While we have seen some of the best games that the PS5 has to offer, we still know very little about the price and release date of the console. Expert analysis and (sometimes dubious) sources put the price of the console at around $500 and a release date around November. One recent report suggests that the release date has been further narrowed down based on Sony's marketing budget. According to this new information, the PS5 could be released anytime between November 13 and November 20.

Video Games Chronicle compiled a comprehensive analysis titled "When Will PS5 Release?" that identified the release date of Sony's next console from multiple "development and retail sources." "Mid-November" was the magazine's best guess for a variety of reasons. First of all, sources believed to be familiar with Sony's spending plans in the UK:

"PlayStation has already incurred significant marketing expenses in the seven days beginning Friday, November 13," wrote Andy Robinson, VGC's editor in chief. This would seem to suggest that the PS5 will be released on November 13 and that Sony will then spend a week promoting the PS5. Of course, another interpretation could be that Sony will launch a major marketing campaign on November 13, leading up to the PS5 launch on November 20. Neither date seems particularly unreasonable.

Perhaps even Microsoft believes that November 13 is a likely launch date for the PS5; VGC again cites "development and retail sources" who appear to be familiar with the Xbox Series X launch plans. Microsoft hopes to launch the console in the first week of November, but could launch the Xbox Series X in the second week.

This would mean that the Xbox Series X would be released on November 6, and if Sony ultimately decides to look at November 20, it could be released on November 13. If Sony decides to launch on November 20, it could be released on November 13. Leaks and rumors have previously indicated that the Xbox Series X will be released on November 6, and a retail box of controllers has also been leaked.

While a late-month release seems reasonable on paper, launching new technology so close to Black Friday presents challenges.

"A lot of people launch products around that time, especially since a lot of people shop that weekend," Christopher Dring, head of B2B at media company Gamer Network, told VGC. 'But they will be competing with products that are heavily discounted.'

In other words, those who want next-generation consoles will buy them regardless of their release date, while those who want holiday gifts may find bargains in less expensive older technology.

In any case, the VGC report goes into further detail as to why the PS5 is most likely to be released in mid-November, but Sony's marketing budget (assuming this information is accurate) is the closest this analysis comes to conclusive proof. It is very likely that the PS5 will be released in mid-November and the Xbox Series X a week or two before that, and both models may still have to compete with less expensive equipment on Black Friday.