When Microsoft first announced that the Xbox One would cost $499.99, gamers and industry watchers gasped. At a full $100 more than Sony’s rival PlayStation 4, it seemed like Microsoft was setting itself up for second place in the next-generation console war. But of course, the bundled Kinect sensor added tremendous value, and there was still hope that gamers would see that following the console’s launch.
Fast forward to last month, and Microsoft announced a $399.99 Xbox One option that would be sold without a Kinect sensor.
The move was seen as necessary by many industry watchers, though none believed it would happen just six months after the Xbox One’s initial launch. Now that it was done, however, analysts wrote that the move could have a significant impact on sales of Microsoft’s new console, which have lagged the PlayStation 4 by an increasing margin.
According to a recent survey, however, the price drop might not help Microsoft as much as some industry watchers think.
Dealnews recently surveyed just under 1,000 gamers last month just after Microsoft announced the new cheaper Xbox One option. According to the survey, 79% of gamers still aren’t interested in the Xbox One at its new cheaper price.
21% of gamers polled said they were more likely to buy the console following the price drop.
Microsoft’s Xbox One is a great next-generation option for gamers and it also packs impressive home entertainment features, but it looks like the early momentum Sony built with its more powerful PlayStation 4 console might continue to cause trouble for Microsoft.
