Microsoft CEO: Xbox Series X|S Outsold the PS5 in the US, Canada, UK, and Western Europe in Q1 2022 - Sales
by William D'Angelo , posted on 26 April 2022 / 5,048 Views
Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella in an earnings call with investors discussed the success of the Xbox Series X|S and has revealed it has gained marketshare among the next-generation consoles over the last two quarters.
The Xbox Series X|S was also the best-selling next-generation console in the first quarter of 2022 in the US, Canada, UK, and Western Europe.
"With our Xbox Series S and X consoles, we have taken share globally for two quarters in a row and were the market leader this quarter among next gen consoles in the U.S., Canada, U.K., and Western Europe," said Nadella.
Nadella also mentioned more than 10 million people have used Xbox Cloud Gaming to date and the service has expanded into four new countries.
"With Xbox Cloud Gaming… more than 10 million people have streamed games to date, and we expanded the service to four new countries," he added.
The Microsoft CEO did reveal the number of hours played by Xbox Game Pass subscribers is up 45 percent over the past 12 months and is now at billions of hours played.
"Billions of hours have been played by Game Pass subscribers over the past 12 months, up 45%," said Nadella.
A life-long and avid gamer, William D'Angelo was first introduced to VGChartz in 2007. After years of supporting the site, he was brought on in 2010 as a junior analyst, working his way up to lead analyst in 2012. He has expanded his involvement in the gaming community by producing content on his own YouTube channel and Twitch channel dedicated to gaming Let's Plays and tutorials. You can contact the author at wdangelo@vgchartz.com or on Twitter @TrunksWD.
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If you want to boast about gained market share, care to start sharing actual console numbers again Mr. Nadella? :)
Definitely makes VGChartz look pretty spot on with their estimates even more though!
They really should care about selling consoles, because less than 1% PC gamers even would care for any subscription gaming.
Heh, that's what people said about EA Access and Gamepass back in the day.
Yes, and that's the reality on PC, that was my point. First of all, at least 50% on PC just pirate in most countries. Most who don't, they just buy steam game sales. I do not know a single person with a PC or laptop that has gamepass.
Even I have a powerful PC, more powerful than the series X, and I don't care for gamepass, I prefer to buy my games on sale, like I always did.
Yeah, yeah, yeah... Eksbawks bad, we get it.
If most on PC pirated, then why are devs gaining sales on PC in the first place?.
Also I've heard the whole "powerful PC" ownership before, but it's the same story, and those PC's are hardly used over the obvious console ownerships by said users. I see that on twitter a lot.
I think the truth is somewhere in the middle. Sony, for example, wouldn't be going to all the expense (not to mention fan backlash) of porting their first-party games to PC if piracy outweighed the sales benefit. But despite these being old games, they seem to be selling great on PC. Microsoft seems to be having lots of success in the Steam charts with games like Sea of Thieves and Forza Horizon.
FWIW, and admittedly totally anecdotally, I have a friend who subscribed to PC Game Pass. No influence of mine, he and I had never discussed Game Pass previous to the conversation where he told me that he had subscribed to it. I admit I was surprised. But between Obsidian (Other Worlds) and Bethesda (Fallout, Elder Scrolls), he saw enough value in it for him.
Since then he's upgraded to Ultimate as he wanted to try game streaming too, which was something else I didn't suggest to him as I didn't think he'd be into it.
But they didn't dismiss selling consoles entirely, they're doing it and even celebrating their renewed success on that front. But they talk about the hardware from the perspective of the platform, and Game Pass is the platform IMO. Last I checked, Microsoft's CEO's remuneration package was partly dependent on Game Pass growth, but not at all tied to Xbox hardware growth, so there's no question where their focus is.
Even if only for two quarters and not combined and due to special circumstances... I'm sure he won't talk whenever they lose marketshare.
Brand doesnt rely solely on console sales anymore. Its actually meaningless and is only used to fan fanboy flames. Hopefully soon, they all move past these numbers and focus on the more important number, the players.
VGChartz vindicated again. You all should be very proud of your work.
Absolutely massive month for Xbox. I am also now wondering if Sony missed their quarterly console shipments target
Nice! So they are competing with Sony now? Good to know for future flip flop PR statements.
Just this quarter and in specifics markets, just like in the past sales only mattered in holidays.
1) He didn't say "Worldwide"
2) If you are willing to talk about sales when you are on top you should also talk about them when you aren't.
Tbf, not even Sony holds a candle to Nintendo in markets like Japan, so if anyone is gonna claim worldwide, it’s gonna be Nintendo lol
Obviously. Not the point of this article though
Sony has made the worst possible product for Japan, most people in Japan live in tiny apartments, very cramped, they do not want a huge console. Those places will always favour portables. And in places like China, most people play PC or on laptop as piracy is very abundant.
We actually cant talk about sales until all consoles are widely available for purchase, the switch is way more available than the other 2, even tough I have seen plenty series S. Xbox in Japan is a difficult prospect, even final fantasy 7 remake is not on xbox yet, not to mention persona 5 and many others.
The switch just had the new Pokemon which is a huge franchise in Japan, no one else can compete. Not to mention rune factory 5.
He did say "Globally."
Globally in Japan!?!
Globally means combined Xbox sales worldwide for the quarter was more than combined worldwide sales of PlayStation (in units).
Ah, globally in the US. Got ya.
Title: Canada, UK, and Western Europe, etc. Clearly it means combined sales worldwide.
At least it is more global than USA =p
And it also showed Xbox sales > PS5
Hehe :) I get it
Why should they even talk about sales in general? Means nothing to consumers
And why would he talk about sales in specific market then?
Why do you think?
Because he will only talk about what he can see as a win.
Shots fired lol
So after almost 10 years sales matter again?
to the businesses the sales always matter, not sure why we all care unless you are a share holder of one or more of the companies
They dont matter, its nothing more than fanning flames.
So Satya is a console flamming warrior?
Well yeah, why else do you think his announcing it? Puts the competition down to increase the hype of their own products.
He is doing PR for his company as one would expect. I had no idea that made him a console flamming warrior, thanks for clarifying.
Never said he was a console flaming warrior lol. However, outside of shareholders, these numbers only fanboys care about and it means nothing to anyone unless you are a share holder. I hope they continue to not show any numbers and we move past hardware sales and focus on the more important software sales.
I asked if he was a console flamming warrior and your answer was "well yeah".
And if only fanboys care about this type of information why are you here commenting on it? Even more when you are adamant they don't matter.
"Well yeah" was sarcastic. Im here to see fanboys wave flags over plastic box sales. Imagine being an adult and caring about this stuff.
And watching these allegedly fanboys waving flags is the adult thing to do?
I think you should be looking at the flag wavers with the comment.
it's easy to say that when sony is clearly having hardware manufacturing issues. I wanted to see if the manufacturing was normal. The way he talks is as if the ps5 is stranded in stores lol
Nedella's comments are still on point, as Microsoft has been able to grow share despite their own supply constraints on the Series X. And the success of Game Pass is a separate issue that suggests Microsoft will continue to do well, as lots of that Game Pass use will be on Xbox One consoles, and those people will likely upgrade to an Xbox Series console when the time comes. Ultimately, all three (Microsoft, Sony, and Nintendo) are doing great this generation.
That said, I share your curiosity about how well each of the three will be doing once none of them are supply constrained. That will indeed be interesting.
Great numbers considering exclusives have been lacking in 2022. All hope is on Starfield for a massive Holiday.
Nadella needs to let Phil worry about this. Phil doesn't want to announce sales, not sure why Nadella feels the need to announce this. Who honestly cares.
With cost of living prices soaring Gamepass is a very attractive proposition for more people. In the last few of weeks I've beaten Guardians of the galaxy and life is strange true colours , not to mention a lot of Forza and state of decay 2 also been played. Not bad for £11.99.
These sales numbers mean nothing, both consoles are selling equally bad when it comes to what they should be selling. We wont get a proper idea of how well there both doing until the chip shortage is sorted.
Typical Microsoft, they don't talk numbers until they are winning, then it becomes important all of a sudden. Where did he mentioned the PS5 being 5 million sales ahead while being more expensive?
Doesn't matter... the sales is only relevant in these 2 quarters and markets, of course without saying how much difference in sales there was.
Wanna bet they wont talk end of quarter numbers? I can bet you on that, because sony numbers will be better, exactly like I said.
Which hardware numbers did they say? MS saying, they sold better isn't numbers. They are still being consistent with sharing revenue and engagement.
They said they sold better than sony. I can guarantee you they wont mention sales being better or worse next month, I can bet you on it. They only mention numbers or selling better than ps5 when it fits them. Weren't they the ones who said console sales is not important? Then why even mentioning whenever they manage to sell more than sony?
So when Microsoft sells less than sony they say console sales don't matter, when they sell more, then suddenly console sales matter?
Did they even mention they only achieved that because ps5 is out of stock everywhere and series S is widely available? Of course not, how convenient.
Well if you are paying to hobble Sonys chip supplies its going to be easy!
I don't think they paid manufacturers to produce less for Sony. Rumour is that they paid for priority access for their own chips to be made, but that doesn't necessarily mean much of the corresponding shortfall hits Sony (it might be a little bit hits PS consoles, a little bit hits smartphone production, a little bit hits chips for cars, etc.).
Must be because the chip on Series is closer in similarity to PS5 than smartphone and cars (and from what we know smartphones pay more and are smaller so can produce more isn't that right?)
So when Sony was paying for chip priority in 2021, did you care then? ?
They did?!?
I have no idea lol. I'm just talking shit. The fact some try to say this as as way to downplay Xbox sales is funny. If Sony paid for priority last year, good for them. Anyone upset because their favorite box is losing to another box has too much time on their hands.
