Title: Microsoft Court Documents Suggest Sony PlayStation 5 Slim to be Released Later This Year at $399.99
Subtitle: Microsoft’s Unexpected Revelation Shakes Up Console Market
Byline: [Author Name]
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In a surprising turn of events, court documents released as part of the ongoing FTC trial regarding Microsoft’s acquisition of Activision Blizzard have indicated that Sony may be releasing a PlayStation 5 Slim later this year. Even more striking is the fact that it was Microsoft itself that made this revelation.
Typically, it is expected for console manufacturers to release a slim version of their flagship console a few years after its initial launch. With the PlayStation 5 turning three years old in the coming months, it would indeed not be unusual for Sony to unveil a slim version of their popular console. However, what caught industry insiders off guard was the fact that Microsoft mentioned this in its legal documents rather than Sony itself.
According to the court documents, Microsoft expects Sony to release the PlayStation 5 Slim at a price point of $399.99. This revelation coincided with Microsoft contesting the Federal Trade Commission’s (FTC) stance that the console market is primarily a two-horse race between Xbox and PlayStation. Microsoft argued that the FTC’s analysis overlooked the differentiation within Xbox’s console lines, particularly with its budget-friendly Series S model that is priced $50 less than a Nintendo Switch OLED.
Under a section of the document titled “The Console Market Must Include Nintendo,” Microsoft dismissed the notion that PlayStation and Xbox are direct rivals solely based on similar pricing. In a clever move, Microsoft included a footnote claiming that PlayStation offers a less expensive Digital Edition at the same price of $399.99 and is anticipated to release a PlayStation 5 Slim later this year at the same reduced price point. The documents also hinted at Sony working on a handheld version of the PlayStation 5 code-named “Project Q” with an expected price tag of under $300.
To add to the speculation, Microsoft also mentioned the potential release of a PS5 Pro in the near future. While Sony has provided little information about Project Q or any upcoming console models, Microsoft’s inclusion of these details has heightened expectations among industry observers.
It remains to be seen whether Sony will confirm Microsoft’s claims. We have reached out to Sony for confirmation and further details regarding their plans for upcoming console releases.
As the console market continues to evolve and intensify, unexpected revelations like these only serve to stoke the curiosity and excitement of gamers worldwide. With the release of the PlayStation 5 Slim and other potential models on the horizon, console enthusiasts can anticipate another wave of innovation and choice in the near future.