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EricHiggin on 12 September 2020
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Intrinsic said:
EricHiggin said:

Some would get it. I would understand, though I wouldn't exactly be happy per say. Digital is not an option for me even if I wanted the cheaper model. It has to be the disc based version. Since I understand the difference should technically be $50 at most, any more gap than that would be justifiably worthy of complaint. Now since I'm not one to complain in general, plus I understand the marketing and business decisions behind why they may do that, I wouldn't complain, but there's plenty of people out there who don't fully understand, or would just complain regardless.

We subsidized one but not the other, only helps those who want the digital version. Using the PS store as an excuse really ain't great because you're making it more obvious used games can't be shared. This was a major problem before the XB1 launch. You could also easily say SNY doesn't care about the hardcore gamer or gamer with poor internet. Remember what happened the last time a console company decided to screw over gamers with poor internet? PS5 digital is for those who have good internet and if you can't get that, we have another cheaper product for you, it's called the PS4...

Just pointing out a possible downside to making the gap too large. Maybe a blind eye would be turned to it, who knows? Just something they would need to take into account if they were going for a $100 gap or larger. Even worse perhaps if they try to bundle free games with the digital version to make it more of a value compared to XBSS. We'll see what they do though. Maybe they'll surprise everyone with $349 and $399, and then nobody will complain about anything.

It wouldn't be a sore point if they are clear on the literature. And they do have a good (and honest) reason to do something like that.

Its not that they subsidized on and not the other, its that one is more subsidized than the other. 

They can be clear on this; "we were able to price the PS5D as low as we have because we stand to make up our losses on the hardware quicker since we make more money from digital sales of software."

Not only is that a good reason, its would also be the truth. 

And I disagree that PS5D is for those with good internet, its simply for those that prefer to buy digitally. Take me for instance, I have been all-digital all of this gen and the idea of a PS5D was the best thing they could have done for me. My internet is only like 40Mbs, but even if it was 10Mbs, I would till have gone with an all-digital sku.

A digital SKU is simply a lot more than just a console without a disc drive. Its a guarantee to sony that this customer can and will only purchase games from the PS store. No used games for you, no disc-based games for you, no disc game sharing for you, no game rentals.... nothing. Surely, when you consider all that a PS5D owner is giving up, that disc drive starts being a lot more valuable than just $35.

Maybe I should be a little more clear about what this might mean for SNY. I don't think it would ever turn into anything like the Fortnite mess they had to deal with. Not even close. It's something they may address in a fashion you've mentioned, but that's probably it.

https://gamrconnect.vgchartz.com/post.php?id=9212588

Here's a post from the XBSS design leaked thread, pointing out a similar thing about both XB SKU's. I don't think it will create a giant uproar, but it's something that some people will take into account and may complain about.

Try 10mbps and under. 5mbps here for me with data cap. If I won a PS5 DE in a contest for free, I'd sell it and buy a PS5, paying the additional cost, just because I'm not waiting days and sometimes a week to download a game, plus the giant updates for some games. Not to mention any of the other reasons why I wouldn't want to go digital. While I don't think the 10mbps crowd, give or take, is the majority of the user base by any means, SNY and MS have to take them into account.

As time goes on, the customers with faster speeds and larger or unlimited caps, are getting upgrades at a much more rapid pace then those being left behind. Sometime last year, Global news (Toronto) had a story about how all of Toronto was getting upgraded from around 100mbps on average to gigabit speeds with FTTH, and that it won't be at much increased cost. Add to that an affordable unlimited data cap option. Here, we recently have the option of wireless, up to 25mbps, 300GB cap, with no unlimited option, at $80 per month. Even if I had that service, which I won't get mostly due to the data cap, I wouldn't dare buy a digital only console.

I'm not saying the disc model being more is a problem in itself, I'm saying how much more it costs does matter though. Sucks to be you, isn't something people want to hear, but they will accept, to a certain degree.

Last edited by EricHiggin - on 12 September 2020