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Writer's pictureRodrigo Fernández

Xbox or PlayStation: What to Choose for the Upcoming Holidays?

Dear reader, perhaps you have been saving all year-long to get a next-gen console in the upcoming Holidays. Maybe you still are undecided which one is the best based on your budget. You have read a few blogs, seen a few videos, and still don’t know which one to get. Worry not, you have arrived at your final stop. After reading this post, you will not only know for sure which console you will enjoy the most during the Holidays, but also, continue to expand and play in the years to follow. We will help you identify what kind of gamer you are, and which one suits your needs best. We will also tell you why Nintendo might not be the best investment at this moment. Grab a cup of hot cocoa, and put some Sinatra tunes in the background to get in the Holiday mood. You are about to get a brand-new console that you will enjoy, and not regret buying because you will be an informed buyer.


A note for Last-Gen Owners

If you are the kind of reader that already owns a PS4 or an Xbox One X|S, then you might be curious whether you should upgrade the console you already own, or switch wagons, so to speak. The answer lies primarily in the time you spent playing with your console. Naturally, you will identify the strong, but more important weak points that your console has, and the things you enjoy the most, contrasted to the things you enjoyed the least.


You should ask yourself the following questions

Did I spend a lot of time playing multiplayer games with my friends?

  • What kind of multiplayer games did I play the most?

    • Shooters, sports, co-op.

Did I enjoy single-player experiences and felt it was an important part of my gaming experience?

  • What genres did I enjoy the most?

    • 1st party games, 3rd party

Did I balance my playtime with both multi and single player games?

Did I get most of my games in physical format or digitally?

What is the main reason you spend money on yearly memberships?

  • To have access to online games.

  • For the increasing catalog.

In my experience, I found myself playing a bit of both single and multiplayer games. I enjoy playing most days with my friends online, whether it’s Call of Duty, FIFA, or some co-op action game like Ghost Recon. However, I consider playing single-player games with a very solid narrative, storytelling, visuals, and mechanics my bread and butter. This is where I spend most of my days whenever I turn on my console. Playing games like Dark Souls, Bloodborne, Mass Effect, and so on, are fundamental to my gaming experience. You may not feel inclined to play these sorts of games, and seek a multiplayer heavy experience, and play games like Call of Duty, Fortnite, FIFA/Madden, Overwatch, and much more. This is important to identify because PlayStation is heavily inclined towards single player experiences with a very solid library in the PlayStation Plus Extended membership, since its launch, it has added a few decent games to the library.


Don’t get me wrong, Xbox Game Pass has a lot of incredible single player games, and even more interesting indie games on its list, however, if you pair this with EA Access, you can get your yearly sports titles on the get-go (if you don’t mind playing last year’s iteration, or pay the current one at a discount). It is important to mention that Microsoft is finalizing an acquisition deal with Activision and Call of Duty will be part of Xbox Game Pass across all their platforms.


With that being said, if you currently own a PS4 or Xbox One X|S, and you want to know if switching wagons is a good idea, please ask yourself the previous questions, and determine if the console you have satisfies your needs.


Why is Nintendo Not on the List?

You might feel tempted to get yourself a brand-new Nintendo Switch OLED, or even a Switch Lite. If I could recommend one of them, I would go for the Lite. The main problem with Nintendo seems to be the game prices. They rarely go down or see a worthy discount, like you do constantly in the PlayStation or Microsoft Store respectively. It is unfathomable that many year-old games like Mario Odyssey, Breath of the Wild, and many more, are still priced at $60. Also, Nintendo heavily relies on ports from the Wii U or other ‘old’ games, and they will still price them at a premium.

You will end up paying more for a new Nintendo and a decent library than it is to buy a brand new PS5/Xbox and a subscription service with access to their respective libraries. Let’s do a little math:


Nintendo Switch OLED: $349.99

Mario Oddysey: $59.99

The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild: $59.99

Mario Kart 8 (Port): $59.99

Super Smash Brothers (Port): $59.99

  • Total: $589.95

This is the total of a Nintendo Switch with just a handful of games, awesome games albeit. I believe that with time, getting a Nintendo becomes more expensive as you expand your library given the fact that the game prices rarely go down. Getting a new PS5 or Xbox will cost you less money, including the membership that you can get bundled or at a discount for new members.


Initial budget

Both consoles with a Blu-ray disc drive cost $499.99

Disc-less PS5: $399.99

Xbox Series S: $299.99

Consider having more than the $499.99 needed for the console. You might want to get a few games, expand storage, or get a membership to have instant access to a library of games and play online as well.


The retail price for a brand new PS5/Xbox is $499.99 plus taxes. If you want to get a month worth of their membership to test the waters, and see if you are satisfied with the service, you will need an extra $14.99. It is a very good deal, and you can even find some bundles with trials at no extra cost. At the moment you can get the Xbox Game Pass for just $1, yes one dollar for a month.


If you are considering an all-digital gaming console, you can save $100 on a PS5 or reinvest it in a 1 terabyte storage expansion. Keeping in mind that you are getting this console for yourself, and you want the best there is at the moment, I would stay away from the Xbox Series S because the resolution is simply too low for the already standardized 4k displays we have. A $100 difference is simply unjustifiable.


Digital Gaming

Not only game publishers, but also console manufacturers are pushing the market towards a digital era. It is so much easier for them to ‘maintain’ their games-as-a-service through digital updates and patches, than to keep releasing games physically. Even though we still have game discs in the market. We were witnesses to a trend when both console manufacturers released disc-less versions of the consoles, even though Xbox’s approach is a bit different.


I was skeptical at first to switch to the digital side of gaming, however, the convenience, and even the great prices you can find at both stores makes it worth the while, also since solid state storage is upon us, you can harvest the benefits of switching games instantly. I believe that physical copies of video games are worthy if you want to get collector editions or GOTY special editions of your favorite titles. Let’s be real, who would buy a yearly physical copy of FIFA/Madden these days? To be frank, in my childhood days, I was one of those.


Investing in Storage Expansion

  • PS5: From $99 to $230 for a 1TB Solid State Drive.

  • Xbox: $219.99 for a 1TB Storage Expansion Card.

Keep in mind that you are investing in a video game console that you will enjoy over the years. It is something that you will have access to whenever you want to play. Both consoles come with an initial 1TB storage, however, mileage may vary. In the case of the Xbox, you get around 800GB, and with the PlayStation about 600GB. The reason is dedicated backup, software storage, and other technical reasons. You must ask yourself the following questions, prior to considering investing in storage expansion: How many games do I intend to play at the same time? What genres would I mostly play?


We all know that games like Call of Duty: Warzone can almost reach a 200GB size, which is a hefty chunk of the storage. Also consider that if you get access to the Xbox Game Pass or PlayStation Plus Extended libraries, you will have a plethora of games ready for download, and might feel tempted to get a handful to start playing.


The gaming formula these days seems to be having a couple of multiplayer games (Call of Duty, FIFA/Madden, and a couple of single player games. With the release of Modern Warfare 2, and Warzone 2, you must reserve a hefty chunk of your storage real estate for these titles. Triple A titles like Assassins’ Creed, Halo, Spider-Man, etc. can go over the 50GB mark, and some above the 100GB one.


PlayStation 5: 1tb Gen4 NVME SSD

PlayStation’s solution to storage is a 3rd-party solid state hard drive NVM e. They are the very same you can add to your laptop or PC. The benefit of this is that you can find some pretty decent deals since we have good brands like Samsung, Kingston, and Western Digital offering quite interesting choices. The NVM e standard will guarantee utmost performance, and basically the choice comes down to pricing. Do not worry about quality or performance. Just make sure it is PS5 compatible, it usually says PCIe Gen4.


The best bang-for-the buck SSD you can get is the 1TB XPG Gammix S70 Blade for $129.99 ($99.99 at the moment). This one is PS5 ready from the get-go, and includes a heatsink.


You can check many tutorials on YouTube on how to install it, since you will need to remove the back-plate of your console and also, apply the heatsink correctly, and screw the storage on the respective slot.


Xbox series x|s: 1tb Seagate Storage Expansion

Microsoft’s solution is a proprietary expansion memory card, like in the old days. The price is $219.99 for a 1TB card. It is quite pricey if you compare it to the options you can get on the PS5. There is not much to say about it, you just plug it behind the console and you are good to go. If you think it is a bit expensive, you can keep an eye for any deals or discounts. If it goes below the $200 mark, it is a no-brainer.


Subscription Services

  • Xbox: $9.99 per month | $14.99 Game Pass Ultimate

  • PS5: $9.99 per month | $14.99 PS Plus Extra | $19.99 PS Plus Ultimate.

Both consoles offer a more than decent subscription service. You get access to multiplayer, an amazing game library, and exclusive discounts/packs. The main difference is that Xbox Game Pass also works on PC, and PlayStation offers most of their amazing first party PS4 games available like Ghost of Tsushima, Days Gone, Death Stranding, Horizon Zero Dawn, etc.


Xbox Game Pass vs Game pass ultimate

Xbox Game Pass has a huge benefit over PlayStation Plus at the moment. You can join for $1 if you go for Ultimate or join the PC version. This 'trial', so to speak, is a perfect way to test the waters of the benefits the Ultimate version has, but more important, you will have access to the entire library of games so you can play the likes of Halo, Doom, Fallout, Flight Simulator, Assassins' Creed, and many other amazing titles.

Consider that Microsoft’s strategy has been to acquire triple A studios like Bethesda, so their library of games is available on Game Pass. You will also find many indie games and a wide variety of genres as well. At the moment, Microsoft is also finalizing a deal to acquire Activision, which means that future Call of Duty titles will be available day-one on Game Pass.


Afterwards, you can decide which plan works best for you. If you don't see yourself playing too many EA titles, I would choose the regular console plan, given the fact that the only available EA games are titles like Mass Effect, Dragon Age, Battlefield from many years ago, new titles like FIFA/Madden 23, the new Battlefield 2044 are not included, but you get a 10% discount on them.


The PlayStation Plus Tiers Explained (Essentials, Extended, Ultimate)

The pricing structure for the PlayStation Plus tiers is the following:

Premium

Extra

Essential

$17.99/month

$14.99/month

$9.99/month

$49.99/3months

$39.99/3months

$24.99/3months

$199.99/year

$99.99/year

$59.99/year

Benefits per tier


It is important to mention that currently, PlayStation is offering a free, 7-day trial for Extended and Ultimate tiers. You can definitely give the Ultimate tier a try, and see if the extra money is worth it for streaming some titles, and having access to the Classic library.

If you enjoy cinematic single player 3rd person action/adventure games like the ones PlayStation makes, definitely go for the PlayStation 5. If you did not own a PS4, even more so. You will enjoy all those amazing PS4 games adapted to the PS5, like Spider-Man, Death Stranding, Ghost of Tsushima with the PS Plus library. Sony also offers a Premium version of this subscription with access to stream some PS4 titles and also a classic library of PS3 games.


Keep in mind that for the price of a video game ($59.99), you can get a year's worth of a subscription with access to a huge list of games, and all the benefits of its membership. The PS Plus Collection includes a ton of successful PS4 games enhanced for PS5, like Death Stranding: Director's Cut, Ghost of Tsushima: Director's Cut, Spider-Man, Spider-Man: Miles Morales, etc. If you want to invest $40 more, you will get access to the Game Catalog which is increasing every month, and also the Ubisoft+ Classics game list. In my opinion this is the best bang for the buck deal. I would not venture as far as the Ultimate tier because of the streaming benefits and the classic PS3 is simply not worth the $199.99 price tag.


It is a good thing that Sony offers the 7-day trial, so you can dedicate at least one day to checking out the streaming aspect, and the list of classic games to determine if it is worth it.


Remarkable Games on Both Platforms

Xbox

  • Halo Infinite.

  • Forza Horizon 5.

  • Doom/ Doom Eternal.

  • Wolfenstein.

  • MLB The Show 22.

  • Microsoft Flight Simulator.

  • Assassins’ Creed Odyssey.

  • Killer Instinct.

  • Mortal Kombat 11 Ultimate.

  • Skyrim.

PlayStation

  • Death Stranding.

  • Spider Man / Spider-Man Miles Morales.

  • Ghost of Tsushima.

  • Days Gone.

  • Bloodborne.

  • Horizon Zero Dawn.

  • God of War.

  • Assassins’ Creed Valhalla.

  • Mafia Collection (1, 2, 3).

  • Red Dead Redemption 2.

identify the Type of Gamer You Are

It is important to identify the type of gamer you are. You might play sporadically, and investing in expandable storage from the get go might not be the best idea, or getting a subscription can also be an unjustifiable idea. You can still find very decent deals without having to subscribe. Keep in mind that Microsoft is pushing the $1 for the first month of Xbox Game Pass for quite a while, so I would not hesitate to get it just to test if you see yourself reaping its benefits. PlayStation offers a 7-day trial at no extra cost for PlayStation Plus Extended | Ultimate.


Casual

If you are a casual player, I would test Xbox Game Pass just because it is $1 for a month. Since Sony's counteroffer is a free 7-day trial, I would choose the console based on the types of games that you will mostly play.


Single Player driven

If you are a single player gamer. Xbox is your best option just because of the $1 promotion. There are plenty of incredible single player games on their service. Don’t get me wrong if you are willing to spend $14.99 for a month on PS Plus, their library is even better. You can play the action RPGs mentioned before and you will have plenty of fun these Holidays. Nothing like waking up early in the morning and booting up your brand-new console to play video games by yourself.


Multiplayer driven.

Multiplayer gamers seem to have good options on both consoles. Microsoft offers Halo Infinite which is heaps of fun right from the get-go. Sony, on the contrary, offers some decent Call of Duty games like Black-Ops 3 and 4 from the PS4. Keep in mind that if Microsoft finalizes the Activison buyout, we will have the Call of Duty games in Game Pass, so consider it a potential benefit in the near future.


Other considerations before buying a brand-new console.

Do you want to build a library?

If you are considering building a decent library, you will definitely have a fantastic head start with both subscriptions. If your goal is to play all the games you have missed from previous gens, both services have you covered. It is a good way to start your gaming library, and slowly, but surely acquire physical copies of GOTY, or collection editions whenever they are cheap on your favorite game stores or Amazon.


Are digital games your thing?

If you want to build your digital repertoire, you can find great deals throughout the year on both platforms. This is why we don’t recommend getting a Nintendo just yet, since it is quite rare that they put their 1st party titles on sale. Microsoft and Sony seem to understand that gamers love deals and put games on sale all the time, you might find those rare games for only a few dollars.


What is the best experience based on the type of games you see yourself playing?

  • PlayStation 5: Narrative driven action/adventure games, especially the first party games. You cannot go wrong with any of them. PS Plus extended is recommended 100%

  • Xbox Series X|S: Assorted games and some indie titles. Their offer is the best bang-for-the-buck for a wide variety of game genres. You will have a fantastic library with very little initial investment.

Should I get a Steam Deck or invest in a Gaming Laptop?

The Steam Deck costs: $399 for the 64GB version. $529 for the 256GB version. $649 for the 512GB version. Considering these prices, they seem quite expensive, given the specifications and the storage. You won’t be able to enjoy fully optimized triple A gaming experiences without having to sacrifice visuals or performance. I would steer away from it if you are seeking triple A games like Assassin’s Creed, Halo, Doom, and much more. It seems that the Steam Deck is oriented towards a more casual audience that wants to play indie games or retro games available on Steam.

If you see yourself playing more casual titles like those RPG, farming sim games, $399 will have you covered for the holidays.


PC Gaming is a mid to long-term project.

PC gaming is always something to keep as a side, long-term project. It might feel overwhelming to start getting a decent gaming PC from the get-go. It is a very expensive initial investment. Also consider the fact that new hardware comes every year, so waiting too long to finish your PC might be a big mistake because you will end up with ‘old’ hardware, especially GPU and CPUs. If you are starting your gaming project, I would get a console first, and avoid diving into PC Gaming/ builds due to its steep prices.


To recap:

So far, the initial investment is $499.99 (plus taxes), and $1 for a month worth of Xbox Pass, or no additional cost for a week trial of PS Plus. Not bad to get a console for the coming Holidays with a very plentiful game list, regardless of the platform. You are more than covered for the next few days.


Now, if you want to have a very solid start for the upcoming year, getting expandable storage from the get-go will save you the hassle of buying one eventually. Consider that the Holidays are a perfect time for retail to give discounts on these kinds of things, so if you wait until next year, you might have to wait for the next sale to get one, and not pay its full price.


For about $600, you can get a PS5 with 1 TB storage drive. If you go for the all-digital version of it, you will save $100. Xbox on the other hand can be a bit pricier. For about $620 you can get the console with expanded storage, but an extra dollar will grant you a full month's worth of the Game Pass.



As you can see, it is a little bit of give and take, in regards to the budget. They are both very similar, and have their advantages or disadvantages. Xbox has a great offer with Game Pass for $1 (just the initial month), you can cancel anytime); however, storage expansion might feel a bit more expensive. Their console can be seen as expensive if you compare it to the all-digital PS5 version which is identical in performance and graphics to the regular PS5, it just doesn't have a Blu-Ray disc. The extra $100 you save on the all-digital can be used for storage expansion, or a year's worth of PS Plus.


What are your thoughts on the offers both console manufacturers provide? Which one will you get? Let me know in the comments below.


Happy Gaming.



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