[ad_1]
As anyone who has tried to buy a Nintendo Switch in the past six months can tell you, the COVID-19 pandemic has dramatically increased demand for video games, which provide escapism, time-killing, and a link to the outside world in one convenient package.
And so, while new video game consoles are always met with an absurd amount of hype, this week’s launch of both the Xbox Series X / S (on November 10) and the PlayStation 5 (on November 12) are feels more important than last time. seven years ago. So what do you need to know about the next generation of gaming, and which new console is right for you? I’ve spent the last two weeks playing PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X, so let’s dive into:
The look: which one is bulkier?
Unlike the PS4, a slim, unobtrusive black box that basically looks like a DVD player, the PlayStation 5 wants to turn heads. It’s a big, sturdy console with big white fins on either side, like a PS4 that dressed up as EVE from WALL-E. It’s very distinctive, although that could come at the expense of your living room decor as this really stands out.
Sony has been giving gamers the option to stack their consoles vertically since the PlayStation 2, but this is the first time that seems like a necessity to me. The PS5 just doesn’t look good laid horizontally and will take up a lot of space in your entertainment center. However, it is the ideal height to sit under a $ 12.99 IKEA side table.
The Xbox Series X is shorter and busier than the PS5, but it still looms above everything else, and it also looks better if you set it up vertically. That being said: I ended up putting mine behind my TV. I’m not excited about it, but even in horizontal position, the X Series is too tall to sit in front of my TV like my PS4 did. Consider your own home theater setup and plan accordingly.
There is an alternative to the X Series. If you don’t need a disk drive (and want to save $ 200), you can get an S Series instead. Unlike the cheaper digital edition model of the PS5, which costs $ 100 less than the standard PS5 and lacks a disk drive but is otherwise identical, the S Series looks completely different from the X Series and occupies much less space (with a smaller hard drive to compensate). It is also unable to play in 4K Ultra-HD, so if you have a really good TV, you should probably go for the more expensive model.
The winner: It’s close, but the PlayStation 5 is the one really on display in my living room right now.
Drivers: Next Level vs. Status Quo
When Sony announced that PlayStation 5 games would not be compatible with the PlayStation 4 DualShock controllers, it seemed like a nasty way to get gamers to buy a slightly improved version of the controllers they already had. That turned out to be incorrect.
I’ll get into the other PS5 launch games below, but there’s no point talking about the PS5 controller if you’re not going to mention Astro Game Room. Like Nintendo Wii Sports, Astro Game Room it is a “game” that actually looks like a technical demo designed to show what the new controller can do. And friend, let me tell you: it is wild what this new controller can do. It is difficult to explain without having it in your hands. Through precise haptics and audio feedback, the controller adds clever and subtle little nuances that immerse you in the game. When you walk on a floor, you will literally feel the difference when your little robot feet walk on metal, glass or sand. When spring loaded, you will feel the resistance and vibrant release sound from the shoulder buttons.
