An Xbox One price cut is needed if Microsoft is to compete with Sony’s PS4 in the next-gen console wars, an industry analyst has claimed.
With the Xbox One and PS4 having both launched in recent weeks, recent figures have revealed that early PS4 sales have eclipsed those of the rival Xbox One offering, a factor some are placing on the Sony console’s considerably cheaper price tag.
"The reason Sony beats Microsoft is solely the price," Michael Pachter, a technology analyst with Wedbush Securities said.
Speaking at the Game Monetization Summit in San Francisco, the outspoken analyst predicted that the PS4 will go on to sell between 100 and 120 million units, compared with around 90 million Xbox One consoles he says will be sold during the device’s lifecycle.
He added: "Microsoft loses the next generation unless they cut price. If Microsoft drops its price to $399, I expect the sales to be equal to the PS4."
At launch the PS4 price was set at £349, with the Xbox One, which comes bundled with a second-generation Kinect camera, will cost wannabe owners £429. In the US, the PS4 and Xbox One are priced $399 and $499 respectively.
Despite both consoles grabbing consumers’ attentions not just as gaming units but wider home entertainment devices, Pachter doesn’t believe either will be taking over the home anytime soon.
"I don't think you're ever going to see 500 million consoles out there,” the analyst said. He added: "I don't know where [people] get those numbers."
Read More: Xbox One vs PS4
Via: GamesIndustry
