Easy fix really. The PS5D can be marketed as a "subsidized" console. Kinda like how you have amazon fire devices. The machine can even be "ad-supported" if sony decided to take it there. Where when you log on you have a slightly more "ad active" home page than what you would otherwise have on the standard SKU. But that's even going too far. All they have to do is market it as a subsidized console being that the only way to buy content for it would be through the PlayStation store.

Everyone would get that.

Like I said above, the marketing, if there's such a large discrepancy (anything above $50), would be to make it sound like the reason one is cheaper isn't because of a lack of a Blu-ray drive. The smart thing to do would be to instead make it clear that that version of the console is more subsidized because the PS store is the only way to get content on it. No used games...etc.

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.

Seems like MS decided to put all their eggs in the Halo basket and hope for the best. If things worked out, it would've made for quite a strong launch for them, possibly gaining early momentum and keeping them in the next gen race. Instead, while it's not like they're completely screwed, they're going to be in a much weaker position at launch.

If this was the plan, they were taking quite a risk but they kinda had to. It's what they needed to go up against a PS5 launch and they're going to come up short. Luckily they have XBSS which will help, because without that, they would have needed a $399 XBSX to stand a chance against PS5.

Can’t answer that yet. Still no word on price or final launch lineup. Plus kena: bridge of spirits was delayed today. Was originally scheduled for “holiday” 2020.

At $299, I think Xbox is gonna come out strong and give Sony a good fight.

What was the "holiday" sales of PS4/XBone launch?
I seem to recall Xbox doing disproportionately well, despite ultimately only garnering ~1:2.5 market share vs Sony.
I think MS benefits from being strong in US where Christmas/"holiday season" is huge consumer dynamic.
Of course when that dynamic can't be sustained over the long term, it's ultimately irrelevant in the bigger picture.
I do think MS' installment plan/lease (whatever they call it) should help "sales #s", unclear if Sony will follow suit itself.

Regardless, keeping discless price as low as possible will be most critical, not disc version equaling XSX price or $50 lower.
Since any subsidy for discless is virtually certain to be gained back and more (Store commission) no reason to be shy about it.
$100 discount is more than difference in disc drive cost (/possibly PSU?) but $150 could make it even sweeter,
and it's in Sony's interest to sell more discless models than the disc drive version, so why worry about equal attactiveness?
MS not offering discless version of full-4K spec model leaves huge opening for Sony to push full-spec discless model,
if Sony can go beyond $100 discount they make it close enough that it questions the value of XSL for barely less money.
Realistically, they could only offer $100 discount, but also offer it with very attractive bundles that add further value.

For that matter, they could offer discless version of PS4 Pro, albeit primarily relevant to non-core markets that are less wealthy,
that could be very effective in keeping MS from making any gains in those markets where Playstation brand is mostly dominant.

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.

It was already almost guaranteed but after today there's no more chances for Sony to fuck up so they'll win worldwide for sure but in specific countries like the US they might not.

Now that the digital ps5 price is confirmed at $400. The Xbox dosent stand a chance not even in the US anymore. An series s is just not worth it.

Sure, especially if as it seems the case, alot of PS5 games will offer 1080p performance mode.
XSX could also do so, but I'd imagine most who get top model will have 4K screens,
and as those don't seem available in smaller screens, dropping to 1080p would be poor experience.

What I'm not sure is how many additional sales MS might get from subscription installment/lease.
Seems reasonable for Sony to do so also, but they may not have all their cards ready for their offering.
Makes sense it would be PS5 exclusive (like their free offering atop PSPlus) ...could involve Epic too?