In a recent court filing that has sent shockwaves through the gaming industry, Microsoft has made a bold claim about Sony’s future plans, stating that the renowned company is poised to unleash a duo of highly anticipated consoles. As the legal battle between Microsoft and the US Federal Trade Commission (FTC) rages on over the proposed Activision Blizzard acquisition, Microsoft’s declaration regarding the forthcoming PlayStation 5 Slim and a handheld version of the PS5 has captured the attention of gaming enthusiasts worldwide.
These groundbreaking revelations emerged from a paragraph buried within the court document, as astutely discovered by IGN, aiming to debunk the FTC’s argument that Nintendo’s Switch should be considered a separate entity from Xbox and PlayStation solely based on pricing. Microsoft, determined to position itself as the underdog in the fiercely competitive console market, is fervently striving to substantiate this point.
In its persuasive argument, Microsoft astutely highlights the price disparities between the Xbox Series S and the OLED model of the Switch in the US. Moreover, the company emphasizes that the PS5 Digital Edition, priced at $399.99, stands only $50 higher than the Xbox Series S. It is at this juncture that Microsoft intriguingly alludes to an as-yet-unannounced Sony device, asserting that it is “expected to release a PlayStation 5 Slim later this year at the same reduced price point.”
While the veracity of this claim remains unverified, it draws comparisons to last year’s report from Insider Gaming, which indicated that Sony was contemplating the launch of a potentially “slimmer and lighter” PS5 model in 2023, featuring a detachable disc drive. According to the same source, this new console, almost identical to its predecessor apart from the detachable drive, is slated for a September release.
Yet, the PlayStation 5 Slim is not the sole focal point of Microsoft’s attention. The court filing goes on to suggest that Sony is also anticipated to unveil a handheld version of the PlayStation 5 later this year, retailing for less than $300. This intriguing statement aligns with Sony’s previously announced Project Q, a revolutionary handheld device that promises seamless streaming of PS5 games.
Nonetheless, given the context of Microsoft’s legal maneuverings against the FTC, it is prudent to view these claims as speculative at best, serving primarily to fortify Microsoft’s arguments. The resolution of this momentous case, set to determine the FTC’s success in securing an injunction against Microsoft’s Activision Blizzard deal before their internal deliberations, is expected imminently.
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Meanwhile, in the United Kingdom, Microsoft’s appeal against the Competition and Markets Authority’s decision to block the Activision Blizzard acquisition is scheduled to commence later this month, adding another layer of intrigue to the evolving landscape of the gaming industry.
Disclaimer: The aforementioned information should be considered subject to confirmation from official sources and treated as speculative until substantiated by Sony’s official announcements.
