The PlayStation 5 is having its moment, finally. After spending years struggling to keep up with the demand, Sony has plenty to go around for the holiday season and them some. Now, the numbers are showing, with the PS5 clinching the top spot as the best-selling console every month of the year so far. With roughly half a quarter to go before the year ends, Sony is making sure that the PS5 ends the year on a high note by bundling the incoming PS5 Slim with two best-sellers: Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 and Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3.
Shortly after Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 set a new record as the fastest-selling PS5 exclusive, leaks emerged that it will be one of the first games to be bundled with the PS5 Slim when it comes out in November. But, as it turns out, Sony is leaving nothing to chance.
Photos have surfaced on X clearly depicting the previously confirmed Modern Warfare 3 PS5 bundle, albeit it’s going to be bundled with the incoming console instead of the outgoing one.
Call Of Duty Modern Warfare III New PlayStation 5 Model Bundle:#CallOfDuty #CallOfDutyModernWarfare3 #ModernWarfareIII #ModernWarfare3 #MW3 #MWIII #MarvelsSpiderMan2 #SpiderMan2PS5 #SpiderMan2 #BeGreaterTogether #Venom @insomniacgames pic.twitter.com/lRFSevTmWr
— @Zuby_Tech (@Zuby_Tech) October 24, 2023
Sony’s pricing for the new PS5 Slim has been revealed as:
- PS5 with Ultra HD Blu-ray disc drive: $499.99
- PS5 Digital Edition: $449.99
This denotes a $50 price increase for the Digital Edition in the United States. Both editions, equipped with a 1TB storage capacity, will retail at a higher price in Japan compared to the launch models. The Digital Edition of the PS5 Slim is an even bigger surprise, allowing users to attach a Blu-ray disc drive at a later point, available separately for $79.99.
These releases come at a pivotal time for the PlayStation brand. Its sole exclusive this fall (or this year, for that matter), Marvel’s Spider-Man 2, is all the internet can talk about. Between the possibility of a Venom spin-off, the emergence of Knull, and talks of a threequel following that MCU-like extended post-credits scene, Insomniac Games and Sony are in a position to ride the wave before the year ends.
While Sony remains tight-lipped about the exact release date of the PS5 Slim, the appearance of the Modern Warfare 3 bundle in stores hints towards a release on or before November 10. This bundle is quite similar to its predecessor in terms of packaging but is noticeably smaller than the standard PS5 Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 bundle.
Though PlayStation enthusiasts are still waiting for Sony’s marketing strategy for the PS5 Slim, it seems the company is keen on promoting the console alongside significant holiday releases. The presence of a PS5 Slim bundled with Modern Warfare 3, as reported, supports this narrative.
Ultimately, everything we’ve seen outside of Sony’s announcement so far confirms that the PS5 Slim, while not slimmer than once thought, is still a considerably transformed console. Zuby Tech’s tweets showcasing the Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 bundle for the PlayStation 5 Slim unveiled that the new console design is noticeably shorter. Another subtle difference is the presence of four-panel covers on the Slim’s console, a change from the original’s two-panel design.
Whether Sony plans on releasing new panel covers for the slimmed down PS5 remains to be seen.
Historically, Call of Duty has been synonymous with the PlayStation, akin to Halo’s association with Xbox. Despite some corporate discord between Sony and Activision Blizzard following its acquisition by Microsoft, a 10-year deal has been forged to keep Call of Duty on the PlayStation platform. Most recently, PS5 owners enjoyed early access to MW3’s open beta, but cheaters sullied the experience.
This year is expected to be the last time a Call of Duty game will have exclusive PlayStation content. To be more precise, Call of Duty will no longer have any console-exclusive content or access, as emphasized by Phil Spencer.
Now, as for the PS5 Slim, Sony is leaving nothing to chance. With bundles featuring popular titles like Modern Warfare 3 and potentially Marvel’s Spider-Man 2, the PS5 Slim is poised to help the PS5 post possibly a record-setting quarter this holiday season.
