Microsoft - Xbox Scorpio has an "obvious power advantage" over PS4 Pro, will support 4K Blu-rays

Microsoft was quick to point out the power advantage Project Scorpio will have over the PS4 Pro, and confirm that it'll come with a 4K-capable Blu-ray drive.

Minutes after yesterday's announcement of Sony's PlayStation 4 Pro, it was revealed that the console doesn't actually play UHD 4K Blu-rays, despite 4K content being a big reason for the upgrade.

This news surprised many, as the cheaper, less powerful Xbox One S comes with one and so many naturally expected the Pro to include it. Microsoft took this opportunity to confirm that the upcoming Xbox Scorpio will too include a UHD drive.

"I feel pretty good about the decisions we've made," Microsoft's senior director of product management and planning told Polygon.

In terms of power, Penello expressed confidence that Scorpio will be the most powerful console when it releases, adding that the power gap between it and the PS4 Pro will be obvious. When asked if Scorpio, too, will carry a $400 price tag, he said, "We know it's important to deliver an experience that demonstrates the power gap between [the PS4 Pro and Scorpio] at a price that makes sense to console gamers."

On the subject of adding HDR support to existing PlayStation 4 consoles, Penello didn't want to commit to similar move for Xbox One. "Until I know more about how they're doing it, I can't speak to whether or not we can offer something similar," he said.

PlayStation 4 Pro is out this November, whereas Xbox One Scorpio has a 'holiday 2017' release target.