The console war between Sony and Microsoft has been going on for years, and it’s heating up for the 4K future. Sony launched the PlayStation 4 Pro back in 2016, an upgraded new-gen system that upgrades some of the PS4’s greatest hits. Meanwhile, Microsoft has been prepping its Xbox Scorpio project for more than a year, and is almost ready to fully reveal it. So, when it’s down to Xbox Scorpio vs PS4 Pro, which is better?
Now that Microsoft has revealed Xbox Scorpio’s tech specs , it’s much easier to compare the two machines. Fandom is here to pit the two systems against each other to see which one currently looks the strongest. And stay tuned to this space, because we’ll be updating this as we learn more about the machines.
Performance
The official announcement of the Xbox Scorpio brought with it a bunch of specs, which outdo the PlayStation 4 in almost every respect. It seems like they’re aiming for 4k resolution and 60 frames per second across the board, which the hardware just might be capable of. And the fact that Xbox One titles will reportedly see a noticeable boost in performance makes for a nice bonus.
Price
Currently, the PlayStation 4 Pro retails for $400—$150 more than the standard model. Microsoft hasn’t yet set the price for Xbox Scorpio, but Digital Foundry—who released the Scorpio’s official specs—estimates a $499 price for the upcoming console. Previously, console manufacturers have been shy about passing the $400 threshold. The PlayStation 3 launched in 2006 with a $499 model and a $599 model, which contributed to Sony’s slow start during that console generation. That said, the Scorpio basically amounts to a powerful gaming PC, so $499 sounds extremely reasonable for what’s inside.
Library/Backwards Compatibility
The PS4 Pro’s biggest selling point during its reveal was the upgraded performance on many PlayStation 4 games, like Mass Effect: Andromeda, Horizon Zero Dawn, and the upcoming Spider-Man game, but there hasn’t yet been a PS4 Pro exclusive title. Oppositely, Xbox Scorpio will upgrade all Xbox One games to some degree, as well as play all currently backwards-compatible 360 games, with the promise of games that will be exclusive to Scorpio. It definitely seems like Microsoft’s console has the edge here with a deeper (and more unique) collection of games.
VR
One of the biggest questions for the future of gaming is virtual reality, and that extends to Xbox Scorpio vs PS4 Pro. Microsoft has expressed interest in VR, including potential partnerships, but hasn’t fully committed with an Xbox VR or Windows VR headset, so there’s still a question of how VR could be integrated into Scorpio. PS4 Pro was built to communicate with PSVR from the outset, and while the PSVR headset isn’t the most advanced out there, it is the most approachable and works even better with the Pro. Until Microsoft really commits to virtual reality, Sony currently owns the console VR space.
Outside of the specs, we still have a lot to learn about the Xbox Scorpio—which won’t be happening until this year’s E3 convention in June. Be sure to check back with Fandom as we find out more about the Xbox Scorpio and its potential future.