The recent news makes it closer than it would have been, but I think Sony will have too big a head start due to their existing install base for this coming gen. But the gen after this one is a different story and absolutely anything could happen. Xbox could do quite a lot of catching up once all these new studios start delivering regular content from about 2022 onwards.
yeah. Xbox is definitely in a much stronger position...........long term.
And 2022 seems like a right number when we will start seeing the results of all these acquisitions. But, it could take longer than 2022 before we really start seeing results.
And that is under the assumption that whatever these studios produce will be good or even mega-successful.
The problem is that none of this really helps the state of Xbox now, especially when the new console is launching. Xbox would be in a much stronger (and nicer) position if some of those 1st party studio games were ready to go at launch or early 2021 (launch window).
Right now, if you buy the Series X/S, you are really buying into the promise and hope of a strong Xbox future some years down the line. And there's nothing wrong with that. To a certain extent, you are doing that with the PS5, since Sony still hasn't answered a lot of questions about the PS5.
However, the difference is that Sony has a strong track record of delivering solid content, both 1st and 3rd party, on its Playstations, going back to PS1 and now with this past gen of the PS4.
So, one is more apt to trust that Sony will continue to deliver with the PS5, while still being wary of Xbox, since they basically forfeited last gen and don't have as solid a track record.
And keep in mind, while Sony may lack the deep pockets to do a huge deal like Bethesda, I doubt they are just sitting idly by and not working on deals of their own. Sony certainly can't afford to be complacent though, because MS definitely made a power move with the Bethesda deal.
Next gen will certainly be interesting to watch that's for sure.
