With the Xbox Series X and thePlayStation 5coming later this year,many are already wondering what to expect when it comes to both console’s price. With such significant upgrades as new, innovational solid-state drives, enhanced visual fidelity, and much more, it’s clear that the newest consoles in Sony and Microsoft’s arsenals are going to demand a hefty financial investment.
Yet, according to former Xbox executive Albert Penello, there’s a chance that the next generation could have a cheaper admission price than many are currently expecting. Taking to Twitter, Penello was very vocal about his predictions surrounding the retail price of thePlayStation 5, claiming that while many expect the console to cross the $500 mark, he thinks it’s an incredibly unlikely price point.
RELATED:Sony Is Happy With The Progress of the PS5’s Backward Compatibility Testing
Replying to a post on Twitter that cited last week’sAmazon PlayStation 5 price leak (which has since been refuted), Penello claimed “I believe in the saying ‘never say never.’ But I gotta say never. No way this console is over $499.” The quote itself is interesting, especially as Penello is a man very versed in the games' industry having worked for Sega, EA, and, of course, Xbox. Clearly, he understands the console market and knows that - to stay competitive - console prices will likely be lower than many are expecting. However, its Penello’s series of follow up statements that definitely introduce an interesting discourse surrounding the importance of pricing when it comes to next-generation hardware.
According to Penello, “Price in this generation may be the most important indicator of success.Maybe even more than exclusives.” The industry veteran goes on to claim this is due to the fact that “there has never been a more divergent set of specs, features, and price points [than] I think we’re going to see this gen. It will be fascinating.” There’s no denying that Penello definitely has a point, with many fans already factoring price into which of Microsoft or Sony’s offerings they’ll pick up. This will easily be the most expensive console lineup to date, so both the console manufacturers will likely be vying to get the best price as they take their newest hardware to market.
Seemingly, this could be why both consoles are likely to release a cheaper, more accessible model of their next-generation console, with Sony announcing a digital-only version of the PlayStation 5 andrumors claiming that Xbox will be releasing a less technologically advanced version of the Series X.Perhaps this is how both companies intend to give their console the upper hand in such a competitive market.
