Report: Xbox One Demand Surging, Could Outpace PlayStation 4 3-to-1

The next generation console wars have already begun. Sure, it will be a few months before Sony and Microsoft drop their respective PlayStation 4 and Xbox One consoles into retail, but changing feature-sets, preliminary analysis, and pre-orders statuses all serve as jabs before the real fight begins. So, which one is off to an early lead?

That would the Xbox One. Baird analyst Colin Sebastian had some interesting things to say in a note to investors regarding the next generation console wars.

Xbox One

"Despite losing the headline battles at E3, Microsoft's Xbox One appears to be regaining some momentum, in part due to the used and online policy tweaks," Sebastian wrote in his note, according to GamesIndustry International. "Importantly, our supply chain checks suggest Microsoft may have the benefit of a 2-3X advantage at launch compared to Sony's PS4."

That would be quite the win for Microsoft considering its console costs $100 more than Sony's. One reason it might not matter at the outset is because early adopters are more willing to pay a pricing premium for the product they want. It's also not an arbitrary price gap, as the Xbox One includes a second generation Kinect motion control sensor.

Regardless, it was a smart move on Microsoft's part to reverse course on a couple of its unpopular policies, such as a mandatory check-in every 24 hours.