Microsoft expects Sony Interactive Entertainment to launch the PlayStation 5 Slim console later this year.
In documents released as part of its legal battle with the US Federal Trade Commission, the company said You expect the new PS5 model to cost the same as the current PS5 Digital Edition unit, or $100 less than the standard PS5.
“PlayStation is also selling a cheaper digital version for $399.99, and the PlayStation 5 Slim is due out later this year at the same discounted price,” Microsoft said.
Xbox also said it believes Sony is gearing up to launch the PS5 Pro console.
“Meanwhile, PlayStation currently offers two different versions of the PlayStation 5 – one with a Blu-Ray drive for physical media (standard) and one without (digital) – and is expected to release more premium Pro and Slim models in the future. close. ”
Last month, Sony announced a new portable streaming device for the PlayStation, “Project Q.”
It’s been described as “a dedicated device that lets you stream any game from your PS5 console using Remote Play over Wi-Fi.”
While launch and pricing details were not disclosed, Microsoft said in its legal filings, “Sony is also expected to release a portable version of the PlayStation 5 later this year for under $300. »
Last year, Inside Games sources claimed that Sony was planning to release a new PS5 model with a removable disk drive in September 2023.
They said the console will be sold on its own or come with the removable disk drive, which will also be sold separately and connects to the PS5 using an additional USB-C port on the back of the device.
This model should replace the original PS5 by the end of the year.
Microsoft’s claims coincide with PS5 pricing in Europe. Despite record sales, the console has been heavily discounted in countries including the UK, Spain, Portugal and France, suggesting that Sony may be looking to liquidate obsolete inventory before introduce a new model.
In the UK, Sony dropped the price of three PS5 bundles (God of War Ragnarök, FIFA 23 and Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2) available via PlayStation Direct from £539.99 to £479.99 on June 4, c That’s why it stays at this price until July 31.
Xbox chief Phil Spencer recently said that a potential mid-cycle upgrade for the Xbox Series X isn’t a priority for Microsoft.
In response to a question about whether the company plans to release a more powerful Xbox Series X console, the head of Microsoft’s games division Fleurberg said he doesn’t “feel obligated” to do so.
“Those aren’t the reactions we’re getting now,” he said. “At the moment, we are quite ready to use the equipment we have. »
Microsoft and Sony launched their current generation consoles, Xbox Series X/S and PS5 respectively, in November 2020.
While companies previously introduced significant upgrades to their consoles after 3-4 years in the market, current-gen supply issues caused by the Covid-19 pandemic have affected adoption rates and may have affected the schedules of planned mid-cycle hardware updates.
At last month’s Xbox Game Show, Microsoft announced a new black version of the Xbox Series S with 1TB of storage. It will cost $349, which is $50 more than the current 512GB white model.
