According to a court document, Microsoft anticipates that Sony will offer the PlayStation 5 Slim later this year for $399.99.
The document was made public as part of the Federal Trade Commission vs. Microsoft trial, which will decide whether to uphold a proposed preliminary injunction against Activision Blizzard’s $69 billion acquisition.
Sony and Microsoft Legal War
Microsoft argues that the Nintendo Switch belongs in the same market as the Xbox Series consoles and the PlayStation 5 in a paragraph about price in an effort to improve the perception of Xbox as coming in third place and losing the console war.
The last statement in this paragraph, which confirms both the existence of the long-rumored PlayStation 5 Slim and its pricing, is certain to irritate Sony CEO Jim Ryan. IGN has contacted Sony for a response.
“PlayStation likewise sells a less expensive Digital Edition for $399.99, and is expected to release a PlayStation 5 Slim later this year at the same reduced price point,” reads the document.
Further down, Microsoft states, “Sony is also anticipated to release a handheld version of PlayStation 5 later this year for under $300,” adding to the shocking revelations.
The Project Q, a portable game streaming device from Sony that wirelessly connects to the PS5, is relevant here. Sony has not yet disclosed the cost or release date.
Given that Sony has developed small versions of its prior consoles, the PS5 small’s presence wouldn’t be all that surprising.
In 2016, it introduced the PlayStation 4 Slim, which took the place of the standard PS4 model, and the PS4 Pro, which was more powerful.
The PS5 was released in two versions in November 2020: one with a disc drive for $499 and one without for $399.
However, Microsoft might use a different strategy. Three years after the launching of the Xbox Series X/S consoles, Xbox head Phil Spencer stated in June that he “doesn’t feel an imperative” to offer a mid-cycle Xbox console upgrade.
Three years after the launch of the Xbox One, Microsoft introduced the Xbox One S. Four years after the launch of the original Xbox One, a more potent console, the Xbox One X, was introduced.
To read our blog on “The battery life on Sony’s $200 DualSense Edge for PS5 will be “moderately shorter,” click here.