There are a lot of things to consider when you decide to finally release your game to the public. One of the biggest decisions you have to make is on which platform you want to publish it. Computer, mobile or… On a console. Of course, there is always the option of releasing it on more than one platform but it’s going to drastically increase the cost the more platforms you want to target. Today we’re going to focus on the comparison of Xbox vs Playstation for devs to see which of them would fit your needs the best and where your game would be the most successful!
Xbox & Playstation: The Eternal Rivals
There have been plenty of consoles in the past, especially during the earlier stages with systems like Atari or Sega which sadly didn’t survive on the market and vanished over the years. Sony’s Playstation and Microsoft’s Xbox on the other hand have been constant pillars that both have acquired a very large fanbase ever since the first release. Of course, we can’t forget the Nintendo consoles that have also prevailed till this day but unlike the other two, it falls into its own category so we’ll put it aside for now.
XBox and Playstations have been rivals ever since they were first released. That comes as no surprise since Sony and Microsoft target very similar audiences with their systems. While owning one console doesn’t mean you can’t buy a second one, people often have to choose between one or the other. Either for money reasons or sentimental ones. There is no right or wrong decision here. Both consoles are very good in their own right but depending on your preference, one might be better for you than the other.
The Difficulty Of Publishing On Consoles
While publishing your game on the computer is relatively easy nowadays, consoles are a whole other beast. Self-publishing on Steam comes rather cheap and you can publish your game in early access which gives you plenty of chances to gain an audience even before your project is fully done. But it’s different for consoles.
Like Steam, both Xbox and Playstation require you to apply for their developer program first. Applying is just the first step but getting your game to be published isn’t as easy as it might sound. Unlike Valve, Microsoft and Sony require you to properly pitch the game to them in order to be accepted as a developer on their platform.
Pitching your game can be extremely challenging, especially if you’re a new and unknown publisher. So, it’s very important for you to be well prepared before presenting it to them. While concept art, game design documentation and such are a great start, the best way to really sell your game is to have a playable prototype.
Finding The Right Audience For Your Game
Every platform has its own unique target audience and players which is why the comparison of Xbox vs Playstation is very important for devs. You have to find which one is best for you. Look at the games released on each platform and what people tend to buy them. Do they match with your own?
You need to consider what types of games are the most successful on each platform, which genre they are and why they are doing so well. You should also consider the demographics and cultural aspects as well. For example, Western & Eastern gaming cultures are very different from each other and so is their preference for platforms. In Asian countries, most people prefer mobile devices while in the Eastern regions, people prefer computers and consoles.
Sony’s PlayStation is also more famous for their RPG heavy line-up while Microsoft’s Xbox seems to shine when it comes to shooter and sport games. While both of them offer a wide array of games in all different kinds of genres, each of them has its own unique fan base and tendencies. For example, if you want to release a cozy game that doesn’t require a lot of power, you might be even better off with the Nintendo Switch in your case!
The Tech Inside The Consoles
While technology is ever-evolving and things are getting better and better, the two consoles actually don’t differ too much from one another nowadays. Let’s take a look at the current specs of the newest generations in our comparison of Xbox vs Playstation for devs:
| PS5 | Xbox Series X | |
| Price | $499 (PS5) / $399 (PS5 Digital Edition) | $499 (Xbox Series X) |
| Exclusive Examples | God of War: Ragnarök, Final Fantasy 16, Horizon: Forbidden West… | Forza Motorsport, Halo Infinite, Starfield, Avowed… |
| Backwards Compatibility | PS4 | Xbox One, XBox 360, XBox |
| CPU | 8-core 3.5 GHz AMD Zen 2 | 8-core, 3.8 GHz AMD Zen 2 |
| GPU | 10.3 teraflop AMD RDNA 2 | 12.0 teraflop AMD RDNA 2 |
| RAM | 16 GB GDDR6 | 16 GB GDDR6 |
| Storage | 825 GB custom SSD | 1 TB custom NVMe SSD |
| Resolution | > 8K | > 8K |
| Frame Rate | max. 120 fps | max. 120 fps |
| Optical Disc Drive | 4K UHD Blu-ray | 4K UHD Blu-ray |
As you can see, Xbox is more powerful in its specs than the PS5 but most games run smoother and with less loading time on the Playstation thanks to the optimizations made. On the other side, there are quite a lot of games that show richer and better ray tracing on the Xbox.
The Difference Between Controllers
Another big factor in choosing which console to pick is their controller. Both the PlayStation 5 DualSense Wireless Controller and Xbox Wireless Controller are market-leading but there are still a few things you should keep in mind before choosing:
| PS5 DualSense Wireless Controller | Xbox Wireless Controller | |
| Battery | 6-12 hours (rechargeable battery pack) | 40 hours (AA batteries) |
| Connectivity | USB Type-C | Bluetooth, Micro-USB |
| Headset Support | 3.5mm headphone jack | Yes |
| PCCompatibility | Yes | Yes |
| Built-In Microphone | Yes | No |
| Touchpad | Yes | No |
Both controllers are excellent in their own right but each do have their ups and downs. While the Xbox controller has been a solid and extremely reliable controller, it lacks the innovation some developers need.
With the DualSense you can make use of the touchpad, the built-in mic and the adaptive triggers to make your game stand out from the rest.
However the innovation of the DualSense also came with a heavy cost. The batteries are running out rather quickly and because of how late Sony opened up to the PC market, a lot of games don’t support the PlayStation control which makes the Xbox controller a better choice if you also want to publish your game on the computer.
Support For Their Developers
In both cases, you have to buy an extra dev kit in order to be able to properly develop a game for each of the consoles which means extra costs on your part. Both Microsoft and Sony offer support for their developers which can vary a lot depending on the individual’s needs and their budget.
Either way both companies require you to finish your game before they are going to release it on their consoles. Having a publisher on your side can also help in getting accepted by Playstation and Xbox and can also lead to additional funding and exposure for your game.
Multi-Platform Or Exclusivity?
While exclusivity often sounds nice and it seems to have worked for Nintendo for decades, the trend on most consoles has drastically changed over the past years. More and more games that used to be platform-exclusive have left their original console behind and expanded their reach to others.
Even games like God Of War who release their game on only one console have re-released it on multiple other ones years later. This not only gives them higher profit and more reach but it also makes their game way more accessible to people. While being able to select from a wide range of products is a huge privilege… That doesn’t mean that being forced to own multiple gaming devices is a good idea. Some people prefer gaming on the couch, others on the computer… One player loves the many shortcuts on the keyboard while others enjoy the simplicity of a controller. So why should people be forced to play on a device they don’t enjoy?
If you release your game for one console, don’t automatically rule out the others. Especially if you’re new on the market. Find what works best for you and your audience. Whatever that may be.
As you can see, PlayStation and Xbox are not far away from each other so most of it comes down to your personal preference. Of course, it also comes down to who is going to accept your proposal and who doesn’t. While the Playstation is preferred by the majority of devs (just by a small margin) most people in the industry are hoping that things will become more unified and that people won’t be divided into two different camps anymore. Hopefully our comparison of Xbox vs Playstation for devs was helpful! If you have any questions, let us know!
If you want to release your game on one of those platforms it would definitely help to find yourself a publisher that can help you with that:
Find The Perfect Match: How To Get A Publisher For Your Game
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