Also noteworthy that not only are PS5 sales behind PS4, but the PlayStation’s competition has almost entirely disappeared, and that hasn’t resulted in more PlayStations sold.
This is the first console generation where I bought and sold a console before the next gen came along. I got one of those PS5 emails while they were still somewhat limited, and decided to jump on it like a dumbass. Two years later, sold it to recoup the cost of my Steam Deck. The only real exclusive it has that I played was the Demon’s Souls remake, and that just wasn’t enough to convince me to keep it around. Looks like the other exclusives I have missed out on since then is…(checks notes)…Astro Bot…and that’s it. Oh well.
In case anyone misread the headline the way I did: The PS5 is selling about the same as the PS4 did at this point in its lifespan. The headline kind of makes it sound like the PS4 is still selling as many consoles as the PS5 today.
Honestly, I’m kind of surprised that it’s selling that well at all, considering how much of this generation has just been remasters of PS4 games.
Thats not misreading, thats them not being clear.
A used ps4 is probably the best value in gaming right now. For ~$200 you can get the console and a bunch of games.
The best time to buy a console is just after its sequel is released, lots of people upgrading and selling their old one with all the games and controllers
I always said that about the PS2, or early model PS3s if you can get one for a reasonable price. Backwards compatibility galore.
This generation lacked must play games or technological breakthroughs. It was just kinda… there?
technological breakthroughs
What, the dumbass case design with the useless flat corner bits awkwardly sticking out of it wasn’t innovative enough for you?
Oh, if you’re a fighting game player, the innovation is impossible to miss. Now there’s only one USB port on the front, so when you play at locals and majors, you have to spin the console around to blow all the heat directly at the people trying to play a competitive match so that their controller cords will reach the additional USBs in back. Also it gets hot enough to melt the connectors that you’re plugging in there. Also we all had to update our controllers specifically for PS5 even though our PS4 controllers still functioned just fine. So innovative.
Switch ate them all while being 2 generations behind
System based exclusives meaning you might not be able to play a game you want to in the future, expensive subscriptiona needed to play online, push to digital DRM controlled games… it’s almost like consoles killed themselves?
Well the alternative is PC gaming, and building a competitive PC aint cheap. I remember on launch people were building computers with similar performance to the xbone/ps4. But now that entry level dGPUs aren’t a thing, and even mid range GPUs are expensive you get fucked either way.
The PS5 is at least powerful on launch. The 4 was on par with like a regular APU.
Building a PC that can compete with current console IS cheap
You know, I just finished building my machine the other day. And yeah it wasn’t cheap, but if you’re willing to forgo Nvidia… It’s actually a lot more affordable than you think. The new AMD’s smoke too.
$1700 all in. 9800x3d, 9070, aorus b650 board, 32gb ram, 2TB SSD, 850w be quiet PSU, a case that’s a bit too big with lots of airflow and built in fans. If I had gone with a 7xxx cpu and shaved other parts down i could’ve easily gotten it down to $1400. Less if I went with a previous gen GPU.
You can build an ok machine for like $800 and a damn solid one for $1100.
Edit: forgot to say I went with a bazzite boot, no windows/dual boot. Played expedition 33 maxed out all settings at 90fps, 75-80 on dips
A certified refurbished ps5 can be had right at this moment for $399, $450 new. I game on PC for many other reasons but the performance for value is pretty amazing on the ps5
You can also buy a used PC or laptop or CPU/GPU/…, buying them new when you want good performance for value is nonsense.
Certainly, but we’d then have to compare with the used ps5 market, which dips well below $300.
Can a used pc or a build with used components be had with comparable performance to ps5? Even with a much larger budget of say, $800?
I can’t imagine finding a used PS5 in decent condition for sub-$300 man. That’s a bit far fetched. That’s “buddy who doesn’t need it did me a solid” pricing. I say this as someone who absolutely considers consoles an (often) economical choice. Cheapest I’m seeing is a digital with no controller “for parts or as is” on eBay for $225.
I agree. I was a console guy until this past weekend. My series S was money well spent, like my PS4 before it!
However, I have a way bigger library now with cheaper games (also hundreds of free ones because I share a family library with other big gamers on Steam), it plays and looks better, and in 5+ years I’ll still be rocking AAA games long after the PS5 has sunset.
I am actually a big defender of console gaming. It has a place and can be a very affordable option, especially when Nvidia cards are literally thousands of dollars. But PC gaming is often more economical in the long run if you throw down more upfront and do your research.
Same, yeah I mean once you’re established the actual cost of games on steam is ludicrously small depending on your habits. I’m pretty much locked-in to pc gaming simply for the love of indie titles that more often than not do not get published to consoles. Lots of those games are just straight up free
We also have to consider the value the computer itself serves beyond just gaming. If you’re gonna get a $500 ps5 and you’re already going for an $800-$1200 computer, well hey. You could really get the best of both worlds without affecting the budget. Probably could even save money
But I think there’s also a big group that isn’t in that situation. I know plenty of people who rock like a chromebook and the cheapest xbox. Or people who only play like NBA 2k or something. Or people who play 1-2 big titles a year when they get caught in the hype train, and can enjoy them at 4k60fps for the much lower upfront cost
Personal anecdote. My PC cost me £900 in 2017. I haven’t upgraded it since. I have saved a significant amount of money in that time that would otherwise have been spent on PlayStation Plus for the benefit of playing multiplayer and the general higher price of games.
Even if you accept the argument that consoles are significantly cheaper in the first place, the point that PC ownership saves money in the long run is often overlooked.
I’ve never owned as many games for as little cost as I do now.
And the games that really demand the high-end hardware tend to be pretty rare in the grand scheme of things, not to mention less likely to be as good as the low spec games. I always joke with my friends that I might buy a killer new PC in the next year or so, but my most-played game will still be a 2D game from 2012 that absolutely doesn’t need it.
Yeah I definitely over-spec’d my machine but that was largely because I was able to sell some old video and audio equipment I don’t use anymore to fund it. Figured I’d go for a “great for a decade” build. Got lots of slots I can still use for HDD’s, more ram, etc. if needed. And for $1700 it absolutely screams man. Running on bazzite, getting fantastic performance.
Why are people going for Bazzite for desktops? I’ve got it on a mini PC, and it’s great for the living room and travel, but even then the updater still keeps trying to apply an update from April 28th over and over again. Is it a good choice for desktop too? I’m on Kubuntu now but will probably shop around for a new distro with my next PC.
It used to be easy to build a PC that was double the performance of a console for the same price. And it was even easier if you sourced slightly used current hardware. Now you’re lucky to get last gen hardware for a decent price used. The market is garbage.
Back in 2014 you could get brand new motherboards for ~$50, where it’s difficult to find any under $150 that provide decent features. I think the most expensive thing at the time was NAND due to flooded factories but everything else was super cheap.
I think more and more people have done the math on what your break-even is with a PC up front compared to noncompetitive digital console storefronts, needless forced obsolescence, and subscription fees.
If you’re not too stuck on modern AAA titles, PC gaming is cheap. Possibly the cost of the electricity coming out of the wall.
I haven’t payed to play online in years. Like mid PS4 life. Online only games don’t require a subscription.
The PS5 thus far has been mainly a final fantasy machine if you ask me. Half the games people play are remasters (or just the straight up original launch version) of PS4 games. It’s coasting heavily on that catalog.
Man, imagine if the PS6 launches and it’s just PS4 & 5 ports and “”“upgrades”“” all over again
PS4 was when xbox users switched over to PlayStation.
PS5 was when PS4 users users switched back to the roots, a PC.
This is true for me. I did not buy a ps5, but instead a PC. There are no games on ps5 that I want to play that I cannot play on PC.
True for me too, only I did buy a PS5, then a Steam Deck, then built a Linux gaming PC. I doubt I’ll ever go back to PS again, not after this gen.
And the more people do the same the less console exclusives there will be (outside of the Nintendo ecosystem)
Yeah, the hardest thing is really going to be GTA6. The reason I bought a PS4 was GTA5. Needing to wait 2 years to play GTA6 on PC will be a tough thing to swing.
And this coming release will be the first time I’m not going to bother about a new Nintendo console going back to the original. For context, I even like the Virtual Boy. Nintendo has done everything possible to make themselves unlikable.
This headline would imply that PS4 users are upgrading to PS5 at almost the same rate that they upgraded or moved to the PS4.
Honestly, it’s pretty surprising considering the PS4 is still kind of a current console. I’d think a lot of people would be satisfied staying with the PS4 and still getting most of the games that are coming out.
It’s a growing market though.
Xbox one and X/S sales are neck in neck with xbox 360 sales too.
Wouldn’t that imply it’s not a growing market anymore?
Yes, if PC sales wouldn’t be growing
Not ice the jump in 2020 when the PS5 released.
Yes, its a mature market. We are likely at a point where a new competitor or innovation focused incumbent takes a swing at a new tech.
