Sony recently announced that the next PlayStation 5 Showcase event will take place on Wednesday, September 16 at 1pm PT. It's quite likely that the event will feature the long-awaited PS5 price and release date announcement, as well as when fans will be able to pre-order the next-generation console. It remains to be see when PS5 pre-orders will go live, but an email from a UK retailer may suggest that it will happen sooner rather than later.
UK retailer Simply Games reportedly sent out emails to customers to tell them that PS5 pre-orders will be going live "any day now," and that the console will be in short supply. While this could mean nothing, it could also be an indication that PS5 pre-orders will go live not long after the next PS5 Showcase event. While Sony has said that fans will be alerted of the PS5 pre-order date ahead of time, it's quite possible that the head's up will only be a day or two in advance.
It would make sense for Sony to make PS5 pre-orders available very soon after its Showcase event, as that would help it get out ahead of the competition. Microsoft has announced that Xbox Series X and S pre-orders will go live on September 22, but if PS5 pre-orders go live earlier than that, Sony could get consumers to commit to its next-generation console first, and maybe pass on the next-gen Xbox for now.
That being said, Microsoft does have one big advantage over the PS5 consoles, and that is affordability. The official PS5 and PS5 Digital Edition prices have not been announced at the time of this writing, but the latest rumors point to a $499 and $399 price point, respectively. This would put the standard PS5 price on par with the Xbox Series X, but the Xbox Series S would still be the cheapest next-generation console on the market at $299. That low price point could be all the difference, and convince many budget-minded gamers to jump ship to Xbox next generation.
Conversely, Sony has the advantage in other areas, namely with its unique DualSense controller and its lineup of exclusive games. The Halo Infinite delay was a significant blow to the Xbox Series X launch lineup, but Sony still has games like Astro's Playroom, Spider-Man: Miles Morales, and more waiting in the wings. The PS5 Showcase event on September 16 should give fans a better idea of what exactly to expect from the PS5 launch lineup, so fans should stay tuned for more information.
Source: ComicBook