Xbox’s Next-Gen Console Might Be Double the Price of PS6

The conversation around next-gen hardware just got a lot more intense thanks to a new wave of reports hinting at a massive divide between Sony and Microsoft’s upcoming consoles. Instead of the usual back-and-forth over raw power, the headline this time might be how dramatically different their pricing and strategies could be.  

Earlier this week, during an interview with Mashable about the new ROG Xbox Ally X handheld, Xbox head Sarah Bond gave a small but telling glimpse into Microsoft’s next-gen hardware. She said the next console will deliver “a very premium and high-end curated experience” and that people can already see hints of that mindset in the design of their new handheld. She refused to say more, but that choice of words—"premium," "high-end," "curated"—already sounds expensive. 

Right after that interview, insiders were playing the guessing game. The guess? About $600 for the PS6 and a massive $1,200 for the next Xbox. It's clear that this is speculation, but the reason why that figure is so big for the Xbox is because of an estimated 42% more silicon, 20% more memory, pricier boards and cooling, and the fact that Microsoft will not be able to subsidize the hardware the same way Sony does because of how open the box is expected to be. 

Rumor has it the next Xbox will essentially be a high-end Windows PC with access to competing storefronts like Steam and the Epic Games Store instead of limiting purchases to Microsoft’s closed ecosystem.  

That directly breaks from the traditional "walled garden" model that consoles have lived on for decades. Sony historically sells hardware at break-even or even at a loss just to build a huge install base because they claw back profit from collecting a 30% cut on the games sold through their own store. If Microsoft is opening the gates to Steam and Epic, they cannot count on the same back-end revenue to lighten hardware costs, so you should understand why the price could be so high. 

It is becoming pretty clear at this point that Sony and Microsoft may be walking into the next generation with completely different philosophies instead of trying to fight in the same ring like boxers. And it is important to note that the insiders making these predictions are not just throwing numbers into the sky—they reportedly know what is going into these machines, understand AMD’s role, and have a realistic frame of reference for the cost of the components being used. From that angle, the idea that Microsoft’s box could land near $1,200 doesn't sound like much of a reach. 

Even then, a $600 gap would be insane because that is a literal second console in difference, but even if Microsoft’s machine lands anywhere between $900 and $1,200 while Sony tries to stay at a mass-market $600 price point, that just goes to show how these two giants are going to aim for two different customer bases. Sony would be chasing the mainstream again, while Microsoft would be building a high-end boutique “enthusiast-grade” Windows gaming device, aka a console. 

If that ends up being true, it means the next generation between Sony and Microsoft will be unlike anything we have seen for years—not a two-horse race anymore.