New era of consoles: play through the lockdown

Different times, different customs: In the fall of 2013, the crowds and crowds were still quite normal, and this happened when the PlayStation 4 and XBox One appeared. Around the world, thousands waited in front of electronics stores in numerous cities. to get the long-awaited console.

Of course, this year there will be no such photos and hype in front of stores. Due to the pandemic, the sale of the new generation of consoles is taking place without much noise, especially online. And not necessarily without problems: both the PS5 and the new Xbox were not only sold out long before the on-sale date, but also in many places around launch. In the US too, where the PS5 was released a week earlier than Europe, many gamers still have to be patient. Very happy if you could book.

A spaceship looking for a parking space.

However, sooner or later, all those who are willing to buy will get a PS5. First of all, it grabs attention with its idiosyncratic design, which sits somewhere between the router and the spaceship. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, but the dimensions of the PS5 can become a practical problem: it is by far the largest (and most idiosyncratic) console in recent video game history, so Finding space in the living room could be a challenge.

The PS5 appears in two versions: one in the normal version (500 euros) and another without a Blu-ray drive, that is, only to download games (400 euros). According to preliminary tests, the console should eliminate some of the annoyances of the predecessor in use. Load times are shorter, the user interface has been revamped, and the PS5 no longer has the leaf blower volume that its predecessor models could sometimes achieve. Visually, Sony promises fluid games in 4K resolution with up to 120 frames per second, as well as more details, realism and reflections thanks to ray tracing technology.

So far, however, the controller has been praised as the true star of the PS5. Its design is based on the predecessor, but overall it is larger, more ergonomic and more haptic. At the center of it all is the feedback it offers: many small vibration motors put the controller in motion correctly and, at best, transport the game in the truest sense of the word remarkably – when the wind goes. , the controller pulls; When the raindrops fall, it hits. Sony shows what’s possible with the included “Astro’s Playroom” game, which is pretty much a playable performance show of the controller.

The Xbox as a reliable workhorse

While the long-term PS5 test is still ahead, the new XBox series has to prevail in actual operation. The two consoles Series X (500 euros) and S (300 euros) have been on the market since November 10. As the price suggests, there is a more powerful, smaller and slimmer version. The latter is designed for 1440p image output and is aimed at those who get by with less power.

The “big brother” comes as a simple black cuboid, which nevertheless wants to convince with its internal values: Microsoft attracts gamers with performance. Even if the two “competitor consoles” are very similar in terms of performance and graphics promise, Microsoft adds a bit more to the role in certain areas.

So far, tests have praised the smoother and faster gaming experience, which is closer to the experience of playing on PC and also gives old games a new impetus. Microsoft has kept the design of the drivers and limited itself to tweaking. The first finding that draws conclusions: little was reinvented, but much improved.

Everything is still open

However, this also reveals a problem that both consoles have in common: the amount of “NextGen” they actually have in them can hardly be evaluated at this point. Surprisingly, both consoles appear without real exclusive blockbusters, fully demonstrating the capabilities of the new consoles, inevitably dividing the audience into “Team XBox” or “Team PlayStation” and tempting them to make a quick purchase.

Many of the games available on the release date are available for both Nextgen consoles or can be played on the previous console or PC, such as Assassin’s Creed: Valhalla and Spider-Man: Miles Morales. Also in the future there will be numerous new releases for the old generation of consoles, they will only be adapted to the potential of the PS5 and XBox series. Additionally, the two “newcomers” are backward compatible, and both Sony and Microsoft include numerous old titles for online members when they purchase the new console.

And yet: Ultimately, the decision on the right console stands or falls, mostly due to new games luring the horizon. Numerous titles have already been announced, from the mandatory (“FIFA 21”) and unexpected (“Horizon: Forbidden West”) sequels, through remakes and remastered versions (“GTA V”) to hopefully groundbreaking new gaming experiences. (“Cyberpunk 2077”). Therefore, the true potential of the new generation of consoles will only develop gradually.