PlayStation 4 launched back in 2013, and after an intermittent release of the more powerful PlayStation 4 Pro, the PlayStation 4 life cycle will be ending this holiday season. This gave Sony’s fourth-generation console a total of seven years of life. Parts suppliers in Taiwan, have projected that the PlayStation 5 will have a reduced life cycle down to five years. As well, Sony and its parts manufacturers are expected the PlayStation 5 to sell between 120 to 170 million units before its expiration date, doubling the projected sales of the Xbox Series X. The PlayStation 4 sold 110 million in its life cycle. The supplied noted that Sony has recently boosted its PlayStation 5 shipment estimate for 2020 to near 10 million units. AMD is expected to reach its peak demand in the third quarter to finalize Sony’s preparations for the release of PlayStation 5.

The PlayStation 5 will be launching out with two consoles, one with an HD blu ray disc reader and an all-digital variant that will lack that feature. Estimates put the all-digital version of the PlayStation 5 at fifty USD cheaper than the standard version. The disc reader less version of the PlayStation 5 is costing Sony twenty dollars less than the base PlayStation 5. Although the final market price is yet to made public.

Microsoft will also be releasing an all-digital version of the Xbox Series X as well. Just like Sony, Microsoft has been tight-lipped about the final market pricing of their consoles, although Microsoft has stated that they are expected to be selling the Xbox Series X at a loss, something they have done with the Xbox One as the subscriptions and games has made up that loss.

Microsoft and Sony will most likely have competitive pricing at launch and the Xbox Series X may feature a reduced life cycle to mirror the progression of the PlayStation 5 to remain competitive.