According to a survey dubbed "Games Consoles: Purchase Intention Index Q2 2013" conducted by Strategy Analytics, a company that specializes in gathering market intelligence in emerging technologies, 14.2% of consumers are "very" or "somewhat likely" to purchase a PlayStation 4 within the next 12 months. That number drops in comparison to 9.5% when asked the same question for the Xbox One.
The survey sampled 6000 respondents across the US and Europe in June 2013, a "representative population sample" that I wish was slightly more representative considering that they're examining two continents instead of only one. That aside, it would seem that the PS4 has "nearly fifty percent" head start on the Xbox One when both release for the holiday season in Western markets. That should have Microsoft concerned.
Jia Wu, Director of Connected Home Devices, believes that Sony has the upper hand:
Our survey suggests that consumers believe the PS4 will win the early phase of the next generation console war. Sony's performance at E3 was widely accepted as superior to Microsoft's, and the survey evidence suggests this has already fed through to the wider consumer market.
Ed Barton, Director of Digital Media Strategies, still thinks Microsoft can do two things to recover:
There are still likely to be a few twists and turns before market launch. Microsoft has already demonstrated a willingness to listen to consumer concerns and it will now need to leverage the retention power of Xbox Live and invest in exclusive games if Xbox One is going to recover from its poor showing at E3.
