Introduction
I love games: Mobile, PlayStation, PC. It would seem that the optimal device for me would be a computer, which has the most projects, or an Xbox. But I choose a bundle of PS5 for games and MacBook for all “computer” things – and I do not plan to deviate from this scheme.
Why PlayStation and not Xbox
My conclusions from the console battle : there is no point in comparing the characteristics, the capabilities of the new generation consoles are approximately at the same level. In 2024, everything comes down to personal feelings.
1. User-friendly interface
The PS5 brought a new interface from Sony, one that puts the emphasis on easy access to games and content, rather than a bunch of tiles with suggestions and recommendations that could induce ADHD . The first thing you see after logging in is the most recently played game, with most of the screen taken up by related information like progress and tips.
You can manually go to the store, friends list, library of games and applications on the account, but by default the console assumes that you turned on the console to play, and allows you to go to the last launched game with the press of a button.
2. Excellent controllers
The Dualshock 4 was a good gamepad, but the Dualsense takes it to a whole new level with its adaptive triggers. Now you don’t just pull the trigger, you feel resistance when you pull a bow or climb a rope. This tactile feedback works great for immersion in compatible games. Plus, it’s just more comfortable to hold (though that’s a matter of taste).
Another advantage of Dualsense is utilitarian. Even in 2024, Microsoft continues to insist that a battery-powered controller is a great idea, and users have to either put up with it or buy rechargeable batteries. At the same time, Dualsense can be recharged via modern USB-C or official wireless charging, which is much more convenient than looking for new batteries because the controller died right in the middle of a game.
3. Exclusives
Sony is famous for its exclusives: often these are such cool games that it’s not a sin to buy a console just for them. God of War, The Last of Us, Marvel’s Spider-Man, Uncharted are probably the most famous series of those that were exclusive to PlayStation consoles for a long time.
Yes, a lot of things are coming to PC now, but years after their initial release. Some great games like Shadow of the Colossus, Gravity Rush, and The Last Guardian are still unplayable on other devices.
For me, this was the reason for buying my first console from Sony, the portable PS Vita. In 2015, it was the only one that could play Persona 4 Golden, which I found very interesting. I would only be able to play it on PC in 2020.
Microsoft, of course, also has exclusives, but Sony’s line turned out to be closer to me than Halo and Gears of War.
4. More affordable discs
Yes, I am an Old Believer and I like to collect video games on shelves, not in a digital library. If only because I simply like being able to physically look at my collection and look at screenshots on the boxes, choosing what to play next.
There is also practical value in this approach. Over time, digital stores for outdated consoles close, and it turns out that a disc or cartridge is the only way to get the game you are interested in. Some games can be removed from sale during the console’s life cycle – simply because the publisher decided not to renew the license. Plus, you can always resell something you didn’t like and get back a significant portion of the money spent. This won’t work with digital.
Of course, you can easily find FIFA (sorry, EA Sports FC) or Borderlands in Russia for any current console, but things are worse with less popular games. Xbox versions are often rarer and more expensive – or they are not available for sale at all.
5. Habit
The argument may seem frivolous, but in fact it is almost more important than everything written above. Like many players from Russia, my first “big” console was the PS4. At the end of the generation, it was cheap, and the games for it were cheap too: I bought most of the library for 500-1000 rubles – considering that we are talking about disks.
I created a profile, gradually expanded my friends list, earned achievements and even a few Platinums. Then I switched to PlayStation 5, which runs all my discs without any problems, and even adds a free quality-enhancing patch to most of them.
If I switch to Xbox, I’ll end up with an empty library and account, zero friends and zero activity. I’ll have to buy everything again, and my progress will be lost – except for cross-platform projects.
Of course, we can talk about a closed ecosystem and its disadvantages, but an Xbox user who is thinking about switching to PlayStation will find himself in a similar situation. So habit, coupled with a full library and account, in practice turn out to be quite weighty reasons to choose one brand over another.