The Xbox Series X’s little brother could be cheaper than anyone could have imagined. According to Beyond3D’s eastmen (via Wccftech), who has shared insider information in the past, Microsoft is planning to price its weaker, entry-level Series S console – otherwise known as “Lockhart” – at half the price of the Series X.
Assuming that the Xbox Series X is priced according to previous generations, we could be looking at a $250 Lockhart console, which, needless to say, would be a huge bargain. Interestingly, eastmen suggests that the systems could be even cheaper than that.
“Last I heard, it will be half the price of the Xbox Series X, and last I heard, Microsoft was prepared for a $400 Series X,” wrote eastmen. “I am not sure what the final price will be. I think if Sony is $500/$600, Microsoft may try to go in at $200/$400/$500, but we will see.”
“Microsoft will make up any losses by getting a higher cut of game sales and more subscriptions. Pricing also depends on what Sony does. Microsoft doesn’t have to go as extreme in pricing if Sony prices itself higher.”
Despite being the weaker sibling, eastmen also echoed previous rumors of Lockhart performing better than the Xbox One X, the current generation’s flagship. “What I have heard DD, small form factor, better than Xbox One X performance, feature parity with Xbox Series X,” he said. “Buy accessories once and use them on either system.”
We should be learning a lot more about Microsoft’s plans during its upcoming Xbox event, which is slated for July. According to eastmen, fans should expect a series of “mic-drop moments,” as the company is expected to make major announcements that will shake up the industry and its biggest players (e.g., Sony, Nintendo, Google, Amazon, Apple). The Xbox Series S “Lockhart” console and its low cost of entry could be what brings everything together.
“That’s why I think Lockhart is a key device in their strategy,” explained eastmen. “It’s a low-cost gateway that they can control to make sure the hardware can handle their new compression techniques they will employ with xCloud over the next few years. The plan for Lockhart is to get into price categories they were never able to hit before, and I believe, based on listening between the lines, that they expect Lockhart to, at some point, make it down to Fire TV size. Also, the size of the first Lockhart will surprise everyone.”