PS6 and Xbox Helix: Analysts Call for $700, Not $1,000, Launch Price

The debate surrounding the prices of the next console generation is heating up. For weeks, rumors have been circulating that PlayStation and Xbox might launch their upcoming consoles, PS6 and Xbox “Helix,” for around $1,000. Now, market research firm Ampere Analysis has weighed in – with a calculation that should really give Sony and Microsoft pause.

How Expensive Will PS6 and Xbox Helix Actually Be?

Ampere Analysis has crunched the numbers on what a $1,000 entry price would mean for the next console generation – and the figures are clear. According to the analysis, the combined sales of PS6 and Xbox Helix in the first five years after release could be up to 38 percent lower than those of PS5 and Xbox Series X/S in the same period. By 2031, the market for console games and services for PlayStation and Xbox would be around $3.4 billion, or 12 percent, smaller than it would be with a $700 price point. The analysts therefore explicitly recommend that manufacturers set the entry price at $700 instead of $1,000.

Why Would a Lower Price Generate More Revenue?

The logic behind this initially sounds contradictory, but it's simple: a lower margin per console sold can pay off if significantly more people enter the ecosystem. More consoles sold means more players buying games, subscribing to services, and making purchases in the store – and that's precisely where Sony and Microsoft earn the most long-term, not from the hardware itself. At a $1,000 price point, the fear is that many potential buyers would either stick with their current console or switch to a gaming PC.

To put this into perspective, it's worth looking back: the current generation already shows how sensitive the market is to price. The PS5 launched in 2020 at 499 Euros for the standard version, the Xbox Series X also at 499 Euros, and the more affordable Series S even at 299 Euros. Precisely this comparatively moderate pricing structure made it easier for both manufacturers to quickly build a broad player base. A sudden jump to four-digit prices would be a clear break from this pattern – and according to Ampere Analysis, that's precisely the risk Sony and Microsoft now face. As we've previously reported, Sony is still keeping tight-lipped about the specific release date for the PS6 anyway – pricing questions are likely to remain secondary for now.

From our perspective, Ampere Analysis's push is understandable, but perhaps not entirely altruistic in its conclusion: memory chip prices, inflation, and higher production costs are currently pushing manufacturers' calculations in a different direction. Whether Sony and Microsoft can actually get down to $700 given rising component costs, without losing money on every console sold, remains questionable. For gamers, however, the message is clear: price will be the decisive factor in whether the next console generation becomes a widespread success or remains a niche product for enthusiasts.

Source: GameStar, VGC, Notebookcheck, play3.de

What do you think of the $700 demand – affordable or still too expensive? Let us know in the comments and stay tuned to Scene Gamers; we'll keep you updated on all pricing news for PS6 and Xbox Helix.