Xbox Is Falling Behind in South Africa, but Microsoft Might Still Be Winning

Console wars in South Africa have taken a sharp turn, and it’s not looking good for Xbox.

Once in a near neck-and-neck race with PlayStation among local gamers, Xbox has steadily lost ground in South Africa, with recent polls and retail feedback painting a clear picture: more South Africans are reaching for a PlayStation controller than ever before.

But while Xbox hardware may be struggling on our shores, Microsoft’s long-term gaming strategy tells a very different story.

PlayStation Pulls Ahead

Back in 2023, a MyBroadband poll showed Xbox leading the console pack among South African users. At the time, 54% said they owned an Xbox, while only 37% had a PlayStation.

Fast forward to 2025, and the tables have turned. In more recent MyBroadband polls, PlayStation now dominates with 56% of the console vote, while Xbox trails behind at 38%. Even Nintendo, with a modest 6% to 7%, holds a small but growing presence thanks to the recent launch of the Nintendo Switch 2.

The shift isn’t just evident in online surveys. Two of South Africa’s biggest retailers, Massmart (Game and Makro) and Amazon.co.za, both told MyBroadband that PlayStation has become the top-selling console locally. Massmart even confirmed that Xbox’s product availability in South Africa has noticeably decreased, and Microsoft has not launched any of its refreshed Xbox Series X|S models here since 2024.

If you wanted the new white Series S 1TB or the flashy 2TB Series X, you would need to import it yourself.

Meanwhile, PlayStation’s South African presence has remained “consistent,” said Massmart. Local customers have responded particularly well to bundle deals that throw in extras like controllers or headsets, helping PlayStation lock in even more loyalty.

No Local Launches, No Local Love?

The absence of Microsoft’s refreshed consoles in South Africa is more than just a retail footnote; it’s a missed opportunity in a market that once leaned Xbox.

Without local support for hardware upgrades, gamers have little incentive to stick with the platform. In contrast, Sony launched the PlayStation 5 Pro, fuelling an upgrade surge among existing users and giving PlayStation a boost in both sales and sentiment.

Even Amazon.co.za, while noting rising demand for Xbox Series S models, confirmed that the PlayStation 5 still leads in gaming category sales.

The writing is on the wall. Xbox is slipping locally, not necessarily because of the console itself, but because South African gamers are feeling left out of Microsoft’s hardware roadmap.

Microsoft’s Endgame: Play Everywhere

Yet here’s the twist: Microsoft might be winning the war without winning the console race.

Globally, Sony has sold over 74 million PlayStation 5 units, compared to an estimated 33 million Xbox Series X|S consoles. But Microsoft’s real power play lies elsewhere.

In recent years, the company has quietly scooped up major studios, including Bethesda, ZeniMax, and Activision Blizzard, giving it control of some of the biggest franchises in gaming. According to Windows Central, six of the top 10 best-selling PlayStation games in Q2 2025 were Microsoft-owned titles.

In other words, even PlayStation fans are feeding the Microsoft machine.

Microsoft Gaming CEO Phil Spencer has been clear that the company isn’t chasing console sales alone.

“If that were our approach, we wouldn’t put our games on PC… we wouldn’t do xCloud and allow people to play games on their phones,” he said in a past interview.

Instead, Xbox has embraced a platform-agnostic strategy, reaching gamers wherever they are: on phones, tablets, PCs, and even rival consoles. This approach means Microsoft wins even when PlayStation wins.

Social Pulse: SA Gamers Want More Than Games

Across Reddit, X (formerly Twitter), and local forums, South African gamers have voiced frustration with Xbox’s recent absence.

“Feels like Xbox gave up on South Africa,” wrote one Reddit user.
“PlayStation just shows up more. Bundles, ads, stock, it’s all there,” said another.

Others acknowledged that while Game Pass and Microsoft’s studio catalogue are still solid, many are switching to PlayStation for the simple reason that Sony shows up.

What This Means for South African Gaming in 2025

While Xbox’s South African presence is undeniably shrinking, Microsoft’s influence in gaming continues to grow globally, not by selling the most consoles, but by owning the games people want to play.

In the end, South African players may still be pressing “Start” on Microsoft-made titles, just not always on Xbox consoles.

Also read: The ERP Gamechanger: Why SYSPRO’s New Partnership With Versori Could Revolutionise Manufacturing in South Africa

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Source: MyBroadband

Featured Image: Game Rant