Microsoft is convinced that Sony will come up with a PlayStation 5 Slim this year. That would not be a very crazy step in itself: PlayStation 5 has been out for 2.5 years now, but it is of course a bit strange that that news comes from the major competitor.
Acquisition of Activision
It has everything to do with the hearings that are taking place in the lawsuits surrounding the acquisition of Activision by Microsoft. Microsoft is doing everything it can to convince others how strong, powerful and successful Sony is and how much Microsoft needs the acquisition of Activision (especially the game franchise Call of Duty). PS5 Slim is apparently also an asset in this.
It is quite normal for a console maker to come up with a smaller, more compact model a few years after the release of the original model, or with a more impressive Pro variant: Sony has also been doing this for years with its consoles, but also Nintendo, for example. with its Switch Lite and Switch OLED. Sometimes because of all the consoles you can no longer see the main console. Microsoft is also doing it, even in the maximum, by coming out with Xbox Series S and X right away.
Playstation 5 Lite
Although the Japanese Sony has not yet mentioned a potential new variant of its flagship PS5, Microsoft seems convinced that it will really come this year. And for next to nothing: the console would cost less than 300 euros (although the question is whether that is entirely correct, because that would be very cheap). In itself very smart: maybe people will opt for the PS VR2, for example, which could use a sales boost. The Lite would be especially Lite in the fact that it would have a separate disk drive. In addition, Microsoft also mentions that PlayStation already sells a less expensive Digital Edition of PS5 and that Slim will also be added to that. Poor Microsoft.
How does such a competitor know so well what is going on? Sony would have already made a prototype of the console and certain experts seem to have already seen it. Microsoft thinks Sony wants to make the slimmer version of the PlayStation 5 the base, as it has done before. It will also be a versatile device that you can buy in a bundle with a particular game and therefore with a separate disk drive if you wish. On current consoles it is not possible to add such a disk drive later.
Microsoft lawsuit
In any case, it is interesting to see what data comes out during such a court case, which of course seems to be about something completely different, but still boils down to one thing: competition. Microsoft will still need a lot of convincing to calm all watchdogs, especially since it has a lot of successful initiatives of its own, including Xbox Game Pass.
