Toward the end of July, Microsoft plans to unveil its first-party lineup forXbox Series X. Games likeHalo InfiniteandHellblade 2will certainly be there, along with whatever surprises Xbox has in store as well. Fans will also get to learn a little bit more about the hardware and what’s in store for Xbox Live as well. But while Xbox prepares its final big information blast this summer, Sony could be making a power move with PlayStation before Xbox’s next conference.
There was an initial rumor this week that Sony would reveal the PS5’s price ahead of Xbox’s conference. Granted, it never came to be just a few days ago, but there’s been some mumblings previously that another PS5 event is on the way as well. Sony has yet another opportunity to sweep the rug out from under Microsoft during E3, assuming the PS5 is ready to reveal its price. SinceXbox Series Xhas had a lot of lag time between the third party presentation and its upcoming follow-up show, PlayStation could jump ahead if Sony jumps on it.
Rumors of a PS5 Price Reveal
Gaming fans and pundits were buzzing on Twitter recently when a known and verified leaker statedthe PS5 would receive a price announcement on July 13. Of course the timing was very sudden and unusual, and like many other bogus rumors, didn’t turn out to be true. But the false announcement is an interesting proposition for Sony, should PlayStation release the price prior to Xbox’s showcase on July 23. If Sony announces the price of the PS5 and opens up pre-orders for the system, the new PlayStation is all of a sudden at a great advantage compared to Xbox Series X.
Sony made a similar move during E3 2013 with the whole used games and always-online fiasco with the Xbox One. PlayStation made the genius and ultimately savage marketing move to publish the video of Shuhei Yoshida and Adam Boyes sarcastically demonstrating the used game sharing process. It was a severe sting on Xbox One that nearly killed all of the console’s momentum for the entire generation,leading to the PS4’s huge success. Xbox One rubbed players the wrong way with its all-in-one media center ambition overshadowing the system’s games lineup. Now Xbox is in a similarly precarious, if not as severe, scenario with Xbox Series X, despite a promising lead starting last year.
Xbox Once Held the Lead
Microsoftinitially unveiled the Xbox Series X during The Game Awards in 2019, following a quick hype reel of Xbox’s exclusives. That was a full eight months prior to Sony unveiling the PS5 during its own event in June 2020. In the time between, Sony’s uncharacteristic marketing silence allowed Xbox Series X to relish its time in the spotlight. Xbox initially held all the momentum for the next generation of consoles. Things were looking good for Microsoft and Xbox, until its first third party showcase was broadcast in May of this year.
Xbox stumbled a bit with its conference in May, for a few reasons. First and foremost, as with most of 2020, the production value of Xbox’s conference likely had to be sacrificed due to Covid-19 complications. Since social distancing guidelines were still in full effect around the world, the showcase was filmed entirely from home. But even despite that, the conference was not free of controversy. The lack of actual gameplay demos, despite the marketing for the show promising “gameplay,” understandably disappointed fans for setting the wrong expectations. Especially withAssassin’s Creed Valhalla’s first gameplay preview, which ended up being an in-engine trailer instead of in-depth gameplay.
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How PlayStation Could Steal Xbox’s Thunder
Not to mention the showcase was specifically geared towards third-party games only, and didn’t show anything fromHalo: Infinite,Senua’s Saga: Hellblade 2,Forza,Gears of War, or any other first party titles. Those games are being saved for the first-party and console showcase happening this month, for better or worse. Under normal circumstances during E3, usually first and third party games would’ve shared the stage and spotlight together. But the separation meansthe top heavy exclusives from Xbox are getting their own show, overshadowing many of the games that were shared in a conference that already had enough controversy from fans.
PlayStation is rumored to also be planning another conference later this year, but a price reveal could come sooner. PlayStation once again finds an opportunity to steal the Xbox Series X’s thunder this year, and a price reveal this early could be an aggressive overtaking. Of course, there’s the caveat of Xbox coming back and undercutting the price move, but opening up pre-orders is another counter to that.
Xbox had so much more exposure, taking over the next-gen conversation up until May or June. Then Sony capitalized on its silence, making a big splash with its PS5 reveal event, and the company could do it again soon. Xbox had so much momentum moving into this year, but unlessthis upcoming conference makes a big splash withHalo: Infiniteand others, PlayStation could be firmly in the lead.
