By Staff Writer Morganne Guhl
The gaming industry continues to grow, as do consumers’ appetites for games. But which gaming setup is correct for you?
Primarily there are four main systems or ways people game. PC, PlayStation, Xbox, and Nintendo have advantages and disadvantages. Hopefully, this article will help you make your decision.
Out of the ways to game, PC is the most varied and customizable option. You can buy a prebuilt PC rig from many sites or purchase individual components and build the rig yourself. PC also offers a broad price point range, but it’s the most expensive way to start gaming. PC is best for those looking to stream to an audience, compete professionally in one of the many gaming leagues, or already love to game and want to take that next step up in format.
Xbox, the console made by Microsoft, has two different current-gen versions on the market. One priced at $299.99, it’s entirely digital, i.e., it wouldn’t take disk offers, along with Game Pass, a Microsoft version of Netflix for gaming individuals who don’t know if they will like gaming, an easy entry point. However, the series S is the weakest of the current-gen consoles, and how well it will hold up towards the end of this console generation will likely be poor. The Xbox Series X, the other model, which includes a disk drive, currently has the most powerful specs for this console generation at $499.99. While the quality of Xbox’s first-party developers has been hotly debated, and for good reasons, their first-party production of multiplayer games is substantial, so if you’re playing to play with friends, it’s a great system.
PlayStation, produced by Sony, has been the most popular console in the market, and for good reason. The PS5 comes in two models, one digital at $399 and one with a disk drive at $499; specs are the same across the board to allow for a consistent performance compared to the Xbox Series X/S. Also, it’s believed an external disk reader will be announced soon for the digital PS5 for those who changed their mind. While not as high as the Xbox Series X, the specs have yet to impact the quality so far in this generation. The standout for PlayStation, much like Nintendo, is the quality of their first-party games and the partnership they have formed to produce 3rd party content that is inclusive to the platform. As a result, their games tend to be blockbusters, with some of the most impressive visuals in gaming. One drawback of the system is its light first-party production of multiplayer games, though this is shifting as they look to create rolling revenue avenues.
The Xbox and PlayStation are highly likely to receive most 3rd party games across the board.
Nintendo, a brand even people who have never game know of, thanks to their ironic characters such as Zelda and Mario, continue to delight. Their device, the Switch, is primarily handheld, though it has a docking station if one wants to play on the TV. The weakest of the devices in this article, the Switch continues to release fantastic first-party games that fans buy up by the millions. The Switch is an excellent option if space management is a significant concern. Not all 3rd party games will come to the Switch due to the power required to run the games. But depending on screen size, the investment is safer compared to other devices at $199.99, $299.99, or $349.99.
Two other handheld ones might consider if space is a concern and you want to play many of the latest games that are more graphically challenging. The Steam Deck, a handheld, is connected to your Steam gaming account. The other is soon to be released, the Asus ROG Ally. The previews released so far have been positive; both these devices come in around the $600 range.
With all these options, it’s never been a better time to be a gamer!