Sony could have a much bigger problem than the reported $1,000 price tag of the PS6, with its recent anti-consumer decisions potentially handing Xbox an easy win in the next-gen console war.
This year alone, Sony has faced heavy backlash over its decision to end physical disc production for new PlayStation games from January 2028. The backlash continues to this day, with official PlayStation social media posts flooded with “no disc, no buy” comments and memes.
On top of that, repeated PS5 price hikes have left gamers concerned about the cost of the PS6, while Sony is also facing allegations of inflated PlayStation Store prices. And that’s just scratching the surface. With all of this in mind, Sony could have a bigger problem than the reported $1,000 price point of the PS6 and convincing gamers to pay it.
Sony needs to win back PlayStation gamers’ trust
The first and most important issue Sony faces is winning back the trust of its gamers, something that could take months or even years.
PlayStation has historically delivered relatively affordable consoles alongside a plethora of exclusives that give gamers a reason to upgrade. Many would consider the PS1, PS2, and PS4 among Sony’s strongest generations for value.
Before the PS4 launched in 2013, Sony made a huge pro-consumer move in response to Microsoft’s original Xbox One DRM policies, which included regular online check-ins and restrictions on sharing physical games. Microsoft quickly reversed course, but Sony had already gained the upper hand in the eighth-generation console war.
Now, following Sony’s own controversial decisions, it feels like the roles have reversed. If PlayStation can’t win back consumer trust, it risks handing Xbox an opportunity to gain ground in the tenth generation.
The PS6 needs first-party exclusives worth buying a new console for
Make no mistake, the PS5 has had some fantastic exclusives, including Astro Bot, the Demon’s Souls remake, Ghost of Yōtei, Gran Turismo 7 and Saros. However, it’s worth asking whether their sales have matched Sony’s expectations.
The PS4, meanwhile, had an exceptionally strong lineup of exclusives, including Bloodborne, inFAMOUS: Second Son, The Last Guardian, Gran Turismo Sport and Killzone: Shadow Fall, to name a few. It also delivered us major hits like God of War, Uncharted 4, Horizon Zero Dawn and The Last of Us Part II.
However, several of these titles eventually came to PC, raising questions about whether this weakened the incentive to buy a PlayStation console.
Sony appears to be moving back towards keeping its major single-player games exclusive to PlayStation. Whether that strategy pays off remains to be seen, but it highlights how important a strong lineup of exclusives could be to the PS6’s success.
Sony PlayStation exhibition stand, John Keeble
A $1,000 PS6 could price gamers out of the next generation
While this price tag hasn’t been officially confirmed by Sony, many are concerned about how expensive the PlayStation 6 could be. Recently, video game industry insider KeplerL2 added to concerns, claiming that the PS6’s RAM and NAND storage alone could cost more than $680. That’s a significant sum for just two components, especially when compared with the price of a brand-new PS5 Pro.
At the time of writing, a brand-new PlayStation 5 Pro costs $899.99 in the US and £789.99 in the UK. However, that price doesn’t include a disc drive or an official vertical stand. If you want those extras, you’re looking at an additional $109.98 ($79.99 for the disc drive and $29.99 for the stand) in the US, or £94.98 (£69.99 for the disc drive and £24.99 for the stand) in the UK.
With PS5 Pro stock reportedly limited, particularly in the US, the situation has also created opportunities for inflated resale prices. GameStop, for example, recently listed a pre-owned PS5 Pro for around $1,400, more than the recommended retail price of a brand-new console. While this is an extreme example rather than a reflection of the standard market price, it highlights how expensive gaming hardware can become when availability is limited.
In a nutshell, if the PS6 launches at around $1,000, as some fear, it could put the console out of reach for many gamers. If Sony doesn’t offer compelling value for money, this could give Microsoft an opportunity to gain ground in the next-generation.
Sony needs to give gamers more choice, not less
Sony certainly isn’t making a convincing argument for even its most loyal fans to pick up a PS6 when it launches. It’s also fair to question whether the company is giving its fanbase enough reasons to remain loyal right now, and Sony only has itself to blame.
If Sony wants to win back its players’ trust and respect, it needs to take action, and it needs to do so now. It needs to rethink its apparent move towards an all-digital future, find ways to make current-gen and next-gen PlayStation consoles more affordable and, ultimately, give players a fairer choice in how they buy and access their games.
Right now, PlayStation doesn’t feel like it’s “for the players”. Hopefully, there’s still time for that to change.
Featured Image Credit: SOPA Images
