E3 2013: Sony Reveals $399 PlayStation 4, Xbox One Priced at $499

PlayStation 4

Sony may have been rounded criticized for announcing the PlayStation 4 without so much as a look at the hardware months ago, but they finally made good at E3, where Microsoft also pinned a price tag on the upcoming Xbox One.

As promised, Sony finally revealed what the PlayStation 4 will look like at Monday evening’s Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3) presentation, as well as photos posted to the PlayStation Blog.

While the debate will likely rage on as to the hardware’s angular design and larger size, Sony is pricing its next-generation game system at $399 when it lands in the U.S. this holiday season. For that price you’ll only get a single DualShock 4 controller and no PlayStation Camera, but the lower price of entry will likely appeal to budget gamers.

Microsoft was more specific with its plans at its own E3 event earlier on Monday, pegging a November release for the new Xbox One, which can now be preordered as a “Day One Edition” on Amazon. Unfortunately, the company also revealed what the latest and greatest hardware will cost: $499.

Available in 21 markets worldwide, that price will include the Xbox One console along with a wireless controller, the company’s all-new Kinect and a 14-day trial of Xbox Live Gold — so technically the Xbox One is still more expensive than buying a PS4 with the PlayStation Camera, which costs only $59.

According to The Verge, Sony also has another leg up on the Xbox One: The PlayStation 4 will not only continue the storied tradition of game trade-ins, lending and used sales, but also won’t require connection to the internet every 24 hours, which Microsoft requires.

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