Xbox and PlayStation Please Stop This Ridiculous Game of Chicken
We are officially in the month of August, eight months into the year that is 2020. It has been one hell of a roller coaster of a year that is far from over. One thing many people are looking forward to is the launch of the next-generation PlayStation and Xbox consoles. Despite the struggles of COVID-19 both Xbox and PlayStation remain determined that they will be launching their consoles in holiday 2020. Yet, here we are in August and there are a massive amount of details we don’t know.
The biggest question remains is, what the prices of these consoles will be when they launch? The recently announced August State of Play reportedly will not talk about major PS5 details. While Xbox has a rumored August event, there is nothing concrete on when that event could be. The Xbox Series X and PS5 console launch could potentially be in the next three months, how much longer can PlayStation and Xbox play chicken?
What We Should Already Know?
In a typical console launch year, by now we would know almost everything about the consoles by this time. Back in 2013, we had a solid idea by the end of June of what games would be launching with both the Xbox One and PlayStation 4. We also knew the prices of the device and had already begun making financial decisions bases on these numbers. The competition between Xbox One and PlayStation 4 was already skewed because of statements made by Microsoft and the PlayStation 4 having an advantage in the pricing department right off the bat. However, all this information available to consumers to make an informed buying decision.
Now I realize with the hardcore gaming consumer they have already made up their mind in regards to which console they are picking up. Whether they are sticking to either an Xbox Series X or a PlayStation 5. People like myself who will scrape together every penny in order to purchase both at day one. However, the casual gaming audience can potentially switch “sides” based on what Xbox and PlayStation show. From their games, services, hardware, the price versus value, and more. A lot of these questions, unfortunately, remain unanswered at this time.
E3 Disappearing Allowed Too Much Freedom For Xbox and PlayStation
While many people before the cancellation of E3 2020 had been of the opinion that the show was antiquated and a relic from the industry’s past. Which, to be fair is true in addition the ESA had been absolutely dropping the ball with the show the past few years. However, one aspect of the show was that it forced Xbox and PlayStation to show their entire hand in one weekend. This meant that they had to lock in their launch lineup, as well as the consoles price and more details. All of this had to be revealed at E3 week because the world was watching and you needed to make the best pitch for your platform.
Fast forward to 2020, the year of every publisher and developer having their own events, streams, and reveals. It gives Sony and Xbox a ton of wiggle room as we have seen over the past few months. We have received a slow trickle of news every month from both. With the most substantial information coming from PlayStations June event, and Xbox’s July Games Showcase. PlayStation revealed the form factor of the console, as well as games like Spider-Man: Miles Morales, Ratchet and Clank, and more. While Xbox showcased games like Halo Infinite, Fable, Avowed, and more. While both shared and talked about the games that would be coming to the console. The timelines of these games are all over the place.
We Need Dates
The only confirmed launch games we have at this time are as follows. Xbox has Halo Infinite, Yakuza 7: Like A Dragon, and The Medium. While PlayStation has Spider-Man: Miles Morales, Deathloop, Godfall, and Astro’s Playroom currently. While these games are confirmed as launch titles, there are no launch dates for any of these games. Xbox and Sony are protecting the launch date of their consoles and launch software like the declaration of independence. I am about five minutes away from calling Nicholas Cage to fix this situation. Third-party developers have given us better ideas about what the launch date of these consoles could potentially be. With Cyberpunk 2077 and Assassin’s Creed: Valhalla both launching within two days of each other. While both of these games have Xbox related marketing deals. Assumptions can be made that the Series X could potentially launch around that week in November.
However, I really do not believe we should have to be guessing and making these kinds of assumptions this late in the game. If third party developers feel confident enough to be giving us launch dates for their games. Then why can’t Sony and Xbox provide this kind of information? Even if they are concerned about certain games not making launch date. I want to believe that most fans would be reasonable and understanding if games ended up getting pushed back due to Covid-19 and complications associated with it. While there will always be an outrage cycle on social media, there is no data that points to outrage detracting from console or game sales. Especially when it comes to social media hyperbole drummed up by influencers and YouTubers.
Stop Playing Chicken With Prices
We have been bombarded since the reveal of these consoles about what the prices could be. From the PS5 being $399 all the way to $700, while Xbox Series X has ranged from $399 all the way up to $800. While many rumors have been inflated and pulled right out of random 4chan leaks. The common consensus is that the consoles will land somewhere in the $499 range. We are once again running with speculation and rumors. This is no way to make an educated decision on your purchase of a system. It feels with the financial state of the world currently, it would important to get the price out there so people can start preparing for launch. However, I believe there is more at play in why PlayStation and Xbox don’t want to reveal their hand in terms of prices.
The biggest concern I think on both sides is one being undercut by the other. This is especially prevalent with the rumored Xbox Lockheart. That is the biggest wildcard in terms of what are the capabilities of that console and what will the price point be? This throws a wrench in PlayStation planning as being able to market the same price or cheaper console.
Sooner Rather Than Later
With a rumored second PlayStation event to be coming sometime in August. As well as Xbox heavily hinting that they have another event planned for this month. There is still hope for us to get prices sooner rather than later. This has to happen because eventually both PlayStation and Xbox will want to have pre-orders up for a few months to get an idea of where the demand for these consoles is going to be. Someone needs to go first, or else we will end up walking into Gamestop on launch day to find out the prices, or we will be handed an` envelope with the price sealed inside when you pick up your console. Jokes aside, Xbox and PlayStation can’t afford to leave their fans hanging like this for much longer.
You can already feel the temperature rising with the announcement of no big PS5 details at the August 6th State of Play. Many fans voicing that they wanted next-generation information now and that it was ridiculous how long it was taking. Expectations are through the roof, both PS5 and Xbox Series X need to deliver. PlayStation needs to attempt to hit the incredible bar they have set for themselves with the PlayStation 4. Xbox needs to prove that they are in this for the long haul, and they have the software to justify the console. Only time will tell, but both PlayStation and Xbox are running out of time.
I am not too worried about it. I will get one this year or both next year. I am more anxious about finding a new audio solution since xSx will not support optical out, my creative katana soundbar though I suspect it may still work over usb, isn’t going to be the multi device solution it has been.
I am also curious if either console will support native 1440p or 2k, I might downgrade from 4k.
Either way, I am so glad we’re getting a fast cpu and ssd this round.
The games will come and if can’t get one untill next year then the bargain bin will already be waiting.
I suspect it may be even longer before m.2 drives compatible with ps5 will be reasonably priced.
@lordcancerkain:disqus
I am kind of shocked they didn’t apply any sort of support for alternate display resolutions. However that does add another layer of support. Every feature and compatibility layer you add to a system means you have to support it.
They already do support it. Literally everyone is releasing their games on pc.. even sony. They also making use of 1440p with dynamic resolution when they drop 4k to maintain target fps. I suspect many games this generation will be making heavy use of dynamic resolution to target 120fps, so why not make 2k 1440p an option with higher settings and fps? it is kind of dumb to be selective which consumer base they offer it to.
@lordcancerkain:disqus
Sony is releasing limited games on PC mostly after an exclusive period on PS4. I know this is controversial for some Sony fans, but I don’t mind sharing the love 6 months to a few years later. Sony likely believes they will peel off some players from PC that will buy a PS5. Which isn’t an unreasonable expectation but they will certainly boost the sales figures for their software.
I don’t believe PS4 supports 1440p as an output resolution. My point was the cost of supporting the feature vs how much the feature would be used is likely a factor.
Sony had the exact same DRM shenanigans ready to go with the PS4. After Microsoft had that awful reveal/reaction, they yanked it and pretended they were “for the gamer”. Microsoft can take their time, I don’t care how long they take if they’re doing the exact same thing Sony did. What goes around comes around.
This is False. Sony had no huge day 1 system patch to un-do all the DRM. Microsoft did.
You claimed it was a day one patch, not me. Sorry I know how to read patents, chump. Keep pretending it’s good VS evil gaming company instead of two regular pro company, screw the consumer console manufacturers. That take always ages so well every generation.
@disqus_GTFUQxdOdE:disqus
The day 1 patch isn’t a claim its a simple fact. You are entitled to your own opinions but not your own facts.
I can read patents too. Having a patent for a capability doesn’t guarantee you will execute on that capability. Sony and Microsoft have many things in the “planning stages”. Microsoft actually executed on a very draconian DRM policy for XBOne. Which is why there was a large system patch for XBOne to remove it.
I am so sick to death of the good vs evil virtue signaling in games. Everything isn’t black and white and everything has its trade-offs. A company in pursuit of profit is a duty to their stock holders, customers and employees.
I don’t think MS was evil for their plans in many ways it was revolutionary and would have granted some flexibility to the user. Albeit it would restrict their ability to resell used games, or to simply hang on to a piece of software regardless of it being de-listed. I wasn’t a fan, folks didn’t seem to respond well and Sony made hay on they when touting the simplicity of the PS4 in terms of the flexibility of physical software.
I don’t see where good vs evil plays a role. Its competition and I am all for that.
Since you’re plainly retarded I’ll spell it out for you.
Nobody denies Microsoft patched it out. You INFER that Sony didn’t have to. I know they didn’t because they removed it prior after seeing the reaction to microsofts reveal. They saved their own hide.
Enjoy your mute and kill yourself you worthless pile of crap. Sony shills don’t deserve oxygen, you make the industry worse.
@disqus_GTFUQxdOdE:disqus
Oh really?
https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/3be110de27c05d0696244ec7b949be94ecead2a0365527a273661aada3d9ccf3.png
There is no inference here. Sony did not have any Day 1 PS4 system patch to un-do a DRM laden OS. This is not up for debate. Any patents Sony had in reference to DRM didn’t mean they were going to execute on those plans. So just citing Sony had patents for DRM similar to XBOne is not evidence they were going to use that patent.
Are you this charming for everyone or are you just trying to get in my pants? 🙂
Okay.. So lets get this straight.. in your infinite wisdom… Microsoft who announced DRM policies.. Couldn’t just remove them… They had to make a patch for day one users to fix it… But Sony on the other hand.. after seeing how bad the DRM policies that apparently they had too… Were simply able to strike them from their announcement too.. just to look better… and get them out of their hardware before the launch date of their system? But.. a giant industry leader in technology like Microsoft couldn’t..? I am confused as to how you wrap your brain around that ridiculous claim and make it seem reasonable to you.. LMAO.. If it was that easy to just strike it from the presentation and remove it… as Sony did.. Why didn’t microsoft do the same thing?
Oh.. Let me answer that for you.. That legendary Patent Reading your refering too? Its a pile of shite. LMFAO.. You are just spewing lies like a Xbot would.. Why don’t you just open up and become a REAL gamer? Enjoy both systems and the games they have on them… But then again.. If I ONLY had an Xbox One… I would spend my time on here berating others too.. because their damn sure aint been an exclusive worth a damn released on the system in about a year.. Meanwhile my PS4 Pro been racking them titles up…
Before you call me a fanboy… I have 2 Xbox One X’s and 2 Xbox One S’s… They are my main consoles.. I love that they can switch to cable boxes and other apps so fast.. So they are always on.. On every single one of my TV’s in my house.. I also have 2 PS4 Pros.. and 1 PS4. I just play Multi-plats on Xbox because of 4K and the Ultra HD player.. and I use my PS4 for all exclusives for PS4.. but there is way more games released for PS4.. so It does get plenty of play time.
So open your eyes.. and just enjoy gaming in general, and you’ll find out you don’t have as much time to be so dang hateful.
Putting words in my mouth. Enjoy your mute.
LMAO… those were your EXACT words.. I didn’t even say anything evil to you.. You just got a big ole slap in the mouth with facts and couldn’t take them.. It’s cool.. You’re really not fun to debate with anyways.. You don’t bring anything to the table it seems. Oh well. Best Wishes.
That’s a lie and you have no proof for it.
@Nicholas Downie
This isn’t necessarily simply a game of chicken. There is a great deal of uncertainty in the marketplace and neither company wants to make any solid announcements on pricing and availability. This data is definitely a little late given the time line of previous generations.
We are getting another PS event this August they are already tempering expectations. I bet we hear something end of August or sometime in September.
Yeah it’s chicken, about anyone worth their salt in predicting this industries future can see that. You know next to dick all about what’s happening, shocker. Sick private profile, simp.
Saddest comment I’ve read this week.
@disqus_GTFUQxdOdE:disqus
Its a result of COVID. They aren’t rushing to release P&A when the climate is so uncertain. Which will change as the virus runs its course.
Ridiculous article. Sony has no reason to jump ahead, they have still 110 million PS4s to care for and all sympathies are on their side.
Microsoft refused to be competitive again, so Sony can play it tactically and take all the time they need,
@disqus_cAKs6zy5LV:disqus
They really get nothing if they jump first. Sony is coming off a strong finish for PS4 and its up to Microsoft to prove itself this generation.
Time is ticking and both companies will end up losing money the more longer they wait to announce prices more so during the Covid 19 pandemic going around. I am planning to purchase a PS5 launch day but cannot do that not knowing how much the system is going to cost before launch. It is insane the people up top who make the decisions on system pricing are playing a game of chicken to compete with one another. Their are more Sony and Microsoft loyalists who stay with each new system rather than just new gamers each system cycle every 6 to 7 years.