PS5 could be crushed by Xbox Series X on price

(Paradigm credit: Future)

The Xbox Series 10 isn't merely shaping upwardly to exist more powerful than the PS5 -- it could end up being cheaper, too. According to a new analyst prediction, Microsoft may take a loss on its upcoming next-generation console in order to undercut the PlayStation 5 by a significant corporeality this holiday flavour.

On a recent episode of Geoff Keighley's Bonus Round (via Button Square), Wedbush Securities analyst Michael Pachter predicted that Microsoft will target a price of $400 for the Xbox Series Ten, which could significantly undercut the PS5's expected $500 toll tag.

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"From what I've seen, Sony'due south gonna have to charge $500 for the PS5," said Pachter. "Microsoft has a big balance sheet. If they want to cut the price by $100... they will. I think they're waiting to take Sony blink showtime, and so they'll reveal the toll and release date."

Pachter continued, "Very likely quondam in Nov, very likely $400, and fans are going to get a lot from their $400."

If this scenario sounds familiar, it's because the very reverse happened at the first of the current console generation. At E3 2013, Microsoft revealed that the Xbox One would cost $500, partially due to all consoles being bundled with the ill-blighted Kinect camera. Only hours later, Sony revealed that the PS4 would price $400, which played a huge role in giving PlayStation the early lead and ultimate victory in the current-gen console war.

Peter Moore, a games industry veteran who helped lead the Xbox team through the Xbox and Xbox 360 era, agreed with Pachter's predictions when chiming in on Keighley'southward prove.

"Microsoft correct at present, the stock price, the marketplace cap... everything'due south flying for them," said Moore.

"Does Satya [Nadella] say, 'this is the opportunity correct now, as nosotros did with Xbox 360, lets get in, permit's price it correct, let'due south get the correct content there. Let'due south accept advantage of this global crisis right now because the thirst and appetite for these online experiences has never been greater. Let'due south cartel Sony to come in at $500.' If I'g dorsum in my former job, that'south exactly what I'yard doing."

Neither Sony nor Microsoft has revealed the price of their new consoles notwithstanding, simply we wait that to change soon. Sony is rumored to take a major PS5 launch event on June 2, while Microsoft recently announced plans to roll out new Xbox Series X information in a serial of monthly Xbox 20/20 livestreams. With only a few months to go until the launch of both consoles, the shape of the next-gen console boxing should become much clearer shortly.

Mike Andronico is Senior Writer at CNNUnderscored and was formerly Managing Editor at Tom'south Guide. When non at work, you can usually catch him playing Street Fighter, devouring Twitch streams and trying to convince people that Hawkeye is the best Avenger.