It is time to move on from an old romance with India’s favourite console brand
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Over the last few generations of consoles, Indians have fallen in love with the PlayStation and there was a lot to love. The PS2, PS3 and PS4 have been machines that delivered on both content and hardware. This also explains why everyone is itching to buy one and the trickle of units that hit our country is always wiped out in seconds. Well, if you are one of these hopeful PS5 owners, I am here to say it’s time to break up. Don’t worry it’s not you, it’s them. Don’t bother buying a new gaming PC either, the smart money right now is on Xbox Series X and S (if you can’t afford the X). Here is why.
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Game Studios and Exclusives: Microsoft has been on a buying spree and it has bought out major studios. Their latest acquisition is Activision Studios. This latest feather in the Microsoft cap doesn’t hold much water in India as Activision has always ignored India as a market but regardless the sheer amount of AAA titles the company has is just crazy and imagine all of this available on Xbox on day one of release. Microsoft also purchased Bethesda recently, the makers of Fallout, Skyrim and Dishonored. Microsoft has a lot of exclusives coming this year and you can play these games on day one on PC as well. PS5 on the other hand doesn’t have that many exclusives coming in, most of their exclusive PlayStation games will also be available on the PS4.
Game Pass: Game pass is a game-changer. Get the Ultimate version for just R699 a month. You get all the exclusive games from Microsoft’s stable; you get EA Play and not to mention discounts and deals on lots of titles. There are always over hundred games available at all times on the Game Pass and new ones come in as the older ones get taken down. It’s a great way to play and discover indie titles as well. Despite Game Pass being around for a while now, Sony has no alternative to it.
Xbox Apps: The Xbox app and the Game Pass app are real selling points for the console. With the Xbox app, you can play your games on your phone streamed directly from your console. So, you can game pretty much anywhere within the range of your WIFI. The Game Pass app on the other hand lets you game directly from the Cloud as long as you have a decent Internet connection and your Xbox Controller. You can play some games directly without the controller but it is cumbersome to play like that on a small screen. The games continue from where you left off and when you are back home you can just plug back in and continue. You can also stream your games to any Windows computer you have. It’s very convenient.
Cheaper Xbox Series S: I will be the first to admit I thought Xbox Series S was a gimmick till I bought one. The console is a good compromise if you either don’t have the space or don’t want to invest so much in a gaming device. It is a true alternative to the next-gen gaming a Series X provides. Sure, it isn’t all 4K 120FPS but it does 120FPS on 1440p. It also costs R15,000 cheaper than the Series X, making it ideal for casual gamers and parents who don’t want to spend too much on a next-gen console. PS5’s alternative to the Series S is the PS5 Digital which is not nearly as cheap or tiny. Do not under any circumstances buy a PS5 Digital.
Availability: As mentioned, the consoles are not easy to find. There is a global shortage of chips, a shipping crisis and Covid to blame for this, so it isn’t their fault. PC gaming has seen a major increase in the pricing of components as well, with graphic cards selling at a major price hike over recommended prices. Here is the thing with the Xbox, it supports keyboard and mouse input on a lot of games, making it an ideal standby gaming option for PC gamers. Additionally, Game Pass Ultimate covers gaming on PC as well which is great.
Closed ecosystem: PlayStation for a long time has implemented a closed ecosystem. Games available on its system exclusively seldom come on PC and other consoles. The great thing for Xbox is that parent company Microsoft has its feet in PC gaming as well as console giving them an advantage. PS also doesn’t allow for keyboard and mouse on any of their games which in this time of scarcity is an advantage for Xbox, considering PC gamers can make the switch even if it’s just until the chip crisis is over.
Wait for the PS5 Pro or Slim: I am not saying don’t buy the Sony’s console at all. For gamers who want every console PS5 will be on their books. Just wait till the end of the year for the updated console. Sony eventually comes out with a slimmer and better version. For the PS5 they need to. The thing is huge and it could do with a slimmed-down version. There should be some pricing cuts as well, availability will also improve overall. If you have a PS4 then this point is even more important because very few titles are PS5 exclusives. Most of them will run on the PS4. Sony themselves have not halted the production of the PS4 simply because there is still demand.
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