Among other interesting details revealed in its financials, EA executives revealed during a conference call that the PS4 and Xbox One could end up hitting 50 million units sold by FY 2016 end (which closes on March 31st 2016).
According to EA, the current generation is tracking 51 percent higher than the PS3 and Xbox 360 during the same period. This has been attributed to lower storage costs, better Internet and the subsequent growth of digital downloads (the publisher even pointed out that Battlefield: Hardline’s digital sales contributed to 20 percent of overall sales). This doesn’t mean EA will be giving up retail any time soon due to its “great, very powerful” retail partners.
The 50 million install base is “meaningful” for the publisher but it will also provide further incentive for other publishers to cater more to the current generation than before, removing the shackles of previous gen development and allowing the PS4/Xbox One to reach their full potential. As of now, the PS4 has sold more than 22 million units worldwide while the last report of Xbox One sales put it at more than 10 million units worldwide. Time will tell if they collectively hit 50 million units by next year.