Microsoft Thinks Sony Will Release a PS5 Slim Later This Year, Priced at $399.99: Report

gadgets.ndtv.com:

Microsoft believes that Sony PlayStation will release a PS5 Slim model, later this year. New court documents from the ongoing trial between Xbox parent company Microsoft and the US FTC indicate that the tech giant expects rival Sony to unveil the long-rumoured less-expensive PS5 model at a price tag of $399.99 (about Rs. 32,825). As per IGN, the paragraph was Microsoft's attempt at convincing the judge to consider the Nintendo Switch in the same market as PlayStation and Xbox, when it boils down to price. The idea is to present itself as the underdog in the console market, so it successfully acquires Activision Blizzard without posing a threat to the game industry.

“In fact, the entry-level versions of the current Xbox and Switch are offered at the same price point ($299.99), and the Xbox Series S is sold for $50 less than the Switch OLED model ($349.99),” Microsoft said in the document (via IGN). “PlayStation likewise sells a less expensive Digital Edition for $399.99, and is expected to release a PlayStation 5 Slim later this year at the same reduced price point.” Of course, no source is mentioned, but a report from September, last year, suggested that Sony was looking to launch a “slimmer and lighter” version of the PS5 console, poised to come with identical hardware as the existing models, albeit with a new chassis and a detachable disc drive. It's understood that the Sony-approved external drive will be available to purchase separately, so if it malfunctions, you don't have to buy an entirely new unit. Even if you send the drive for RMA, you should be able to play games digitally.

As mentioned before, Microsoft is trying to portray itself as the underdog here, having previously claimed that it's been losing the