Sony Corp. says the next-generation PlayStation 5 will launch in November.
The asking price is $ 749.95 and $ 599.95 for the no-drive version.
The pricing announcement paves the way for the year-end showdown between Microsoft Corp’s Xbox and PlayStation consoles, as consumers continue to flock to enhanced gaming consoles that offer exclusive titles.
Microsoft said last week that the less powerful Xbox Series X ($ 749) and the less powerful Xbox Series S ($ 499) will go on sale on November 10.
Hardware pricing decisions have won and lost console battles between generations as manufacturers look to build a critical mass of consumers that lures game developers to their platform.
Sony, which is moving away from recent generations with the predominantly white PlayStation 5, introduces the driveless version as digital downloads have become standard.
Upcoming titles unveiled for the console include the Final Fantasy XVI platform exclusives from Square Enix, the new God of War title from Sony’s Santa Monica Studio and the role-playing game Harry Potter.
The announcement boosts the PlayStation lineup after the revelation of a slew of titles including Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales from Insomniac Games’ indoor studio in June.
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Sony’s “cool” games lineup is showing that it is “betting more aggressively on exclusives” as Serkan Tutu, founder of game industry consultancy Cantan Games, said, “Microsoft is focusing on cheaper entry rates to lure users into the Xbox ecosystem.”
With both companies seeking recurring revenue, Sony said PlayStation Plus subscribers will have access to a back catalog of titles from the old PlayStation 4.
Games industry revenue has been torn apart among consumers who have stayed home due to the COVID-19 pandemic, helping to lift Sony’s shares by 46 percent since March.
PlayStation 5 will go on sale on November 12 in the United States, Japan, Canada, Mexico, Australia, New Zealand and South Korea.
