Just be sure to keep an eye on the Black Friday gaming specials when you've decided, as there will be plenty of console bundles on sale in November. We'll address all of these questions in our common-sense guide to choosing the best games console for you, from the PS4, to the Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch.
We'll explain what each model means e. We'll keep our advice in plain english, for those who might not be familiar with backward compatibility, streaming services and 4K gaming. Let's start with the big one…. The average age of gamers in the US is 35 years-old according to the ESA but consoles are, obviously, hugely popular with children, teens and young adults. Traditional stereotypes of people who play games are long outdated, with games that cater to all tastes and levels of dedication.
Broadly, some consoles are a better fit for different people, based on their age and situation, as we outline below. Best for: Families, Younger Gamers, Anyone who loves good games Nintendo is like the Disney of games, so it feels absurd to put an age limit on its consoles.
The Switch is a home console that you hook up to your TV, and also transitions to a portable handheld, making it ideal for both commuting, and keeping the kids entertained on long trips out and about. Nintendo further cements its family-friendly credentials through its online environment, where online chat is limited to a smartphone app. The PS4 is perfect for anyone upwards of being a teen or young adult, and has an amazing selection of platform-exclusive games.
The console is also home to a number of popular multi-platform online games, such as the FIFA, Battlefield, and Call of Duty series, as well as the all-consuming battle royale game, Fortnite. Microsoft also offers the Xbox One S; a brilliant, high value, console for younger teenagers, as well as the Xbox One X which is the most powerful console available, and better suited for more generous wallets.
You get a console that plays almost all the biggest games, a great online service, loads of multimedia options Netflix, web browsing, movies etc , plus it looks good and is easy to use. Xbox offers a far friendlier environment for older games, with the Xbox One able to play titles from the previous Microsoft console, the Xbox , straight off their discs.
The library of Xbox titles that are eligible for this is currently sitting at over , but it will continue to grow. The same applies to the more powerful Xbox One X, which has the added bonus of running some Xbox One games enhanced in 4K, as well as playing some Xbox games at a higher resolution.
Lots of games on the console offer split-screen play, as well as games that display multiple players on one screen. The PS4 and Xbox One also have games that can be played on one screen, like FIFA, PES or Madden to name a few, but split-screen is a rarity, giving way to to on online multiplayer experiences, rather than the more party-friendly vibe of Nintendo. This is worth considering, since you'll need to own a game on the same console as your friends to play against them online e.
It's also handy to know people with the same console so that you can swap games once you've finished with them. It gives PS5 owners free access to 20 of the best-ever PS4 games to download to their new console from day-one, including titles like God of War, Uncharted 4 and Bloodborne.
Somewhat differently to Microsoft's cross-gen inclusivity, Sony has also been emphasizing that it still believes in generations and is stressing the importance of its next-gen exclusives in making the most of the PS5 capabilities. Of course, there's also the matter of game streaming. With Google entering the gaming fray with its Google Stadia game streaming platform along with Amazon's Luna , Microsoft and Sony have actually entered a partnership to share and collaborate on game streaming technologies for the next generation.
Exactly how this will play out remains to be seen. But Microsoft's Project xCloud streaming service is already out now, and is included for free with Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscriptions. Already offering value for money, adding Project xCloud makes Game Pass and Xbox an even more appealing option for those who like to have platform flexibility.
We know that a lot of games that are released in the period between the tail end of this generation and the early days of the next will be cross-generation titles. That means the likes of Cyberpunk and Assassin's Creed Valhalla are launching on both current and next-gen consoles. You can find all the latest cheap PS5 game deals right here. It makes choosing between them a tough choice. The Kinect was initially hailed as one of the key differentiators between the consoles, but proved unpopular with both developers and gamers, leading to Microsoft slowly phasing it out in an effort to drive the price of the overall package down with later console revisions.
Neither has made that mistake with their new consoles making the top-tier versions identically matched. It's the digital-only versions then where the real differences become visible. But it's not a like-for-like comparison.
With the PS5 Digital Edition, however, it's exactly the same spec as the standard edition — just minus that physical disc tray. For sheer value, the Xbox Series S wins out then — but it comes with some caveats. Both it and the digital PS5 lose out on the ability to play 4K Blu-ray discs too.
In reality, it seems more than ever then that the choice this time will come down to your loyalty to one console brand or the other — and their services, plus each company's commitment to respecting the library of games you've already built up with them. The PS5 and Xbox Series X are both fantastic devices, but right now, we've been swayed by the PlayStation 5's excellent controller, fun and fresh user interface, and its stronger launch line up.
The similarities between the two consoles are striking, but they're both fairly unique in their own right. From a design stand point, the two consoles couldn't be more different. Both are silent in operation, and extremely powerful, but the PS5 is massive in size.
The Xbox Series X is smaller, but its boxy shape won't be loved by everyone, particularly when the console is laid horizontally. Sony and Microsoft's joint commitment to SSD tech means games load faster than ever before, with boot times often taking seconds instead of minutes. Both consoles also offer fantastic backwards compatibility support, though Microsoft's commitment does span further, particularly in terms of accessories. Sony has started strong again in this regard, while the lack of Halo Infinite has certainly hurt the Xbox Series X's early appeal.
Whichever console you decide to purchase, remember that the generation has only just begun - there's plenty more excitement to be had in the years to come and the competition is likely to be fierce throughout.
Gerald is the Executive Editor for TechRadar, taking care of the site's home cinema, gaming, smart home, entertainment and audio output. He loves his gaming, but don't expect him to play with you unless your console is hooked up to a 4K HDR screen and a 7. Sadly, Pierce doesn't share the dream. North America.
Audio player loading…. Gerald Lynch. See more Gaming news. Euphoria season 2 is exactly what HBO Max needed in Honor's new foldable phone is bigger and more powerful than the Galaxy Z Fold 3.
Answer these questions, and we'll have an answer for you. Part of your decision on your next console will depend on what you already have. Clearly, Xbox One owners likely aren't going to rush out to the stores just to get a PS4.
You want to be able to play more games, not just a handful. Something that's become more popular in the gaming community is how some consoles can be upgraded. This strengthens their shelf life as well as allows gamers to not have to shell out a few hundred dollars every few years just to get the next system. In order to push more consoles, companies will have gaming mascots to build familiarity with the public. Nintendo has essentially done this with all of their titles, while Sony and Microsoft have a handful of exclusive characters associated with their names.
Online play, like it or not, has become the new standard for video games. It lengthens how long people keep playing them as well as continuously ups the challenge as time goes on. Some consoles handle the service better than others, and how much you want it will factor into which one you should get. As the gaming community grows and grows, more and more people are becoming interested in watching certain titles be played.
This has led to the rise of lets players, Twitch streamers, and even several YouTube streamers who make their entire living off of playing and streaming video games. As we've progressed, we've seen the rise of indie games developed by a small team of people. Sometimes, they can turn out very bad, but there are those rare occasions where we get phenomenal gems that we'll be talking about for years on end. Many times, a game will come along that's a decent experience by yourself but is even better when you've got more friends along for the ride.
Obviously, this will and should impact the console you end up getting, as you want to get the most enjoyment for your dollar. Gaming isn't a cheap hobby. Some consoles will offer some great deals on their games, but others won't budge on their prices.
Believe it or not, the amount of time you spend playing video games will factor into which console is best for you. Those who play more will be better off spending the big bucks for a system, while those who don't play as much may want to consider a smaller setup. We're not saying that being an impulse buyer is a good or a bad thing, but it's definitely going to determine which console is more beneficial for you. After all, there are tons of sales and games out there that look so tempting that you can't help but pull out the plastic and make a purchase.
This is likely the question that will determine which console is best for you. It's imperative that you know what it will be primarily used for. If you're just going to play games, then you'll want something designed specifically for that.
If you'd like to do other things, then broaden your horizon. There are a lot of games already confirmed to come out in the near future. Clearly, some are going to catch your attention over others. The question remains: are the games exciting enough that you'll buy a console just to play them? That's all up to you. There was a time when all the games you could get were in physical cases.
Even PC games had a disc at a brick-and-mortar store. As society has progressed, we're slowly moving toward a digital medium. This is the way of the future.
The shooter genre has been dominating the market since the early s. Nowadays, all developers and their grandmothers have tried to dominate the market, and each console has its own version. Each game also offers something a bit different from the others. Handheld gaming was started by Nintendo decades ago, and they're still the kings of that market. Bringing their popular franchises to a portable system was a brilliant move, as everyone loves a good Nintendo handheld. However, each console requires a specific amount of care to get right.
DLC has been a smart way for companies to get proper revenue from their massive titles, but it's not always handled well. Some games will make you buy a few dollars just to get a new horse to ride or to get story content that completes the game.
You just have to find the right one. Budget will be a huge determining factor in getting your next gaming console. If you're on very tight funds, then you'll be very limited in what you can get. If you can spend the entire world, then it's important that you get the best available.
These days, gaming consoles aren't just devices for playing games. They can now download, stream, and run all sorts of movies. If this is important to you and you want to just kill two birds with one stone, you may want to consider that when getting a console. While it's not a seriously important factor, color association will be a persuadable asset that companies will use to persuade buyers. After all, that's why bold colors are associated with each brand - so that they leave an impact on everyone who witnesses them.
Games are complex and varied. Deciding which games are best isn't a matter of comparing one to another because there are so many different genres available. Everyone has a favorite type of game, so take that into consideration when picking your next console. Fighting games are a great way to blow off steam.
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