Given the differences between Sony and Microsoft's approaches to next-generation consoles, a so-called "console war" is out of the question. Nevertheless, most console gamers will have to choose between the PS5 and the Xbox Series X

. This is because, according to data collected by SimilarWeb and provided to TNW, there was a noticeable difference in the number of people who visited playstation.com and xbox.com when console reservations opened.

According to the data, when PS5 pre-orders opened on September 16, somewhat chaotically, the number of visitors to Sony's console site peaked at 892,000. Visitors to the Xbox site, on the other hand, peaked at 776,200 on September 22, when Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S reservations began.

Reservations for all three consoles sold out so quickly that it is still a challenge to find retailers with stock.

However, Sony seems to have the edge in terms of the number of people who seem to be eyeing the next-generation consoles, with nuances suggesting that those who are torn between the PS5 and the Xbox Series X may have chosen Sony's machine because it was the first to start pre-orders.

The PS5 also has a Digital Edition that offers the same performance as the regular PS5 but omits the disc drive, priced at $399 less than the $499 Xbox Series X. Thus, the digital edition may have tempted people to buy the PS5.

Nevertheless, Sony has sold more units on the PS4 than Microsoft has sold on the Xbox One. So, in effect, Sony could attract more PlayStation players to its next-generation console. Perhaps it is no surprise that the PS5 has attracted more attention than its rival Xbox.

Nevertheless, it is interesting that the Xbox Series X is getting so much attention, given that its brand power is arguably smaller than that of the PlayStation: 12 teraflops compared to the PS5's 10.28 teraflops. Microsoft's approach of giving the Xbox Series X maximum power has undoubtedly helped attract console fans. Also, the low $299 price point of the Xbox Series S will not hurt, considering that it offers an alternative option for those who do not want to spend nearly $500 for a gaming console.

With the Xbox scheduled to launch in the U.S. on November 10 and the PS5 on November 12, we will soon find out which will come out on top. However, it appears that both console brands could be winners.