After months of waiting, both Sony and Microsoft have confirmed prices and release dates for the ninth generation of gaming consoles. During a year that by all accounts has been very strange for video games and the rest of the world, it’s almost surprising both PS5 and Xbox Series X/S are coming out on time. Especially Sony, who’d been the subject of various rumors and leaks during the console’s development.
With the full price reveals for the PS5 and PS5 Digital, at $499 and $399 respectively, this poses a serious problem across the aisle at Microsoft. The Xbox Series S, marketed as the budget-friendly next-gen Xbox, was designed to sell as a cheaper way to entire the next-generation of consoles this holiday without breaking the bank. The $200 gap between it and Xbox Series X makes economic sense, but with the digital PS5 only $100 more, that value proposition is no longer as strong for next-gen.
While the console itself wasn’t exactly the best kept secret at Microsoft, Xbox Series S (or the codename “Lockhart” console) had been in development for some time. Now the console’s been unveiled as the budget option for gamers looking to hop on to next-gen, and frankly it’s not a bad deal in a vacuum. While the only downgrade is in resolution and probably graphical fidelity, the console is still fully able to play next-gen games just like the Xbox Series X can. The console’s also bolstered by Game Pass, Xbox’s premier subscription service that opens up the console’s launch library by several hundred fantastic games, all available on day one.
However, gaming fans who are on the more enthusiast level may no longer consider the Xbox Series S if the PS5’s Digital version is only $100 more. While both are technically the budget offerings from both companies, the PS5 Digital Edition doesn’t have as drastic of a hardware downgrade that the Xbox Series S does, graphically speaking. Players on the PS5 Digital will see no difference in graphical parity between both consoles, and while the Xbox Series S still runs Series X games at a lower resolution, graphical fidelity will almost certainly be lowered to account for the slightly weaker hardware.
Now does Microsoft or Xbox care about this? Absolutely not, considering Xbox Series S is still a good value, depending on the type of gaming fan who’s buying it. While those looking to play the definitive next-gen experience may not opt-in for Xbox Series S, the more casual gaming audience will still certainly find plenty of enjoyment from Xbox Series S. The console’s value for that casual gaming fanbase skyrockets when taking into account Game Pass, and the several hundred games that will be available on launch for Xbox Series S. The sheer variety of games and experiences available from Xbox’s premier subscription just doesn’t exist on PlayStation, and could sustain casual gaming fans for at least a year on Xbox.
That being said, it does mean the overall sales of Xbox Series S may be impacted by those who don’t necessarily fall into that demographic. Those who may be on the fence budget-wise, even in September, still have plenty of time to consider whether the PS5 Digital or Xbox Series S is the right choice comparatively. The reality is that the $100 price gap is not a heavy deal-breaker for those looking to get a more premier next-gen experience. Theoretically, with the Xbox Series X also at $499, the PS5 Digital Edition reaches that perfect middle ground of quality vs. price, at least for gaming enthusiasts in that demographic.
Again, it’s important to state that this does not mean the Xbox Series S is doomed to fail. However, meeting gaming enthusiasts in the middle with a $399 price point is a very attractive option when compared together. This is nothing like Sony’s undercutting of Xbox One in 2013, but it still accomplishes the same goal in a less drastic manner. Anyone who’s willing to spend the least amount of money, whilst also getting the most definitive next-gen console gaming experience, would almost certainly opt-in for the PS5 Digital edition. Game Pass would likely be the only holdover for those in that demographic, but even then, most of the games (other than Xbox first-party titles) have been out for years.
This is without even taking into account issues with scalability, and whether or not developers are willing to optimize games for Xbox Series S. Regardless of both Xbox consoles utilizing the same processor, the graphics settings in games will still need to be tweaked to run on the slightly less powerful hardware. Overall, Xbox Series S will still do fine this holiday, but Sony was able to strike an incredibly smart middle ground between Xbox’s dual offering.
The PS5 launches on November 13, 2020. The Xbox Series S launches on November 10, 2020.
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