The PS4 and PS5 gained another 10 million players over the Xbox in 2024, as gap in console sales grows

With Microsoft not focusing on hardware, it's unsurprising that the PS5 would gain a larger advantage in the battle for console sales. Still, thanks to new Ampere data, gamers have evidence to prove PlayStation's dominance. By the end of 2024, 10 million more U.S. gamers were using Sony consoles than their Xbox rivals. According to The Game Business, the disparity would be greater without Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 debuting on Xbox Game Pass.

Ampere's statistics show that as 2022 closed, PlayStation had a six million player edge over Microsoft's consoles. The gap has gradually grown and will likely widen further over the next several years. Microsoft is now prioritizing publishing on multiple platforms, including the PS5. As former Xbox exclusives like Forza Horizon 5 arrive on the PlayStation, Series X console sales have suffered. Microsoft is reportedly working with Asus on a Windows handheld, but a new Xbox console may not surface until 2027 or 2028.

Even though Xbox games are available on the PS5, Game Pass kept some players committed to the Series X and S. While PC Game Pass mirrors many of the same titles, the subscription service is not on PlayStation. The effect of Game Pass was evident with Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 during October 2024. The Game Business documents how Black Ops 6 had the most players at launch in the shooter franchise's history. Game Pass also enjoyed the largest increase in subscribers in a single day.

Unfortunately for Microsoft, the momentum driven by the Activision title didn't last long. Xbox consoles have lost their share among the Black Ops 6 player population. After having a lead, there are roughly the same number of players on PlayStation and Xbox consoles.

As Microsoft Gaming CEO Phil Spencer admitted, some gamers prefer traditional ways of purchasing titles. Game Pass alone won't prevent Sony from gaining a greater foothold in the console wars. Of course, recent Xbox console price increases also make Microsoft's hardware less tempting to buyers.