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- The PS5 Pro shows Sony’s willingness to use its position as the industry’s top dog to its advantage.
- Xbox has previously served as an important force in keeping PlayStation in check.
- The former should now look toward capitalizing on the current outrage over the PS5 Pro.
The PS5 Pro comes out in two months, and it will cost you an arm and a leg for the full experience, at least compared to traditional console pricing. Starting at a whopping $700, the system can easily cost as much as $900 once other costs are factored in.
Whether this price is justified is up for debate, but it’s clear that PlayStation cared little about the consumer’s wallet when designing this mid-gen refresh. As one of the biggest forces in high-end console gaming, the company is free to do as it likes.
Xbox, the last remaining hurdle in PlayStation’s path to complete domination, hasn’t put up much of a fight recently. In fact, I would argue that the PS5 Pro shows why it would be in everyone’s best interests if Xbox pulled itself together.
Why it matters: Competition benefits the consumer in the long run by driving innovations and helping keep costs down.
Arrogant Sony Is Back
During the PS3 era, Sony was as ambitious as it was prideful. The PS3 was a marvel for its time, yet it came with its fair share of caveats. Despite its many drawbacks, some of which made it inferior to the competition, Sony dared to ask gamers to work a second job to afford the console.
Gamers were quick to dub Sony arrogant for its approach to the initial years of the PS3, and rightfully so. The gaming giant has shown glimpses of its former self during the PS5 generation, and while it has been quick to address faults, the PS5 Pro truly serves as an unneeded blast from the past.
Overpriced accessories, questionable price hikes, poor communication with the fans, you name it. The gaming giant seems to be following the same pattern as last time, and the latest announcement is the icing on the cake. However, there’s one key difference this time.
This generation has been a huge success so far, a far cry from the disastrous release of the PS3.
Xbox’s Impact On PlayStation
Speaking of key differences, PlayStation’s biggest rival in recent years is all but done for, or so it seems. Xbox has suffered from a poor first-party lineup, appalling hardware sales, and a general lack of trust this generation.
Whether it be sudden layoffs, shocking studio closures, or inconsistent messaging, the brand has practically given PlayStation an easy way out. Think back to 20 years ago, and you will recall how Microsoft quickly capitalized on the PS3’s poor launch to uplift the Xbox 360.
PlayStation answered by rapidly evolving its online ecosystem, offering price cuts on the PS3 hardware, and creating an unrivaled first-party lineup.
The xbox 360 was actually much better than the ps3 in the beginning.
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Several years later, Xbox’s threat ensured the PS4 launched at an appropriate price and offered essential features catered to the fans. One could argue that the PS4 was so good because PlayStation had a genuine reason to compete and do its best from the beginning.
Without a rival keeping PlayStation in check, the sky is the limit. The PS6 could cost as much as $1000, and there wouldn’t be much anybody could do. It’s already been said that the lack of a mid-gen rival is one reason the PS5 Pro was priced as high as it was.
In my opinion, this would never have happened in an era when both companies were competing head-to-head.
Xbox Must Capitalize Right Now
The PS5 Pro has turned more than a few heads for all the wrong reasons, giving Xbox a small opportunity to capitalize.
Going by recent reports, Microsoft made the right call by skipping a mid-gen refresh. If recent leaks are anything to go by, Microsoft’s second move may be yet another step in the right direction, with an early start to the next generation potentially leaving the PS5 Pro in the dust.
Sure, this console is impressive on paper. However, it falls flat with a poor CPU bottlenecking the fancy new GPU. Also important is the fact that raw rasterization is only about 20-25% better than what the Xbox Series X already offers.
Microsoft should use these facts to its advantage to push the Xbox Series X, which is much cheaper at $449.99 for the all-digital model. This momentum can slowly build to the next generation, which should arrive by 2026 if the leaks are to be trusted.
A new Xbox built from the ground up would feature a much better CPU, an even more capable GPU, and AI-based tech to rival PSSR. If the stars align, this potential series of events could just be what the gaming giant needs to bounce back.
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[News Reporter]
Avinash is currently pursuing a Business degree in Australia. For more than three years, he has been working as a gaming journalist, utilizing his writing skills and love for gaming to report on the latest updates in the industry. Avinash loves to play action games like Devil May Cry and has also been mentioned on highly regarded websites, such as IGN, GamesRadar, GameRant, Dualshockers, CBR, and Gamespot.
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