Coming into this console generation, none of the next-generation consoles were priced evenly. The Xbox One was a whopping 100 dollars more than the PS4, particularly because of its required Kinect camera. This has caused many gamers to turn to the PS4, simply to save money. This has an even greater impact when you consider both consoles have nearly exactly the same specs.
But the PS4 is already retailing at $400 dollars, and at such a huge expenditure in the first place, will an extra 100 bucks for the Xbox One’s $500 price tag really matter? The Wii U is priced even cheaper, and that price mark certainly isn’t helping it move any units.
Thus, we are faced with a question. Is the Xbox One too expensive? The Xbox One is certainly selling worse than the PS4 worldwide at this point, but not by much. They are both easily outdoing the Wii U. Then again, the Xbox One has a larger launch library, including many console exclusives, such as Killer Instinct , that gamers are purchasing the system just to be able to play. Unless the split between system sales is caused solely by Resolutiongate, it has to be caused by console price… or perhaps just blind console loyalty.
Here’s some more evidence to chew on. Recently, United Kingdom retailer Maplin has cut the price of the Xbox One to £349.99 which just so happens to be the same price that the PS4 is selling at. This is after Microsoft itself cut the price of the console from £430 to £400. Don’t get your panties in a twist U.S. gamers, Microsoft hasn’t mentioned anything about reducing the price here in the states.
Still, that’s two price-cuts in a row for Microsoft’s console, and a retailer wouldn’t cut the price of a console unless they were having problems with moving them. That’s just simple business; price cuts are used to boost sales. In addition, Sony claimed last month that it was selling 1.5 PS4’s for every Xbox One sold in UK territories. Sony has managed to sell 6 million systems as of March 8 th . As of the end of December last year, Microsoft sold half as many systems. So they would have to have sold another 3 million worldwide to keep up with Sony.
Then again, according to current exchange rates the Xbox One is just more expensive in UK territories. £349.99 is about 580 U.S. dollars. At its original price of £430 we are looking at approximately a 713 U.S. dollar expenditure. So anyone who was getting the bright idea of trying to import an Xbox One from UK territories for cheap will have to think again.
What do you think? Is the Xbox One too expensive? Is the price holding the console back? Would it sell on par with the PS4 if Microsoft offered a version of the console without a Kinect at a similar price range? Have you bought an Xbox One and if not, what price point would make the console enticing to you? Let us know in the comments.