Next-gen console war: 84% of UK players prefer PS5 to Xbox Series X

This Christmas will see a new console war taking place. Sony’s PlayStation 5 and Microsoft’s Xbox Series X will be doing battle to win gamers’ hearts – and money. And, as we all know, the most fun part of an impending console war is speculating which side will emerge as the victor, right?

Well, thanks to a new survey of UK pop-culture fans, we might just have an idea of what the future might hold. Entertainment agency Experience12 collected data from 3,000 people, 80 per cent of whom were aged between 18 and 34. 

As reported by MCV Develop, the research shows that next-gen is very much where it’s at for gamers – with over half of the respondents planning to buy a next-gen console within the first three months of release.

Where it gets interesting, though, is their choice of which next-gen machine to plump for. When asked about their preferred console, a whopping 84 per cent named the PlayStation 5. That’s compared with just 15 per cent who are planning to invest in an Xbox Series X.

READ MORE: Which next-gen console will launch first?

PS5 vs Xbox Series X: who'll win the console war?

According to the survey, 37 per cent of gamers are intending to make the leap to next-gen “at launch”. A further 9 per cent expect to buy a new console within a month, 12 per cent within three months and 26 per cent within six months of launch.

This could be a significant indicator of how the upcoming console war will play out. Sony has certainly won on the current-gen front, having sold around 110 million units of the PlayStation 4 worldwide (regaining its crown after the PS3’s disappointing performance). That feat was achieved despite ongoing competition from the Nintendo Switch as well as the Xbox One.

If this survey is anything to go by, the PS5 looks set to repeat its predecessor's success when it launches later this year. As MCV points out, this could be down to Microsoft’s cross-generational approach, with games being playable on both the Xbox One and the Series X following launch.

However, don’t count the Xbox Series X out just yet. The same survey polled gamers on their most anticipated game releases, and there were two significant outcomes.

Firstly, the majority of the top five titles were multi-platform releases available for current-gen machines. Cyberpunk 2077 took the top spot, followed by Marvel’s Avengers, Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 1+2 Remaster and Dying Light 2. Does this mean that the early adopters could still be in the minority?

Secondly, the top five was rounded out by the only console exclusive on the list – Halo Infinite. Which is making its way to – wait for it – the Xbox Series X. If the quality of Microsoft’s Xbox-only releases can win around gamers, the PS5 will have a real fight on its hands.

READ MORE: Why the PS3 failed to win its war against the Xbox 360