When it comes to the processor, the Xbox Series X is slightly more powerful than the PlayStation 5, though the difference is unlikely to have a major impact on the gaming experience.
When it comes to graphics, Microsoft seems to have a slight edge, at first.
Graphics processing units, commonly known as GPUs, represent gaming graphics. In general, the more processing power a console’s GPU has, the better a game will look. Xbox has 1.7 more teraflops, a computing speed measurement unit, in its GPU than PlayStation.
But before dismissing Sony, it should be noted that the PlayStation does have some differences in its GPU architecture that could translate into better graphics performance than meets the eye. So we’ll only know how all those numbers impact the visual experience when we see what the graphics look like in various games.
The Xbox Series X wins on internal storage. Xbox has 1 terabyte of internal storage compared to PlayStation’s 825 GB. Any player will tell you that Running out of storage on a console can be a hassle. But both console manufacturers have cloud gaming solutions now, PlayStation Now and Project xCloud, and if more players trust the cloud, storage will be less important.
Sony has an advantage. The PS5 can send data at 5.5 GB per second, compared to the Xbox X Series, which It runs at 2.4GB per second. That could mean marginally faster loading times and less time on a loading screen.
Both consoles are matched elsewhere. Each has 16GB of memory and supports 4K and 8K games resolution. And when it comes to the latest eye-catching technology, both Sony and Microsoft have worked to incorporate ray tracing, a technology that makes lights and shadows look better in-game, and deliver 3D audio for more immersive sound.
While both consoles support 8K resolution gaming, most people do not own an 8K compatible television and most developers currently do not optimize games for 8K resolution. Sony and Microsoft built these consoles with 8K support to plan for the future.
But currently available 8K televisions are expensive, with a 55-inch Samsung model costing $ 2,499. Sony and Samsung have 98-inch 8Ks for $ 60,000.
“When we designed the Xbox Series X … we designed it with the next seven to 10 years in mind,” Jason Ronald, director of program management for the Xbox Series X, told CNN Business. “So we’ve absolutely designed the system to to be able to do 8K “.
Business strategy
Many Xbox titles, however, are released simultaneously for Xbox and PlayStation, which means Sony fans don’t need to migrate out of their preferred ecosystem to play them.
Ampere Analysis director of game research Piers Harding-Rolls predicts Sony will sell to Microsoft again, reaching 66 million consoles sold by the end of 2024, compared to the estimated 37 million for Series X. His estimates they are based on past sales data and taking Sony and Microsoft Strategies into account.
“Sony is focused on pushing exclusives for PS5 to sell hardware and it is still more traditional in its approach,” Harding-Rolls told CNN Business, “It is looking to expand its audience through PlayStation Now, but is much less aggressive in its approach. ” compared to Microsoft with Xbox Game Pass. “
Microsoft focuses on It sells games as a service, hoping that players will buy a monthly subscription to their Xbox Game Pass, which offers access to hundreds of games and starts at $ 9.99 a month. Microsoft said that all the new games it showed on Thursday will be available through the Game Pass.
It is also promising that users will not need to upgrade to the next generation console to play many games as many games will be backwards compatible with previous generation. And if gamers want to use mobile devices, Project xCloud supports it.
Ronald, the director of Xbox Series X, said the company “is really focusing on the player and not trying to force him to upgrade to an individual device or do things exclusive to this device.” He added: “I think that is what really sets us apart from the competition.”
Ronald estimates that Xbox spun to focus more on the player than the device when Phil Spencer became Xbox boss in 2014, a year after the launch of Xbox One.
It’s a very different approach from Sony, which involves marketing a new round of exclusives, including the upcoming “Spider-Man: Miles Morales”, exclusive to the PS5.
Sony declined to comment for this article.
Xbox has a strong value proposition by offering hundreds of games for a low fee per month with its Game Pass subscription: Yes You can convey that value to your audience.
“Microsoft generally struggles with the marketing of entertainment products. The technical marketing specs are much more comfortable for an IT crowd that really cares about those things. Unfortunately, that’s a small fraction of the console buyer,” he said. David Cole, analyst at research firm DFC Intelligence.
Some consumers can simply wait to see if the consoles are worth it. And the impact of the pandemic on the incomes of many people could influence the decision.
“There will be many players happy to survive on their current consoles until they are forced to upgrade to play the latest release in a beloved series,” said Laine Nooney, an assistant professor and video game historian at New York University.
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