The subject is as sensitive as anticipated. While we do not yet know either the design or the final performance of the next home consoles, a rumor launched in recent days has ignited the gaming sphere: the PlayStation 6 could be sold at a price much lower than that of its direct competitor.
The information comes from Kepler, a known insider in the tech ecosystem, who puts forward a spectacular price gap. In a message published on X (formerly Twitter), he mentions a price of 600 dollars for the PS6, compared to 1200 dollars for the future Xbox. A hypothesis which, if confirmed, would reflect a major strategic divergence between the two giants.
Microsoft assumes a high-end strategy
This pricing orientation on the Xbox side is echoed in the recent comments of Sarah Bond, president of Xbox, who spoke about the future of the brand in an interview given to Mashable. She evokes an assumed desire to move towards a premium positioning.
She says she wants to create a “very high-end” console offering a “very selective” experience. Terms which suggest that Microsoft could choose an elitist product, focusing everything on performance and on-board technology.
On this subject, she explains: “You begin to see some of the ideas that we have integrated into the [ROG Xbox Ally]but I don’t want to reveal everything.” This portable console, currently sold for nearly 900 euros in its most complete version, would therefore be a tangible indicator of what Microsoft is preparing for its next living room model.
A risky bet for Microsoft?
According to Kepler, the price difference would be justified by several technical choices made by the Xbox team. He mentions in particular “around 42% more silicon, 20% more memory, higher card/cooling costs”, to which is added an additional constraint: the impossibility of “subsidising the hardware using third-party stores”.
Credible arguments which support the thesis of a high price, but which are not enough to achieve consensus. Because on the other hand, few analysts imagine Sony launching a new generation machine at only $600, especially given the evolution of component prices and technical rumors around the PS6.
Caution therefore remains in order. As is often the case in this type of case, the most extreme projections serve as much to spark debate as to alert manufacturers to the public’s expectations. For now, neither Sony nor Microsoft have validated or even commented on these figures.
Price: a central issue in the console war
The console war has always been about more than raw performance or game exclusivity. The sale price constitutes a powerful, sometimes decisive, strategic lever. Sony knows something about this: the PS4, more affordable than the Xbox One at its launch, had a clear advantage in 2013.
But times have changed. The PS5 is today sold between 450 and 620 euros depending on the version, and Microsoft is exploring new avenues with hybrid models like the ROG Ally. In this context, a return to a “moderate” price for the PS6 would be surprising… but not impossible.