The PlayStation 5 will be released in November globally.
- The console competition between Sony and Microsoft will start at the end of the year with the same starting price and a few days apart, which anticipates a closer battle than expected.
- The Japanese manufacturer announced this Wednesday that the price for its PlayStation 5 will be US$499 , which equals the announced cost for the US firm ‘s Xbox Series X.
- But Sony also confirmed that the PS5 Digital Edition , which doesn’t have a disc drive, will cost $399 , which is about 40% more expensive than the lower-end Xbox Series S.
“The same, but with improved graphics”: the verdict of the experts on the PlayStation 5
Mexico will be among the six “key markets” that Sony chose for the launch of the PlayStation 5 on November 12 , along with Australia, Canada, South Korea, the United States and Japan.
Then, on November 19 , will be the global launch, which will include South America .
That places the appearance on the market of these consoles a few days after its rival, since the launch of Microsoft will be on November 10.
the new battle
Sony was the undisputed leader in the previous generation of the so-called “console wars”. Sales of the PS4 outnumbered those of the Xbox One by more than two to one.
But some industry analysts believe that Microsoft , by combining a $299 price for the XBox Series S and the cost of an Xbox Game Pass subscription , could have the upper hand in the upcoming battle.
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Microsoft offers its subscribers the premieres of the most successful games in its library , unlike what PlayStation Now offers, which are limited to previous major releases.
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MICROSOFT
Microsoft announced that it would include EA’s Play library with the “final” version of its Xbox Games Pass.
The new subscription service called the PlayStation Plus Collection for PS5 appears to focus on the PS4’s biggest hits, including Last of Us Remastered , God of War , and Bloodborne , rather than offering what’s new for the PS5.
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“Microsoft has a really compelling deal with the Xbox Series S price and Sony doesn’t really have an answer to that for those who just want the cheapest possible entry point into next-gen gaming,” gaming journalist Laura Dale told the BBC.
“However, people who want to play any of Sony’s own franchises are unlikely to turn to Xbox just because it’s cheaper.”
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FINAL FANTASY/PLAYSTATION,
The trailer for the new installment of Final Fantasy indicated that it will run only on PS5 and PC.
A key difference between the two companies’ strategies is that the Xbox Series S offers lower resolution graphics than the Series X because it has less powerful components, while Sony has opted only to remove the Blu-ray drive from its bare-bones machine.
Still, Sony is likely to focus its appeal on its “exclusive” titles for its consoles.
In his last virtual event, he showed trailers and gameplay for Final Fantasy XVI, Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales , and Deathloop.
“PS5 may release three console-exclusive titles before Xbox Series X does its first, Halo Infinite , which doesn’t yet have a 2021 date set,” said Louise Shorthouse, gaming analyst at Omdia.
“Consumers also tend to stick with the same console brands across generations, so Sony is in an incredibly strong position.”
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WARNER BROS/PLAYSTATIO
Hogwarts Legacy is a game set in a world before Harry Potter was born.
There was also a first look at the long-awaited Hogwarts Legacy , from the Harry Potter saga. The RPG will be a cross-platform release in 2021.
“The two most powerful consoles are close to each other in terms of specification: the Xbox has more storage, but the PS5 is a bit faster,” said gaming expert Nicky Danino.
“But there are still reasons why people choose a specific console. Which platform your friends play on, for example, has a lot to do with it.”
ISpider-Man: Miles Morales will be one of the exclusive titles for the PS5.
Analysis by Mark Cieslak of BBC Click
It seems that Sony is almost trolling its archrival Microsoft by matching the price of the PS5 with that of the Xbox Series X.
The tactic will have surprised many industry analysts. Xbox felt compelled to reveal its prices last week following a leak. And this seemed to give PlayStation a second play advantage.
But when I spoke to PlayStation CEO Jim Ryan, he insisted that PS5 prices had been set since the beginning of the year . Also, he said, Thursday’s announcement had been on his agenda for a while.
On the facts, the Xbox Series X is the most powerful machine. But PlayStation has a strong lineup of exclusive titles for its platforms.
And the delay of Halo Infinite , after fans complained that the footage shown earlier in the year was underwhelming, has been a huge blow to Microsoft’s original release plans.
But is the PS5 putting up a fight in the last-gen console war?
Xbox has an attractive offer with its Game Pass Ultimate subscription service. So even if Xbox doesn’t sell as many consoles as PlayStation, it can still be just as profitable.
When I asked Ryan about the possibility of a similar service, he said PlayStation was one of the big hit games that cost a lot to make, so a similar subscription service model wouldn’t make financial sense.
We’ll find out if he sticks with that strategy in 2021 or beyond once supply meets demand.