JRPGfan said:
You really think that if Sony is doing a 2020 launch (as it appears from that quote, about crouching to jump high lateron, might indicate) that Microsft will launch a Xbox Two in 2019? The Xbox One X just came out like at the end of 2017.... you think that within 2years of its launch, there will be a replacement for the Xbox One X? I dont think Xbox does that, it would be stepping on too many toes (those that opted to buy a xbox one x). |
MS could try and launch early, but it would depend on a few things, and could hurt them even worse if they aren't careful. The fact that XB1X launched late 2017, would no doubt piss off some customers who bought one, only to find out there's a much better XB all around coming out only 2 years later. I mean, they waited a year for XB1X, so who's to say they wouldn't have waited for 'XB2' or bought a PC or Pro in the meantime? There will also be gamers who would dive right in anyway since it's new tech regardless, whether it leaves the XB1 brand behind or not.
If PS4 is still hot by next year, which it should be with a $199 price, whether PS wants it there or is forced to price it there to compete with a new XB launch, then XB needs to hope it can overshadow a cheap PS4/Pro, as well as hope that PS isn't ready to unveil a PS5 that can match or overshadow 'XB2'. I wouldn't be surprised one bit that if 'XB2' was announced to launch holiday 2019, that if PS5 is locked to launch late 2020, and PS felt 'XB2' was going to be trouble for PS5, that they would at the very least, mention that PS5 would be ready to launch whenever it would in 2020, before the new XB console ever hit store shelves.
PS could basically copy what MS did with Scorpio by announcing minor or major PS5 details slightly early to overshadow the 'XB2' launch. The main difference would be that instead of being at a disadvantage at that point like MS was, PS would be extremely strong, so as long as PS4 still had solid third party support at that time, and PS first party was still firing on all cylinders, then the odd's of having a tonne of PS4/Pro owners jump ship for 'XB2' seems unlikely. For MS to make a worthwhile performance jump from XB1X to 'XB2' by late 2019, they would need to price the new console at $499 minimum, which hasn't been a strong selling point for them, or anyone else for that matter, or take a significant hit on a $399 hardware subsidy early on.
If PS5 were to launch with similar or stronger hardware a year later, with a $399 price point, then 'XB2' would probably end up in a similar position to where the XB1 was early on. If you change the PS3 launch price to $399, even with somewhat weaker hardware, and see the sales it pushed at that price, the pubs and devs would have been forced to care and master the cell architecture asap, instead of being able to focus mostly on the 360. Now imagine a similar scenario, but with a much more dev friendly architecture, and you can see why PS5 shouldn't be at much of a disadvantage with a later start.
Even if MS tried to launch alongside PS5, if it launches within the 25th anniversary of PS, it's going to be a nightmare. MS can try and rain on the PS parade all they want, it's not going to make much of a difference unless they have an army of variety and quality first party exclusives ready to go, along with a $600+ console that they sell for $399. If you think PS has strong marketing in general, especially for PS4, just wait to see what they do with a 25th anniversary celebration and a PS5 launch at the same time.
