Next PlayStation, Xbox to Cost $350 to $400, Say Analysts
It seems more and more unlikely that Sony and Microsoft will be venturing into the territory of outlandishly expensive hardware for their next generation game consoles.
According to Baird Equity Research, both companies will be using off the shelf high-end PC components instead of custom hardware that is specific just for their console. The research firm believes that such a strategy will bring down the launch price of the next PlayStation and Xbox into the range of $350 to $400.
That is good news for parents who will have to check their bank accounts later this year: While far from being cheap, the PS4 may be much cheaper than the PS3, when it launched for $499 for the 20 GB model and for $599 for the 60 GB model, which quickly escalated to a near $1,000 investment with a few accessories such as a remote, a high-end HDMI cable, and a few games. Game developers should also be facing a much more comfortable learning curve to create games.
Baird Equity Research also indicated that this next console generation is not ready to ditch optical media just yet, but will rely on "hybrid physical/digital distribution models". The next Xbox is likely to integrate Kinect by default, which - according to our sources - will come not only with improved 3D resolution, but also with "surrogate" creation that will replace the Kinect avatars. Kinect will be scanning the player's body and clothing to recreate the player's appearance on the game screen.
Baird Equity Research expects that both the PS4 and the next Xbox will be shown at the coming E3 and debut in October (PS4) and November (Xbox).

Analysts said PC Gaming was dead
Analysts said that the PS3 would kill other consoles
Analysts said Dreamcast would do good
Analysts get it wrong, a lot
Increase the price of the console games, and to charge excessive amounts on simple accessories like $99 WiFi or HDDs at $1 per GB.
So... Based off a rumor from an analyst about a price on an xbox... That leaves lots of room for a steam box that is not even built or priced yet and that the only rumored prototype of is WAY over 500. What are you smoking?
Come on. Everyone off the magic school bus
I don't know about you, but replacing the CPU and GPU (both are very likely to be in BGA package, which is very difficult to remove) and then updating the firmware so the console can operate with the new hardware seems a lot more work than building your own PC.
Plus, your modded console might get banned from PSN or Xbox Live because the new hardware and firmware would be detected.
Though it would be an interesting Youtube video...
If Valve is restricted to $400, I'd hate to see the budget hardware they pick out.
Analysts said PC Gaming was dead
Analysts said that the PS3 would kill other consoles
Analysts said Dreamcast would do good
Analysts get it wrong, a lot
it's probably the same guy
anyway, im an analyst or whatever and i think the new xbox will be released this year, and the new ps4 next year
the new xbox will have the option of you paying $200 off the bat and pay installments over 2 years which will push the xbox way ahead of the competition. that business model was a success for them, it makes no sense for them to not continue it
the ps4 will probably be lackluster. sony just doesnt got it anymore, na mean?
Deep breath dude. Reading fail.
"While far from being cheap, the PS4 may be much cheaper than the PS3, when it launched for $499 for the 20 GB model and for $599 for the 60 GB model"
PS3. Launched. With 20/60GB HDD. 6-7 YEARS ago. Not the PS4. How about a little reading comprehension?
There are no facts in this "article" anyway. Its just analyst rumor on a price. I.e. some guy saying "I think cuz" i.e. nonsense
support for current standards, not necessarily high end performance, but the current standards. that way developing and implementing them on the pc isnt to hard.
i want full tesslation supprot
and i want full occulas rift / what ever else support. as the way i see it, this is the single biggest piece of tech asside from tessellation that would change how we game... and not in a kinnect way or a move way, this is something we would actually use.
sony is developing their own occulas rift like device, steam is, and id is working hard on supporting occulas rift. so seeing it a standard thing supported would be great... hell its possible we could see it supported on current gen consoles in the case of 3d... sure we may not get the sensors but its a start at least.
honestly, the wireless bridge for xbox was in line with what others devices like it charge.
granted 10-15$ inside the console or 100$ after... choice is clear what i would have wanted.
valve is going the lable route... this is a certified steam box, it will run at ______ quality.
they may branch out with their own hardware, but its more of a platform lable thing than a real product at this time.
they may branch out with their own hardware, but its more of a platform lable thing than a real product at this time.
There is no "may" valve has specifically said "WE will build it the way WE think it should be done" and others can also compete. "project piston" is a potential example of the "other" but it failed as a PC, is horribly overpriced and makes no sense.
valve is going to build their own box. Who knows what it will be