Or the underpowered XB1 at $400 was simply overpriced? As it was supposed to be indeed, since the BoM for the Kinect was about $150. As far as I remember, sure.

Considering 4k players cost around $200+ I would say Xbox Slim is selling at a loss, and as a gamer if there taking a loss that means there giving more to there audience.

One reads giving and the other reads greedy.

That's $200 retail for the drive and everything else that comes along with it including retailer and developer profits. 

The point of this thread is that people have found on retail websites for pc that a UHD Drive can be bought for $50 retail meaning the cost for MS and Sony to include one would be less as they won't pay retail and they would bulk buy. 

Considering the slim costs around $200 to develop (old components everywhere and no Kinect), the addition of a UHD Drive at retail $50 still leaves a profit margin for MS. 

The Pro on the other hand has a new custom apu and gpu to get double the performance, a new PU, and a new wireless module. The chances are, that although a 1TB unit for both cost similar, MS is likely making more money and Sony likely left out the UHD Drive as the extra $10-20 would have meant selling above $399. 

It's not that much less dependable. It goes down for maintenance more often, but nothing crazy where it's down for days unless it's hit by ddos in which case any company would have issues. 

You forget that unlike with MS, they are providing games for 3 platforms on PS+ and also providing shareplay and spectate mode through party chat. 

I've been able to play several games I don't own in co-op with friends because of it. 

1 TB Xbox One Slim - 349$

1 TB PS4 Pro - 399$

50$  more for something with 300% the power of the Xbox One S ?  (x3 performance increase)

One of these plays games in 720-900p, the other 1440-1800p (with hardware side upscaleing thats better than the xbox one S's).

Theres a massive differnce in how games look on these systems.

How is this greedy?

Source, please?

The slim cost at least $100 Million to develop, by the way. Depending on who you ask, developing the new SoC cost between 100 and 150m alone.

Now the iSupply teardown for the Slim calculates a manufacturing cost of $324. They are a bit off here and there and everywhere in both directions but the $200 you seem to "know" is way off (imo by my experience). So I'd love to see your source for the $200.

Microsoft are using the UHD BD drive to add value to picking an Xbox over a PS4. Sony already know they for the most part have the advantage on the software library to feel they don't (currently) need to match that particular offering.

Pretty much like how the oft rumoured Xbox 360 BD add on or built in drive never happened.

@MikeRox:

But point being, Sony doesn't need to lose profits to include it.  
If there is a minor cost, OK, pass that $5 onto the final price of the product.
No change in Sony's profits.  $5 price difference will not affect sales volume at all.  So what is there to lose?
Taking into account actual realistic cost numbers, and inclusion or not of BDXL/UHD is not really a price point issue.

Honestly, the only rationale I see is that Sony thinks more people will use it's streaming service than if they included BDXL drive.
But the thing is, if 4K Blu-Ray is as marginal as people say, that won't just be a large differnce, yet un-necessarily pisses people off.
Like if you go and buy the best sports sedan, dropping $80,000, and it doesn't include a stereo system.
Sure, it's still a nicer driving experience than a $20,000 car, and you may well buy it anyways, but why did they need to stiff you on the radio?

Right, that's why I've written on production costs vs. market costs where perceived premiums can apply.
If you have better source of pricing (for BDXL vs. non-BDXL), I'd love to hear it, that's exactly why I created this thread.

I would absolutely pay $50 extra for an included HD DVD drive! :D

I know a lot of people who buy physical media. And those that do probably increasingly prefer 4K content. I buy most of my content digitally, but will buy physical occasionally for the right disc with the right bonus content. I might have bought a physical copy of Deadpool, but thankfully the dozen or so special features were all included in the digitally distibuted copy. :D

Considering the XB1 Slim is using old X1 hardware, the price of the 4k player is obviously half the cost of the console or maybe more. Sony cheaped out on the 4k player its quite obvious here where as MS didnt. Slim is most likely being sold as a loss where as Pro most likely isnt. The company taking the loss is giving more. Will wait and see if the Slim and Pro are profitable or not. 

The X1 Slim is also sold under $300. Comparing the the most expensive model to the cheapest is a poor comparison. We all know hardware space adds a larger price tag.