A Sony PlayStation 5 Slim Is Coming This Fall, According To Competitor Microsoft

Microsoft thinks that competitor Sony will release a slimmer, cheaper redesign of the PlayStation 5 game console later this year, according to court documents filed in the on-going FTC v. Microsoft federal court case.

In a filing explaining why Microsoft is competing and losing market share to both Sony and Nintendo —a key part of their argument for the $69 billion acquisition of Activision Blizzard— the tech giant plainly states their hunch that a mid-cycle refresh of Sony’s popular console is on the way.

“PlayStation likewise sells a less expensive Digital Edition for $399.99, and is expected to release a PlayStation 5 Slim later this year at the same reduced price point,” the document reads. 

The document is the strongest evidence of the long rumored PS5 Slim’s existence. It has been reported by industry insiders that the newer model would have a detachable disc drive, allowing owners to buy a digital only console now, and retain the option of making it capable of reading discs later. The release of a slimmer PS5 would also address one of the few setbacks of what’s otherwise been a very successful console.

If the court documents come to pass, the new hardware would follow Sony’s pattern of releasing console refreshes. The Playstation 4 Slim dropped in Sept. 2016, three years after the console's original release. The PS3 Slim also dropped three years after its initial hardware launch in November 2006.

A cheaper, equally-capable, and upgradable Playstation 5 for just $50 more than the competition could give Microsoft’s Xbox Series S its first real, current gen competitor since its launch.

Industry experts say that while a cheaper PS5 could be a compelling alternative for people interested in the entry-level Xbox, Microsoft’s approach to the gaming market this generation may save it from being overshadowed during the crucial holiday season.

“Because the ecosystem offerings are so different, it's unlikely that these parts will be the tipping point for going with one platform or the other,” Matt Piscatella, executive director and industry analyst at NPD’s Circana told The Messenger. “The price or features of a new box may be a part of the factors influencing the overall decision making process for a potential buyer, but only one of many.”

Starfield, the highly anticipated Xbox exclusive from the studio that made Skyrim and Fallout 4, is also dropping this fall, giving a good reason for interested gamers to stay on Microsoft’s hardware.

Since its release in 2020, the Xbox Series S has been a surprisingly viable middle ground in the current console landscape. The small, digital-only console has been marketed as a cheap way to get into the Xbox ecosystem, and into its main attraction Game Pass, the monthly subscription that gives players access to hundreds of games, including new releases.

The Series S doesn’t feature the same raw power, disc drive or consistent ability to output 4K resolution like its premium cousin, the Series X. But its $300 price point has been enough of a selling point to make it a major success for Microsoft, particularly with new Xbox players.

A 1 terabyte variant of the Series S is set to release Sept. 1. As of today, there are two versions of the Playstation 5 available: A digital only version without a disc drive, and one with the disc drive, for $399 and $499 respectively.