October 2016 NPD: Xbox One outsold PlayStation 4 at U.S. retailers once again

Microsoft is rolling into the 2016 holidays with a lot of momentum for its video game brand.

The Xbox One is the top-selling console in the United States in October, according to data-tracking firm The NPD Group. Microsoft shared this information today. The company also confirmed the system outsold the competition in the United Kingdom and Australia through October. This marks the fourth month in a row that Xbox One has outperformed PlayStation 4 in the United States, which is the most consecutive months that the system has topped the PS4 since they both debuted in November 2013.

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Microsoft provided the following statement from Xbox marketing boss Mike Nichols:

“Thanks to the passion of Xbox fans worldwide and their continued excitement for Xbox One S, Xbox One was once again the best-selling console in October in the U.S., U.K. and Australia according to NPD Group and GfK Entertainment. Xbox One has been the best-selling console in the U.S. for the past four months, and in the U.K. and Australia in each of the last two months.”

Xbox One S, which is a slimmer version of the Xbox One, debuted in August, and it is one of the major reasons for Microsoft’s four-month reign at the top of the sales charts. Some analysts speculated that the PS4 Slim, which debuted in September alongside a price cut to $300, would put the PS4 back on top for that month, but this didn’t happen.

Microsoft’s momentum could come to an end this month due to the launch of the PlayStation 4 Pro console from Sony today. That’s a more powerful, updated version of the PS4 that focuses on playing games and video content at a 4K resolution. Microsoft will have a similar update to the Xbox One, but that won’t happen until late 2017 with the launch of the Xbox One Scorpio.

For now, the rest of Nichols’ statement explains what the company has planned for this holiday:

“With over 100 award-winning exclusive games, the fastest and most reliable gaming network with Xbox Live, built-in UHD 4K Blu-ray and 4K video streaming support and HDR for gaming and video, Xbox One S is the ultimate games and 4K entertainment system. New game launches like Gears of War 4 and Battlefield 1, and continued engagement with an exceptionally strong catalog of games on Xbox One, helped increase the number of Xbox Live multiplayer gamers by 52 percent compared to last year. Gears of War 4 was also the No. 1 platform-exclusive title for October in the U.S. and U.K., according to NPD Group and GfK Entertainment, while Forza Horizon 3 became the year’s best-selling and highest-rated racing game, further strengthening Forza as the most successful racing franchise on any platform this generation. We are grateful to our community for their continued support and look forward to a great holiday season.”