Next-Gen Consoles May Tank at $1,000 Price Point, Analyst Warns

A new report from Ampere Analysis suggests that if Sony and Microsoft launch their next-generation consoles, PS6 and Xbox Helix, at $1,000, it could lead to a nearly 40% drop in sales over five years.

The report estimates that the combined number of PS6 and Xbox Helix consoles sold after the first five years could be up to 38% lower than the combined sales of PS5 and Xbox Series X/S over the same period.

Ampere Analysis offers three strategic solutions for Sony and Microsoft to avoid a $1,000 price point, including delaying the launch of next-generation consoles, reducing prices through hardware subsidies and new monetization models, or innovating on hardware form factor and use cases.

Xbox CEO Asha Sharma has already hinted at new 'business models' designed to make Project Helix affordable for more players, and Ampere suggests that this could involve a PC-console hybrid with a potentially different payment structure.