Cmv: brand stubbornness is the only reason the xbox one and ps4 controllers are different.:
Sure, some brand styling choices could be understood, but in almost 40 years we have figured out what a general purpose all-around video game controller should be. 2 thumbsticks, four thumb buttons on the right, an 8-way directional pad on the left, two bumper buttons, and two triggers.

So why the different placement of the directional pad and left stick for Microsoft and Sony when the controllers are functionally identical in every other way?

I think there is a superior layout, (which one I think it is, is irrelevant) and one of the companies simply can't budge because of stubbornness.

Edit: Thanks for the replies, guys.