14 DAY TRIAL // The PlayStation 4 from Sony has managed to outsell the Xbox One from Microsoft on the United States market for the fifth month in a row in May, which means that the device is now the uncontested leader of the next-gen hardware battle.
The performance of the Sony device can probably be explained by its lower price and by a feeling among the potential customer base that the device offers more computing power than any other on the market.
Sony has not offered info on how many units the PlayStation 4 has actually sold in the United States in May and Microsoft has also failed to give any clear details on the sales of the Xbox One.
The NPD Group says that the 3DS has also performed very well during the month and that the Wii U from Nintendo saw a solid boost in its own numbers after the late launch of Mario Kart 8.
Even the PlayStation Vita saw an increase in its sales after it received its own version of the very popular Borderlands 2, and a new PS4 bundle might also make it more interesting to customers.
The NPD Group says that total industry sales for the month of May have increased when compared with the same period of 2013 by 52 percent in order to reach 586 million dollars (390 million Euro).
Both hardware and software posted solid increases, of 95% and 52%, respectively, over the similar period of last year.
The analysis company says that the introduction of the next generation of home consoles has benefited the entire industry and that the positive trend should continue in the coming months and should become even more pronounced during the autumn launch season.
In early June, Microsoft launched a new retail package for the Xbox One, which no longer includes the Kinect motion tracking system and sells for 399 dollars or Euro.
This means that the price is now in line with that of the PlayStation 4, which probably means that the competition between the two devices will become more heated in the coming months.
The Wii U is also becoming a solid contender after the launch of Mario Kart 8 and the effect of the title’s launch might continue to be felt during the summer.
Nintendo also believes that Super Smash Bros and a new The Legend of Zelda can boost its platform and make a strong competitor to the Xbox One and the PlayStation 4.