PS4 to hit 36 million sales, Xbox One to hit 30 million sales by 2018, say analysts

PlayStation 4 sales will surpass Xbox One by 2018, according to analysts Futuresource Consulting.

The firm expects both consoles to sell less than PS3 and Xbox 360 respectively, and predicts that PS4 sales will top 36 million unites worldwide by 2018, while Xbox One's is expected to shift 30 million units by then.

In a report, the company explains, "We expect the Xbox One to sell well in the USA due to existing customer loyalty, repositioning as an integrated multimedia home hub will open up further market opportunities, though it is launching into a crowded marketplace, so gaining a strong foothold in this category will be challenging.

"The PS4 is likely to maintain its strong lead in its core territories of Japan and continental Europe. Due to its lower price point and positive PR within the gaming community, the PS4 will also reduce Xbox's lead in the key Microsoft territories of the USA and UK when compared with previous generations.

"Due to the increased availability of high-quality alternative gaming platforms such as mobile devices, as well as expected propositions from tech powerhouses Apple and Google, we expect the installed bases of the Xbox One and PS4 to be 20 per cent lower than those of the previous generation after five years on the market.

“With increased market convergence and non-traditional competition, we could be looking at the last generation of gaming consoles as we know it."

The report also predicts that despite a growing interest in digital sales, the physical retail market will jump $430 million in 2014, bringing the boxed market's worth to £18.7 billion.

What do you make of the numbers above? Let us know below.

Via MCV.