Xbox Believed PS5 Price Hike Provided Chance To Win Fans Over

Expert Verified By

"This Could Be Our Time To Win Fans!"

PS5 and Xbox Series S|X were released around the same time in 2020, yet the difference in sales is massive. The Xbox Series X is advertised as the most powerful console but falls behind the PS5 in terms of sales.

However, Microsoft has constantly tried to catch up to its rival, using different innovations like Xbox Game Pass in an attempt to do so. Last year, Sony announced a price hike for the PS5, which was an unpopular decision.

Following this announcement, Microsoft saw yet another opportunity to improve its current position in the industry, with internal emails revealing Microsoft believed it could win fans over in the aftermath of the price hike.

Why it matters: PlayStation came into the generation after it had incredible momentum from the success of the PS4, but Xbox hopes to close the distance between the Xbox Series S|X and PS5.

Xbox Series X

The Verge has recently revealed some information from a heavily redacted email that documents Microsoft’s reactions to the PS5 price hike.

Following the announcement, Phil Spencer wanted to keep the company gamer-focused, maintaining its prices and consumer-friendly incentives introduced in the industry. To this, Ami Silverman from Microsoft responded:

“All good points, let’s be gamer-obsessed here. This could be our time to win fans vs. lose being a follower.”

This message likely referred to Xbox’s position as the runner-up in the console market. The negative reaction likely stopped Microsoft from following in PlayStation’s footsteps, encouraging it to maintain prices to entice potential customers looking to switch console brands.

However, economic conditions ensured Microsoft was not able to hold prices for too long and eventually announced price hikes earlier this year.

PS5 Cloud Gaming

Since then, Microsoft has increased the prices of the Xbox Series S|X and Game Pass slightly. Recently, Sony has also increased the annual price of all tiers of PS Plus, highlighting the latest example of such instances in the gaming industry.

Still, compared to PlayStation, Microsoft’s price hikes have been less divisive.

Currently, Xbox Series S|X consoles have sold over 21 million units, while the PS5 is in the lead with over 41 million units sold. This gap has grown in 2023, but various measures may eventually allow Microsoft to catch up.

Microsoft’s reaction to PlayStation’s announcement shows that the gaming giant is more competitive than ever, prepared to take advantage of any opportunity that may allow it to gain a slight edge over the competition.

Was our article helpful? 👨‍💻

Thank you! Please share your positive feedback. 🔋

How could we improve this post? Please Help us. 😔

Gear Up For Latest News

Get exclusive gaming & tech news before it drops. Sign up today!

Join Our Community

Still having issues? Join the Tech4Gamers Forum for expert help and community support!

Latest News

Join Our Community

104,000FansLike
32,122FollowersFollow

Trending

Epic Games CEO Admits Its Launcher Is Clunky And Harder To Use Compared To Steam

The Epic Games CEO, Tim Sweeney, has admitted that its launcher is lacking in convenience and quality-of-life features compared to Steam.

Ex-Bungie Devs Working On Upcoming ‘Ambitious Incubation Project’ Under New PlayStation Studio teamLFG

PlayStation has announced a new studio, teamLFG, made up of former Bungie developers. They are allegedly developing the project Gummy Bears.

MagMouse: The World’s First Magnetically Attachable Wireless Mouse with Built-In Fast-Charging Cable

MagMouse is the world’s first magnetically attachable wireless mouse with built-in fast charging, and up to 80-day battery life.

G.SKILL To Unveil Cutting-Edge Memory and Overclocking Events at Computex 2025

Discover G.SKILL’s latest DDR5 memory, live overclocking competitions, and elite custom PC builds at Computex 2025.

EA Rejects Raising Game Prices Despite Xbox And Nintendo Moving Forward With $80 Price Tags

EA CEO Andrew Wilson and CFO Stuart Canfield have clarified in a new earnings call that the company won't be raising its game pricing yet.