The Xbox One X remains a popular console and while it only recently launched, it looks set to be heading toward the end of its lifecycle.
Rumours are rife that the next Xbox console will land in 2020, meaning the Xbox One and Xbox One X will be replaced.
The upgraded Xbox console has proven a hit with fans and has helped beef up overall sales.
But while the Xbox One X will be replaced in 2020, it doesn’t look like a permanent price drop is being planned for 2019.
All three hardware makers – Sony PlayStation, Microsoft and Nintendo – are known to have finished strongly in the last months of 2018.
It has been confirmed that in the United States, the Switch, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One all sold more than 1.3 million units in November.
That hasn’t been achieved during the November sales period since 2010, the heyday of the Xbox 360.
So it may come as a shock to fans that Microsoft is being backed to keep the price of the Xbox One X the same.
Unlike the Xbox One S, the Xbox One X is the most powerful console on the market and is sold at a higher price.
And while some doubted how well a product like this would be treated by consumers, the latest numbers suggest it is doing well.
But new predictions are being made that both Xbox and PS4 sales will start to decline in 2019.
NPD analyst Mat Piscatella believes that the PS5 and next Xbox console will be announced this year.
This will be followed by both gaming machines launching in 2020, which will likely mark the end of for the PS4 and Xbox One.
It would make sense that both companies would at least look at the idea of a further drop in the price of their consoles, following the announcement of their next projects.
Revealing your next console is likely to impact sales of your current products. Would so many people continue to buy your device if they know you’ll be moving on soon?
But according to Piscatella, Microsoft and Sony will hold tight on slashing prices on their best product in 2019.
“I forecast both PS4 and Xbox One hardware unit sales to decline in the single-digit percentages next year (2019), but more because we’re nearing the latter stages of the cycle, and I don’t anticipate either making drastic moves on price,” he said.
“Both systems have done well in the US, but 2019 will likely be a transition year as we move into 2020…
“I’m forecasting announcements in 2019 for 2020 launches for both PlayStation 5 and the next Xbox.
“However, I do think we’ve moved past the traditional generational model. I expect both manufacturers to add features that will further blur these lines.”
Another reason for Microsoft to hold firm on changing the price of the Xbox One X might have something to do with their plans for a new system in 2019.
Recent reports suggest that the tech giant will launch a new Xbox One that will be lighter and less expensive to buy.
The reason for this? Microsoft is also planning on launching the new Xbox without a disc drive.
This would make it a purely digital console, something that Microsoft originally planned to do with their Xbox range.
A new console launching in 2019 would be a surprise but it would also mean that Microsoft wouldn’t need to drop prices.
If they plan to launch a new console that will be cheaper than the current models, it stands to reason they would hold firm on all their other products.
It should be noted that none of this information has come directly from Microsoft and should be taken on its face value.
Piscatella earlier this year revealed that the Xbox One X has had a big effect on the fortunes of the Xbox One console.
“Xbox One sales show the highest growth of the three major hardware platforms in the U.S. this year, and the Xbox One X, in particular, has been performing phenomenally,” he reveals.
“year-over-year growth like this at this point in the cycle has never been seen before, driven by the launch of the Xbox One X and new content delivery efforts.
“It’s a mid-generation turnaround the market’s never seen before. This qualifies as phenomenal, even if not market leading.”
2019 looks set to be an interesting year for gamers, with Microsoft, Sony PlayStation and Nintendo expected to make big announcements.