As November 10 and November 12 approach, the next-gen consoles will find their way into the hands of early adopters. Already, influencers and media outlets have gotten their hands onPS5andXbox Series X/Sunits for preview. Despite all the news about Covid-19 affecting the gaming industry in various ways, Microsoft and Sony are continuing with their respective console launches. That being said, it’s been a tough year, in general, for a majority of the world, so there’s absolutely no shame in not getting a PS5 or Xbox Series X/S this holiday.
While some fans have understandably complained about not being able to secure pre-orders, the truth is that players aren’t missing out on much if they don’t upgrade. Several different launch games, from first and third-party studios, are also coming day-and-date to current-gen consoles. Plus, new consoles are still in comparatively short supply anyway, so it’s better to wait until more are available to avoid any consumer anxiety. Not only that, but both thePS5andXbox Series Xwill look best on a 4K display, which is an added expense for anyone who hasn’t already bought a 4K capable display.
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Slim Launch Lineups for PS5 and Xbox Series X/S
One ever-present issue that seems to be the question of every new console generation is how good is the launch lineup, or lack thereof. This year is no exception to that rule. In fact, it’s pretty clear that the pandemic has exacerbated the issue even more. Games likeHalo Infinite,Cyberpunk 2077, andDeathloop,were all delayed out of the launch window due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Numerous games that were slated to release in 2020, as well as the several in development for 2021 and beyond, have been moved, severely altering the launch lineup for both PS5 and Xbox Series X.
This is partially why waiting is not a bad idea for next-gen consoles. There just aren’t that many launch games period, not to discredit any games that are coming out for the consoles this November. If a gaming fan’s going to shell out $500 for a brand new console, they’re likely going to save some extra money for games too, not just one console and one game and that’s it.
For both PlayStation and Xbox, many of the new games coming out for both systems are also coming out to current-gen consoles as well, so existing PS4/Xbox One owners have even less of a reason to upgrade. Sure, itmay not be the “definitive” way to experience these new games, but the graphical leap between current-gen and next-gen games slated for release this November won’t always be major.
4K Resolution Means 4K TVs Are a Must
Speaking of “definitive,” there is one caveat to what’s really going to define these next-gen consoles: 4K resolution. From a technical standpoint, both consoles have enough power to output 60 FPS (and in some extreme cases, 120 FPS) with ease. And since the short loading times are comparable between both systems, the big selling point between the PS5 and Xbox Series X will be 4K resolution. This means, for any purists that truly want to get “premium” next-gen console gaming fidelity, a 4K television sort of becomes a requirement.Resolution will be a major factorbetween both the PS5/Xbox Series X, but those without a 4K tv are effectively bottlenecking themselves.
If fans don’t own anything above a 1080p HD display, then there’s really no major reason to get a PS5/Xbox Series X at launch. Frame rate performance would really only be the main detractor here, but if a player doesn’t particularly care about playing games at 30 FPs (so long as its a stable frame rate), then theoretically, the last-gen consoles are still perfectly fine for playing most new games coming out in late 2020 and early 2021.
A prime example of this would beSpider-Man: Miles Morales, which is releasing on both PS4 and PS5on November 13. If a PlayStation fan is willing to opt-in for the PS5, but isn’t able to budget out for a new 4K display as well, then there’s really no point in getting the next-gen version ofMiles Moralesif they already own a PS4. As long as that player isn’t a stickler for a lower frame rate, playingMiles Moralesat 30 FPS on PS4/PS4 Pro shouldn’t be an issue.
The Unfortunate Reality of Low Console Supply
Unfortunately the pandemic has also affected hardware production for next-gen consoles as well. Results of the pandemic’s impact have already been made abundantly clear withhow PS5 and Xbox Series X/S pre-orders have gone thus far. Numerous consumers attempting to pre-order from both console makers have been met with “out of stock” and “coming soon” messages on all storefronts. With health concerns and social distancing in place for the manufacturing centers in countries where the bulk of PS5 and Xbox Series X/S hardware production is centered, significant slowdowns have caused console scarcity.
Consumers will need to acknowledge that getting a next-gen console this winter is going to benominally more difficult compared to previous console releases. That’s even more reason to stay patient for next-gen consoles, at least for now. Manufacturing will match up with demand soon after both consoles release, so next-gen consoles shouldn’t be too hard to find in 2021.
Of course, there will always be day-one adopters itching to get the next-gen console experience immediately, and that’s okay. It’s perfectly fine to be jealous of friends or peers getting next-gen consoles when one can’t, but just now that being patient this year is not going to punish gaming fans all that much. There are plenty of reasons to stick with the PS4 and Xbox One until fewer games are developed for the old hardware, and the next-gen consoles are in greater supply.
ThePS5launches on June 04, 2025. TheXbox Series X/Slaunches on July 26, 2025.
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