The Xbox team is currently focusing on spreading the gospel of the Xbox Series X console's upcoming games. Right now that focus in on third-party titles. First-party games will take the spotlight in July. Somewhere in the middle, Xbox will start talking about the Xbox Series X's price. Luckily, Jason Ronald of the Xbox platform team is willing to share some early insight into the company's thought process regarding the Xbox Series X's price.
The question posed to Ronald has to do with how Microsoft is balancing the, by all accounts, very powerful hardware of the Xbox Series X with its eventual price. Ronald explains how Xbox boss Phil Spencer has been transparent about designing the console with a price point in mind. But he also describes how the Xbox team is going to be "agile" on the Xbox Series X's price.
"As a lifelong gamer and as a game developer, we all always want more and more and more," Ronald goes on to say. "At the same time, we know we have to deliver something at a compelling price point people all across the world are comfortable with and can afford." Ronald doesn't provide any meaningful hints beyond that as to the Xbox Series X's price, but he's likely said more than enough to stir up next-gen console price speculation.
As for what "agile" means, presumably it means Xbox can set the price it believes necessary regardless of whether Xbox Series X hardware ends up somewhat higher or lower than expectations. It's possible that Ronald is hinting that the price could yet change depending on market conditions -- COVID-19 issues or a competitive PS5 price -- but doesn't necessarily fit the context of his quotation.
For comparison's sake, both the Xbox One and the Xbox One X launched at a $499.99 price point. The Xbox One did launch with the hefty Kinect camera unit, which when eventually removed dropped the price to $399.99.
Speculation regarding both the PS5 and the Xbox Series X's prices range from $400 to $500 most often, though some definitely believe a $600 price is possible given the impressive hardware in each console. Given Xbox's recent history, a $500 price points seems most likely, but that will remain purely speculation for now. An official announcement will hopefully becoming from the Xbox team in either June or July.
The Xbox Series X console releases holiday 2020.
Source: Eurogamer