Last year, Sony took the stage at its E3 press conference and rattled off a number of ways the PS4 was pretty much better than the Xbox One. From the PS4’s cheaper price to its allowing used games to its lack of mandatory check-in, Sony used every opportunity to poke fun at the Xbox One’s anti-consumer policy. And I’m sure you all remember the “Official PlayStation Used Game Instructional Video” that followed.
Of course, over the year Microsoft has reversed many of those unfavorable policies, leaving Sony little to make fun of at this year’s E3 2014 press briefing. Or so you’d think. During Sony’s presentation, Andrew House, President and Group CEO of Sony Computer Entertainment, took the stage to boast about the PS4 and its peripherals, particularly the PlayStation Camera which has been offered since the PS4’s launch “as a choice.”
It was a quick jab at Microsoft so I don’t blame you if you initially missed it. Here it is below:
As you saw, it was a very subtle shot at the Kinect which was originally forced upon gamers by Microsoft’s decision to bundle it with every Xbox One console. The Kinect is actually one of the primary reasons the Xbox One launched at a price $100 more expensive than the PS4. Though Sony gave gamers a choice from the start, Microsoft, under the guidance of Phil Spencer, has since come to their senses and are now offering a Kinect-less Xbox One for $399, the same price as the PS4.
So while House’s comment doesn’t necessarily hold up now, it was still a sneaky jab at its competitor. And you thought the war was over.
