While the exact sales numbers aren't entirely clear, the PS5 and Xbox Series X seem to be selling quite well. It's been nearly six months since both consoles launched and they're still quite challenging for people to get their hands on without resorting to buying from scalpers. Even as more and more stores are restocked, the demand for the new generation of consoles doesn't seem to be going down anytime soon.
One good thing to come out of the PS5 and Xbox Series X scarcity is that it's created plenty of excitement for the future of both platforms. While there's been a relatively steady stream of games releasing on the two consoles, some gaming enthusiasts have pointed out that there's still not much being offered on the new generation that can't be played on last-gen hardware. Barring some exclusives, that is generally true, however those who managed to get their hands on the PS5 or Xbox Series X should be looking forward to Fall 2021 when things should really start to pick up.
What's So Special About Fall 2021 for PS5 and Xbox Series X?
Last winter technically was the first holiday season for both the PS5 and Xbox Series X, but because both consoles launched in the middle of November, they weren't able to make the most out of the entire season. That, paired with the extremely limited availability, left each console's launch feeling a little bare. Fall 2021 will be the first full holiday season for Microsoft and Sony to really showcase what's so special about each respective console.
Additionally, because these consoles are selling faster than they can be made, so many more people will have them this fall compared to when they launched last year. It's almost as if the time from when the PS5 and Xbox Series X released to now has been a soft launch preparing for when the "real" launch happens in holiday 2021.
Big PS5/Xbox Series X Games Coming at the End of 2021
It's true that plenty of big AAA games release year-round, but this Fall is when things really start to kick up. There are actually very few confirmed releases for Fall 2021, but with Summer Games Fest and E3 being just around the corner, it's likely that plenty of Fall 2021 release dates will be revealed in the coming weeks.
So far, there have been more PS5 exclusives compared to Xbox Series X, but it seems like Microsoft has a lot up its sleeve in terms of announcements at E3 2021. It's likely that a few Xbox exclusives will be getting official Fall release dates such as Halo Infinite, Psychonauts 2 or State of Decay 3. Despite their exclusion from E3, Sony also seems to be gearing up for announcements as well. It's likely that release date announcements for Horizon: Forbidden West, Ghostwire: Tokyo and potentially even the untitled God of War sequel are coming at some point this summer.
The release calendar for the rest of the year is definitely uncertain, but things should clear up following the major summer announcements coming in the next few weeks. It looks like Deathloop is the first big Fall release in September, but after that, it's anyone's guess.
And the Winner is... Gamers
As E3 2021 and other big industry events grow ever closer, the rumors and leaks are making the PS5 and Xbox Series X sound better and better. Despite a potentially lackluster first year of "next-gen games," it's clear that there are plenty of exciting things to come by the end of 2021. Whether someone has a PS5 or an Xbox Series X, Fall 2021 seems like it's going to shape up to be one of the most competitive holiday seasons yet for Microsoft and Sony. Which, at the end of the day, is good for anyone who loves video games.
