Coming out of a difficult year, Playstation will have its work cut out for it in 2025. While the console has had its share of hits in 2024, they have been few and far between compared to its misses. Between controversies, failures, and just plain bad business decisions, the PlayStation brand appears to be limping into the new year.
The strong competition from its main competitor certainly didn't help matters, as 2024 saw the scales tip heavily in favor of Xbox. The last few years haven't always been kind to Microsoft's platform, but it has overcome past shortcomings to emerge as a stronger brand than ever. Hopefully for Sony supporters, next year brings similar promise for the PlayStation brand as it has a lot to prove in 2025.
2024 was a difficult year for PlayStation
Failures and Controversies Cast a Long Shadow
Credit where it's due, Sony has suffered big swings in 2024, but most of them have suffered in embarrassing ways. The disastrous launch and immediate shutdown of the hero shooter Concordia It will go down in history as one of the biggest failures the gaming industry has ever seen, costing $400 million to develop and being shut down after just a few weeks. It is among the biggest financial losses ever recorded for a video game and it's sure to leave a stench on the PlayStation brand that won't be eliminated anytime soon.
Sony has also found itself embroiled in numerous controversies over the past year. While the commitment to releasing more first-party titles on PC should have been a win-win for the company and gamers, the addition of a PSN login requirement for Helldivers 2 on PC caused the game to be criticized almost into oblivion. Even the hardware launch couldn't save the console, as the long-awaited PS5 Pro faced immediate backlash for its exorbitant price.
It wasn't entirely bleak for PlayStation in 2024, as the year saw the release of several high-profile hits. Silent Hill 2 remake proved skeptics wrong with positive reviews and Astrobot won big at The Game Awards despite moderate expectations. However, these positives are undermined by the black marks left on Sony's reputation for its continued errors elsewhere.
Xbox celebrated big wins in 2024
Major releases drove Game Pass subscriber growth
On the other hand, Microsoft has been enjoying a banner year with Xbox in 2024. With the acquisitions of Bethesda and Activision Blizzard firmly in place, the Xbox library has seen some of its best current-gen additions. In particular, Indiana Jones and the Great Circle has impressed gamers and critics alike with its interpretation of the classic film franchise into a modern AAA game.
While Xbox doesn't have the best hardware sales of its time, Microsoft has deftly adapted to changes in the gaming industry with its continued support for Game Pass. While adding new games to your library has done a lot to increase its value, Where Xbox Game Pass really shines is with its fresh supply of games available on launch day. Although some issues have been disrupted by the service's price increases, gamers are flocking to Game Pass like never before as the number of subscribers has grown to over 34 million by 2024, as reported by The edge.
Microsoft doesn't look like it's going to rest on its laurels at the start of the new year, as it already has big plans in store. More games are coming to Xbox Game Pass, and with the promise of a portable Xbox platform in the works, gamers will have more ways than ever to play the biggest new releases at launch. Microsoft made one thing very clear in 2024: Xbox has the games and people know it.
What to expect from Xbox and PlayStation in 2025
Stay the course or play it safe
Sony and Microsoft are entering 2025 on very different trajectories and will have different plans as a result. Sony has a lot of work to do to try to regain the goodwill of its users after repeated PR disasters last year, especially as it continues to support the recently released PS5 Pro and its exorbitant price. With Sony executives committed to the live service model, it appears that PlayStation will continue to fight for fencesalthough it remains to be seen whether this decision is worth it.
The biggest battleground between the two will be the digital market. PC releases appear to be a consistent part of Sony's plan for the future, but it's entering an arena that Xbox already dominates. Microsoft already enjoys a comfortable lead in the PC gaming space, and with Game Pass set to continue adding new games and features, it will be an uphill battle for whatever efforts Sony makes.
After fighting for dominance in the home console market, Microsoft has clearly found its niche with its approach to console and PC gaming and the continued growth of Game Pass. Xbox handily won the war in 2024 against a competitor who seemed unable to land a single blow, but anything is possible in the future. With any luck, Playstation enthusiasts can expect a motivated resurgence of their favorite console in 2025.
Source: The edge