Question about what console to get

Having had the PS5 since launch, and the XSX for a month, going on the fact that you don't want multiplayer and prefer single player games, I find it hard not to recommend the XSX simply because of Gamepass. Even a Series S with Gamepass is excellent if the best visuals are not important, simply because of the value you get. You'll miss on on Sony Exclusives (unless you also game on PC, Sony eventually throws the scraps to the PC players), but if that doesn't bother you, the XSS or XSX if you want the extra oomph and physical disc features. Oh, and I believe UBisoft+ is coming to Xbox so you get the Ubi games now too (Tom Clancy, Assassins Creed, Riders Republic, Watch_Dogs, etc) but I'd also imagine it's like EA where you need the Gamespass Ultimate for inclusion, otherwise it's a monthly/yearly fee.

Saying that, I still prefer the PS5 because I feel that it's a next step forward, instead of just moar powa as MS have done. Some people don't like it or don't feel the difference, but I think the DualSense is a genuine step forward and when used properly adds an extra level of immersion, games like Astro, Returnalt, R&C all make excellent use of it, and I can only see it getting better as more developers get used to it. Plus it looks like it may be the only console VR available once PSVR2 comes out, and that looks beefy too.

Finally, PS5 is still harder to get. People are walking into store picking up the XSS for a while, XSX for the last couple of months or thereabouts (I believe), but PS5's are still a bit harder to get. Personally, XSS/XSX feel like really powerful consoles (in comparison to previous gens), whereas I feel the PS5 is trying to make a genuine step forward, and it's power is yet untapped.

If you get 3 years worth of Xbox gold ( can be picked up for under 150. Then sign up for game pass it will convert 1-1. So you get 3 years of game pass for 150 instead of 450.

You can also stream games to the console to save downloading or updating. Handy if you just want to test something out. You can stream to your phone too. I was playing Halo infinite in bed on my phone last night.

With Game pass you can even stream to the older Xbox one X. If you can get one cheap. The game still runs on a series X in the cloud so you get Gen 5 games on a gen 4 console.

But be mindful the Series S is newer and only 300 euro. So unless the Xbox one X was under 200 it wouldn't make sense.

I have found that my recommendation of the series X with game pass has gone down well with friends and family and a fair few have jumped ship from other consoles and not looked back.

Having a zelda, last of us etc every 3/4 years just isn't worth sticking to one console or the other and gamepass has opened most up to different genres etc that they now give a go at because its risk free, the other series they like they pick up and game spending has dramatically decreased for some.

As an owner of all consoles its a no brainer for anyone to go series X now until Sony/Nintendo get their finger out and stop fiddling about with fancy buttons and handhelds. They will eventually do it put track record so far on both has proven it won't be a patch on gamepass.

60 quid for 20 excellent games plus all the other games you get throughout the year, makes no sense not to get Plus. Would everyone still say Gamespass is excellent if they all paid full price for it? It's the same as Now/Plus/Netflix/Prime, once you've played the games/watched all the shows you're interested in, it becomes just another service you pay for. Yeah, games day 1 is a big draw, but not all day 1 games are good. It is good value, but I've said it before and I'll say it again, I can't see it being financially viable in the long run.

Will be interesting to see how Spartacus holds up to it, but I think Sony have already confirmed no day 1 games will be included, which reinforced my belief that a Gamepass service, in its current form, isn't financially viable. Sony have been at it a bit longer than MS, and haven't had the huge resources of money to just throw at the problems. But they've always more or less won (PS3 is debatable, but it did outsell the 360 so....), and I truly believe that PlayStation want to evolve gaming, whereas MS are just "MOAR POWAR!!!! GIVE US MONEHS!"

Do you need to get a ps5 or xbox series if you are only popping in and out? Both consoles are still painfully difficult to come by in the shops. Would the older gen console scratch that itch? I reckon there may be a few stuck up in the attic of your gamer friends that you could get for next to nothing.

Have experience of both and would recommend the Xbox over the PS5.

Gamepass will be the major decider. There’s a few other perks like streaming games but it doesn’t sound like you’ll need it. You won’t need this right now but Microsoft (currently) doesn’t charge to upgrade the visuals / performance of games and Sony does. Feels like a bit of a cash grab from Sony

The DualSense is nice and you will notice it’s extra features when playing a PS5 game. That being said, you won’t miss them when playing an Xbox game.

Before the series X I was retro all the way, still am and own most of the old consoles from 8 bit upwards.

However, at the start of last year I got the Series X and it's just amazing, especially with Gamepass.

Probably because I'm getting on in life I never play multiplayer, and the Gamepass games suit for that. Someone earlier in the thread said would Gamepass still be good if you paid the full price. Well I was too lazy to do what was needed to get the discount so have been paying full price for 12 months now and don't regret it, I'd probably happily pay more.

What's also great is that you can play the majority of the games on your mobile too without downloading via the cloud. So if you're stuck somewhere or someone is watching something on the tv you can still pick your phone up and have a little game.

For me the series x with Gamepass is just the pinnacle at the moment.

Ah, but what percentage of Microsoft is the Xbox division. If we're going to include all of MS, then we need to also include all of Sony. The only figure I can find, is that Xbox, Windows and Surface is 29% of revenue, and Windows is a massive one so... Look, they obviously know how to make money, usually by having the ability to spend a crap tonne to make it work/buy out competition. I'm pretty sure I also read today that Phil said that transaction sales are also around to stay:

It's a personal feeling, but I feel Sony are interested in innovation and progress, MS just want to make money, and do so by throwing loads of it at stuff until some sticks. I still can't see Day 1 games on Gamepass being viable, unless there is little competition and everyone has Gamepass, which won't happen.

Also, I do miss the DualSense when playing on the XSX. It's very different, the haptics are leagues ahead of the rumble imo. I tried out Rocket League on both, and even though RL doesn't have official DS support, it still felt better than the XSX controller. More natural, and this will decide which system I play games on. If a game is releasing on both, I will get the PS5 version. But it's all personal preference, and a lot of people decide with cost rather than preference imo.

I still think XSX and Gamepass is the best value right now, I just think the PS5 is better overall due to the DualSense, the upcoming PSVR2 and what feels like a genuine attempt to make games more immersive.

Jesus, it's just an opinion people!

But yes, the DualSense is amazing.