Honestly, Microsoft has been under a lot fire lately with Xbox One but does it really deserve all of it?
Let us take all the info that we know about the gaming industry until Sony announced the price of the PS4...
Let's try to be a Xbox strategic analyst ourself.
You know that the PS3 released at $600 and $500 back in 2006 and was the most powerfull console.
The Wii U deluxe set was release at $350. Now the Xbox one is getting Blue Ray, you are the undisputed leader in the US for HD Console. So obviously you would feel very good about yourself because you think you have the US in your pockets, you have money, advertising and media on your side (Media was very hard to PS3). So why would a $500 Next Gen Console with Kinect 2.0 has to worry about his competitions while Wii U is struggling big time, and even when the specs on the PS4 are like 50% better than yours, you are probably sure it comes at a price cause in your hear DDR5 is more expensive than DDR3 and Sony is known to have expensive console at release.
So for MS even if Sony were to sell the PS4 at $500 dollar, they could always say and try to sell those following statements even if some of them are false (they are just example that went through my head), but would probably stick to some people
1) You are getting much more for the same Price
2) To match Xbox One, you have to spend $560 for the PS4
3) Play and control your living room for $500, or just play for $500...
So far, before the PS4 announce it's price, MS didn't actually do nothing wrong. Even the DRM would not be a "real" problem because even the Xbox 360 is pretty much just a Box without Xbox Live and MS main target are the US and UK where internet is decent. Also let's not forget that even before E3, Xbox one was the hottest video game console on Amazon. You got Foza, Dead Rising 3 and a new IP Ryse, while SONY is still presenting next KZ (could be considered a failure in term of sales for last gen) and next Infamous. Totally nothing to worry about.
So to conclude, MS didn't really messed up with Xbox one, is SONY that has done a wonderfull near perfect job. Releasing at $400 while being the most powerfull console, there is just no way that you can twist that story. In my opinion Xbox one has the better lauch line up. But when I can hope to see the next Uncharted or the Last of Us on the PS4, that hope is enough to get me to buy a PS4. SONY has just done everything right for next gen. And this $400 release price is what makes it look like Microsoft messed up while I believe it is SONY that has done a wonderful job.
