PS4, Xbox One inflation-adjusted prices cheaper or on-par with last-gen

When adjusted for inflation, the PlayStation 4 will cost less than an Xbox 360 did at launch, while the more expensive Xbox One is still significantly cheaper than the PlayStation 3 was.

Ars Technica used the US Bureau of Labor Statistics calculator to compare launch prices of consoles across multiple generations when adjusted for inflation.

After adjustment, the PlayStation 3 launch price tage is worth $696, and the Xbox 360 was $476.

Compare that to the PlayStation 4's $399 and Xbox One's $499 and the next-gen boxes suddenly seem pretty reasonable if you felt okay about coughing up on launch day last generation.

The table Ars compiled is full of interesting information, like the fact that the 3DO is one of the most expensive consoles of all time, closely followed by the NeoGeo. Further back but still eye-openingly expensive are the Intellivision and the Atari 2600.

The PlayStation 3 is actually one of the more expensive offerings, coming in seventh place.

Of course, this is only launch price; the full article, available through the link above, contains a number of further points of analysis including a graph of price adjustment over time which is well worth a look.

Both the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One are expected by the end of the year.

Thanks, Joystiq.