With both Microsoft and Sony releasing video game consoles this fall, a sort of standoff has developed between the two rivals. With both seemingly holding back key details about their console until later than would be considered normal in previous console generations. These unknown details include exact hardware specifications, online play costs(Xbox Live Gold and PS Plus), additional SKUs and most noticeably price points for the consoles.
That is why, according to recent reporting at Vice’s gaming vertical Waypoint, Microsoft has employed security protocols that have become standard for the tech industry to protect their most closely guarded secrets in order to safeguard the price point of the Xbox Series X. Their sources over at Microsoft have indicated that only four people at the company truly know the correct price of the Xbox Series X and any other unconfirmed SKUs. The exact identities of the four are unknown at this time although Phil Spencer, the Microsoft vice-president in charge of the Xbox brand, would be a safe bet.
While Waypoint‘s source was unable to confirm or deny this, an internal rumor within Microsoft states that Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella was originally going to be one of the four but he opted not to know; having the person sent to inform him physically removed from his office. Why exactly Nadella would opt out is unknown although it may have to do with the restrictions that come along with knowing. Members of the four are forbidden from openly discussing the price point of the Xbox Series X, even in the presence of the other members. They are even discouraged from discussing the price point of other electronics. Waypoint‘s source says this is because referring to, for example, an $800 graphics card as “too expensive” could be used to extrapolate the price of the Series X. In addition, before the Covid-19 outbreak made this a mute-point, it was decided that no two members of the four should be allowed to fly on the same airplane, in case of an air disaster.
Update: Waypoint is now reporting that a fifth person was told an incorrect price for the Xbox Series X so that no one would know if they truly knew the correct price of the console.
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