Home » Technology » The PS5 and Xbox Series X look good, but you might want to wait to buy one

The PS5 and Xbox Series X look good, but you might want to wait to buy one

Opinion message from

Sarah Chaney


You’ve probably heard of the next-gen consoles that lie ahead. You may even be asking yourself “Should I buy a PS5 or an Xbox Series X?” Whether you’re excited about the PS5 or the Xbox Series X, you might want to temper that excitement a bit.

If the history of the game has taught us anything, it’s this: Buying a console at launch is almost always a bad idea. That doesn’t mean you will regret buying a console at launch or that you shouldn’t spend your money on a nice new gaming machine. In fact, I most definitely get a PS5 at launch because I’m impatient but also really excited to play new generation games.

Unfortunately, console launches are generally pretty bad for several reasons.

Also read: Playstation 5 and Xbox Series X: what we know about each and how they stack up

Blade launch games

two people playing ps4

PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X launch games are almost guaranteed look awesome thanks to the latest cutting edge hardware, but historically, launch games don’t hold up in hindsight. With the exception of rarities – Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild for Nintendo Switch and original Halo for Xbox being two notable examples – launch games generally aren’t that good.

If you look at the PS4’s launch lineup, you’ll see disappointing exclusives like Killzone: Shadow Fall and Knack, along with a bunch of under-optimized cross-gen ports.

It’s the same story with the Xbox One launch lineup. There were some pretty decent contenders, like Forza Motorsport 5 and the forgettable, but technically competent Ryse: Son of Rome. Are these the games the console will be remembered for? Most of the best Xbox One games came later, and so did Sony’s hit console.

See also: The best PS4 games you can buy: From Bloodborne to Uncharted 4

If you buy a console at launch, chances are you’re not buying it for a specific launch game. You are probably eager to try out the latest console (like me) or are excited for all the games to come. If your reasoning is the latter, why not just wait until this game is released and the next-gen console price potentially drops?

Additionally, release dates are extended and we’re stuck with no new games to play for a few months after the console’s initial launch. Remember Watch Dogs and Driveclub were delayed after the launch of the PS4? Or how about below for Xbox One which was announced in 2013, which was delayed, then indefinitely delayed in 2016, before finally being released in 2018?

With rare exceptions, launcher games generally do not stand the test of time.

So far, the Xbox Series X and PS5 launch lineup haven’t been very inspiring either. Epic Games’ mega-hit Fortnite is confirmed for PS5 and Xbox Series X, but almost everything else is up in the air. Spider-Man: Miles Morales and Astro’s Playroom are set to launch titles for the PS5, but Microsoft’s biggest hitter – Halo Infinite – has now been delayed until 2021.

If there aren’t many next-gen games at launch that scream your name, why not just wait for the price to drop and the hardware to improve via an updated model? Speaking of…

The first hardware iteration usually has problems

xbox series x console controller

Sony and Microsoft have made major upgrades to the internal hardware of their consoles for next-generation systems. Yet, although they have tested this material behind closed doors, it is very different when consumers get their hands on it.

When you buy a console at launch, you basically get the console in its beta phase. There are bound to be problems. If we look at previous consoles, the Xbox 360 had the Red Ring of Death, the PS3 had the Yellow Light of Death, and the Switch struggled – and still struggles – with the Joy-Con drift. Of course, you can’t be sure what issues will appear until the console is released. However, there’s a good chance something will be changed in minor console revisions to add small improvements or fix hardware issues.

Related: The best PS4 deals and plans you can get

Rest assured, if it’s still under warranty, both Sony and Microsoft will likely fix the problem. However, if something happens to your brand new console outside of the warranty period, you might not have much luck in fixing the problem. At least not without spending some extra money.

If you want to avoid all of this, you might want to wait a few years until the issues are fixed with minor console revisions. Plus, if you wait, you might even be able to get a brand new console model with upgraded hardware for a better price.

For example, if you waited three years after the initial release of the PS4, you could have bought the PS4 Pro for the same amount. That means you would have ditched hardware that allowed 4K rendering, namely an upgraded GPU with 4.2 teraflops of processing power. It was a similar situation between the Xbox One and the Xbox One X too. For the same price, you could get an upgraded processor and GPU that enables 4K rendering and a 4K Blu-ray player.

Of course, if you do decide to buy a new console at launch, you can probably trade it in when a better model inevitably comes out, but you’ll still lose money.

The early adoption tax

DualShock 4 on PlayStation

If you buy a new console on day one, you’re going to pay more. Unfortunately, that’s the way it is with most new technology products. You will always pay more for something when it is new. If you wait a year or two, the price will most likely drop.

As an extreme example of the price difference between a console at launch and after launch, let’s look at the PS3. The 20GB PS3 model launched at $ 499.99 and the 60GB model at $ 599.99. Then just a year later, you could buy a 40GB model for just $ 399.99. A year later, you could buy an 80GB model for $ 399.99.

While we still don’t know how much the PS5 or Xbox Series X will cost, if you’re willing to wait, you’ll likely get a better deal later.

Related: The best Xbox deals available right now


The positives of buying a console at launch

While there may be more negatives than positives, there are still some great things about buying a console at launch.

For starters, if you’re one of the first people to buy a new console, you’ll also be one of the first to brag about your new console. Post on social media, make your friends and family drool. You see the picture. It’s not every year that a new console arrives, so being able to have one from the start is an incredible feeling.

Not to mention that there is a global pandemic right now. Who doesn’t need a little retail therapy or some awesome new games to entertain themselves?

It’s been seven long years since the launch of the PS4 and Xbox One. It can be difficult to combat the need to upgrade.

The other main attraction is being able to discover new games on new and improved hardware. Most of the time, there is a five-year gap between console versions. It’s been seven years since the PS4 and Xbox One originally came out and they’re really starting to show their age, especially if you have the original models.

playstation 5 hardware

With the PS5 and Xbox Series X, you’ll see advancements like ray tracing, little or no loading screen times, controllers with sophisticated new tech, and more. You will also have the opportunity to experience many of these hardware improvements with previously released games thanks to backward compatibility. Sony has guaranteed that the majority of PS4 games will be playable on the PS5 with some improvements, while Xbox gamers will be able to play games from all generations of Xbox hardware.

Microsoft’s console takes it a step further with Smart Delivery, which will let you play the most updated and best possible version of a game you own across generations of consoles. Plus, the Xbox also has Game Pass, so you can have tons of games available at launch starting at just $ 9.99 per month.

With all the upgrades Sony and Microsoft are offering to gamers who already own their games from the previous generation, it might not even matter how many new games released at launch. There will already be a ton of fantastic games to get lost in again with improved graphics, faster load times, and higher resolutions.


The negatives could potentially outweigh the positives. Ultimately, it really depends on the wants and needs of each individual consumer. Should you buy or wait? It is entirely up to you.

If you’re like me and can’t wait to get your hands on a new console, there’s nothing wrong with pre-ordering one as soon as it’s available. Or if you want to save the money and the hassle of being a guinea pig for Sony and Microsoft, there’s nothing wrong with waiting around for a year.

Will you be buying a PS5 or Xbox Series X at launch? Let us know in the poll below.

Please wait..
Loading the survey

      

Source link

Leave a Comment

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.