PS4 next-gen console war lead because Sony listened to developers - Gara

PlayStation 4 has established and held a lead on the Xbox One because Sony built the console with ease of development in mind, according to Sony UK marketing director Fergal Gara.

Speaking to Gamespot, Gara said that "never was a truer word spoken" than when PS4 lead system architect Mark Cerny said at the system's reveal that he had "spent five years listening to game developers, listening to what they want from the next-generation device".

"It is as simple as that. [PlayStation 4] is much easier to develop for, and it is performing and packing the punch that developers want," Gara said.

"We came up with the right product at the right price, for the right core audience to get us off to a strong start. We think we've done that very, very well," he said.

"But that's not the whole job. A strong start is invaluable, but it definitely isn't the whole job. At this stage in the PlayStation 3 life cycle versus Xbox 360, we hadn't even launched. We were 16 months behind.

"A lot can be achieved - million of consoles can be achieved - despite a poor start, and we certainly had that the last time around."

Gara said recently that Sony is still struggling to keep up with demand for PS4 in the UK. In terms of software, PS4 outsold Xbox One 3:1 over the holidays at at least one retailer.