Friday, March 29, 2024

PS5 vs Xbox Series X: Which should you buy?

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Power your dreams

Xbox Series X

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$500 on Amazon

Microsoft’s Xbox Series X promises to deliver 12 teraflops of graphical computing power, the likes of which consoles have never seen. With a fast SSD, 16GB of memory, and a beefy CPU, it makes for a powerhouse of a system. Combined with services like Xbox Game Pass and xCloud streaming, Microsoft is making gaming more accessible than ever across the world.

Play has no limits

PlayStation 5

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$500 at Amazon

The PS5 isn’t quite as powerful as the Xbox Series X with its GPU and CPU, but it’s still a beastly console, boasting a lightning-fast SSD that developers are praising. Get ready for near-instant load times in some of the biggest AAA games to come. Sony’s first-party lineup adds even more value to the console with the likes of God of War and Horizon Forbidden West.

This is easily one of the most exciting generations in a while, poised on the bleeding edge of technology. The Xbox Series X and PS5 will deliver new gaming experiences never before possible on home consoles, each company pushing the other to go a step above.

PS5 vs Xbox Series X What’s the difference?

Both the Xbox Series X and PS5 have a lot to offer their respective player bases, but Microsoft and Sony are approaching next-gen differently than one another. We’ll take a look at each console and these companies’ ideologies moving forward as we gear up for the release of the Xbox Series X and PS5.

Processor 8x Cores @ 3.8 GHz Custom Zen 2 CPU 8x Cores @ 3.5GHz Custom Zen 2 CPU
Graphics 12.155 TFLOPS, 52 CUs @ 1.825 GHz Custom RDNA 2 10.28 TFLOPS, 36 CUs @ 2.23 GHz Custom RDNA 2
Memory 16 GB GDDR6, 320mb bus 16 GB GDDR6, 256-bit
Memory Bandwidth 10 GB @ 560 GB/s, 6GB @ 336 GB/s 448GB/s
Internal Storage 1 TB Custom NVME SSD 825GB Custom NVME SSD
I/O Throughput 2.4 GB/s (Raw), 4.8 GB/s (Compressed) 5.5GB/s (Raw), 8-9GB/s (Compressed)
Expandable Storage 1 TB Custom SSD expansion card NVMe SSD slot
External Storage USB external HDD support USB external HDD support
Resolution Target 4K, up to 8K Target 4K, up to 8K
Frame rate Target 60FPS, up to 120FPS Target 60FPS, up to 120FPS
Ray tracing Yes Yes
Backward compatibility Yes (Original Xbox, Xbox 360, Xbox One) Yes (PS4)
Optical Drive 4K UHD Blu-Ray drive 4K UHD Blu-Ray drive
Dimensions 11.9in x 5.9in x 5.9in 15.3in x 4.1in x 10.2in
Weight 9.8 lb 9.9 lb
Release date November 10 November 12

What these differences mean to you

Graphics and performance The CPU, GPU, and SSD explained

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The CPU (central processing unit) and GPU (graphics processing unit) are the brains behind the console, and as their names suggest, they run the central processing and graphics of the console.

Video game graphics are rendered with the GPU. If you have a powerful GPU, that means sharper images with more effects on-screen. The Xbox Series X and PS5 target 4K resolution, which has four times the amount of pixels than a 1080p image. Both are also prepared to hit 8K resolution in the right scenarios, though games supporting 8K around launch will be few and far between. Because the Xbox Series X has a 12 teraflop GPU compared to the 10.28 teraflop GPU — with a variable frequency, no less — in the PS5, it should hit 4K at 60FPS more consistently. This also means that its lighting and shading techniques, along with textures and character models can be more complex and realistic.

CPU and GPU power are vitally important to running your consoles.

The CPU keeps your console running, processing all of the information it takes to boot up, start a game, use the OS, and, well, pretty much everything. These calculations are performed countlessly every single minute. In this regard, both console’s CPUs are comparable, though the Xbox Series X edges out the PS5.

What’s even more interesting is the SSD packed in both consoles. The PS5’s SSD is blazing fast, and Sony boasts that games will have “near-instant” load times because of it. The PS5 SSD is targeting read times of 5 GB/s with instantaneous seek times, meaning it can instantly find where specific data is stored on a disc and read 5GB of this data every second. In perfect conditions, the PS5 could load 2GB in .27 seconds. This opens up a whole new toolset for developers to take advantage of. Where they previously had to design levels by line of sight and what assets could realistically be loaded at any given time, they will be given much more freedom in the future.

The SSD inside of the Xbox Series X isn’t as fast as the one in the PS5, but it’s nothing to sneeze at, either.

What is ray-tracing?

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GPUs also employ ray tracing techniques that render realistic lighting effects by modeling how light interacts with and travels through virtual objects in a 3D environment. Simply put, this improves visual fidelity. PlayStation architect Mark Cerny even says that it will improve 3D audio on PS5, as well.

“If you wanted to run tests to see if the player can hear certain audio sources or if the enemies can hear the players’ footsteps, ray tracing is useful for that,” he said. “It’s all the same thing as taking a ray through the environment.”

PS5 vs Xbox Series X Backward compatibility

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The PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X support backward compatibility, but it works differently on each console. For anyone unaware, backward compatibility refers to the ability of new technology to support older hardware or software. This means that PS5 and Xbox Series X can play games from PS4 and Xbox One, even if those games weren’t designed with these next-gen systems in mind.

PS5 and Xbox Series X both support backward compatibility.

PS5 backward compatibility will allow people to play up to 99% of PS4 games, according to Sony. Original PlayStation, PS2, and PS3 games are not natively compatible. It’s unclear what is holding the console back from full backward compatibility, or which PS4 games won’t be supported. Rest assured that an overwhelming majority of the 4,000+ games on PS4 will run on PS5, though. We do not know if saves will carry over between PlayStation consoles for every game.

Xbox Series X backward compatibility is much nicer. Every Xbox One game is playable on Xbox Series X, no exceptions. It also supports backward compatibility with certain Xbox 360 and original Xbox games if they were already supported on Xbox One via that console’s backward compatibility program. Your saves will also carry over between Xbox consoles.

PS5 vs Xbox Series X First-party studios

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PlayStation Studios and Xbox Game Studios have a lot of companies under their belts, all dedicated to making the best possible games for their respective platforms. While Sony used to be known for its untouchable exclusives portfolio, Microsoft is giving it a run for its money lately with multiple acquisitions, including ZeniMax Media.

PlayStation’s heavy-hitters are helmed by a few notable studios like Sony Santa Monica, Guerilla Games, Naughty Dog, and Sucker Punch. These studios have created IP like God of War, Horizon Zero Dawn, The Last of Us, and Uncharted — each regarded as some of the greatest games ever made. Sony also bought Insomniac in 2019 and now owns the likes of Spider-Man and Ratchet & Clank.

PlayStation Studios

  • Bend Studio
  • Guerilla Games
  • Insomniac Games
  • Media Molecule
  • Naughty Dog
  • Pixelopus
  • Polyphony Digital
  • Sony Japan Studio
  • Sony London Studio
  • Sony San Diego Studio
  • Sony San Mateo Studio
  • Sony Santa Monica Studio
  • Sony XDEV Europe
  • Sucker Punch Productions

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Xbox has a ton of studios as well due to several acquisitions from Microsoft. While the big three — Halo, Gears of War, and Forza — were flagship franchises carrying Xbox through the last generation, Microsoft has a lot more to work with now and is set to become a premier RPG house with Bethesda, Obsidian, and inXile. Not only that, but Xbox now owns series like The Elder Scrolls and Fallout, not to mention the upcoming Starfield.

Xbox Game Studios

  • 343 Industries
  • Alpha Dog Games
  • Arkane Studios
  • Bethesda Softworks
  • Compulsion Games
  • Double Fine Productions
  • id Software
  • inXile Entertainment
  • MachineGames
  • Mojang
  • Ninja Theory
  • Obsidian Entertainment
  • Playground Games
  • Rare
  • Roundhouse Studios
  • Tango Gameworks
  • The Coalition
  • The Initiative
  • Turn 10 Studios
  • Undead Labs
  • World’s Edge
  • ZeniMax Online Studios

PS5 vs Xbox Series X Services and features

Xbox Game Pass vs PlayStation Now

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Xbox Game Pass is far better than PlayStation Now in a number of ways. PlayStation Now may have more games in its service, but don’t let that fool you. While both services aim to be the “Netflix for games” for their respective consoles, you’re getting a lot more value out of Xbox Game Pass.

Price $60/year or $10/month $120/year or $10/month
Number of games Over 800 Nearly 400
Previous generation games Yes (PS2, PS3, PS4) Yes (Xbox, Xbox 360, Xbox One)
Available regions 19 countries 40 countries
Exclusives launch into service No Yes
Offers discounts on games No Yes

The biggest advantage that Xbox Game Pass has going for it is Xbox Game Pass Ultimate. This package bundles up Xbox Live Gold, Xbox Game Pass, Cloud streaming, and (soon) EA Play all for just $15/month. All Xbox Game Studios published games (like Halo Infinite, Gears 5, and The Elder Scrolls 6) launch into Xbox Game Pass the day they release at retail. Xbox Game Pass also provides members access to discounts on downloadable content.

Xbox Live Gold vs PlayStation Plus

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Xbox Live Gold and PlayStation Plus are premium memberships granting player access to online multiplayer. Each also offers two free games a month and discounts on games. Whether or not you think the free games are better on Xbox or PlayStation in a given month is completely subjective.

Sony will soon be offering the PlayStation Plus Collection, which grants subscribers access to a library of select PS4 titles for free on the PS5.

Quick Resume, Smart Delivery, and more

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Quick Resume is one of the most exciting features of next-generation consoles. Microsoft notes that Quick Resume will allow players to suspend and resume multiple games whenever they want, picking up at the exact moment where they left off. It’s assumed that the PS5 will have a similar feature.

Microsoft’s Smart Delivery ensures that you’re playing the best versions of the games you own. With Smart Delivery, the Xbox Series X will recognize if you’ve purchased a supported title on Xbox One and will automatically provide the Xbox Series X version at no cost to you. As Microsoft puts it, “Buy a game once and play the best version across generations with Smart Delivery.” Games that support Smart Delivery are decided upon by their developers and publishers.

Quick Resume is one of the most exciting features of next-generation consoles.

Sony offers nothing like Smart Delivery on PS5, at least nothing that’s been publicly stated, but some developers and publishers are working to give players free PS5 upgrades of games they buy on PS4.

As for the PlayStation 5, Sony has yet to detail many of its software features. Right now we know that it will offer configurable game downloads, meaning players can choose to install certain sections of a game, like multiplayer or single-player campaigns, independent from one another.

Cloud streaming

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Despite a burgeoning partnership between Microsoft and Sony in relation to Cloud streaming technology, Sony still tends to lag behind Microsoft in this regard. Some PlayStation Now games can be streamed, but Sony offers nothing like Cloud streaming with Xbox Game Pass Ultimate. What Microsoft introduced as Project xCloud in its beta phase now lets players stream games to a number of mobile devices. You don’t even need to own the games you want to stream. Right now there’s a growing library of over 150 games you can stream with an Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscription.

PS5 vs Xbox Series X Controllers

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With every new console generation comes new controllers, this time in the form of the PS5 DualSense and Xbox Series X controller. Both companies want to improve immersion as much as possible, and they’re doing so similarly with haptic feedback along with Adaptive and Impulse triggers.

Buttons PS button, touchpad, four face buttons (X, O, Triangle, Square), two triggers, two bumpers, Create, Options, D-pad, two thumbsticks Xbox home button, Menu, View, four face buttons (A,B,X,Y), two triggers, two bumpers, Share, D-pad, two thumbsticks
USB-C Yes Yes
Share button Yes (Create) Yes
Haptic feedback Yes Yes
Trigger layout Symmetrical (inline) Asymmetrical (offset)
Trigger type Adaptive triggers Impulse triggers
Battery Internal 2x AA batteries
Textured grips Yes Yes
Touchpad Yes No
Microphone Yes No
Audio jack 3.5mm 3.5mm
Release date November 12, 2020 November 10, 2020

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The Adaptive triggers that Sony packs into the DualSense are more advanced than the Xbox Series X controller’s Impulse triggers. They allow for players to feel varying levels of tension in their actions, a common example given is to think of the tension you’d feel while drawing back a bowstring. This tension, along with haptic feedback, creates a level of immersion that was otherwise impossible before.

Like the Xbox One controller before it, the Series X’s Impulse triggers have rumble motors that can emit distinct vibrations depending on what you are doing in-game, providing a sense of directionality through the feedback. Combining this with the rumble motors in the chassis of the controller itself heightens the experience.

PS5 and Xbox Series X Price and release date

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The PS5 is set to release on November 12 in seven markets: U.S., Japan, Canada, Mexico, Australia, New Zealand, and South Korea. The rest of the world, including Europe, Middle East, South America, Asia, and South Africa, will get the PS5 the following week on November 19. It will cost $499 / $629 CAD / £449.

The Xbox Series X is releasing worldwide on November 10 for $499 / $599 CAD / £449. Microsoft is also offering a financing plan called Xbox All Access. For $35/month over the course of two years, you’ll get an Xbox Series X console along with an Xbox Game Pass Ultimate membership for the entire duration of your payment plan.

Bottom line

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When it comes between the Xbox Series X and PS5, the console that’ll give you more bang for your buck is undoubtedly the Xbox Series X. The PlayStation 5 has a lot going for it, but its services can’t match up to the value that Xbox offers. When both consoles start at the same price — not even considering Microsoft’s financing plan — and the Xbox Series X is more powerful with more games, the choice is pretty clear if you’re in the market for a new console.

Now if you’re looking to save money while taking advantage of Xbox’s games, you could get just Xbox Game Pass Ultimate (or even the Xbox Series S). With Xbox Game Pass you can download games to PC and stream to mobile through the Cloud. If you want the best of both worlds, it’d be smart to pick up a PlayStation 5 and get Xbox Game Pass on the side.

Limitless possibilities

Xbox Series X

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The best place to play

$500 at Microsoft
$500 at Amazon
$500 at Target

Microsoft’s Xbox Series X seemingly has it all. It’s powerful, has great services, fantastic exclusives, and offers a lot of value for what you’re getting. If you can do without some of the games that PlayStation offers, the Xbox Series X is well worth your money and built to last for years to come.

For the players

PlayStation 5

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Sony at its best

$500 at Amazon
$500 at Best Buy
$500 at Walmart

The PS5 is much easier on the eyes, but no more easier on your wallet than the Xbox Series X is. With popular exclusives series and a blazing-fast SSD for near-instant load times, the future is almost here. And if you want to play your old physical PS4 games, it’s best to get the standard PS5 over the PS5 Digital Edition.

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