With the Xbox Series S, Microsoft is sending a slimmed-down and cheaper version of the Xbox Series X into the race. As PlayStation CEO Jim Ryan noted in an interview, Sony has meanwhile been considering a similar concept for the PS5. In the end, however, the company decided against the low-budget model.
In addition to the powerful Xbox Series X, which is offered for $499, the Redmond company will also release Xbox Series S for $299. In favor of a lower price, the Xbox Series S not only saved on the hardware itself. In addition, the optical drive fell victim to some details. As PlayStation CEO Jim Ryan confirmed in an interview, Sony has meanwhile been considering a low-budget model for the PS5, but this has not been implemented for various reasons.
“The first thing I would like to say is that I respect every competitor’s decision and their philosophies,” Ryan said. “Clearly, price is a very important factor. We respect other companies’ competitive strategies. However, we are fully committed to and believe in our current strategy and the effect it will have. One thing that can be said is that if you look at the history of the game business, creating a special low priced, reduced spec console is something that has not had great results in the past.”
“We’ve considered that option and seen other executives who have attempted this discover how problematic it is. Based on our research, it’s clear that people who buy a game console want to continue using it for four, five, six or even seven years,” Ryan declared.
“They want to believe they have bought something that is future-proofed and not going to be outdated in two-to-three years. They want to believe they have bought something that is future-proofed and not going to be outdated in two-to-three years,” Ryan concludes.
PS5 will be released in Europe on November 19, 2020, and will be made available in two different versions. The classic model is available $499, while the digital version, which, like the Xbox Series S, is delivered without an optical drive, and it will be available for $399.
