27 June 2023 , 10:09
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Microsoft thinks it knows how much Sony's PS5 Slim and Project Q PS5 handheld will cost.
The ongoing Microsoft Activision deal vs FTC legal battle has been fascinating, with this week's trial at the Federal Court treating us to some truly fascinating titbits of information including Starfield's exclusivity wrangles, Microsoft's Bethesda acquisition, Call of Duty remaining on PlayStation and Xbox, Elder Scrolls 6 and even when the PS6 could be launching. Who knew that Microsoft's $68.7 billion proposed acquisition of Activision Blizzard would get so spicy?
And on that note, Microsoft has been talking about Sony's upcoming hardware releases, the PS5 Slim and Project Q, even going so far as to estimate how much they will cost when they're eventually released.
PS5 Slim and Project Q PS5 handheld price estimated
Project Q, Sony's upcoming PS5 handheld device, was officially revealed in May after a series of leaks, with the device set to allow players to stream games from their PS5 consoles using remote play over Wi-Fi. But, Sony has not yet confirmed the pricing.
And yet, Microsoft's lawyers are already throwing out figures, estimating the price of Project Q and the PS5 Slim.
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“Xbox Series S is sold for $50 less than the Switch OLED model,” Microsoft stated in their proposed findings of fact legal document.
“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.” A footnote on the same page touches on Project Q’s expected price as under $300, which would roughly convert to £235 / AU$450.
With a range of new handhelds hitting the market after the success of the Nintendo Switch and Steam Deck, including the stunning Asus Rog Ally and the less-impressive Logitech G Cloud, it makes sense that Sony is hoping to re-enter the market given the popularity of the PlayStation Portable consoles a decade ago.
When Sony disclosed all of the details surrounding Project Q, I really thought it was a fumble. However, I also thought that the company could redeem itself if the price was right, say, less than £150. My predictions currently sit around £250 and I really hope Sony proves me wrong.
The estimated PlayStation Slim price makes for a decent surprise considering the previous Slim editions of the PlayStation consoles having upgrades, when compared to their un-Slim counterparts, meaning we can expect the same with the PS5.
However, Project Q being referenced as under $300 likely means that Microsoft is expecting this device to come in close to my prediction. Given that the Nintendo Switch costs just £260, is completely standalone and can be used as both a handheld and docked console, it makes me wonder how Sony has managed to get it so wrong. Or have they?