With the end of 2020 fast approaching (thank the Lord), gamers all over have been looking forward to the ninth generation of gaming, the Xbox Series X, and the PS5. But some buyers have been wondering what will be the better game console to purchase. Some hardcore fans might say the PlayStation for their exclusives, others might say Xbox for power and high fidelity. Others would just say forget both just pick up a PC or build your own. With so many answers and so much noise, I thought it would be best to break it down and help find which one is the best for you as the reader.
For the breakdown, I’m gonna explain the major deciding factors for why people pick the console they choose.
Specifications
Let’s just get the nerdage out of the way, starting with the specifications. For specs, I’m not gonna explain anything. I’m just gonna show both so here you go:
| PlayStation 5 | Xbox Series X |
|---|---|
| CPU: 8-Core @ 3.5 GHz AMD Ryzen Zen 2 CPU GPU: 10.28 Tflops @ 2.23 GHz Custom RDNA 2 GPU Memory: 16 GB GDDR6 Bandwidth: 448 GBps Internal Storage: 825GB Custom NVMe SSD Expandable Storage: NVMe SSD slot External Storage: USB HDD support (PS4 games only) Optical Drive: 4K UHD Blu-Ray Drive (not available on digital edition) Maximum Resolution: 8K Target Optimization: 4K @ 60 FPS, up to 120 FPS | CPU: 8-Core @ 3.8 GHz Custom Zen 2 CPU GPU: 12 Tflops @ 1.825 GHz Custom RDNA 2 GPU Memory: 16 GB GDDR6 Bandwidth: 10GB @ 560 GBps, 6GB @ 336 GBps Internal Storage: 1 TB Custom NVMe SSD Expandable Storage: 1 TB Expansion Card (matches internal storage) External Storage: USB 3.2 External HDD Support Optical Drive: 4K UHD Blu-Ray Drive Maximum Resolution: 8K Target Optimization: 4K @ 60 FPS, up to 120 FPS |
Price
Besides the release date, this one is an entirely unknown variable. As of this article’s posting, the pricing for both game systems is still not released. Since the price was a deciding factor for the placement of the previous console cycle, someone would think it would be known by now. Especially because the rumored released date is 3-4 months away. Rumor has it, the reason the price hasn’t been disclosed is that both companies are waiting for the other to announce their price tag so they can undercut the competition this holiday season.
Features
For the PlayStation, it only contains a small set of features for the console and controllers. The controller features haptic feedback, adaptive triggers, and USB-C integration. At the same time, the console contains VR support and configurable game installations (means the player can choose specific game modes including multiplayer to be ready first while the rest of the game is still downloading).
As for Xbox, there aren’t any drastic changes to the controller outside of a new share button. The main reason for these small changes is to make Xbox One controllers forwards-compatible with the Series X. Another reason for the minute changes is to set up Xbox Game Pass. To summarize, Game Pass gives you access to a vast library of games with new games added as they’re released in the form of a subscription. Including access to Xbox Live, Xbox’s separate online game tie-in, the service costs $14.99 for Xbox, PC (and kinda Android).
Games
I have noticed people are amazed by next-gen graphics and speed but forget about the games. But these pieces of software define a system’s success or failure. For Series X, all Xbox games since the original Xbox will be backwards-compatible. As for the PS5, only PS4 games will be backwards-compatible. Along with cross-generation libraries, both systems look at different focuses for their future collections. PlayStation plans to stay the exclusive route with intense follow-up games such as Horizon Forbidden West, Ratchet and Clank: Rift Apart, and Spider-Man: Miles Morales is only available on their platform.
Meanwhile, Xbox also has games planned, such as Senua’s Saga: Hellblade 2 and Fable available on Series X and PC. However, their big focus is not just on “exclusives.” Between the lack of a launch window and their most prominent game getting delayed, it’s no surprise Xbox’s focus will be more towards the Xbox game pass.
Friends
Fact: The most reliable form of advertisement is word-of-mouth. When your peers think something is excellent, credibility is built from it. In terms of consoles, that credibility is multiplied. Players know they don’t need companies to tell them where the best place to play is. That’s because the best place has always been wherever your friends are playing. Games can be enjoyable, but no game can ever be as pleasant as unless partying with friends.