An Xbox One price cut is on the horizon, with latest reports suggesting Microsoft will drop its next-gen console’s price to be the same as the rival PS4.
With the Xbox One currently priced at £429, the 360 follow-on costs a full £80 more than its leading next-gen rival. Although some of this added fee can be attributed to the bundling of the second-generation Kinect peripheral, it is believed the price difference contributed to the Xbox One’s lower sales.
With reports earlier this week claiming that a white Xbox One release date will be held in October, gaming blog VG247 has cited a ‘well-respected senior source’ in claiming that an Xbox One price cut is on the cards and will follow the launch of a cheaper, lower storage version of the console.
Speaking with the Microsoft insider, the reports have stated that “Microsoft will likely drop the price of the current Xbox One model, placing it in the same price point as Sony’s PlayStation 4.” There is currently no exact timeframe handed to this price reduction.
Although Microsoft has refused to comment on the speculation, the upcoming Xbox One price cut would be fitting with recent calls from investors that have suggested Microsoft risks losing traction in the console race if it fails to fall in line with the PS4’s price.
"It is possible that Microsoft will reduce Xbox One pricing far faster than we have forecasted,” industry analyst Michael Pachter of investment firm Wedbush Morgan said in a note to clients.
He added: “Should hardware prices come down faster than we have modelled, it is likely that hardware and software sales will grow faster."
Yesterday Microsoft introduced an Xbox One price incentive in the US, offering eager gamers $100 (£60) off the console when they traded in their old PS3s.
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