Many gamers consider whether to buy a gaming PC or a console instead. But what do PS5 and Xbox do better than a real gaming PC? MeinMMO presents the advantages of consoles.
If you want to game nowadays, you have different options: Either you play on a gaming PC, on a console, or you grab your phone.
But where are the differences or advantages of a console compared to a gaming PC? MeinMMO lists reasons for choosing a gaming console. And at this point, it doesn’t matter whether you choose a PS5 or an Xbox.
Optimization
Many people criticize that PC games are increasingly poorly optimized. Some games were technically released so poorly on Steam that many gamers loudly complained about the state of the games. Some players believe that DLSS is the reason for the poor optimization.
If you don’t want to wait forever for updates or performance improvements, you turn to a console. Because in most cases, games run significantly better on the Xbox or PS5. Starfield runs excellently on Xbox, while players on PC complain about minor issues.
Consoles have the advantage that games can be tailored exactly to the hardware of the console. Developers can set up the PS5 in their office and thoroughly test the game. Testing 20 different PC configurations is nearly impossible.
A PS5 or Xbox is cheaper than a gaming PC
The purchase price for gaming consoles like the PS5 or Xbox is generally lower than for a gaming PC. For an Xbox Series X or a PS5, you pay around 500 euros. For the versions without a drive, you pay a little less.
A high-performance gaming PC currently costs around 1,000 euros and sometimes even significantly more. At least if you want to play current AAA titles like Starfield or Cyberpunk 2077 with many details and in high resolution (WQHD, 4K). For many indie games, however, you don’t necessarily need high-end hardware.
At the same time, you have to keep in mind with PC gaming that you will eventually need to upgrade your hardware or at least should. A console can only be upgraded to a limited extent – at most with a larger SSD.
Consoles rely on exclusive titles
For many years, consoles have relied on exclusive games, so-called “system sellers”: manufacturers hope to convince people to buy a console with special games.
In 2023, the exclusive argument does not seem to be as strong as it was a few years ago. Because games like the “Horizon” series, which were long exclusive to PlayStation, or the “Halo” series on Xbox, are now also available on PC. Manufacturers like Sony are bringing more and more former exclusive games to PC.
Nevertheless, it remains true: If you want to play certain exclusive games directly at release, you need the corresponding console. The new “Spider-Man” game, for example, can only be played on PS5. Sony has since explained how long PS5 games will remain exclusive and when they will be released on PC.
Consoles have a long lifecycle
Manufacturers like Sony or Microsoft develop their consoles for a runtime of several years. Often, they work closely with developers so that you can easily play current games on your console even in 4 or 5 years.
And even when a PS6 is officially released, the old generation will still be supported for several more years. You may not be able to equip your PS5 or Xbox Series X with a faster processor or a better graphics card, but that is usually also not necessary.
Perfectly coordinated hardware
If you buy a console, you get a perfectly coordinated system. Normally, you start your console and can start playing immediately. You don’t have to worry about drivers, software, or other updates. Because the manufacturers have already taken care of that for you.
When you buy a PS5 or Xbox, you get a complete package right away. If you assemble a gaming PC, you can choose from a multitude of different components.
- It already plays an important role whether you choose AMD or Nvidia when buying a graphics card.
- Moreover, both AMD and Intel offer a wide range of processors that you can integrate into your system.
- In addition, many components come from different manufacturers. So you can buy RAM from Corsair and opt for an MSI motherboard. But you can just as well go for RAM from Crucial and use an ASUS motherboard.
In the best case scenario, everything runs seamlessly on your gaming PC, in the worst-case scenario, you have to check the individual components if something goes wrong.
In gaming PCs, different hardware can be installed in each device. Whether it is a different processor or a different graphics card. Developers have already stated that the optimization of games is hardly feasible due to the many different PC configurations.
Consoles offer Plug-and-Play
The probably biggest advantage: Consoles are easy to use. You connect the device to the power supply, start the console, and in most cases, you can get started right away. With a gaming PC, you may need to make various settings or your game may crash first.
With a console, it rarely happens that something doesn’t work. There are exceptions, though: Cyberpunk 2077 was considered unplayable upon release on PS4 and Xbox One and the last-gen (PS4, Xbox One) often has to do without certain features to keep the games playable.
When will the end come for the PS4 and Xbox One? For the old generation, the PS4 and Xbox One may eventually face an end sooner or later. The current consoles are now well available and accessible everywhere. And Sony has already shown that fewer and fewer games will be released for the PS4:
Sony announces many PS5 games for 2023, but for the PS4, this could mean the end
