r/videogames • u/D3struct_oh • May 13 '26

News / Trailers / Articles PS5 Exclusive Saros Reportedly Selling Worse Than You'd Expect

https://kotaku.com/analyst-claims-sonys-latest-ps5-exclusive-saros-isnt-selling-great-either-2000695652?fbclid=IwdGRleARxcuZleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBzcnRjBmFwcF9pZAo2NjI4NTY4Mzc5AAEeG-CkZ9KPtozDdUCRmNuvf27RXEmrsLfA73BVptvwWKP8A2MaGwiNVVMvH5A_aem_9pzQEWNCIDf-219jig3K0w
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u/KINGGS May 13 '26

They're second place to the Switch by about 70 million units, aren't they?

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u/Sandshrew922 May 13 '26 edited May 13 '26

Yes, but Nintendo left that market after the GameCube. Sony trounced the n64 and GameCube, so the Wii came out later with a lowered price tag and a gimmick. They were effectively in the position Microsoft finds themselves in right now. This is specifically about home consoles cuz the inverse was true for handhelds. The Gameboy/DS was a juggernaut.

Nintendo combined their handheld and console and staggered their release window away from Xbox and Playstation. It paid dividends with the Wii and Switch. They're the budget, family friendly console and/or everybody's 2nd console.

If Nintendo decided they wanted to make a GameCube successor that prioritized performance and launched it against the PS6 with a price tag to match, it would fail.

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u/KINGGS May 13 '26

Nintendo would never do it again, because it's a losing battle even for Sony and Microsoft. So it truly seems like the decision that they made in ~2004 was the right one.

In any case, I don't really agree with the GaMeR premise that it requires being the most powerful console in order to be in the running. I'm sure Sony would switch places with Nintendo right now, at least as far as their gaming division is concerned.

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u/thegta5p May 13 '26

Yeah I will say one of the reasons the PS5 and Xbox are struggling this gen compared to the previous gen’s is their push for graphics is backfiring right now. Chip and ram shortages are causing the prices for those components to rise up. Graphically intensive games depend on these parts so these consoles need to have them. And as a result this caused the prices for these consoles to rise. Even if the PS5 had the same amount of games as the PS4 I don’t see people justifying in dropping $600. The PS4 was $400 when it came out. To many that’s a huge jump.

And because of this many won’t be buying these games since they just don’t see it worth it spending it spending that much. And this creates a loop because as prices of components go up the more money the loose. And since they used to rely on the loss leading strategy where they made their money back from game sales, this is going to lead them to increasing the prices of these consoles more to recoup those costs.

Hence why Nintendo is able to price the Switch 2 at the similar price point as the PS4. They have lower specs so they don’t have to spend as much. Although they are not immune from these shortages. It’s just if they do a price increase it won’t be as high as these consoles.

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u/Sandshrew922 May 13 '26

I don't disagree, Nintendo absolutely made the right decision back then lol. It was a brilliant move to step away from the "arms race" in performance and focus on what they do well, Mario doesn't need to have insane graphics and Windwaker is the best looking "old" Zelda title because they moved away from realism.

I'm not knocking Nintendo at all. Just bought a Switch 2 on Friday and my PS5 is a paperweight I'm probably gonna sell if money gets tight. Only have a few games for it right now though.

ETA: my point wasn't a Playstation glaze, or meant to be. It's that Nintendo left the console war behind 20 years ago and now it sounds like Microsoft is poised to do the same.

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u/KINGGS May 13 '26

All three companies are targeting different audiences, or attempting to, but it's still an apples to apples comparison.

I don't plan on selling my PS5, but it's certainly as close to a paperweight as can be right now.

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u/Charbus May 13 '26

Out of curiosity do you have a PC?

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u/KINGGS May 13 '26

Yeah, not super highend but also I'm in IT and don't really want to sit in front of my computer all the time / didn't get in on the Steamdeck revolution. I may get a Steam Machine at some point, though.

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u/Charbus May 13 '26

Got it, it seems like it’s either pc or ps5, people who have both end up not using one or the other

I never had a steam deck but I had a ROG ally and didn’t enjoy it at all. Performance varies heavily and there’s a lot of configuration needed to make it work. Halo Infinite was barely playable on low settings, and older titles like fallout 3 and divinity didn’t play at all so I sold it.