[worrycue]

> It's why this generation of XBox is struggling against PS5.

I think a big part of a console’s success is how its previous version did. The PS2 wouldn’t sell the way it did if not for the clout/consumer trust from the PS1.

The Xbox Series* line of consoles came after the Xbox One which was an utter PR disaster that handed Sony the generation on a silver platter.

* Horrible naming. You wouldn’t know it was the successor to the Xbox One if no one told you.

[goosedragons]

That doesn't hold. There is some stickiness but just look how horribly the Wii U did after the superstar success of the Wii, how hard Sony had to push with the PS3 despite the monster success of the PS2, how terrible the Sega Saturn did in North America, etc.

[worrycue]

The Wii did well as a fad but most of its buyers just toss it in the closet after the novelty wore off.

The PlayStation 3 was a screw up. It was too expensive and came out late after the 360. It damaged Sony’s reputation somewhat but did alright despite Sony’s misstep IMHO due to the PS2’s clout.

The Saturn … so many mistakes by Sega. Got trounced on price by the PlayStation. Was rushed to market at the last minute to try to beat the PlayStation to the market, resulting in shortages and uneven distribution that piss off retailers and limited launch titles. The earlier launch date also pissed retailers off because they have to adjust floor space and piss launch title developers off because their titles can no longer make the new date and they were banking on the visibility of being a launch title. There was mixed messaging with the launch of the X32, which flopped, relatively close to the Saturn’s launch too which hurt consumer trust. Sega burned a lot of bridges.

All things being equal this generation, the PS4’s tremendous popularity IMHO helped the PS5 pull ahead of the Series X - don’t get me started on the confusingly named cousin system the Series S.