered upgrading hardware yet retaining backwards compatibility and Microsoft seem intent on the same with this console launch,” Veale added. Newer, higher powered consoles may continue to be launched in the future, with games taking advantage of performance improvements and allowing users to create a significant library of games.”
