New rumors of next gen will suggest that PS5 and Xbox Series will be released early- to mid-November with base price tags of $ 499.
This particular fire was lit by sector analyst Roberto Serrano, which claims that the “latest news (more than a rumor or speculation)” indicates that Microsoft has the prepping Xbox Series S for release on November 5 for $ 299. The Xbox Series Xwill follow on November 6 at $ 499. On the PlayStation site, Serrano claims that the PS5 and its full digital edition will be released on November 13 for $ 499 and $ 399 respectively.
None of these dates as prices have been announced or confirmed, and we may not have official details to make them for weeks or months. Serrano’s claims also have more than a few outliers, but a pattern appears among rumors of next gen. Serrano’s tweet comes just three days later an innocent Fortnite bundle redesigned the rumor mill of the release date, with Epic saying that the November 17 release date will “set the stage for the release of the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X.”
Microsoft has confirmed that the Xbox Series X will be released in November, that comes as no surprise, and this Fortnite bundle gives us a possible reference point for the month. For comparison, here’s when the previous console generations started:
- Xbox 360 Release Date: Tuesday, November 22, 2005
- PS3 Release Date: Friday, November 17, 2006
- Xbox One Release One: Friday, November 22, 2013
- PS4 Release Date: Saturday, November 15, 2014
This year, November 17th – the date implied in that Fortnite bundle – falls on a Tuesday, so it’s not likely to be the release date for any of the next-gen consoles. However, Sony and Xbox have historically favorite weekends in the middle of the month (the original Xbox came out on a Thursday, which is close enough for Microsoft’s schedule), so Epic’s word on this bundle that “in the time “released for the consoles calls attention to the weekend of Friday, November 20th. That Friday and next Saturday are both extremely plausible release dates, and it’s worth mentioning that a hasty Xbox page previously said the console will be released during Thanksgiving season.
Of course, this window is in conflict with Serrano’s claims about the launch of the Xbox Series X in the first week of November. And while we’re on the subject, it’s also strange that Serrano’s timeline predicts that the Xbox Series S, the smaller and cheaper entry point of next – gen, will be released all day long for the flagship model. With this being the start of a new generation, Microsoft will probably want to set its best (and strongest) foot with the Series X, and then follow suit with an alternative.
Serrano also expects both the next-gen consoles to start at $ 499, which is strange not only because Xbox and PlayStation systems have historically had a price difference, but also because this is much lower than many predictions that have placed the new boxes to compensate $ 599. for their more advanced tech, especially their M2 SSDs. That being said, a French retailer recently mentioned the PS5 and its Digital Edition for $ 499 and $ 399, respectively, supporting these new rumors. There is a round difference between British pounds and US dollars, but Euro prices are rising.
Aside from pricing and release dates, we know most of the big talking points already about both consoles of next gen, so rumors are constantly spreading. Serrano is an analyst, but he is not an oracle, so his claims should not be taken as gospel. And as he says, even if we somehow stumbled upon the exact date in all this speculation, it could change in the coming months due to distribution complications related to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, or because Sony and Microsoft have their plans readjust in response to messages from others. With all that said, along with launches of past consoles, these figures offer a useful hypothesis for what to expect this November.
For more, check out 11 tech demos to get you excited for next gen.
