Sony's rival expects PlayStation 5 Slim release in 2023 and starting price of US$399

Thanks to Microsoft's continuing battle with the Federal Trade Commission, which is skeptical about the company's planned acquisition of gaming giant Activision Blizzard, another document has surfaced that includes some spicy details regrading the alleged release window and official MSRP of the long-awaited PS5 Slim, which will supposedly carry the same US$399 price tag as the already available Sony PlayStation 5 Digital Edition.

The document also states that the Redmond-based corporation expects the Sony PlayStation 5 Slim to be released "later this year". The console probably won't feature a Blu-ray drive but is said to be compatible with a new detachable disc drive that can be purchased separately. Furthermore, the document reiterates that the Japanese gaming behemoth is working on a higher-priced PS5 Pro model, which will debut in the "near future" and has recently been rumored to hit the market in 2024.

Last but not least, the leaked document mentions Sony's plans for a portable PlayStation console, which has already been unveiled and is currently in development and known by its codename "Project Q". The company does not reveal sources for any of these claims, so it is possible that the Windows developer is resorting to pure conjectures as it tries to convince the FTC to authorize its controversial acquisition. However, there is certainly a chance that the Xbox maker has attained some tangible inside information regarding the release date and price of the PS5 Slim, which is why PlayStation fans who have been waiting for the first notable refresh of this console generation might want to hold out with their purchase until later this year.

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