PS4 to launch at $400, says analyst
- Posted January 14th, 2013 at 09:22 EDT by Mike Harradence
- 13 Comments
Analyst Colin Sebastian reckons Sony and Microsoft’s next-generation consoles will hit shelves for $350-$400.
Sebastian’s estimate comes following off-the-record meetings with “a number of companies” at CES last week, which peg the PlayStation 4 and Xbox 720 at around the $400 mark.
Unsurprisingly, the Baird Equity Research analyst also expects June’s E3 event to play host to the first proper showing of the new platforms.
"Given the fragile state of the console game market, we expect the E3 trade show in June will take on added significance, most likely providing the industry with the first public opportunity to examine next-generation hardware," said Sebastian.
"Our checks suggest that next-generation console hardware will be largely built from 'off the shelf' high-end PC components, along with hybrid physical/digital distribution models, enhanced voice controls and motion sensing (Kinect integration with every Xbox), and broad multi-media capabilities," he added.
"Moreover, a PC-based architecture (Intel chips in the case of Xbox) should have a number of advantages over custom-developed silicon: for one, the learning curve for software developers will be shorter than completely new technology.
"Second, the cost of production and retail price points should be lower than prior console launches.”
"Third, it will be easier to build online services around PC chip architecture, including flexible business models (free-to-play, subscriptions) and multi-media (over the top) content offerings. For Microsoft, this design will also allow for more integration with Windows 8 and Windows Mobile devices."
Sony caused quite an uproar back in 2006 when it launched the premium PlayStation 3 in the U.S. for $599. Xbox 360 meanwhile released a year earlier for $400, though reports indicate that Sony’s machine has surpassed its rival in global shipments as of Dec. 2012.
Sebastian added that Xbox 720 is likely to be released this November, while PS4 will turn up slightly later due to "early production issues."
Stay tuned for more news on PS4 as we get it.
Email
Related Content
Comments
-
jamesobachand |
snake2112- 1:21pm EST - January 14th, 2013
- 1
Sounds good to me and hopefully Bethesda won't cheat the PS4 users.
-
Blacksite |
BlacksitePSU- 1:44pm EST - January 14th, 2013
- 2
Lol, analysts.
Actually, I remember making a thread, asking people what they would expect the PS4 to be priced at. $400 and $500 got the most votes. It makes sense as $300 is pretty much the price you'd pay for a Vita and I really doubt they'd go for $600 again after the crap they got for it with the PS3.
-
Bones311
- 3:53pm EST - January 14th, 2013
- 3
it should be cheaper this time around anyway because they're not developing ALL NEW pieces of hardware to shove in the thing. Bluray and the cell processor really hurt them in their pockets... and if you remember, sony was apparently still losing money on the PS3 at launch even though it cost $600. Hopefully that will really help them this coming generation.
-
Syphon_Filter |
Syphon_Filter2- 5:37pm EST - January 14th, 2013
- 4
400 dollars price for PS4 is really good price.
-
-
Ocelot1987
- 7:05pm EST - January 14th, 2013
- 6
If they sell it at $400 they'd be taking a loss for each unit sold but if they sell it for more they will lose their fans to Microsoft so this assumption is likely correct.
-
joeyjoejoeshababadoo
- 7:23pm EST - January 14th, 2013
- 7
@3 That's very true, I didn't even think of the blu-ray part. It was probably one of the biggest factors of the PS3's high initial cost.
I'm just hoping that the PS4 gets Bluetooth 4.0 low energy, USB 3.0, a boatload of RAM and the next dualshock controller to have at least double, maybe even triple the battery life.
-
-
snooper71 |
snooper71- 12:20am EST - January 15th, 2013
- 9
@Alpha
Request your paycheck NOW!!!! loll
Odd, first rumors I heard of production trouble came from the MS side, not the PS4. Oh well, I will be happy if they launch globally this year. If they can't launch worldwide, make US your first territory since it needs early sales to compete with MS and Japan will eat it up regardless.
-
sengoku
- 5:07am EST - January 15th, 2013
- 10
So no new news, shame :/
as being for first or last, seeing how windows 8 and the new rt version of 8 is flopping hard in phone and tablet form, and how ridiculous the new windows 8 pro tablet launched at ces this year is received.
i'm feeling comfortable enough to tell you guys that xbox is not going to be the end all be all of consoling this year.
why?? because every product launch from microsoft last year and this year has done very badly.
i'm putting my money on kaz to have the correct vision and the guts to include the right stuff in stead of balmer whos been trying so hard to make it stick but has failed over and over again.
-
-
-
This will permanently ban this user and delete all associated comments. This action is irreversible, are you SURE you want to do this?!
