| shikamaru317 said: 2020 is what I expected for MS. However, it is worth noting, that IGN Japan is saying MS told them that MS is trying to get the next Xbox ready by Holiday 2019, I guess they want it ready just in case Sony decides to release PS5 in 2019, so that Sony doesn't get a 1 year sales headstart. |
I'm not surprised about potentially seeing multiple XB devices. With PS5 talk clearly picking up early this year already, I wouldn't put it past PS to purposely be leaking info to misdirect MS as much as possible. With Phil and his promise to offer the most powerful hardware going forward, if PS can manage to also launch multiple consoles, or launch ever so slightly later with more performance, with a subsidy for an affordable price, it'll be an arrow straight through the heart of XB fans.
Without having to purposely wait to see what PS5 is exactly, to make sure Scarlet is more powerful a year later, XB would either have to highly subsidize the console at launch, or offer at the very least a base and high end SKU. This way the high end unit can be $499 or $599 or $999, however powerful they need it to be, to be able to make sure they can say they have the most powerful hardware on the market.
The more PS can make XB think that the PS5 launch is imminent (because starting next gen too far behind is just as bad), the more likely Scarlet performance won't match PS5, if the truth is that PS5 isn't coming until around late 2020 regardless. If PS can force MS to build a console that is spec'd as high as reasonably possible for 2020, even though XB might move up the launch closer to late 2019 if they can, if PS just plans to hold off anyway and make a 2021 level PS5, and let XB wait to launch holiday 2020, then PS can most likely move up the launch to the same time or even say march 2021, with better specs at a similar price, and have the power advantage once again.
Unless Scarlet is going to have a super high end SKU for $999, or if PS has simply decided starting next gen off asap and getting a lead is their best bet, XB is going to have a tricky time making sure they have the strongest hardware period.
Personally at this point in time, I think what would make the most sense for XB overall would be a $199-$299 streaming box, $299-$399 handheld/hybrid that does 1080p/60 docked, and a $499-$599 4k/60 home console.
