Year In Review: 2025 Is The Year The Console Wars Ended

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Growing up in the early 2000s as a PlayStation fan, the recent news about Microsoft acquiring Activision Blizzard felt strange. I was a teenager during the big PlayStation versus Xbox rivalry, and I’ve always been loyal to PlayStation – I’ve never even owned an Xbox. It was tough watching the Xbox 360 outperform the PS3 back in the mid-to-late 2000s. The PlayStation 2 was incredibly successful, and the PS3 just didn’t live up to that standard.

For a long time, the PlayStation 3 lacked the compelling, unique games that the Xbox 360 consistently delivered – titles like Halo, Gears of War, and Forza. Eventually, PlayStation turned things around with a string of popular exclusives, and this momentum continued with the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One. The trend has persisted with the current generation of consoles, the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S, and it’s now clear that Microsoft has conceded defeat in the competition for console dominance.

The Gears of War…Is Over

With the release of the Xbox One, Microsoft tried to make their console an all-in-one entertainment system, unlike Sony, who focused the PlayStation 4 solely on gaming. I believe this was a crucial mistake for Xbox, as it let PlayStation gain ground, and they’ve been leading ever since.

The PlayStation 4 sold more than twice as many units as the Xbox, a significant difference. However, Microsoft successfully kept many players engaged through Xbox Game Pass. This subscription service provides access to a large library of games, including titles only available on Xbox, and gives subscribers new Xbox games on the day they are released.

For a while, this approach worked well. However, the subscription service has often been criticized for potentially harming the gaming industry – even Arkane Studios’ founder called it unsustainable and damaging. While the price increase in 2025 caused a stir, it hasn’t had the severe negative consequences many predicted.

Microsoft continues to develop games, but rumors suggest that games currently exclusive to Xbox may soon be released on PlayStation 5. This shift is likely a result of recent changes – particularly in 2025 – that have essentially ended the traditional console competition, with Microsoft licensing some of its most popular game franchises to its former competitor.

Halo For Your Thoughts, Xbox?

Imagine a world where Xbox’s high-end controllers were used to play PlayStation exclusives like Uncharted, The Last of Us, and God of War. But here, in reality, the Horizon festival is thriving on the powerful PS5 Pro, and the adorable Astro Bot is battling the Locust in Gears of War Reloaded.

2025 has been an amazing year for PlayStation fans like me! I’ve always missed out on games like Forza and Gears of War, and it’s been fantastic finally experiencing these iconic Microsoft franchises. It really felt like a huge moment when they became available – a truly unbelievable turn of events!

I remember when Halo: Combat Evolved was officially announced on October 24th – honestly, I think that was the moment it became clear who had ‘won’ the console wars. It felt like a game changer, and it really did feel like the end of any serious competition.

I used to be a really enthusiastic, and admittedly biased, Sony fan. But looking back, I realize how I felt then doesn’t compare to how I feel now. It just makes sense to have one place where you can play all your games, and that would be best for gamers. However, Nintendo doesn’t need to participate, so they won’t. It’s still surprising to see PlayStation branding in Xbox videos, and it looks like Microsoft is willing to release Xbox games on the PS5 if it means making more money.

So, what’s the future of Xbox? With major Xbox games now available on PC and PlayStation 5, it’s fair to ask what makes owning an Xbox worthwhile. Is it simply brand loyalty, or are people stuck because of the money and games they’ve already invested in the Xbox ecosystem? TopMob wants to know what you think! Do you believe the competition between consoles is truly over? And what’s the smartest move Microsoft can make now? Join the conversation and share your opinions on the TopMob Discord server.

You should also check out every Gears of War game ranked from worst to best.

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2026-01-04 15:18