So, How About That PlayStation 5 Price?
Sony won't have trouble selling its next-gen PlayStation 5, but what's the value proposition on offer? | Source: YouTube/PlayStation
- Xbox Series S is a fantastic value, but should Sony try to match it?
- With powerful hardware comes a high price.
- The PlayStation 5 might remain at a higher cost.
The Xbox Series X is $499. This comes as no surprise. What is surprising, however, is the Xbox Series S price at $299. Combined with Game Pass and Xbox All-Access, this disc-less console is the best gaming value one can get. But it leaves one to wonder how Sony will enter with the PlayStation 5.
Should the PlayStation 5 Price Match?
Sony also has a traditional PlayStation 5 and a disc-less model. And recent rumors put the price at the $500/$400 points. $500 for PlayStation 5 sounds right, but many speculated a $400 disc-less version.
But with Xbox Series S at $299, should Sony lower the speculative disc-less entry price as well?
Probably not.
At this point, Microsoft and Sony are going after different audiences. The former is targeting a more casual one, while the latter is focused on a hardcore audience. That’s not to say there’s no overlap, but it’s clear who the primary market is for each box.
For one, the PlayStation 5 has exclusives. It’s aiming to be a premium experience that’s only possible on this platform. With new hardware comes games that can’t run on a weaker console. Gamers should expect to pay for such titles.
On the other hand, Xbox is making sure games can run on current and next-gen, as well as PC. They’re also launching xCloud, which works on mobile devices without a console. They’re less focused on what you play, and more on how you play.
Of course, all of that investment in features over games comes at a cost. Microsoft’s desire to hold next-gen games back, despite what anyone says, does affect their development.
Different Hardware, Different Value
That’s not to mention that, as far as we know, the disc-less PlayStation 5 has the same hardware as the traditional one. This could make it quite difficult for Sony to lower the price. Keep in mind the Series S is weaker than the X in various ways. This makes it much easier for Microsoft to reduce the cost.
It’s a tough call to make, but Sony’s commitment is that of next-gen. This means their hardware will and should be more expensive. If the platform’s hardcore fanbase is as dedicated as they seem, sales shouldn’t be a problem for Sony.
A $500/$400 split would be perfect.
Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this article do not necessarily reflect the views of CCN.com.
