SvennoJ said:
DF did a piece on Lockhart maybe having a 4tf GPU while keeping everything else the same (except maybe 12GB ram instead of 16GG) |
| Lafiel said: I think lockhart with 4tf only makes sense if they can pull it off for $350, while XSX is above $600. In other cases the lockhart will be as dead and forgotten as the PS3 20GB was a month after release. |
I don't see MS asking anymore than $599 for XBSX. That might even mean they have to subsidize $100 for the first year, but asking for more than $600 for a console would be a first, and while it would be "bold" as Phil likes to say, PS3 was also bold, so.
If XBSX is $599, it's out of reach for many, so MS won't take how it compares to Lockharts TF into account much in terms of price. I also don't think they will put it on market to land where it should based on how it compares to PS5. If you want a cheaper XB however, which will be the cheapest option period, as long as PS doesn't have a lower tier, then your only choice will be Lockhart.
The consumer will have to choose, whether Lockhart is $300 or $400. Would you rather spend another $100-$200 and get a PS5 with 5-6 more TF, or save the money, or spend it on XB games? The consumers who don't care about brand and are value oriented, will choose PS5 most likely. The consumers who simply care about being able to get into next gen asap, at the lowest price, will choose Lockhart. A cheaper Lockhart also may force PS to keep PS5's price lower than they would like to otherwise, which would help make XBSX seem more premium.
Now personally I think from a marketing perspective, $299 and $599 would be the perfect prices for XB. It makes XBSX seem like a steal in terms of TF performance vs Lockhart, while making Lockhart seem like a steal in terms of being able to play 'uncompromised' next gen games for super cheap. Can a $100 subsidy get Lockhart there as well though?
In just about any Lockhart (4TF) scenario, XB1X hardware has to go immediately. After 2 years max, if not sooner, XB1S hardware also has to go. With a $299 Lockhart, you want as many people as possible to buy into next gen asap. XB1X would only get in the way. XB1SAD would be the cheapest way to keep bringing people into the ecosystem, hoping they will upgrade to Lockhart sooner than later.
Even if Lockhart was $399, and XB1X could be $299, I'd still think MS drops it immediately. As long as all XB1 systems play all future XB games, at least for a few years, you don't want XB1X taking sales away from Lockhart. You want those people using next gen XB hardware asap, because the sooner that happens, the less likely they are to end up with a PS5. Assuming of course that XB feels they've got things solidly figured out this time around.
