New Xbox console may sell for twice as much as PS6 price and offer superior specs

Xbox President Sarah Bond revealed that the new Xbox console will be a “very premium, very high-end” system. Some gamers speculate that the PC/console hybrid may cost more than $1000. That has made PlayStation fans concerned that the PS6 price will be just as high. However, according to a respected insider, Sony’s upcoming console could seem like a bargain in comparison.

KeplerL2 has already leaked details of systems in development from Sony and Microsoft. In the wake of the new Sarah Bond interview, he offered another prediction on social media. KeplerL2 estimates that the PS6 may cost $600, while the next Xbox console will ask $1200.

That prognostication surprised some readers, but KeplerL2 pointed to differences in PS6 specs as one factor. He expects Microsoft’s machine to ship with “~42% more silicon, 20% more memory”. In addition, the higher cost of other major components and the system to cool them will drive up the MSRP.

Other reasons why the next Xbox will challenge wallets

The next Xbox console will likely rely on a Windows OS like the ROG Xbox Ally handhelds. That will allow it to support third-party marketplaces, including Steam and Epic Games Store. Unfortunately, as KeplerL2 mentions, there are downsides to a more open ecosystem. Microsoft will have a difficult time subsidizing the cost of the console. With the PS5 and Series X, the manufacturers absorbed losses on hardware, hoping to profit from games and accessories instead.

Despite a lower PS6 price and less impressive specs, the performance gap between the PlayStation and Xbox consoles may not be enormous. Project Amethyst is a partnership between AMD and Sony that should benefit PS6 games. Relying on AI, future systems would boast ray tracing and path tracing that put less strain on CPUs. Upscaling that improves on PSSR would also maximize the potential of a cheaper PS6.

The Magnus APU, rumored to power the new Xbox console, will have its own advantages thanks to RDNA 5 architecture. Still, with an imposing price tag, Microsoft is clearly aiming at the enthusiast market. On the other hand, Sony plans to mass-produce a system that may be priced similarly to the PS5.