MeinMMO editor Leya Jankowski has been playing on PlayStation consoles since childhood. Now she wants to switch to the Xbox Series. The primary reason for this is the Xbox Game Pass.
Why I’ve never owned and wanted an Xbox: I grew up in a playful household. In the early 90s, we were one of the first families in our area to own a gaming PC with the Amiga. Later, there were also Game Boys and consoles added.
Over the years, we had pretty much every gaming device in my parents’ house – but never an Xbox.
The variety of platforms has continued into my teenage and adult years, as I appreciate them for different needs. I always own a combination of:
- a PlayStation for exclusive titles like Last of Us and cozy couch gaming
- a Nintendo handheld for on-the-go and titles like Pokémon
- a PC for shooters and games that don’t come to console
That’s what I know from childhood. The controller of an Xbox still feels somehow wrong in my hands.
The strong exclusive titles of PlayStation have also consistently been a major argument against an Xbox for me. Games like God of War, Horizon Zero Dawn, or the current Ghost of Tsushima speak for themselves. It was never a question of which new home console I would buy when a new generation was imminent.
The Xbox Game Pass changes everything
What is the Xbox Game Pass? It’s a damn good deal!
You can think of the Xbox Game Pass as a “Netflix for gamers.” You subscribe for a large selection of games.
The Game Pass Ultimate costs €12.99 a month and includes over 200 games. Over 100 of those are permanently included in the Pass, and new ones are constantly added. The others rotate in and out of the Game Pass.
The Pass is available for PC and Xbox simultaneously. It includes really high-quality games, for which you would normally have to pay around €50 to €70 separately, including currently popular games like Crusador Kings 3 or the Microsoft Flight Simulator.
Xbox Live Gold is also included in the Game Pass Ultimate at no extra cost. You need the premium membership, just like with PlayStation Plus, to play online.
Recently, Microsoft announced that soon EA Play will be integrated into the Game Pass at no extra cost. With the Game Pass, there will also be games like FIFA 20 or Battlefield added. In total, about 60 games will be added through EA.
The Pass currently costs €3.99 a month in the PC beta version (in the first month for just €1). The subscription will soon increase to nearly €10 per month as the beta ends.
The Xbox Game Pass can already be considered ridiculously cheap for what you get.
Say Leya, why don’t you just use the Game Pass on your PC? That’s what some of you might be asking. After all, I could skip the console if it’s just about the Game Pass.
I could also comfortably game from the couch on the TV with the PC. However, there are four reasons against it for me:
I have no desire to:
- run the necessary cables,
- have streaming issues. I tried Steam Link once. It was a dreadful hassle, and there were always technical difficulties.
- have the TV right next to the PC.
The PC is also a work device for me, where I also play simultaneously. Sometimes it’s just nice to turn off the machine and officially end the workday.
Microsoft proves innovation, Sony stagnates
What I currently like about Xbox: The Game Pass is an innovative offer as a “Netflix for gamers” that is entirely built on customer-friendliness. The subscription model is inexpensive and designed for our fast-paced modern lifestyle. Before we fully commit to a game and then shell out a lot of money for 1-3 big titles per year, the Game Pass gives us the opportunity to sample games. Maybe one game is played for 3 hours in the evening and another for 300 hours.
In terms of innovation, Microsoft also scores for me with its commitment to inclusion in gaming. You can read a review of Microsoft’s adaptive controller at our colleagues at GamePro. The adaptive controller can be very individually tailored to the needs of a person with physical disabilities. It’s super advanced in that segment.
What bothers me about PlayStation now: In contrast, Sony seems to have fallen asleep with their market strategy for PlayStation. They still rely on exclusive titles as THE big selling argument. It seems to me like they are resting on their exclusive titles. I don’t see any new, innovative ideas that blow me away.
Of course, the PS5 will also come with innovative new technology. Otherwise, there would be no need for a new generation. Technically, the Xbox Series X and PlayStation 5 probably don’t differ that much in the end. Ultimately, the consoles will excel in different areas, better or worse than the other model.
It will probably be the cute Xbox Series S
Why the smallest Xbox? The Xbox Series S is the smaller, cheaper version of the Xbox Series X. It costs only €299, but it doesn’t have a disc drive. The “big” X variant costs €499 and is therefore €200 more expensive.
Since I have only been buying my games digitally for years now, the lack of a drive on the S is not a problem for me.
The Series X is technically superior to the Series S and offers a significantly better graphics chip that is designed for a native 4K experience.
However, that doesn’t bother me much, since I don’t own a 4K TV and won’t be getting one anytime soon. Also, I still have a powerful PC that I can upgrade long-term for super nice graphics.
Those interested in the exact differences between Xbox Series X and S can find them with our colleagues at GamePro, who specialize in consoles.
The smallest Xbox also didn’t get its name without reason. It is 60% smaller than the bulky Xbox Series X. The cute design reminds me of a retro radio. I’m really into this look, and it will be a real eye-catcher in my apartment.
The little one exudes personality.
MeinMMO editor Patrick Freese, by the way, wants nothing to do with the next-gen consoles. He is opting for an RTX 3080 to upgrade his PC.
PS: To be honest, if Last of Us 3 is announced exclusively for the PS5, I’ll probably run out to buy the console. Cursing, but I would run.
What do you think? Are you also considering switching your main console?
