THE Xbox Series X could cost as little as £400 when it hits shelves later this year while its digital-only version may only cost half that.
Out just ahead of Christmas, Microsoft has revealed almost everything we need to know about the Series X.
All that’s left to reveal is the price, with rumours suggesting the high-powered machine will cost anything up to £700.
A rumoured second console, the Series S, is alleged to come with no disc tray and will launch this year – though Microsoft hasn’t confirmed this.
According to an anonymous web user who claims to have inside knowledge of the project, the Series S will come in pretty cheap indeed.
Writing on the Beyond3D forum, poster “eastmen”, who has accurately leaked Microsoft info in the past, says the console will cost as little as $200.
“Last I heard it be half the price of the XSX and last i heard MS were prepared for a $400 XSX”, said eastmen of the Xbox Series S.
“I am not sure what the final price will be. I think if Sony is $500/$600 MS may try to go in at $200/$400/$500 but we will see.”
UK prices are tricky to guess, but most likely we’ll see a price that matches the US in numerical value.
That means a $400 console will probably cost around £400, while a $200 machine will come in at £200.
Microsoft will more than likely keep the price of the Series X a secret until Sony reveals the cost of its new console, the PlayStation 5.
The PS5 was officially unveiled last week and is also due out in time for Christmas 2020. It’s rumoured to cost up to £500.
According to eastmen, Microsoft will finally put a price on the Series X at an event in July.
“July is about the industry and they want it to be a night of mic drops,” they wrote.
Here's what you need to know...
Respected Wedbush Securities analyst Michael Pachter thinks we’ll see a major price war.
“From what I’ve seen, Sony’s gonna have to charge $500 for the PS5,” he explained.
“Microsoft has a big balance sheet. If they wanna cut the price by $100 – just price below [PS5] and subsidise the first 10million [units] – they will.
“So I think that they’re waiting to have Sony blink first, and then they’ll reveal the price. Very likely $400.”
Fellow gaming industry insider Peter Moore agreed with Pachter’s predictions.
Moore was formerly an EA and Microsoft exec, and was speaking on the Bonus Round podcast.
He said: “Michael’s right. What both companies are going through right now is: ‘How much can we afford to lose in the first 12 to 18 months?’
“‘What is our attach rate of software to hardware? What are we willing to do in year one, two and three to hit 10million [units]?'”
Sadly, neither Microsoft nor Sony have confirmed pricing for either of their consoles – or even hinted at a range.
“They are going to come hard with the strategy they have been building up to for years and they want Google, Amazon, Apple, Sony and, yes, Nintendo to [be] shaken up.
“So expect a series of mic drop moments followed by the price being the key part of all this.”
The Seroes X will apparently run games at 4K resolution – double that of HD – with the possibility of running 8K.
It will also process games faster so as to “eliminate” loading times. A new Halo title will launch with the console.
In other news, a former Xbox boss has claimed the PS5 won’t be priced at more than $500.
People have been sharing hilarious PS5 memes online.
And, a Japanese firm is selling a bonkers “gaming bed” with headphone hangers, cup holders and a desk for your PC monitors.
What are your thoughts on the Seres X? Let us know in the comments…
