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Many PlayStation fans would have no problem waiting until 2030 for the PS6 – and one major reason is the expected price. With hardware costs continuing to rise, there are concerns that Sony could charge a four-figure price for its next console. The situation looks similar for Microsoft's next Xbox, which is being developed under the name Project Helix. Market research firm Ampere Analysis has now examined what impact such a price could have.

The scenario assumes that the PlayStation 6 and Xbox Helix launch in 2028 as traditional next-gen consoles priced at $1,000 each, primarily offering more performance and better graphics than their predecessors (PS5 currently available for $650 on Amazon). According to Ampere Analysis, combined sales of the two consoles could be up to 38% lower over their first five years than those of their predecessors. For 2031, Ampere forecasts a market that would be $3.4 billion, or 12%, smaller than it would be with a $700 launch price.

The Reddit community is hardly surprised by the findings. On the contrary, many users think even the projected 38% decline is optimistic and expect sales to fall much more sharply at a $1,000 price point. For some, the most they would be willing to pay is already around $600 to $700. A large number of users say they would simply keep using their current console at such prices or switch directly to a gaming PC.

Ampere Analysis sees three possible ways out for Sony and Microsoft. Both manufacturers could delay the generational transition beyond 2028 and hope that hardware prices fall by then. Alternatively, they could subsidize the hardware more heavily and offset the costs through games, subscriptions or new monetization models.

As a third option, Ampere suggests a different console concept in which performance and better graphics are no longer the main selling points. New form factors or use cases, for example, could make upgrading more appealing without necessarily requiring extremely expensive high-end hardware. Microsoft already appears to be moving in this direction with Project Helix, which could potentially be a PC-console hybrid.

As a child in the 90s, my Gameboy was my steady companion. After school, the PlayStation was fired up. When I finally got my first PC, I was completely hooked. My passion for gaming has never waned since. For me, writing for Notebookcheck means reporting on topics that are really close to my heart - in addition to gaming, I also like to write about e-mobility, photovoltaics and innovative gadgets. When I'm not sitting at my computer, I'm probably on water rescue duty on the Baltic coast or trying to counteract the downsides of my geek life - namely sitting for long periods - at the local swimming pool.