Sony has disclosed its
PlayStation 5 console hardware last week, and although the console design is
labeled divisive, the actual surprise element is the plan for two PS5 models.
Do you know that a PS5 Digital Edition will be shipped with the same hardware specs
as the primary model but without the 4K Blu-ray drive? Although the price is
yet to be revealed, it is obvious that the Digital Edition will be priced
higher than the optical drive.  You know
what that means – there’s going to be an epic showdown between the prices of
Sony’s PS5 Digital Edition and Microsoft’s Xbox Series X.

Rumors have been
circulating for some time that Microsoft is preparing to launch the two
next-gen Xbox Models. The Xbox maker has already disclosed the Xbox Series X,
but it is yet to show us the cheaper Xbox which has been in works for quite
some time. This Lockhart Model is similar to Sony’s PS5 Digital Edition as it
will be shipped without the optical drive. However, it’s also expected to have
made changes to the memory configuration and inside GPU that makes it
comparatively less powerful than the Series X.

Sony’s PS5 Digital
Edition is unlikely to impact Microsoft’s plans, but it may give some leverage
when pricing the PlayStation 5.

Furthermore, the 4K Blu-ray drive is likely to
equate a $50 price cut due to the drive costs and related licensing charges. No
matter what it may seem like, price plays a huge role here as we’re all
about to enter the worst recessions in decades. The key might turn out to be
the savior only if Sony and Microsoft stretch out their usual losses on
hardware instead of chasing after game sales and subscriptions.

We’re yet to find out
whether or not Sony will allow people to loan games to their friends which
could potentially drive the digital sales if left unsupported.

Microsoft, on the other
hand, has been toying with the digital Xbox editions and the possibility of
sharing games digitally. Last year the company produced disc-less Xbox One S
All-Digital Edition for $249 and $50 less when on retail. You can’t deny it’s
been a popular choice as many games now demand regular updates and the
requirement to be installed to a drive.

Moving forward, we can
expect that storage and digital games will hold increased preference. Sony is, in fact, making it compulsory that all games must be installed to the internal SSD improving
the read speeds. Furthermore, Sony has allowed PS5 owners to increase storage
using SSD drives that meet the requirements for the performance.

As of now, we aren’t
sure when both Microsoft and Sony will reveal their prices. As a matter of
fact, we can’t be sure of anything as Microsoft can hit another bouncer and
introduce a surprise Xbox Series X Digital Edition. Nobody knows how Lockhart
console will be priced, or even marketed.

It’s a summer full of
secrets and surprises!