Look out, PS4: Microsoft claims that Xbox One sales more than doubled since $100 price drop

Microsoft has discovered something amazing: People like saving money.

It looks like the Xbox One might be catching on now that consumers have a $400 option. Microsoft claims that sales of the new system are up significantly — though it did not divulge sales numbers — since it introduced the new version of Xbox One that does not include the Kinect camera. That package sells for $100 less than the $500 Xbox One and Kinect bundle, which puts it at price parity with the PlayStation 4. Gamers spend billions on console gaming each year, and Microsoft was losing ground to Sony’s PS4. Now, with the price cut, Microsoft may keep it close after all.

“Over the past month, we’ve seen a strong spike in interest in our Xbox One console options, including the new $399 offering, and the amazing lineup of games announced during the [Electronic Entertainment Expo tradeshow],” reads a blog post on the Xbox website. “Since the new Xbox One offering launched on June 9, we’ve seen sales of Xbox One more than double in the US, compared to sales in May, and solid growth in Xbox 360 sales.”

Microsoft based that on its own internal sales data. It includes only consoles sold through to customers.

After Microsoft introduced its $400 Xbox One, it and the PS4 are very similar products. That puts pressure on the software. If Microsoft and Sony hope to separate themselves from one another, it’ll take marquee games that attract the attention of players.

Both Sony and Microsoft hoped to make an impression in terms of their game offerings at E3. Each showed off huge exclusives that they hope will win them some loyal fans going forward.