With the Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3) just hours away from kicking off over in LA, Amazon has released a statement regarding the pre-order race between the PlayStation 4 and the recently launched Xbox One.
The web-based department store reports that since sales went live both Sony and Microsoft’s latest home consoles offerings are selling at an equal pace (with Xbox taking just a handful more early buys) and there is not a margin of which will outsell the other. Amazon VP Xavier Garambois says “It’s not clear yet which of the two will have the edge when they launch later this year – what’s certain, though, is that fans are already excited about how the next generation of consoles will change the world of gaming and home entertainment.”
Unlike Sony, Microsoft put all its hardware out there at the Xbox One reveal on 21st May, to some mixed criticism about its appearance. PlayStation fans have been left salivating for a glimpse of the console’s casing after only being teased with a controller on the 20th of February.
Sony Worldwide Studios President Shuhei Yoshida has previously explained the reason behind this strange approach was so there would be “something new for later. Otherwise you’d get bored”. It’s clear that Sony just wished to let its product sizzle up until till the three day E3 which begins today and the company, like Microsoft, will get a shot at centre stage to sell its new wares on Tuesday.
Despite early concerns that Sony’s curtaining of its full product might give its rival an early advantage in the oncoming gaming war, Amazon’s report suggests this isn’t so and we can really look forward to a battle for console supremacy (and our open wallets) over the next few days.
Amazon.co.uk pre-order pricing for both the Xbox One and PS4 is currently £599.99 each.